The anger is pervasive, but it is also old. We are just discovering what it is like to be part of a second-class citizenship living among a ruling elite where all the institutions are geared to protecting the ruling elite.

To be perfectly blunt, we are discovering what it is like to be black, to be ghettoized and marginalized as a way of life, to have a progressive country in theory but not practice. Not to have to face that is part of the Nader appeal (though I claim that only provides a false sense of purity in all too many respects, and that Nader squanders too many opportunities to be called a hero). It is no secret that the U.S. is one of the most propagandized countries on earth. An old rightwinger friend of mine told me that years ago, but he was always more angered by corporate greed than the chump change of generational welfare.

And we have discovered that an important part of our judicial system is corrupt and capable of the most psychologically pathological rationalizations in order to advance that corruption, once and for all revealing their innate, primal distrust for democracy and preference for appointed elitism (just like themselves). We should be throwing tomatoes at them wherever they go.

In one decision they destroyed all of our illusions and changed the nation forever. They have chosen a precedent that can make a mockery of the legal system and the American government forever if they are not held accountable for their crime.

It is not something anyone wants to talk about, but the weapons used by the opposition should be our weapons - personal ridicule and humiliation.

We were so busy being disappointed in Clinton, we forgot what he genuinely represented - THE NEW SOUTH, and the old ugly South, jealous of his talent and his ability to connect with people, rose up screaming to destroy that talent and its messages. It was HATERS of his diversity, his sense of belief in democracy and equality, that drove them to the Arkansas Project and the sick, relentless attacks and the impeachment. Whitewater was a joke. The continuing S&L bailout is not, and we have never held Bush accountable for his part. It is a continuing drain on U.S. productivity, and along comes his son to steal more. He is selling this country down the river.

Yet we don't have the guts to proclaim what was right about OUR side -- the greatest politician that ever came out of the New South - Bill Clinton -- and demand 50 monuments to him for every monument proposed for Reagan. No, we in our ivory towers who want it all and want to be perfect and above everyone else's reproach refuse to play that game. We are too intellectually sensitive to his compromises. But ask yourself: Notwithstanding his compromises (and true rightwingers BTW gave up on Reagan early on; they are only seeing results now with the con artist in power), why the f*ck would ANYONE with his level of talent subject themselves to what he was subjected to for 8 long years for the sake of public service?

If we don't back our own people against the enemy, we get what we deserve.
We listen to people laud an idiot of a President day in and day out who is selling this country down the river, who commits blasphemy every time he mentions Christ and himself in the same breath, but we are mealymouthed about defending the greatest mind who ever served in the democratic party since Roosevelt and Al Smith. Prepare to lose with that mindset. People who don't defend their own will lose every time. So today a ne'r-do-well corporate prostitute is extolled by a handful of media prostitutes. Clinton compares very well, and his compromises are in the same class as Reagan's. The rightwing did not get what they wanted under Reagan, but they are getting it now. They remained patient and they were willing to lie about their appointed candidate, a full-time prostitute. And today they are winning. There is a huge political lesson in that.

Bill Clinton was the greatest president since Roosevelt and the last truly elected President of this country. He was Democracy, flawed and all.
He was the Constitution. With his mind, he could have been a billionaire by now.
We should propose 50 monuments to him for every one proposed for Reagan. He was Democracy, flawed and all. He was the Constitution. He was the New South, who actually stood up to the enemies of equality in Arkansas and paid for it when they became part of the Arkansas Project. He was a true American who stole not one cent from us. The people in power today robbed this country blind and continue to do so.

-- Cherri (jessam6@home.com), July 15, 2001

Answers

Bill Clinton was the greatest president since Roosevelt and the last truly elected President of this country. He was Democracy, flawed and all. He was the Constitution. With his mind, he could have been a billionaire by now.

Rolling on floor laughing my fucking ass off!!!!! This is a joke, right? ((Howling with laughter))) ((gasping for air)) ((rolling on floor laughing some more!!)) My god, I laughed so hard, I almost puked up my Sunday dinner, but thanks, I needed the comedy break!!

-- Gary (gcphelps@yahoo.com), July 15, 2001.

Cool Gary, I laugh like that every time I see or hear about dumbya! Cherri's article is right - aside from the repug cockhunters hanging on his ass all the time, Clinton was the best elected president since Roosevelt. You are so pathetic Gary - you, like all repugs have your head stuck way up in your ass! You smell like shit and nothing but shit comes out of your brain.

-- Tony Baloney (Fuck you@repugs.com), July 15, 2001.

This easily qualifies as one of the most incoherent political rants in recent memory. The author does absolutely nothing to prove the premise that the United States is somehow markedly different after the 2000 presidential election. Despite the hyperbolic rhetoric, I fail to see how the life of the average American has changed dramatically.

If one considers the matter objectively, the American presidency is just one small aspect of a large, complex nation. Former president Clinton pursued some conservative policies like NAFTA and welfare reform. President Bush has followed some liberal policies, like his recent education "reform" where he did not push for a voucher system. In reality, the presidency has moved from slightly left of center to slightly right of center.

This is advantage (and potential weakness) of American democracy. More than anything, it is an "incrementocracy." Despite the wailing and gnashing of teeth from the overly political, little has changed.

It is too soon to consider recent presidents in a historical context. In another decade or two, the immediate rage surrounding Clinton will subside and the objective observers, if any remain, will be able to sort out his policy successes and personal failures. I think he will be remembered as a skillful politician, aside from the ham-handed pardons and pillaging of the presidential residence on his way out the door. He may also be remembered as a bright, but flawed man, perhaps symbolic of a morally ambivalent generation.

Finally, the political of bile accomplishes nothing save further alienating normal people from the political process. To invoke ridicule and humiliation simply indicates the intellectual poverty of a argument.

-- Jose Ortega y Gasset (j_ortega_y_gasset@hotmail.com), July 15, 2001.

Anger Management Course for Cherri and Unattributed Essayist

-- (Paracelsus@Pb.Au), July 15, 2001.

By golly Cherri I think that you are close to the truth with that piece. I listen to people spin stuff on TV but the information is right there. Whatever Dubya has done it hasn't made life better for the likes of me, or anyone I know.

Hello Jose. When I was young, I met someone with that name South of the Border. I think he became a writer or something like that. If that is you, well, a good Texas howdy [remember that].

Gates

-- Gates (Gates@ETexas.com), July 15, 2001.

Tony, yul like this one ya big hunky lug, ya.

------------------

REPUBLICANS CHANGE LOGO

The GOP National Committee announced today that it is changing the Republican emblem from an elephant to a condom because it more clearly reflects the party's political stance.

A condom stands up to inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of pricks, and gives one a sense of security while screwing others.

And, furthermore, it was reported today that at a White House staff meeting last week there was a heated discussion about the health of Vice President Cheney and his angina problem. President Bush interrupted and stated emphatically that "Men do not have angina's." The President was especially perplexed when a staffer said that Cheney has "acute angina."

-- (Lorelei@smolderin'.smegma), July 15, 2001.

People! we've got a missing intern with four possible hair-dos, and you're still obsessed with Slick and Dubya! Have you checked the basement? She could be anywhere!

Jose, LOVED the last paragraph. The checks must be coming on time......

-- KoFE (your@town.USSA), July 15, 2001.

WHAT we got,folk's. is a type & shadow-of the spititual climate. we had a sinner type pres.-now we got ,a weeeell ecumenical-1 world religious=confused pres. there is a=spiritual=message in ALL things.

-- al-d. (dogs@zianet.com), July 15, 2001.

Shut up Al.

-- KoFE (your@town.USSA), July 16, 2001.

Shame, KoFE.

-- helen (al@can.speak.too), July 16, 2001.

tony baloney, I love ya, man!! but you are still gonna have to just "deal with it!" ROFLMAO!!

-- Gary (gcphelps@ yahoo.com), July 16, 2001.

Helen, I think Al can take a little ribbing.

-- KoFE (your@town.USSA), July 16, 2001.

KoFE, what al can take and what al should have to take are two different arguments. If you keep this up you will force me to wail loudly and wring my hands in despair.

-- helen :) (sack@cloth.ashes), July 16, 2001.

For the reader: Helen's stupid little comments and email addresses are kinda like jokes. Only not as funny.

-- Tick Tock (avd@home.com), July 17, 2001.