Erica Jong Calls a Dictator a Dictator.

[reprehensor]

On March 24, 2006, writer Erica Jong appeared on CNN Headline News' "Showbiz Tonight" after a segment which featured coverage of 9/11 "Official Story" skepticism.

Host A.J. Hammer asked her opinion of Sheen's recent comments about 9/11, and Jong was very supportive of Sheen's courage. She also had some pointed commentary about President Bush:

JONG: I think it's very patriotic to investigate it. Throughout all of history the basic premise of tyrants has been, (dictators, shall we say, and I think it's fair to say that George W. Bush is a dictator), has been if you tell the people they have an external enemy, they'll follow you anywhere. That was what Goebbels told Hitler to do. Back in ancient history, that`s what Roman emperors did.*

HAMMER: That's a pretty strong statement for you to say, though. Are you at all afraid of a backlash? I mean, seriously, a lot of people are afraid to come out on television. You just called Mr. Bush a dictator.

JONG: I think that he is a dictator. Most of the people do not believe that this country should be a theocracy. Most of the people in this country do not want to be in Iraq. Most of the people in this country are pro choice. And yet, he blithely goes on ignoring the will of the people. I call that a dictator.

But as far as 9/11 is concerned, it's a great gambit to tell the people, you have an external enemy. The external enemy is terrorism. We have a war that will go on for centuries. It will go on till the end of time. Well, that's a great way to scare people.

* I edited this paragraph from transcript for continuity.

[MadMaddie]

1. Good for her...she is right....* ignores the will of the majority

of Americans....

[dogday]

2. I like that!!! When your President ignores the needs

and wants of the people and plans his own agenda, that is exactly what he is....

[400Years]

3. sounds like a really smart woman

[Teaser]

4. I don't agree...yet

I still argue Bush is simply an authoritarian president who is setting the stage by his many violations of the law for a later, and actual dictatorship.

Dictatorships almost always emerge during a time of SEVERE civil disruption, and as such, this has not occurred yet.

The apparatus for dictatorship is there, but the formal institution of it is not.

[supernova]

5. Have a sudden urge to reread

her books. Fear of Flying and Fanny, in particular. ;-)

Erica, :yourock:

[hiley]

6. Indeed, Erica Jong

was very brave to speak out as well.

[Kurovski]

7. Erica unzipped!

K&R.

[faithnotgreed]

8. this is what happens when you have intelligent curious open-minded

and educated people on tv (of course you neednt be educated in the classic sense but must have some combination of the qualities)

thank you ms jong

[EC]

9. I think she's on Real Time with Bill Mahr on Friday... n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

10. Well he did say it would be easier, didn't he? Yes he DID!

Doesn't A.J. Hammer know that? :shrug: