Brent Budowsky: The American Crisis: If Thomas Paine Were With Us, Part 3.

A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION
by Brent Budowsky

This note will end with a call to action to Democratic and progressive billionaires and millionaires to step up to the plate at a critical hour of crisis for democracy in America. Readers can assume I am in the process of contacting some who fall into both categories, for support for the cause, and am open to suggestions from those who have, or know others who have, the means and commitment to make a difference.

Any one of a thousand progressives and Democrats of means, to whom God has given so much, has the power to change the course of American history by helping send out our message that is so right, so vital and so true, at so important a moment, with stakes so high, for our country.

The American crisis is real and immediate, with an arc of chaos enveloping the Middle East, with the catastrophic results of grave mistakes and escalating tragedy, which our divided American Family witnesses every evening on the network news.

The cause of the American Crisis is twofold: An Administration that has made enormous and incalculable mistakes, and in fact exploits the results of those mistakes for their own partisan advantage, is the first cause. The dangerous situation in Washingon that has eradicated virtually every check and balance in our democratic system, making past and future mistakes of catastrophic magnitude virtually inevitable, is the second cause.

The calculus of democracy in America is simple. The American people have lost confidence in the ability of the President and his government to protect our national security. Those in military families and military communities are most acutely aware of the disasters. The spinmeisters of Republican partisanship and the conventional wisdomers of the national media believe it a great victory for the President when his disapproval falls to merely 60% of the American people.

Unable to point to victories, the President and his partisans are reduced to demeaning and misrepresenting their opponents, with the desperate hope, which has worked before, that their numbers will fall even lower than his. George W. Bush is the first President in the history of the Republic, who seeks to win an election with policies, misjudgments and obsessions that may be losing a war.

With a historic election approaching its twilight hours, the party that has caused catastrophe for America's interests and values around the world, is about to launch its greatest disrespect for democracy through a campaign of slanderous attacks, financed by one of the giant war chests in history, powered by the most giant media machine ever built in history, created through thirty years of money and power while our side slumbered and slept.

The argument for the Democrats is not that they are brilliantly organized, politically courageous, or profoundly principled. They are not. The argument for the Democrats is that on national security, on the issues that define The American Crisis, they are fundamentally professional, fundamentally decent, and fundamentally in tune with the successful security strategies that have served America well since the Second World War and have united the free world for sixty years.

The argument for the Democrats is that America is a Republic that functions best with two political parties and three branches of goverment sharing power. The Nation inevitably endures grave crisis, as we have learned through much unnecessary danger and blood, when the goodwill of the Republic, and the checks and balances of democracy, are destroyed by the single minded partisans and factions that the Federalist Papers warned all future generations so sternly against.

The calculus of the election is simple: the Nation has overwhelmingly lost confidence in the Republicans, but has not yet gained confidence in the Democrats. Those who have caused the catastrophes that plague us, have successfully demonized those who have not.

What does it tell us, that almost half of our Nation believes the untruth spread so malicously to drive a wounded people to unwise war, that Saddam Hussein was involved in 9-11? How Jefferson and Paine, Washington and Madison, must be shaking their heads in heaven at the power of a lie, restated often, backed by money and power, repeated by a supplicant press, to be seen as truth by half the Nation so ignorant of the facts, so long after the event.

Freedom and democracy will never be threatened by Osama Bin Laden, as much as they are threatened by this.

The great danger in the world today is not World War III, as discussed by our President and Vice-President, but the growing possiblity that Osama Bin Laden's greatest vision could come true, a global religious war that would ultimately make our dangers and divisions today pale by comparison to what might someday come.

Never has a case in a mid-term election more clear, more compelling, and more urgent to communicate. Never has the responsibility been so great for those in our party, to whom God has given so much, to stop doing so little for our cause by comparison to their Republican and Conservative colleagues, who have spent thirty years pouring money and power into dominating the communications of our country.

Our message is right, our case is clear, our cause is just, the source of the American Crisis is before us, the means to end it are within our power, if our will can equal our passion:

Through the blunderings and bad faith of an Administration dangerously far removed from the decent opinion of the friends of democracy throughout the world, and through a disrespect for democratic traditions and values that have served America well throughout our history, the danger of one party government, being dominated by one branch of government, being dominated by one faction within that Party, are clear:

Whether the Iraq war was right or wrong, it has been administered disastrously.

It has destabilized our military force structures throughout the world.

It has created dangers and preventable casualties and death for our troops,

It has involved breaches of trust and violations of the terms of service for our greatest heroes.

It has wreaked havoc on our military families throughout the Nation.

It has been mismanaged through constant disregard and disrespect for the informed opinions of our military commanders.

It has alienated overwhelming majorities of the people in the land we invaded.

It has created worldwide loss of crediblity and support for America that is more widespread and more damaging than at any time in our history.

The Administation announced with much fanfare that civilian casualties in Iraq had fallen dramatically in August. The American people learned shortly thereafter: that was simple untrue. Evidence now reveals that civilian deaths in Iraq had risen above 6,000 in July and August alone.

What was done in the name of democracy, has led to a vote entirely along sectarian lines, and a civil war between sectarian combatants, where the biggest winners were insurgents and terrorists, and the biggest losers were honorable Iraqis suffering civilian deaths measured in the thousands per month.

It has given aid, comfort and strategic gain to our enemies while vastly increasing the dangers to our people, and what was done in the name of making us safer, has destroyed the villages we invaded to save, and done incalculable damage to our national security by creating new dangers from sources around the world.

Within days of the votes being counted on this next Election Day, there is now the strong probability that even more troops will be formally requested and sent to Iraq, with the situation continuing to deteroriate.

The mission in Afghanistan is deeply troubled, where the surrendered moment to finish off Bin Laden has allowed resurgence of the Taliban and the triumph of war lords and drug lords, who are the true Afghan winners of the Bush-Cheney policy.

Barely weeks ago the Bush Administration spoke in terms of reduced troop strength in Iraq.

Then they increased troop levels by 20,000.

Soon they may increase again.

And now, there are urgent requests for more NATO troops in Afghanistan.

The little noticed war in Somalia creates another windfall for terrorists, with dangers that are not even discussed on the network news.

Yet our ports remain unprotected.

Police and fire fighter support remains cut.

Our borders remain unsecured while our President suggests that those who sing our Anthem in Spanish are not real Americans.

Four years after 9-11 good people died in New Orleans because they were too poor, too young, too elderly, and too handicapped to protect themselves, and those entrusted to do so, did not.

Today emergency preparedness remains so faulty that communications in many of our communities still do not exist between police, fire fighters and emergency medics if disaster stikes again.

The Republican former Inspector General of Homeland Security writes a book with hundreds of pages of warnings listing unaddressed dangers that remain today.

The Republican former Secretary of Homeland Security publicly states that he never believed that many of the previous terror warnings that alarmed the Nation should never have been issued.

The Republican former Secretary of State announces his belief that because of current policies, the whole moral basis of the President's war on terror is now in doubt, throughout much of the world. War heroes are called traitors.

Troops are ordered to combat without armor.

Or enough bandages.

Or enough helmets.

Military hospitals are closed.

Those who cannot win the war against the terrorists and insurgents declare war to cut brain trauma support for wounded troops.

Debt collectors harrass the wives and the husbands of heroes in uniform.

War profiteering abounds.

Of the $18 billion of taxpayer money aimed to improve life for Iraqis, $10 billion is stolen, or missing, or corrupted.

The Republican Government pushes military pay increase that is barely above 2% for 2007, almost certainly below the rate of inflation, an effective pay cut for the troops.

In short: the politicians who vote steady pay raises for themselves, who vote enormous tax cuts for the wealthiest, try to push through a below inflation, effective pay cut, for the troops, and wonder why Washington is now held in such low repute.

Almost 20% of our heroes in uniform are so financially wounded they are forced to pay up to 790% interest on loans offered by legalized thieves to desperate heroes.

The Mafia treats its victims better than our government treats many of our troops.

Republican leaders drive chauffered limousines to champage fundraisers, to raise piles of money for themselves, while they tell our people how much they love our troops.

Our President supports torture.

Our Vice-President champions it.

Our troops despise it, but again, and again, and again, our commanders are disrespected, our troops are disserved, and those who never got closer to danger than hunting trips declare war on the Geneva Conventions, endangering our heroes, disdaining what Jefferson called the decent opinion of mankind.

Even though virtually our entire miltary opposes torture.

And leaders of every democracy on the face of the earth oppose torture.

And near unanimous populations in Nations that are America's truest friends on earth oppose torture.

And every leader of every great religion in the world opposes torture.

Except the mullahs who advise the terrorists.

And this is crucial: before Congress passes ANY compromise on torture the President MUST announce that he will issue NO signing statement claiming the unilateral power to violate the law he signs.

And this is clear: it is NO compromise if the President maintains unilateral power for future exectutive orders, future federal register entries, or any other means to unilaterally determine what acts are in violation of the Geneva Convention.  Before any legislation passes, JAG lawyers and respected international lawyers should publically testify before Congress to make certain that new legislation does not permit back-door violations of the Geneva Convention.

Our President plays on fear.

And our Vice President hides in undisclosed locations.

The capital city of the great democracy on earth is reduced to fearful rabbits running to specialty shops to buy duct tape, gas masks, bullet proof vests, and bottled water.

We are told not to bring fluids on planes.

By the same people who spent six years refusing to supply airport screening.

The CIA Director who called false intelligence a slam dunk is rewarded with a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

While the Army Chief of Staff who courageously warned the nation is publicly demeaned and forced to retire prematurely.

And the Senate Intelligence Committee covers up, until after the election, a report that will probably prove that our highest officials lied to the Nation, about pre-war intelligence on Iraq.

Possibly in violation of law.

The President who compares Bin Laden to Hitler let Bin Laden escape Tora Bora.

Disrespecting the advice of commanders.

Ignoring the urgent calls from our special forces.

Letting off the hook the man who planned 9-11.

To fight a war he wanted before he was even inaugurated.

When he should have been reading the Presidential Daily Briefing warning of terrorist planes flying into burning buildings.

Then spent six years exploiting the blood of our greatest heroes for partisan political gain in his shameless politics of fear.

One of our greatest heroes and most famous athletes gave up a life of luxury and wealth to give his life in service to our country, sadly lost in friendly fire.

Then our leaders tried to lie about it.

Then they disrespected his family.

Our President ran for re-election promising our people that nothing had changed with warrants required for searches.

When he knew he was not telling the truth.

Then tried to keep the truth from Congress.

And tried the keep the truth from Courts.

He opposes treaties to prevent nuclear proliferation while he hints at war over nuclear proliferation.

He opposes treaties to protect the earth and prevent more global warming while his henchmen threaten scientists to try to force them to silence, or lies.

He alienates our nation on issue affer issue, from country after country, saying they are either for us or against us, while he turns them against us.

Yet despots with oil are among his truest friends.

While executives who give hundreds of thousands of dollars to his campaigns are rewarded with billions and billions of special favors, while their companies who reap their record profits pay them hundreds of millions of dollars of personal wealth.

Energy policy is made in secret meetings.

Oil dependence gets more dangerous by the day.

Middle East profiteers spin oil money to terrorists, then hold hands with our leader.

The rich get richer, singing their songs in champagne tributes to each other while money changes hands and great fortunes are made.

While Cher fights for the helmets, against the negligence of those who sent our heroes to war, who were busy at gala fundraisers raising toasts of triumph with influence peddlers while unsupplied troops shed their blood in the sands.

No bid contracts.

Misappropriated funds.

Political oppo staff running Iraq reconstruction projects.

Superbowl parties for Haliburton execs.

While heroes write home to Mom and Dad, who scour EBAY for military supplies.

And they wonder why things are getting worse in Afghanistan and Iraq.

And then use their failures to make us afraid.

And then use our fear to claim the Bill of Rights is expendible.

And then use these crisis to claim the right to have two more years of power without checks and balances.

And demean our politics and divide our people against each other, using the language of holy war not merely against the enemy abroad, but against our neighbors at home.

Which no wartime President has ever done.

Our enemy Bin Laden works to divide and conquer.

While our President deliberately divides us.

Our enemy Bin Laden uses to terror to make us afraid.

While our President abuses our trust to make us afraid.

Thomas Paine wrote that in our nation of bravery the law is king.

Bush and Cheney believe that in a fearful nation the king is law.

The source of the American Crisis is clear; tragedy and failure are inevitable when power is concentrated in one branch of government, controlled by one party, without the checks and balances designed to prevent abuse, without the decent respect for each other that is the hallmark and guarantor of our diverse society and democratic system of government.

Never before in our history has a message been more right, a truth more true, a case more compelling, a time more right, a danger more urgent, a mission so noble.

The forces we are up against are mighty; even television networks defame our most solemn national moment with a film so false and dishonest it is more akin to a propaganda film of a one-party state than a national moment of commemoration of a good, decent and brave people.

For thirty years the billionaires, millionaires and operatives of the partisan right have spent enormous amounts of money building a machine so powerful that half of our country still believes something so totally false, so long after the event.

Give them credit; what they did was brilliant, daring, aggressive, visionary and bold. They control the medium, they control the message, they define the debate, they determine the outcome, while our sleeping and slumbering side failed to appreciate the power of what they do, the danger of their success, and the consequences for our country and a world that prays for America to lead.

I do not condemn Mr. Richard Mellon Scaife for what he does; I am jealous, that our side has so few like him, fighting for our more noble cause, financing our more noble ventures, defending our more noble values, standing with us in defense in our far more honorable vision of American tradition, American history and American values.

Any one of a thousand Democrats, to whom God has given so much, has the means to change the course of American history.

What is striking about the American Crisis in our times, is how little respect the highest levels on our side, have for the greatest numbers on our side, the truest hearts and sweetest souls and highest patriotism of those among us who ask for nothing more than an Americanism that lifts our spirits, and lights the world, with the greatest gift that God ever gave this earth, in this great land we call freedom.

To those on our side to whom God gave the greatest gifts and most wonderful fortunes it is time to make a stand.

Every day brings news of a hundred million dollar gift to Africa, or some great global cause that we appreciate and applaud.

Those who do this should be commended with high praise and grateful thanks.

But where is the gift to Democracy in America?

Where is the investment in the freedom and justice that is best guaranteed in a Nation that is governed by we the people, not we the President, we the conservatives, or we the extremists who want to wage war after war, promoting fear after fear, viewing even our Bill of Rights as property to be bartered away in the quest for total power without limits?

To those whom much is given, much is asked.

Where is our Richard Mellon Scaife?

Where is the support for our message, our values, our mission, so much more noble, so much less supported, not for a year but for a generation, from those with the means who would have made the difference, but did not, at such great cost?

Stand with us, we will move the world, we will restore vitality and trust in our democracy.

There will be cheers from free people in every corner of the world.

There will be standing ovations from those who yearn to be free, who are terrified when we go wrong, but inspired to heights of humanity when we live up to our dreams, our ideals, our vision of an America that is a sun so bright, it shines so brilliantly, on even the darkest corners of a troubled world.

Like Paine marching with the troops when Washington read his words to desperate patriots suffering at Valley Forge, and read his words to cheering patriots as they crossed the Deleware to make their stand for America, we are up against mighty forces, but we know that in this land we love the American Spirit can always overcome the American Crisis.

The stakes are high.

The danger is real.

The case is compelling.

The cause is just.

The time is now.

The choice is yours.

This age of The American Crisis must end.

The renewal of The American Spirit must begin again.

Brent Budowsky

A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION

Brent Budowsky served as Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, responsible for commerce and intelligence matters, including one of the core drafters of the CIA Identities Law. Served as Legislative Director to Congressman Bill Alexander, then Chief Deputy Whip, House of Representatives. Currently a member of the International Advisory Council of the Intelligence Summit. Left goverment in 1990 for marketing and public affairs business including major corporate entertainment and talent management. He can be reached at brentbbi@webtv.net.