Democratic Conversation

Nancy Pelosi has extended an olive branch to George W. Bush. My only question is, Why? Here is a chief executive who just two years ago gloated to half the nation after the 2004 election that he “had political capital” and was going to use it. He did use it, with as much besmirching tactics as he has always leveled against independents, democrats, liberals, and anyone else who has disagreed with his politics and right-wing policies. Meanwhile, his lies to the people, congress, and the world have given us more than 3,000 dead soldiers in an unjust, illegal war—with many more on the way—and more than 200,000 dead Iraqi civilians caused by egregious post-invasion mistakes.

The nation says it is sick of partisan politics, but they always say that, and when Republicans have been voted into power, they suddenly forgot that compromise is an option. If you know anything about American politics—and few Americans do, actually; I think it has something to do with consumer consumption and shiny lights & dials—you’ll know that every party in power has said “Let’s work together.” Within a week they have used their power to do just the opposite. This has been going on since the election of 1800.

Is it time to stop this? Sure. On the other hand, how many times must Democrats “turn the other cheek” before they realize Republicans don’t want to play fair or do anything for anybody other than big business? The American people have been fooled election after election by Republican lies about environmental concerns, education needs, energy independence, and so-called family values. And then we see environmental standards erased from the laws, education funds cut for the most needy, and Big Oil price fixing and foreign imports gushing like a Katrina surge. And least savory of all, big-name Republicans fellating congressional pages, and right-wing church leaders soliciting gay prostitutes. Hmm. When will people see through the lies, the hypocrisy, the criminal intent to defraud Americans?

And so, Why start now with George W. Bush? Perhaps the Republican side of congress can work together with the soon-ruling Democrats, but with my plan, they wouldn’t want to. Actually, there is little for which Democrats can “work together”: Republicans have already mishandled the environment, energy policy, protection from terrorist attacks (doesn’t matter if one hasn’t happened since 9/11/01; al Quaeda is extremely patient), every level of education for America’s kids (unless your rich or religious—or preferably both), electoral reform, judicial appointments, auto-emission standards, medical malpractice, social security, prescription drugs, health insurance, global warming, Middle East relations, and onward. I’m sure I’ve missed a few big issues…Yes! KATRINA.

Now you think about it. How could Democrats possible “work together” with Republicans to fix all that republican policy has destroyed for Americans over Bush’s six years in office? Do you think Republicans will want to repair what they have deliberately neglected and/or broken? They worked to destroy many of the safeguards we Americans once enjoyed, so what incentive do they have for working with Democrats to reverse course? None—except, of course, if there was some way to pocket taxpayers’ money from the move). They have no real incentive. And so reconciliation, working together, bi-partisanship is a all simply lip service paid to the Democratic party and the American people. Democrats must go it alone—UNILATERALLY—to fix the broken country.

Therefore, before any “working together” should be attempted, there needs to be several legal points to investigate and litigate. Firstly, Congress should press immediately for George W. Bush’s resignation and impeachment on grounds of high crimes and misdemeanors, and treason. Secondly, it should investigate the criminal activities surrounding the 2000 and 2004 national elections in which the Republican party instituted or was in full knowledge of disenfranchising tens of thousands of eligible voters. It’s a crime to do that, you know.

Simultaneously, Congress should investigate every Iraq reconstruction contractor, including the likes of Halliburton and it’s subsidiaries. Have you seen reports on the construction work these companies have done? The little work they have completed is not only substandard, but dangerous for the health and safety of anyone who would work in the buildings, use the roads, or run the utilities infrastructure. Essentially, these companies have cheated the taxpayer, botched the jobs for which they were hired, and thus should be held to civil and criminal laws.

Conservatives will call (any) of these actions “getting revenge” or “pay back” and characterize Democrats as vindictive if they even bring up such process. This reaction would not only be false but illogical. Democrats—or any party in power—owe it to the American people and the world to follow the law. By all accounts, the George W. Bush White House has committed acts of treason, war crimes, and murder of civilians. There is little difference, I see, between Adolph Hitler and the Nazi high command, and the Bush White House team. Where the Nazis claimed they were merely “following orders” we see the same unarguable rhetoric from Bush’s people.

Bush’s bald-faced lies regarding the so-called “evidence” for attacking Iraq and occupying a sovereign country constitute “high crimes and misdemeanors” and must be address by the legal bodies so charged with investigating such accusations. And there are many extant accusations, and much evidence to support at least article of impeachment. We as a nation cannot allow Democrats to simply brush the very recent past under the rug for the expedient notion of “getting on with business.” That would show Americans that we are no longer a nation of laws, but an oligarchy. That would show the world that Democrats are as thick in lies, crimes, and corruption as the Republicans. It would also show the world that America is worthy of the attacks it has received and will absorb in the future. Some of these attacks might come from without, but given time, such attacks can easily come from within, and not only by radicalized Muslims.

Many Americans will also call such investigations and legal ramifications self-defeating, bad for the world view of America, bad for business. They, too, are wrong, because they must understand that when a political party and a nation have gone so far down a dangerous road strewn with dead bodies and corruption, there is no easy way back to firm pavement. People will get dirty; people may die. But any rescue mission is a dangerous job, where lives are in the balance between liberators and those needing deliverance.