Ellen Goodman: Bush's false choices

[Eugene]

Bush's false choices

By Ellen Goodman | December 23, 2005

SO IT COMES DOWN to September 11, 2001. Again. The president has drawn a great dividing line
through the country, separating his supporters from his critics. Again.

This time, those who see a presidency run amok are not just labeled "defeatists." They are
considered amnesiacs.

This time, those who oppose torture are diagnosed with short-term memory loss. Those who are
outraged at domestic snooping are people who have forgotten to be afraid.

<snip>

We have been handed yet another in an endless series of false choices. Those who don't blindly
trust the president are dismissed as amnesia victims. Americans who don't connect the dots from 9/11
to Iraq or spying or torture are cast as actors living in a foolish, fearless, fantasy world.
Indeed, 9/11 was the day the president became the commander in chief. The words he often repeats
were spoken to him by a rescue worker at the World Trade Center: "Whatever it takes."

<snip>

Full article: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/12/23/bushs_false_choices
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Also here as A promise of protection becomes a protection racket

[Demeter]

1. Excellent Article!

Ellen Goodman hits it out of the park.

[wavesofeuphoria]

2. excellent article ..

more and more I am seeing clear mention of the lies and deceit of the WH in commentaries and articles. I do hope more citizens see these as well. I do believe more people are starting to question the bs .. or actually see it as bs .. at least I hope so.

[cliss]

3. Yes, this is exactly true.

I think of the White House as a "Propaganda Machine". Almost like a broadcasting station.

In a sense, I think Bush and Cheney picked the wrong people to bludgeon with fear. Americans are in fact quite proud. I can't think of a single instance where Americans have been beaten down for long periods of time.

So the fear factor is pretty limited. That must be why they keep carping on it, over and over again. It's also a turn-off. People must realize that anything coming out of the White House is just negativity, fear tactics, hammer away, scare the crap out of people.

It's just a short-term deal for them.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

4. It gets even better

From the article:

Those who criticize the commander in chief wonder if he is the one who has forgotten 9/11. Has he forgotten when the country was united? Has he forgotten when the world was on our side? Has he forgotten that we were the good guys?

[dand]

5. Generalissimo George, how apt,

thanks for a great article.:grr:

[gristy]

6. "the promise of protection becomes a protection racket"

This is what I have been thinking for some time now, and it deserves elaboration in its own dedicated column.