BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE

Sarah:

Through the Humble Eyes of a Clueless Hood-Rat

When you’re raised in the ghetto and you’re either unaware or deprived of the many resources that society has to offer, you learn to make due with what you have. In that regard, I was fortunate enough to recognize at a very early age that the acquisition of knowledge, and the ability to think, is free. So while my economic condition may have restricted me to the ghetto, there was no force on Earth that could limit my mind through the imposition of caste and privilege. If one is determined to seek out knowledge, the opportunities are just as vast at the corner library, as at Harvard University. Thus, one must choose to be ignorant.

With that insight in hand, I tried to compensate for the deficit in my formal education by making every effort to mold myself into the most logical and objective thinker that I was capable of becoming. As a result of that effort, I quickly found that those skills served as a great defense against the condescension and hubris of those who consider themselves better educated, and more intellectually astute.

It also became clear during my attempt to hone my syllogistic edges, that most people, regardless of how intelligent or well educated, are inefficient thinkers. We tend to think backwards. Instead of following facts to a logical conclusion, I’ve found that most people tend to formulate convenient, knee-jerk conclusions consistent with what they want to believe, and only then, try to find the facts to justify their preconceived positions. As a result, while they may derive comfort through their fallacious web beliefs, their behavior, and their entire view of the world is based on a fantasy of erroneous misconceptions. The Republican Party has built its entire existence on this human failing. It owes its very success to those who thrive on factoids rather than accurate information.

But again, one must choose to be ignorant. So in an attempt to mitigate my own failing in this area, I’ve come up with a simple proposition that governs my analysis of the world: "Efficient thought requires that we first, see life as it is, and only then, as we would have it." Following that prescription has not always made me the most popular guy among my peers, but it has served me well in analyzing the world around me. It would also serve America well, because it would prevent us from allowing demagogues to circumvent our common sense through appealing to our emotions, which is the primary cause of the harrowing condition that we now find ourselves.

We knew full well, for example, prior to our invasion of Iraq, that Saddam Hussein had absolutely nothing to do with nine-eleven. And the U.N. inspectors were unequivocal in their position that he had no weapons of mass destruction. Yet, instead of following our common sense, we followed our emotions.

Since we were frustrated over the fact that Osama Bin Laden was beyond our reach, Bush and his neocon cronies knew we were ripe for a "good ole fashion war" that would play well on America’s emotional need for vindication over the embarrassment of being run out of Vietnam thirty years earlier. So we made the racist decision, as a direct result of manipulation by the Bush administration, that any Muslim would do.

Ever since the United States was so unceremoniously booted out of Vietnam, the Republican Party’s sole mission in life has been to sell America grossly inflated theater tickets and over-priced popcorn for the luxury of reliving America’s greatness during WWII. That’s why with every other sentence the words "war", "nine-eleven", "victory", and "hero" rolls off Republican tongues like honey, and every time Bush gives a speech he has a row of uniformed men standing behind him. It’s been the quintessential campaign tactic, and provides a perfect explanation of why Americans continue to vote Republican against their own best interests. The tactic has allowed the American people to exist in a virtual fantansyland that’s resistant--in fact, hostile--to all appeals to common sense.

And if you’ll notice, the Republican Party has an uncanny ability to benefit from every American hardship. If you look back over the last eight years, it becomes immediately clear that the Republican Party and the Bush cronies have actually benefitted from nine-eleven. While the American people have suffered the loss of loved ones, Bush, Cheney, and his high profile neocons haven’t sacrificed one thing for this war; and while the American people are suffering from the loss of jobs, home foreclosures, and hugely inflated gas prices, Halliburton, the oil companies, and virtually all Republican-aligned business constituencies are enjoying record profits. So, it’s no wonder Bush refused to leave Iraq, and instead, was so enthusiastic in challenging Al-Qaeda to "Bring it on!" He had nothing to lose, but a few poor and middle class kids, and everything to gain.

One would think that the American people would recognize these facts, but their ability to think has been circumvented through an appeal to their emotions. Now they’ve rolled out Sarah Palin, who they claim "represents the interest of American’s women"–in spite of the fact that her politics is diametrically opposed to 95% of them; and that she’s "a devout Christian"–in spite of the fact that she loves nothing more than killing God’s creatures for sport; and of course, she’s "a bull dog with lipstick" who’s ready to go to war against Russia, in a tip of the obligatory hat to militarism.

Well, if she’s all that, why did they take such pains to hide her from the press? Well, I suppose her interview answered that question, but I think they’re going to find that after that episode, some things are too ridiculous to even slip passed the emotions.

So who is Sarah Palin?

Right off the bat, we know she’s a woman who’s willing to throw her seventeen year old daughter under the bus for her own selfish, political ambition. And we also know that she hasn’t had one constructive, or non-divisive thing to say since she’s entered the national debate.

In addition, by claiming to have been against "The Bridge to Nowhere", we know she’s willing to look the American people in the eye while she tells a boldface lie; and by threatening to fire Wasilla’s librarian for refusing to ban books that she didn’t like, we know she’s willing to use her clout to shove her personal beliefs down the throats of the American people; then, by actually firing Alaska’s public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan, for refusing fire her former brother-n-law, we know that she’s more than willing to abuse the power of her office to promote her personal agenda; and by supporting the Alaska independence movement in their agenda to take the state’s oil and separate from the United States, we know that she has "other priorities", that are more important to her than what’s in the best interest nation.

So who is Sarah Palin?

It’s quite clear through the eyes of this humble hood-rat--she’s Dick Cheney in drag, though not quite as smart.

Eric L. Wattree

wattree.blogspot.com

BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE

Sarah:

Through the Humble Eyes of a Clueless Hood-Rat

When you’re raised in the ghetto and you’re either unaware or deprived of the many resources that society has to offer, you learn to make due with what you have. In that regard, I was fortunate enough to recognize at a very early age that the acquisition of knowledge, and the ability to think, is free. So while my economic condition may have restricted me to the ghetto, there was no force on Earth that could limit my mind through the imposition of caste and privilege. If one is determined to seek out knowledge, the opportunities are just as vast at the corner library, as at Harvard University. Thus, one must choose to be ignorant.

With that insight in hand, I tried to compensate for the deficit in my formal education by making every effort to mold myself into the most logical and objective thinker that I was capable of becoming. As a result of that effort, I quickly found that those skills served as a great defense against the condescension and hubris of those who consider themselves better educated, and more intellectually astute.

It also became clear during my attempt to hone my syllogistic edges, that most people, regardless of how intelligent or well educated, are inefficient thinkers. We tend to think backwards. Instead of following facts to a logical conclusion, I’ve found that most people tend to formulate convenient, knee-jerk conclusions consistent with what they want to believe, and only then, try to find the facts to justify their preconceived positions. As a result, while they may derive comfort through their fallacious web beliefs, their behavior, and their entire view of the world is based on a fantasy of erroneous misconceptions. The Republican Party has built its entire existence on this human failing. It owes its very success to those who thrive on factoids rather than accurate information.

But again, one must choose to be ignorant. So in an attempt to mitigate my own failing in this area, I’ve come up with a simple proposition that governs my analysis of the world: "Efficient thought requires that we first, see life as it is, and only then, as we would have it." Following that prescription has not always made me the most popular guy among my peers, but it has served me well in analyzing the world around me. It would also serve America well, because it would prevent us from allowing demagogues to circumvent our common sense through appealing to our emotions, which is the primary cause of the harrowing condition that we now find ourselves.

We knew full well, for example, prior to our invasion of Iraq, that Saddam Hussein had absolutely nothing to do with nine-eleven. And the U.N. inspectors were unequivocal in their position that he had no weapons of mass destruction. Yet, instead of following our common sense, we followed our emotions.

Since we were frustrated over the fact that Osama Bin Laden was beyond our reach, Bush and his neocon cronies knew we were ripe for a "good ole fashion war" that would play well on America’s emotional need for vindication over the embarrassment of being run out of Vietnam thirty years earlier. So we made the racist decision, as a direct result of manipulation by the Bush administration, that any Muslim would do.

Ever since the United States was so unceremoniously booted out of Vietnam, the Republican Party’s sole mission in life has been to sell America grossly inflated theater tickets and over-priced popcorn for the luxury of reliving America’s greatness during WWII. That’s why with every other sentence the words "war", "nine-eleven", "victory", and "hero" rolls off Republican tongues like honey, and every time Bush gives a speech he has a row of uniformed men standing behind him. It’s been the quintessential campaign tactic, and provides a perfect explanation of why Americans continue to vote Republican against their own best interests. The tactic has allowed the American people to exist in a virtual fantansyland that’s resistant--in fact, hostile--to all appeals to common sense.

And if you’ll notice, the Republican Party has an uncanny ability to benefit from every American hardship. If you look back over the last eight years, it becomes immediately clear that the Republican Party and the Bush cronies have actually benefitted from nine-eleven. While the American people have suffered the loss of loved ones, Bush, Cheney, and his high profile neocons haven’t sacrificed one thing for this war; and while the American people are suffering from the loss of jobs, home foreclosures, and hugely inflated gas prices, Halliburton, the oil companies, and virtually all Republican-aligned business constituencies are enjoying record profits. So, it’s no wonder Bush refused to leave Iraq, and instead, was so enthusiastic in challenging Al-Qaeda to "Bring it on!" He had nothing to lose, but a few poor and middle class kids, and everything to gain.

One would think that the American people would recognize these facts, but their ability to think has been circumvented through an appeal to their emotions. Now they’ve rolled out Sarah Palin, who they claim "represents the interest of American’s women"–in spite of the fact that her politics is diametrically opposed to 95% of them; and that she’s "a devout Christian"–in spite of the fact that she loves nothing more than killing God’s creatures for sport; and of course, she’s "a bull dog with lipstick" who’s ready to go to war against Russia, in a tip of the obligatory hat to militarism.

Well, if she’s all that, why did they take such pains to hide her from the press? Well, I suppose her interview answered that question, but I think they’re going to find that after that episode, some things are too ridiculous to even slip passed the emotions.

So who is Sarah Palin?

Right off the bat, we know she’s a woman who’s willing to throw her seventeen year old daughter under the bus for her own selfish, political ambition. And we also know that she hasn’t had one constructive, or non-divisive thing to say since she’s entered the national debate.

In addition, by claiming to have been against "The Bridge to Nowhere", we know she’s willing to look the American people in the eye while she tells a boldface lie; and by threatening to fire Wasilla’s librarian for refusing to ban books that she didn’t like, we know she’s willing to use her clout to shove her personal beliefs down the throats of the American people; then, by actually firing Alaska’s public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan, for refusing fire her former brother-n-law, we know that she’s more than willing to abuse the power of her office to promote her personal agenda; and by supporting the Alaska independence movement in their agenda to take the state’s oil and separate from the United States, we know that she has "other priorities", that are more important to her than what’s in the best interest nation.

So who is Sarah Palin?

In the humble opinion of this clueless hood-rat, she’s Dick Cheney in drag–but not quite as smart.

Eric L. Wattree

wattree.blogspot.com

BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE

In Solemn Tribute to The 2008 Republican Snake Oil Festival

After enduring the obligatory task of suffering through The 2008 Republican Snake Oil Festival, I’ve come away with a virtual case of whiplash from having vacillated between somnambulistic boredom and slack-jawed disbelief. It is absolutely amazing how effortlessly the Republican Party can take a routine fact, mold it into the most ridiculous lie ever told, and then present that lie with the quivering lip of an apostle. But that’s the Republican key to success. They can tell the most blatant lie as though their convoluted version of the truth came directly from the lips of God.

The American people tend to accept these lies because they’ve been so finely tuned, carefully crafted, and presented by such masters, that by the end of these fairytales the American people have been drenched in false patriotism and tethered to a childlike view of the world that so remote from even the most tenuous connection with reality, that there’s nothing left of reality for them to hold on to. As a result, they’re left drifting in a world so surreal and disorienting that they’re willing to grab ahold of anything that even resembles reality. But what ultimately seals the deal is the American people’s innate belief in the basic honesty of their leaders. Americans simply cannot bring themselves to believe that anyone can possibly look them in the eye and then tell a blatant lie.

But unfortunately, most Republicans can do just that. Lying is a skill that all Republican politicians have to master early in their career. The Republican Party has become so far removed from what’s in the best interest of the American people, it can only survive through corruption, manipulation, and deceit. Thus, the ability to craft a finely tuned lie is, literally, the most valuable coin of the Republican realm.

The party is a coalition of three groups of people–the rich corporate interests, whose only concern is to service their own greed; the angry, social chauvinists, who have convinced themselves that God hates anyone who doesn’t look, act, and think like themselves; and finally, the unthinking disaffected, who have been manipulated into embracing the misguided agenda of the first two groups.

These people tend to preach a passionate sermon, but unfortunately, they fail to live up to their own gospel. While they claim to be anointed by God himself, their most strident message appeals to greed, hatred, and a lack of compassion for others. They embrace an agenda that propagates the murder of Iraqis, the proposed murder of Iranians, the exclusion of gays as equal members of society, depriving needy Americans of universal healthcare, the destruction of our social security system, depriving vets of needed healthcare and a decent life after they’ve left the military, and the aggressive subsidizing of the wealthy, while passing along the bill to the next generation. Then they look us square in the eye, and tell us that this is God’s will.

A perfect example of Republican deception at work can be seen in the way that John McCain wraps himself in the American flag every chance he gets. He’s depending on our being so appreciative of his suffering during his time in Vietnam, that we’ll refrain from truly examining who he really is. Well, I do appreciate his service, but at the same time, I also recognize that millions of other Americans have also suffered from the pain of war, and the best way we can repay them for their suffering is to elect the most competent leaders we can find to lead, protect and defend this nation that they suffered so greatly to preserve–and, military service notwithstanding, John McCain has neither the character, competence, nor demeanor to fulfill that role.

If you take a really close look at McCain’s life, it contradicts everything he tends to embrace.

Not one aspect of his life reflects the American tradition of fair play, where everyone is given an equal opportunity to excel based on their personal merit. McCain’s entire life has been based upon taking advantage of an affirmative action program for the privileged. His grades in school were so bad that he wouldn’t have even been able to get into college, much less Annapolis, if it wasn’t for his family. He was only allowed to get into Annapolis as a result of having a father and grandfather who were both admirals in the navy–and even then, he only managed to graduate 894th out of a class of 899. He was fifth from the very bottom of his class, and we’re considering placing the future of this nation in his hands? Haven’t we learned a thing from the past eight years about electing incompetent "daddy’s boys" to lead this nation?

And maybe it’s just me, but I’ve always thought of heroes as the strong silent type–you know, "High Noon," Gary Cooper, Randolph Scott. This nation has thousands of such heroes, but they rarely reveal themselves. They only surface on Veteran’s and Memorial Day, as they slowly limp past, proudly sporting their American Legion caps over thinning gray hair. These men tend to play down their heroism. They’re content to pull out their medals once or twice a year and quietly relive a time in their lives when they were young, strong, and virile, and the only applause they require for their exploits is the burning pride they see in the eyes of their aging sweetheart and loving families as they march past.

But that’s not McCain. He’s a "hero" of a different sort, and he’s ridden that horse for all it’s worth--I’m surprised he doesn’t wear his Silver Star as a lapel pin.

Wikipedia related a report from the Phoenix Gazette that indicated during John McCain’s run for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, he was labeled a carpetbagger. In response to one of his critics McCain seized upon a theme that would be regurgitated ad nauseam throughout his career:

He said, "Listen, pal. I spent 22 years in the Navy. My father was in the Navy. My grandfather was in the Navy. We in the military service tend to move a lot. We have to live in all parts of the country, all parts of the world. I wish I could have had the luxury, like you, of growing up and living and spending my entire life in a nice place like the First District of Arizona, but I was doing other things. As a matter of fact, when I think about it now, the place I lived longest in my life was Hanoi"

While I understand that my response to Sen. McCain may be far less than politically correct, it seems to me that after forty years of thank-you’s, free passes on political corruption, and being given the opportunity to build a career on his experience in Vietnam, enough is enough already.

So I’m sure you’ll excuse me, Sen. McCain, if after thanking you, yet again, for your brave sacrifice, if I step over in the corner and throw all the way up, just this once . . . my friend.

Eric L. Wattree

wattree.blogspot.com