August 12, 2008

Known By The Company He Keeps (Local Edition)

I watched Mike Pintek again last night. He had on one of his favorite conservative pundits, Dr Harvey Kushner, contributing editor to a website called Family Security Matters.

They, of course, were pounding the Edwards story - all while (do I really have to say it?) excusing Senator McCain's similarly checkered marital past. Typical and not at all suprising.

I wanted to take a look see at this "Family Security Matters" site. In my search I found this at Hullabaloo. Digby wrote a year or so ago:

I've been getting a lot of emails about this group Family Security Matters which boasts such right wing luminaries as Barbara Comstock, Monica Crowley, Frank Gaffney, Laura Ingraham and James Woolsey among others on its board of directors. It seems like they are just another of the dozens of wingnut welfare programs devoted to throwing good money after bad keeping conservative operatives gainfully employed.

The emails I'm getting say they are busily scrubbing articles all over the place. When you look at what they've left up you have to wonder what could possibly be so bad they have to scrub it.

Then digby shows us an example of something that's been scrubbed. By someone named Philip Atkinson, it talks about the limits of democracy:
The inadequacy of Democracy, rule by the majority, is undeniable – for it demands adopting ideas because they are popular, rather than because they are wise.
And what George W. Bush's only wise choice should have been regarding Iraq:
The wisest course would have been for President Bush to use his nuclear weapons to slaughter Iraqis until they complied with his demands, or until they were all dead.
With an illustration of the "inadequacy of Democracy" sure to follow:
But if he did this, his cowardly electorate would have instantly ended his term of office, if not his freedom or his life.
" Cowardly electorate"? Here's more of Atkinson's political genius:
By elevating popular fancy over truth, Democracy is clearly an enemy of not just truth, but duty and justice, which makes it the worst form of government.
Atkinson's final solution to Bush's "Democracy" problem is simple. Follow the example of Julius Caesar:
If President Bush copied Julius Caesar by ordering his army to empty Iraq of Arabs and repopulate the country with Americans, he would achieve immediate results: popularity with his military; enrichment of America by converting an Arabian Iraq into an American Iraq (therefore turning it from a liability to an asset); and boost American prestiege while terrifying American enemies.
Which, of course, leads to the inevitable:
He could then follow Caesar's example and use his newfound popularity with the military to wield military power to become the first permanent president of America, and end the civil chaos caused by the continually squabbling Congress and the out-of-control Supreme Court.
Finally:
For only an America united under one ruler has the power to save humanity from the threat of a new Dark Age wrought by terrorists armed with nuclear weapons.
For some reason that column was scrubbed by Family Security Matters. I wonder why.

11 comments:

John K. said...

John K: You left wingers do realize this a representative republic, not a democracy? We are a republic. Our govt makes decisions based on who we elect to represent us.
If some of you, ie Eric, had taken the time to recite the Pledge of Allegiance now and than you would realize that.

EdHeath said...

Evidently the Family Security Matters website, a conservative website, doesn't realize America is a republic. Since that is who the post is quoting from.

But thank you for the civics lesson. I caught the same thing on an episode of West Wing once.

Sherry Pasquarello said...

john, i do not think even you believe that these statements are able to be defended or explained away.

therefore, i think you are just playing games.

that might be amusing except that this election is more important than usual.

John K. said...

John K: Nope, not defending Family Security Matters at all. Just pointing out that this is a Republic. You left wingers think this is a direct democracy. Hence your constant desire to impeach everyone who disagrees with you.

Sherry Pasquarello said...

1st year civics all the way back in the 60's i was taught that there is no such workable thing as "pure" democracy or communism or any political phlisophy. everything has blends and bits and pieces to be workable. wether one agrees with their form or not is up to them.

but the "shiny tinsel ball" diversion about republic vs democracy is just that.

Anonymous said...

John, you are the one misunderstanding the nature of our republic. We democratically elect representatives to legislate and execute on our behalf. The government serves the people, not the other way around. Most of the time, incompetent, unappreciated, or disliked representatives can be "fired" by not extending their contracts, i.e., by voting them out of office. However, sometimes criminal malfeasance or dereliction of duties require more immediate and direct action. In those cases, impeachment should be used. Malfeasant Enron executives deserved to be hauled into court to decide their guilt or innocence and sentence them if guilty. Likewise, the American people have ample reason to haul Bush into impeachment proceedings to determine his guilt or innocence of high crimes and misdemeanors.

Sherry Pasquarello said...

well put eric!

Anonymous said...

The good doctor's got one angry photo up at that website. Still, he at least had the good sense to doff his tinfoil hat before getting photographed. :)

Also, the "National Security for Kids" stuff brings to mind the Spies from 1984.

As nutjobbery goes, this one's a beaut! Well done!

cathcatz said...

i just wonder how the great FSM feels about this "family" group laying claim to its moniker.

Anonymous said...

FSM has been invoked. Thus ends fruitful discussion. Ugh.

Anonymous said...

John K., you do realize that a representative republic is a form of democracy, right?

And that impeachment is permitted in the Consitution, right?