Ten Ways Bush Resembles History's Tyrants

[chefmike]

Ten Ways Bush Resembles History's Tyrants
by Sherwood Ross | May 12 2007

As public sentiment begins to build for impeachment, it might be illuminating to examine the many ways President Bush operates in a manner reminiscent of history's tyrants. Here are 10 areas that come readily to mind.

First, tyrants tend to see themselves, as Hitler did, at the head of some kind of "master race." President Bush and his backers would deny it, but their drive for a "New American Century" betrays them. They're world-beaters, and won't sign the global warming treaty or any other cooperative document. Republicans at their last Convention jeered the very mention of the words "United Nations." Those who see it differently get slandered. Recall how Bush's hatchet men impugned Senator Kerry's Vietnam War record. This was reminiscent of Nazi claims Germany's Jewish veterans of the Great War did not deserve their medals. Another manifestation is Neocons would reduce gay and lesbian Americans to second-class citizenship status. Bush's backers are convinced of their superiority at home and globally.

Second, tyrants tend to be congenital, brazen liars. Bush lied about Iraq's threat to America just as Hitler lied when he claimed Poland attacked Germany first in 1939. The UN told Bush there was no WMD in Iraq, yet Bush said there was and made war. He knew better. As many as 600,000 Iraqi civilians are dead, 2-million have fled, and a nation is being destroyed before our eyes.

Third, tyrants engage in outright suppression or manipulation of the news. The Bush Administration has paid off newsmen to plug its achievements, sent out video press releases disguised as news stories, banned photographs of coffins returned from Iraq, and even planted a phony journalist in White House press conferences. And it's spending millions to bribe Iraqi journalists.

Fourth, tyrants will use a "crisis" to grab total power. After the massacre of 9/11, President Bush pushed through the Patriot Act. Recall 1933, when Hitler declared a "state of national emergency" after the Reichstag (Parliament) fire, which likely was set by the Nazis. The new law gives Bush the power to arrest any American citizen on his say-so and he has allowed his intelligence agencies to spy illegally on American citizens without a court order.

Fifth, tyrants torture. Of all people, Bush picked Alberto Gonzalez for the top legal position in the nation, the very man who rationalized the torture of captives. Bush also lavishes billions on dictatorships such as Egypt, whose Gestapo obligingly tortures individuals the CIA kidnaps from other countries. Bush has turned back the clock of history to the Spanish Inquisition.

Sixth, tyrants tend to make serial wars. Soviet Russia's Stalin attacked Finland, Poland, and Hungary. Japan struck Korea, Manchuria, China, America, and U.K. One war is never enough for a tyrant. Recall Napoleon invaded nations to liberate them from kings, only to put his relatives on their thrones. Having invaded Afghanistan and setting Iraq ablaze, Bush now threatens Iran --- three countries that are oil-rich or geographically sited for oil transmission lines or both.

Seventh, tyrants are notorious for their closed mindedness. They ignore their critics. Japan walked out of the League of Nations rather than answer for its conduct. Bush doesn't listen to critics, either. The Pope denounced America's war on Iraq as immoral. The UN Secretary-General called it "illegal." Millions the world over protested it. And a majority of Americans call it wrong but Bush ignores them. Polls show 70% of the Iraqi people want the U.S. to get out but Bush refuses.

Eighth, tyrants spend lavishly on the military. In the Thirties, Germany, Japan and Soviet Russia devoted a high percentage of their gross national product to their war machines. Today, America spends more on armaments than all other nations combined. And America under Bush is the Number One arms merchant in the world.

Ninth, tyrants don't respect the sovereignty of other nations. Bush rationalized his attack on Iraq as "preventive war" -- a euphemism for "aggression." The Pentagon has already dropped troops secretly into Iran, according to Seymour Hersh in "The New Yorker." The Pentagon operates 700 military bases in 130 countries and refuses to leave Okinawa and Greenland despite protests from their citizens.

Tenth, tyrants have double standards. Bush declares he's for "freedom" but forges alliances with the heads of Saudi Arabia, and former Soviet Asian republics where citizens have zero rights. He warns Iran against making a nuclear bomb while he scraps non-proliferation treaties to make America's nuclear arsenal more lethal. Bush threatens Iran, which spends $4-billion a year on arms, while he spends $500-billion on arms. He warns Iran might make a nuclear bomb while he has 10,000. He accused Saddam Hussein of germ warfare capability while he has been secretly building the greatest germ warfare capability of any nation in history since the Soviet Union under Stalin.

Are these reasons grounds for impeachment? Not if you believe this is the New American Century. Not if you believe Americans are the Master Race. Not if you believe America should rule the world.
_______

[ToX]

Ten Ways Bush Resembles History's Tyrants
by Sherwood Ross | May 12 2007

As public sentiment begins to build for impeachment, it might be illuminating to examine the many ways President Bush operates in a manner reminiscent of history's tyrants. Here are 10 areas that come readily to mind.

First, tyrants tend to see themselves, as Hitler did, at the head of some kind of "master race." President Bush and his backers would deny it, but their drive for a "New American Century" betrays them. They're world-beaters, and won't sign the global warming treaty or any other cooperative document. Republicans at their last Convention jeered the very mention of the words "United Nations." Those who see it differently get slandered. Recall how Bush's hatchet men impugned Senator Kerry's Vietnam War record. This was reminiscent of Nazi claims Germany's Jewish veterans of the Great War did not deserve their medals. Another manifestation is Neocons would reduce gay and lesbian Americans to second-class citizenship status. Bush's backers are convinced of their superiority at home and globally.

Well in the wars we have fought we sometimes do win, so there is a sense of military might.

But master race?

Bush is president that has the highest obesity rate in the world I doubt he thinks we are the Master Race if we can't walk without being tired.


Second, tyrants tend to be congenital, brazen liars. Bush lied about Iraq's threat to America just as Hitler lied when he claimed Poland attacked Germany first in 1939. The UN told Bush there was no WMD in Iraq, yet Bush said there was and made war. He knew better. As many as 600,000 Iraqi civilians are dead, 2-million have fled, and a nation is being destroyed before our eyes.

Yes he is a liar, but it's politics... everyone lies.

Third, tyrants engage in outright suppression or manipulation of the news. The Bush Administration has paid off newsmen to plug its achievements, sent out video press releases disguised as news stories, banned photographs of coffins returned from Iraq, and even planted a phony journalist in White House press conferences. And it's spending millions to bribe Iraqi journalists.

Most tyrants suppress more then then they bribe.

He's bribing to try to make it look like we aren't doing as bad as we are. Which is a tactic almost every ruler has or will use if need be.

Fourth, tyrants will use a "crisis" to grab total power. After the massacre of 9/11, President Bush pushed through the Patriot Act. Recall 1933, when Hitler declared a "state of national emergency" after the Reichstag (Parliament) fire, which likely was set by the Nazis. The new law gives Bush the power to arrest any American citizen on his say-so and he has allowed his intelligence agencies to spy illegally on American citizens without a court order.

I don't agree with the patriot act but he hasn't grabbed total power because he hasn't changed the constitution to allow him to dictate, hes only got a year left.

Fifth, tyrants torture. Of all people, Bush picked Alberto Gonzalez for the top legal position in the nation, the very man who rationalized the torture of captives. Bush also lavishes billions on dictatorships such as Egypt, whose Gestapo obligingly tortures individuals the CIA kidnaps from other countries. Bush has turned back the clock of history to the Spanish Inquisition.

Torture is a tactic not just reserved for tyrants. We aren't the only ones who torture, we are just the ones who got caught.

Sixth, tyrants tend to make serial wars. Soviet Russia's Stalin attacked Finland, Poland, and Hungary. Japan struck Korea, Manchuria, China, America, and U.K. One war is never enough for a tyrant. Recall Napoleon invaded nations to liberate them from kings, only to put his relatives on their thrones. Having invaded Afghanistan and setting Iraq ablaze, Bush now threatens Iran --- three countries that are oil-rich or geographically sited for oil transmission lines or both.

The oil link is a problem, he may have had Iraq on his mind from day one but Iraq and North Korea and Syria? I don't think so.

He knew the risk because his cabinet told him, but he isn't thinking "Well, 2 countries isn't enough..."

Seventh, tyrants are notorious for their closed mindedness. They ignore their critics. Japan walked out of the League of Nations rather than answer for its conduct. Bush doesn't listen to critics, either. The Pope denounced America's war on Iraq as immoral. The UN Secretary-General called it "illegal." Millions the world over protested it. And a majority of Americans call it wrong but Bush ignores them. Polls show 70% of the Iraqi people want the U.S. to get out but Bush refuses.

The Pope and his Vatican aren't one to talk... immoral? Remember that molesting children issue that they swept under the rug?

The war without the U.N. was a stupid move I admit and may have been close-minded at the time.

But as for not listening now?

Pull out of Iraq is easier said then done, you do now and Civil War happens.

He isn't ignoring the people, he's listening, but he's in a position of damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Eighth, tyrants spend lavishly on the military. In the Thirties, Germany, Japan and Soviet Russia devoted a high percentage of their gross national product to their war machines. Today, America spends more on armaments than all other nations combined. And America under Bush is the Number One arms merchant in the world.

America spends because its a target, the United States until the past few years used to make more money then most of Europe.

The E.U. now as it stands can rival the U.S. in terms of economy, and maybe military. It actually does.

But the E.U. the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the rest of the world is full of different countries.

The U.S. is one big nation and its on a huge landmass.

Protection on that size requires enormous amount of spending.

As for the arms trading... the UK, China, Russia, France... they also sell in mass numbers.



Ninth, tyrants don't respect the sovereignty of other nations. Bush rationalized his attack on Iraq as "preventive war" -- a euphemism for "aggression." The Pentagon has already dropped troops secretly into Iran, according to Seymour Hersh in "The New Yorker." The Pentagon operates 700 military bases in 130 countries and refuses to leave Okinawa and Greenland despite protests from their citizens.

Sovereignty in other nations... Greenland and Okinawa's citizens want us to leave.

Well, then there Government should say something. As long as their Government excepts the money, then they are respecting their Sovereignty. They are also paying rent.

As far as preventive war, I don't agree with the war in Iraq.

It's wrong, but Saddam was a tyrant as well.

Tenth, tyrants have double standards. Bush declares he's for "freedom" but forges alliances with the heads of Saudi Arabia, and former Soviet Asian republics where citizens have zero rights. He warns Iran against making a nuclear bomb while he scraps non-proliferation treaties to make America's nuclear arsenal more lethal. Bush threatens Iran, which spends $4-billion a year on arms, while he spends $500-billion on arms. He warns Iran might make a nuclear bomb while he has 10,000. He accused Saddam Hussein of germ warfare capability while he has been secretly building the greatest germ warfare capability of any nation in history since the Soviet Union under Stalin.

Do you KNOW he's SECRETLY building Germ Warfare or is that speculation or paranoia?

Of course you threaten another country for making nukes, especially one in a region so hostile.

Where countries are smaller and just 1 bomb can destroy them.

Are these reasons grounds for impeachment? Not if you believe this is the New American Century. Not if you believe Americans are the Master Race. Not if you believe America should rule the world.
_______

Bush may go down in history as the worst president yet, but tyrant?

No.

You can compare him to Hitler, but he isn't destroying a single race. He also isn't active enough to take over the world and he doesn't have an Axis.

You can compare him to Stalin, but he's not killing his own people in masses.

You can compare him to any one you want, but you will come up short.

Impeach him?

I'd say maybe, because if your respective countries were in the same situation... what would they do?

[bucatini70]

That argument to impeach makes the same amount of sense as when the the idiots from the other side of the fence were calling for an impeachment of Clinton. In both cases the rational is/was weak and cannot be supported. I have a great idea! why don't all the people who are in the "i blame bush coz" crowd spend your energy getting a strong candidate elected.........this is just as boring as the Clinton bashers

[chefmike]

I think that impeachment would be bad for the country, although personally I wouldn't shed a tear if the chimp was hung from a lamppost ala Mussolini, we have more important things to do now...we now have to correct the multitude of domestic and foreign policy blunders that BushInc. are responsible for.

[guyone]

Seems to me that the criteria you used fits the democrats better than the republicans.

[trish]

Tyrants and terrorists always insist we live in special times; that we are under an especially fearful threat. The exceptionality of threat requires a “temporary” restriction of freedom. They create wars. Wartime is always a good excuse to curb liberty. As they crank up the fear, they take away more freedom. The nations freedoms are eroded and it coffers are looted. As the tyrant’s machine gains more and more power, it becomes more and more corrupt. Tell me how Bush doesn’t fit this description to a T? As for me, I’m willing to put up with a little post 9-11 eleven threat. I’d rather face them here, then torture them over there. I agree with Patrick Henry, “As for me, give me liberty or give me death.”
(edited for two typos i just couldn't stand)

[guyone]

They're here alright!

I think it time to wake up and smell the terrorists. They smell a little like jet fuel.

[trish]

that's sooo 2001...we're post 9/11 now.

[guyone]

LOL!

[bucatini70]

Like Mussolini? lol i quess you are in complete support of death penalty lol Trish you are on the money, but war is not the only tool that is used with equal effectiveness our liberties have been eroded in the name of the "Drug War", Tax Collection, sex crimes, ect. In a fight anything your hand is close to! Both of the parties are guilty of this. To be honest i see almost no real difference in the honesty of either party....they both have the same goal to limit our rights(makes them more powerful), protect us from ourselves, and misrepresent themselves to get elected or promote the party to which they belong. In the end of the day we will find ourselves with very few rights and it will have little to do with any particular politician ......a sad state of affairs indeed

[chefmike]

Like Mussolini? lol i quess you are in complete support of death penalty

Death to tyrants? Yes, I do support that notion.

[chefmike]

sic semper tyrannus!

[bucatini70]

and defination is defined by? and is limited to only political tyrannts? or to all types?

[svenson]

and defination is defined by? and is limited to only political tyrannts? or to all types?

tyrants are always political. politics is pwer and pwer politics. tyrants always have pwer

[bucatini70]

a tyrannt can also be in business many past and present a tyrannt can be also in media, a tyrannt can be in the military but again who defines?
Lets just work on improving the system instead of playing the blame game. Concentrate on selling your party on what positive things you can do. Instead of trying to point out that bush and his party is so bad you should vote for us. It has been very boring for the last 3 elections that you have to vote for what you hope is the lesser of the two evils. Lets promote someone who can actually lead through ideas, action and example.

[cockcraver]

[ToX wrote: You can compare him to Hitler, but he isn't destroying a single race.]

He does seem to have a thing against muslims though and he''s admitted that in the past....


[ToX wrote: You can compare him to Stalin, but he's not killing his own people in masses.]

He may not be directly killing his own people in masses but he's responsible his own peoples deaths...

[hippifried]

Tyrant? Nah. Oh I'm sure he'd like to be, but even being the most powerful person in the world can't help if you just don't know what the hell you're doing.

I know it's too bad, but stupidity & incompetence are not high crimes or misdemeanors. If George W Bush gets impeached & convicted, Dick Cheney becomes President of the United States of America!! Careful what you wish for. He's gone in 15 months anyway. He'll be sadly missed by every standup comic & cartoonist in the world.

The presidential library should be interesting. All his presidential papers on a roll with a new moon cut in the door. Maybe they'll put in a rack on on wall to hold his comic book collection.

[cockcraver]

hippifried wrote:
I know it's too bad, but stupidity & incompetence are not high crimes or misdemeanors.

they are when there's hundreds of thousands of lives lost over his illegal war

[trish]

Stupidity and incompetence are not criminal activities.
Stupidity and incompetence will driving which leads to an accident might be deemed a punishable crime. So too, an engineering firm that who bridge collapsed because of their own stupidity and incompetence might be found criminally negligible. A stupid and incompetent healer, hunter, machine operator, barge captain can all be found guilty in a court of law. Some jobs require a high degree of responsibility. The greater the responsibility of the job, the higher the degree of guilt when the job is done so incompetently that it leads to disaster. Also the worst the disaster, the higher the charge against the perpetrator.

Obviously I'm no lawyer. But I know what the law ought to be in this case. Stupidity and incompetence in a president that leads to 3700 lost American soldiers out to be a high crime and misdemeanor.

Tell me that deliberately privatizing various functions of the military just in order to deliver big money contracts to your friends isn't a high crime. Tell me is isn't a risk to national security. Tell me it isn't treason.

[ezed]

Bush is not a tyrant. If he were a tyrant, we would have accomplished something.

Bush is a carpetbagger! This is about money. How much does it cost you to fill your tank? Where is Bush from? What state is the headquarters of the major oil companies?

Where are your tax dollars going? What company is making the most money in Iraq? Where are they based? Who is affiliated?

Who's fuck buddies with the Saudis?
Who'll be working for the Carlyle Group in 2009?

This is all about money, otherwise we'd be carpet bombing western pakistan back to the stone age...which isn't very far in the scheme of things.

[trish]

this is a little off topic (okay, a lot off topic), but as long as we're reviving old threads that predate summer (in the northern hemisphere) can anyone update us on whatever happen to specialk? as far as i can tell he stopped posting on july 4th!

[Quinn]

this is a little off topic (okay, a lot off topic), but as long as we're reviving old threads that predate summer (in the northern hemisphere) can anyone update us on whatever happen to specialk? as far as i can tell he stopped posting on july 4th!

I was kind of wondering that myself. I haven't recived any PMs from him in some time, which is unusual.

-Quinn

[trish]

if you're out there specialk, it's time to check in.