The Right's Long-Term Fight

Cheer up.

It would take actual competence to overthrow the US government - something singularly lacking in the current Bush generation.

In all fairness, Kyle, no one should be held accountable for actions of a parent or grandparent.

That said, W's actions towards making an imperial/fascist presidency part of his legacy are of his own making, and he should not be able to blame either Daddy or Grandpa for all the un-democratic things he's been doing, and continues to do.

It doesn't surprise me at all what Prescott allegedly did. He's up there with the Henry Fords of the world in terms of xenophobia, jingoism and fascism (Henry Ford's writings read like a somewhat more prosaic version of Mein Kampf)

How many more days until January 20, 2009?

KG replies: Ah, good, so my grandfather's attempt to discredit 12-tone music won't be held against me.

So, you're implying that your grandfather's attempts were wrong? 8-)

KG replies: No more wrong than W. thinks his grandfather's fascist sympathies were wrong.

I'm still expecting the GOP to declare martial law and cancel elections as we get closer to King George's reign. But if you want to read something really scary, read this.

Fortunately, those dimwits picked the wrong guy to run their coup when they tapped Smedley Butler:

http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warracket.html



I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high class muscle-man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.

I suspected I was just part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of it. Like all the members of the military profession, I never had a thought of my own until I left the service. My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the military service.

I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefits of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912 (where have I heard that name before?). I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested.

During those years, I had, as the boys in the back room would say, a swell racket. Looking back on it, I feel that I could have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.

KG replies: Holy canoli, what a great article, and also the one it links to. You left out quotes just as good:

I believe in adequate defense at the coastline and nothing else. If a nation comes over here to fight, then we'll fight. The trouble with America is that when the dollar only earns 6 percent over here, then it gets restless and goes overseas to get 100 percent. Then the flag follows the dollar and the soldiers follow the flag.

I wouldn't go to war again as I have done to protect some lousy investment of the bankers. There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights. War for any other reason is simply a racket.