All the Republicans have left is treason

I thought it relevant to point out that the right-wing in the U.S. is now completely out of ammunition.

For at least three years, Bush has called those opposed to the occupation of Iraq traitors and supporters of terrorism. The "treason card" has been badly overplayed, as we see in the MoveOn controversy and the flag lapel pin controversy. It is literally all that they have left. The right-wing has failed to convince even marginal numbers of Americans to believe in the occupation's ever-shifting rationale; now they can only insult us.

And the lapdogs of the right-wing have gone further than Bush. Dissent itself is seen by them as dangerous to our freedom. Opponents of the occupation have been routinely characterised as mentally ill, stupid, opportunistic, and cowardly. It hardly takes effort to point out that Republicans live in a delusional world where "victory" has been imminent for years and where every setback merely "proves" that the "enemy" is on the ropes. Or that isolated facts are conflated to apply to the entire situation in Iraq by little more than force of will on their part. The mere statement of an objective by senior military commanders is seen by Republicans as the accomplishment of that objective. Mixon says that his goal is to clear Al-Qaeda out of Diyala -- there, it's done. He said so, didn't he? Contorted numbers are placed in front of Republicans and they are eagerly lapped up without a hint of critical thought involved, because this is somehow "patriotic". Reports of "insurgents" being killed are celebrated as if nobody will take these people's place, much less thinking just how these people were defined as "insurgents". And Republicans are not at all opportunistic; they merely make obscene profits from the war. As far as "cowardly" goes, it is clear that so many of the architects and spinners of this occupation have never served in the military or in combat. Clinton was apaprently a "draft dodger" by virtue of his student deferment, but the vast majority of the right-wing media tools did the same thing. It's okay, though, because they are "patriotic".

So, with no solid facts to persuade anyone with, they moved to scare tactics. If we don't "win" in Iraq, then we apparently will be taken over by Muslims and forced to bow to the East, wear burquas, etc. Nobody bought that, even a little bit. Vietnam and the domino theory were paraded around, but people just chuckled. Every now and then, the "Iraqis voted" talking point gets some play, and the Republicans are reminded that the Sunnis boycotted that vote, the provincial elections aren't happening, and that those wonderful elections got the Iraqis an impotent and incompetent government.

So they are back to treason, the Swiss Army knife of political discourse. Uh-huh. The vast majority of the American people are communists who want to see America destroyed and replaced by a Sharia state....that'll play well. Let's try that one. Sure, 70% of the electorate are dirty traitors, but if they only change their minds and support Bush on everything then they will immediately become wonderful patriots. All of that treason stuff will be forgotten. Come on, we'll be your friend. Oh, and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, of course. Um, and we'll need more police state powers to protect you. But other than that, it's a win-win. Trust us, you commie dirtbags... uh, I mean loyal citizen. Did we mention you should really send your kids off to Iraq, just to prove we can trust you? Well, we meant to. But then we can all be friends, and you'd like that, wouldn't you? Hey, we'll even give you this flag lapel pin.

Aside from the ability to prevent Democrats from doing anything, all Republicans can do is keep stuffing the government with droids based on their religious beliefs and political donations. Even this will come to an end in January '09, and there will be a lot of incompetent sycophants trying to fill think tank jobs. It's a suicide pact between the President and his Party. And whatever allies we have left, of course. How could this plan possibly fail?