by M. Guardinian
copyright 2005 all rights reserved
Republicans, often for family
values and entertainment have recreated an old fashioned, long
gone tradition: that of the old time circus. Who knew that the
Bush Administration could withhold a reference to what surely
must be years of experience as the master of ceremonies from
what only Barnum and Bailey could have imagined in their worst
nightmares.
Never mind the obvious visions of
elephants and mules working the crowd up to a frenzy. That's
the typical metaphor. This week's events are less like the work
of an MC and more like the title of "Ring Leader".
Where have I heard that catch phrase over and over again?
So here we are, the American
people in the stands; or rather in front of our television
sets. Bush, in tailored suit, microphone before him brings the
crowd's attention to his left "And in this corner, Ladies and
Gentlemen, may I bring your attention to the brave woman walking
the tight rope. Holding her balance beam of one half single
living, never married title while the other end counter
balancing with her ultra conservative ties to the southern
Christian church. What's that you say? She's walking the tight
rope without a net?"
The
audience gasps!
With a twinkle in his eye, he
continues, "Yes, the Conservative Right Wing isn't so willing
to catch my nominee for the Supreme Court so she's decided to
walk the rope in spite of it all."
Enter the Keystone Kops' car.
Balding little men in dark suits
come running out of the tiny car and up the pole towards the
tight rope. "Look! The key stones (majority leading) are
here and what's this? They're shaking the tight rope of Ms.
Miers. Watch as her balance beam of liberal lifestyle and
conservative ties bounces up and down!"
Women begin to scream in the audience!
"Oh!" Bush continues.
"Too bad. Another Administration appointee leaps to her
political career death."
The crowd is now standing up
wondering what is to become of the fallen tight rope walker but
the spot light is quickly moved to the right ring. Without the
spotlight, the audience quickly forgets those who have fallen
and those who have brought her down. There is suddenly a new
attraction.....
"Gather your children and
sweethearts, gentlemen. This next ring is not for the faint of
heart."
The spotlight comes upon a scene
of the southeast, property damage, dead floating bodies, ill
planned security. Celebrity personalities abound; some helpful;
some smiling for photo opportunities next to corpses.
"Lines and lines! That's all
they are! We've got water, ice, medicine and food. We're the
land of plenty," Bush beams. "I'd like to introduce you
to our new Line Tamer, R. David Paulison."
Paulison enters the ring with a
bucket of ice and a whip; charging the line of those displaced
from their homes, he shouts that the trucks are here and the
government will provide. Elderly and the sick in the line
collapse before they ever get near the ice or water. With each
crack of his whip, the line changes formation much like a
marching band at half time. The crowd OOOoos and Ahhhs ........
Walking through the stands,
stockbrokers call the public, "Junk bonds, get your junk
bonds! High interest ARMs, low income jobs, rising fuels
costs! Get your junk here!"
"And in the center ring..."
Bush continues and the light fades once more along with our
short term memory "we have the Iraq war.
The spotlight focuses upon a large
sheet of parchment on a plain wooden table.
"Here is what all of our hard
work and dedication to FREEDOM has given us. Here is the
constitution of the FREE Iraq." In the background, guns and
mortar shell explosions abound. Soldiers scream as they are
carried off the battlefield, wounded and disfigured.
A child from the audience shouts
aloud, "Hey what's that noise?"
Bush, ever the showman, walks
right up to the young boy in the stand and replies, "You'll
see soon enough young man..."
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