U.S.--Your Illusion

Bush or Kerry, ‘War on Terror’ Unlikely to Change

Bush, Kerry offer little contrast on foreign policy

Bush, Kerry Aim for Balance on Israel
…Fealty to Israel’s security is so deeply embedded in both parties that symbolic touches may be the most that set them apart…

and, my personal favorite:

Armstrong’s bracelet worn by Bush, Kerry

Whew! What a relief. I’m glad I don’t have to choose between a pro-cancer and anti-cancer candidate. That would be tough.

What’s next? A contest to see who’ll be the first to nail a yarmulke to his head and promise to bomb Iran’s Bushehr nuclear facility on Inauguration Day?

Kerry v. Bush is shaping up to be one of those epic battles between self proclaimed equivalents like Coke v Pepsi.

Battles that enrich advertising agencies and media outlets while comforting consumers with a complete absence of new, disturbing information and providing the vital illusion that we are being offered the full gamut of choices…

…from A to B.

Part of this is just clever politics by John Kerry. With his anti-Bush base secure, he is systematically co-opting Bush’s pro-defense/pro-Israel/stay the course in Iraq stance in order to pry away the support of Republicans and independents disgusted enough with Bush to consider voting for a Democrat.

Part of it is that the media is only equipped to cover the election as an issues-free horse race between two men vying for the hand of that nearsighted and befuddled bride — the American voter — in emotionally charged twenty second soundbites.

And part of it is that there really is very little difference between GBII and JFKII when it comes to allegiance to the corporatist, anti-democratic, security-heavy elite consensus that governs American political discourse these days.

No wonder leftists find Kerry infuriating, an opportunistic DLC-driven, Clinton-clone riding the Bush backlash into the White House.

Well, if you want to see America’s entire rotten edifice of imperial and capitalist over-reach come crashing to earth, vote for the truly radical change-agent, George Bush — or maybe Nader.

But if you’re willing to settle for imperialism cautiously, judiciously, and capably applied, vote for Kerry…and vive le difference.

After all, are we doing the world a favor by styling ourselves “reluctant imperialists” and executing brutal, half-assed, incompetent invasions and occupations?

Don’t we owe the countries that the alchemy of American military might transforms into our fortunate beneficiaries, unhappy victims, or — increasingly — just unlucky roadkill, an imperialism that is confident, capable, and whole-hearted instead?

With the world on the operating table, we have a choice between:

Or

Of course, in the case of Iraq, the good doctor isn’t giving us the full story.

What’s really going to fix up Iraq is the emergence of a new strongman, extensive purges and detentions, a bracing dose of martial law and summary executions...

…appeals to patriotic, Muslim, and/or Arab nationalist sentiment, strident anti-American rhetoric, and vows to restore Iraqi self-respect by expelling the invaders,.

None of that’s going to happen while Allawi’s in power and the U.S. - under Kerry or Bush — is pretending to “stay the course” by escalating the violence and troop levels.

But really “fixing” Iraq isn’t going to be an issue in the campaign. Nor will we be hearing too much about the boys raped at Abu Grahib. The screams, incinerated flesh, and poisonous anger that fill Iraq today barely make it onto the inside pages of the newspapers.

The verdict is in, and Americans aren’t interested in hearing or seeing any new evidence.

Iraq has been carefully (and if you’re a Democrat, usefully) pigeonholed by the media and the forgetful American public as George Bush’s less than noble failure — an unfortunate intersection of his hubris, confusion, and incompetence

Rest assured, they won’t remember it truthfully as the criminal enterprise of astounding proportions in which they were knowingly complicit.

That’s just fine with John.

Kerry gets the political free ride on Iraq. After he assumes office, he can up the ante, pour in the troops and money, put on a cosmetic show of American will and might, turn Iraq into a symbol of America’s unconquerable intransigence, if not its wisdom or honor…

…safe in the knowledge that the accumulating human and financial costs will be laid to the political account of the idiot who started it all…George Bush.

Let John Kerry run on the platform that he’s cleaning up George’s mess.

We can pat ourselves on the back for making the right choice in electing clever John instead of silly George.

Put your feet up, America! Change the channel, have a drink. You deserve it!

Coke or Pepsi?

copyright 2004 Peter Lee

Peter Lee is the creator of the anti-war satire and commentary website Halcyon Days. He can be reached at peter@halcyondays.info.