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Interesting article ratbastid.
However, I think point 1 is overstated and weakens the force of the other, more valid points. There were reasons not to sign the Kyoto protocols. Now, they're debatable, and different people will end up with different conclusions based on their priorities, but we didn't ignore that merely because it was an international accord. A better example might have been the International Court fiasco. Similarly, equating John Kerry and Vietnam to Jewish veterans of WWI is a reach. One is about alienating a domestic group, the other was about an individual in the context of a heated election campaign. Whatever is going on in the Bush administration, I don't really think it has to do with any sort of "master race" plan.
Point 3 is one of the more compelling here. I was just having a conversation this morning (reflecting my recent thoughts) about the degree to which the news media has been co-opted by the political parties to become actors in their drama. This is partially because many media outlets settle for paraphrasing press releases as reporting, and partially because of the direct actions of administration officials. Either way, the damaged credibility of our media is a very bad thing for this nation.
Point six is something I could have dismissed as paranoia until recently. Dick Cheney's threats towards Iran, issued from the deck of an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf were, to me, over the top. The Bush administration has spent much time and effort orchestrating/choreographing media events and imagery. I can't believe that they are unaware of the implicit message that comes with the setting and background of that speech - which is that military confrontation with Iran is a foregone conclusion.
The eighth point may be the single thing that worries me more than any other aspect of our culture, and that's a measure of a personal journey for me, as a military dependent. Our culture has come to accept the military and military service in a way that is uncritical and unthinking. The "Support the Troops" meme is just the most glaring example - nobody's perfect, but criticizing the conduct and ability of America's military is the real third rail of politics in America. We are saturated with images and ideas about the military through all forms of media. The importance of our military to our self-image as a nation is truly troubling. When you consider that all of this may even be an outgrowth of the commercial interests of the companies whose sales make us the number one legal arms exporter, this culture is even more chilling. Bush may be a symptom of this syndrome more than the cause, and that is truly frightening.
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Cogito ergo spud -- I think, therefore I yam
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