"subject exhibited a tendency toward, and actually exercised, strong autocratic & dictatorial control" (merriam/webster/k. smith) Ever since the presidential election I have refrained from issuing any polemics/political screeds from my trusty soap box.
That ends with today's news headline:
"Former Vice President Dick Cheney directed the CIA eight years ago not to inform Congress about a nascent counterterrorism program that CIA Director Leon Panetta terminated in June, officials with direct knowledge of the matter said Saturday."
Hey Dick - our governance, like it or not, is based on a system of checks and balances. The executive, the judicial, and the legislative branches keep each other's ass in line.
Yes it is clumsy, inefficient, and somewhat time consuming, but that actually is kind of the point. The system demands that everything be given a full airing. The process shies away from quick fixes. It's a mess, but a beautifully conceived mess that forces elected officials and judges to work as a unit. It has served us wonderfully, during times of war and peace, for well over 200 years, and "no" September 11th does not change that. Abandoning the system during a time of obvious crisis makes our constitution a worthless document.
Fascism, on the other hand, is largely defined as:
"a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control."
For some reason this old folk song comes to mind:
"Which side are you on, boy?
.Which side are you on?"
I know, I know - playing the "Nazi" card is typically hyperbole at its worst. But then again, to paraphrase an old saying: "If the jackboot fits - wear it."
CONCLUSION: They should nail this guy's balls to the wall.
Would this possibly be scapegoating one individual and using him as an example for future members of the executive branch?
Yep.
.
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