[IP] Keith Olbermann: There Is Fascism, Indeed
Begin forwarded message:
From: Newmedia@xxxxxxx
Date: September 1, 2006 12:23:11 PM EDT
To: brian@xxxxxxxxxxxx, dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [IP] more on Keith Olbermann: There Is Fascism, Indeed
Brian:
> But Olbermann was apparently trying to point out the irony in the
> fact that those who are wielding this new use of the term fascism
> seem themselves to have some of the characteristics of an
> authoritarian political movement
Sure he was -- but that's a cheap shot. Or, more specifically, a TV-
ratings driven political rant. Take THAT . . . Bill O'Reilly!!
Rumsfeld isn't an authoritarian ideologue and Olbermann knows it.
Neither is Bush. Nor are the others involved.
These guys are simply conservatives (with a few neo-cons mixed in),
who are close to the center in current US politics -- which is why
they got 50% (+/-) of the votes.
> "... a governmental system led by a dictator having complete
> power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting
> all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive
> nationalism and often racism."
There is no dictatorship -- real or implied -- in the current
situation. None. There are no facts to support any such claim.
Dissent isn't being forcibly suppressed. Industry is not being
regimented. There is, in fact, an aggressive kind of
internationalism being put forward -- not nationalism -- and racism
has nothing to do with current policies.
The effort on the part of the Executive to reclaim previously held
powers is the normal pushing-and-shoving with the other branches that
happens in a constitutional system like ours. No one has complete
power . . . or anything even close to it. Nor will they.
Nothing like what you (and I also) fear is happening in the US.
Bolivia, yes. Russia, yes. Iran, yes. US, no.
If you'd like to consider how this country was run back around WW II
-- when there really was an "establishment" with remarkable extra-
legal powers -- you might pick up a copy of Kai Bird's "The
Chairman." For better or worse, the world just doesn't work that way
anymore. No one has replaced John J. McCloy. The Rockefellers don't
pull all the strings anymore. The CFR doesn't cut it . . . and
hasn't since Vietnam.
There's plenty of irony in the world but Olbermann doesn't seem to
have a firm grasp on where to find it. <g>
Best,
Mark Stahlman
New York City
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