As President Bush celebrated President’s Day he recalled our Founding Fathers and their desire for freedom. George failed to note most of these freedoms applied only to white land owners. Women and blacks didn’t participate in “freedom” other than being free to serve the rich powerful white men.
It is that same spirit President Bush intends to spread today. He wants to make the world free for unfettered commerce which boosts the coffers of corporations on behalf of their investors. Look at the Iraqi Study Group report which clearly lays out an economic strategy to benefit corporations at the expense of the Iraqi people.
The indecent President Bush had the gall to hope some of the honor of our founding fathers would rub off on him. Speaking at Washington’s estate, Mount Vernon, Bush said:
"And as we work to advance the cause of freedom around the world, we remember that the father of our country believed that the freedoms we secured in our revolution were not meant for Americans alone."
The freedoms secured in our revolution applied to only a portion of our population. They weren’t even meant for all Americans! That revolutionary version seems to be making its way around the world. In Lebanon, one’s religion determines what government seat one can occupy. In Israel, our own State Department concluded the Jewish state discriminates against Arabs in housing, jobs and education. In Iraq, oil industry contractors are literally above the law according to a Bush Executive Order. The oil business can act with impunity in the Middle East’s newest democracy.
Attempting to rub Washington on him one more time, Bush said “Over the centuries, America has succeeded because we have always tried to maintain the decency and the honor of our first president.”
What’s decent about torturing people Mr. President? What’s honorable about holding people indefinitely in prison with no assurance of ever receiving a fair trial? What’s decent or honorable about legislating from the executive branch via signing statements? Did George Washington issue those?
Bush desires to clothe himself in Washington’s finest revolutionary garb, but it won’t stick to his slippery frame. Thus, George W. stands there, naked…
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