Fools Paradise
By David Tatosian (10/31/06)
Once again Americans are being denied the opportunity to elect candidates devoted to charting a safe course through turbulent waters. Indeed. Beyond poll driven campaign bluster, precious few incumbents seem able to perceive anything but clear skies and smooth sailing ahead.
Republican’s insist they have kept the nation safe from a major domestic attack. They’re correct in that a major attack has not occurred. But turning that fact into a Republican campaign issue is irresponsible, shortsighted and divisive. Establishing domestic security in a time of war is a goal that transcends partisan bickering and electioneering. It should, in fact, be a goal that all government branches are committed to.
But it isn’t.
Given the nature of the enemy that now confronts us, the absence of an attack on our soil cannot be wholly attributed to any precautionary actions taken by Republicans. For one thing, our enemy keeps to his own schedule. For another, neither the Republicans nor the President have instituted even that most basic of security measures: securing the perimeter of our country by securing the borders.
This is basic stuff. If your home has been burglarized and you do not bother closing your doors and windows against further violation, then you’ve made no effort to secure your own home. Pronouncing your lack of security measures a success before the criminals take advantage of your opened doors and windows again is delusional.
The President and the Republicans insist the war on terror and secure borders are two separate issues, but a recent study by the House Committee of Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Investigations states, “Members of Hezbollah have already entered the United States across the Southwest border…the massive flow of immigrants and our porous border create various and abundant opportunities for concealment. Given the ever-present threat posed by al-Qa’ida and other terrorist organizations – a threat that has been underscored by the recent events in London and the vulnerability of our borders – the need for immediate action to enforce our borders could not be more apparent.”
Members of Hezbollah carried out the bombing of our Marines in Beirut in 1983. With the help of Iran and Syria, Hezbollah is currently rearming in preparation for a new assault on Israel. Clearly these are the bad guys yet the President and his Republican majority remain committed to an open border policy that invites terrorists to cross our borders.
Had the President shown no preoccupation with his own safety, one might accept his disinterest in the safety of Americans as just another fatal flaw. But experience shows us that President Bush is exceedingly concerned about his own safety. In fact, President Bush insists his Secret Service must now protect him from the Internet scribblings of American teenage girls while American victims of his illegal alien criminals go ignored.
His disregard and contempt for American citizens could not be more obvious.
Republicans assure us this Presidential contempt is a good thing, albeit beyond our limited capacity to understand, and once again remind us that they, the Republicans, are far better for us than the Democrats.
It is an old and tired argument.
The real surprise in all this is the Conservative response to this Republican dereliction of duty.
Apparently Conservatives are horrified that some of their number, those whom Grover Norquist refers to as whiners, might withhold their votes from the Republican Party this cycle.
Those Conservatives bemoan their potential loss of influence should Republicans lose badly at the polls. They worry that their coveted spot at the Republican table might disappear.
I’m puzzled at this loss of influence argument. What influence are they referring to? Has this influence manifested itself in fiscal responsibility at the executive or legislative level? How about personal responsibility and accountability, the bedrock of Conservatism? Any of that in evidence in the Republican Majority?
Or are Conservatives saying they’ve influenced the confused, self-defeating and contradictory policies of the President and his rubberstamp congress?
As for a seat at the Republican table, well, if standing outside the kitchen door patiently awaiting a bucket of Republican table scraps constitutes a seat at the table then so be it.
Recently William F. Buckley was quite clear in declaring George Bush a non-Conservative. Six years into the Bush administration. Mr. Buckley’s pretty sharp. Why’d it take him so long to see what some of us have been shouting for years? Did it really take all this time for him to reach that conclusion, or has he kept his silence to help maintain the ethereal Conservative influence we now hear about?
No disrespect, but mightn’t one, or a combination of both of the above possibilities indicate that Conservatives, generally speaking intelligent, well informed and well-intentioned folks, have transformed themselves into being part of the problem rather than the solution?
At this moment we are witnessing the desperate attempts of American citizens trying to save themselves and their communities from the calamitous border security-illegal immigration policies imposed upon them by an imperious elected class.
Each and every one of those attempts will end up before some judge. No doubt that judge will resent the effrontery of American citizens demanding some control in shaping the future of their own country as much as President Bush and his Republicans do. No doubt those judges will rule accordingly.
But here’s an irony: Republicans would dearly love to crush the Democrats and bring themselves closer to single party rule.
How ironic that their efforts to achieve that goal compelled them to deny the rights of American citizens so as to accommodate Latin American illegal aliens hiding in broad daylight.
How ironic that Republicans have spurned the American citizens, the very people whose votes could have made that goal a reality this November.
And how fortunate for our nation that we awoke in time to prevent it.
David Tatosian
Sources:
House Committee Report-
http://www.house.gov/mccaul/pdf/Investigaions-Border-Report.pdf
14-Year-Old Girl and the Secret Service-
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/38768.html
Grover Norquist-
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20061019-115634-7883r.htm
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.asp?ID=11209
http://tanque.org/peptide/norquist.rad.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4380933,00.html
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000988.php
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/responsetonorquist27.pdf
William F Buckley-
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/22/eveningnews/main1826838.shtml
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