The Prophet Mencken

“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”

A statement from H.L.Mencken, 1920, as quoted in the most recent issue of The Washington Spectator. Is it not perfect? Does it not represent precisely what has happened in the years since Mencken wrote it? Does it not have religious fundamentalists written all over it? Does it not say Red States, Red States, Red States? Creationism? Homophobia? Ignorance? Intolerance? Utter foolishness? Turning our backs on the scientific revolutions that have brought us where we thought we might be in the 21st century? These are not idle questions when you consider the plans being developed by the Falwells, Robertsons, Dobsons, and others of the lunatic religious right. They appear to truly believe they can return us to the 18th century. And they will unless enough of us get off our televisions and onto the streets. This is no joke.

I could not bring myself to watch the “telly” today. I have no idea what happened with Alberto Gonzales. I assume he will be confirmed. Why not? He is just as much a part of the murderous gang of thieves and yes-persons as any of the other White House toadies. So he approved of torture, so what? He was only acting on behalf of the President. Now that he will be acting on the part of everyone he won’t be like that. You bet!

And did you notice that Condaleeza Rice is actually not dead. She has surfaced recently and is appointing somebody-or-other as her assistant instead of Bolton the Destroyer who thought he would get the job. He’s leaving for the “private sector” where he can no doubt cause even more trouble.

And Colin, our Colin, is flying around the world pretending that he is still Secretary of State and speaking for the Administration. He noticed there was a lot of devastation in India and Sri Lanka. Bill Frist noticed it too and insisted that the requisite amount of devastation should be in the background of his photo-ops. Don’t you just love these guys?

Most of my friends are depressed. I, too, am depressed. We believe that the current Democratic leadership in Washington is out of touch with the rank and file Democrats. We do not want anymore Republican-lite, no more trying to cater to centrists, no more simply giving in to the outrageous behavior of Republicans. We want to fight, to expose the absolutely Fascist nature of what is going on under the current Republican Administration. This is an absolutely nasty bunch of bastards that deserve no cooperation whatsoever. They are war criminals, thieves, liars, and worse. Until the world is rid of them there is no chance whatsoever of peace and goodwill. If you want any form of progress in the Middle East start with Israel, the most criminal nation on earth. Israel, in terms of violating U.N. resolutions, make the Iraqis, even under Hussein, look like solid citizens in the world community. There can never be progress in the Middle East until Israel’s lust for land and water is curbed and the Palestinians are given their due.

Depression can be overcome. Hopelessness cannot. So do not give in to hopelessness. Be of good cheer and gird your loins for what is to come. Believe in truth and beauty and it will come to you, however difficult the road.