Tuesday, September 2, 2008

The GOP Ministry of Public Enlightenment


You didn't ask me, but that huge waving flag at the GOP convention is giving me a migraine.

The other thing giving me a migraine is the fact that no political party in history, at least in this country, has been more adept at turning national fear, personal tragedy and natural disaster into political gold than the Republican Party.

No political party has made personal sacrifice more a badge of patriotism than the Republican Party.

Lost your home to a sub-prime mortgage? You're a Patriot.
Lost your home in Hurricane Gustav? You're a Patriot.
Lost your son or daughter in the shameful war in Iraq? You're a Patriot.
Lost your job to a foreign country? You're a Patriot.

The "You're A Patriot" message is pure evil genius. And whoever is in charge of the Republican Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda message machine is Goebbels-like in his or her
zealous and energetic repetition of that mantra.

Among other things, this newest version of the Republican Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda demands respect for private family matters such as Sarah Palin's problems and sends forth armies of acolytes to evangelize about it - while denying women across the country the same right to privacy in their private and moral reproductive decisions.

This newest version of the Republican Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda elevates teenage pregnancy to an enviable goal. And turns a young, clueless, high school hockey star into a White Knight rescuing the Alaskan damsel-in-distress - complete with ring, wedding proposal and Ministry of Public Enlightenment talking points. It does this while denying young people all across the country vital sexual health information that will keep them safe.

This newest version of the Republican Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda
wears it's new-found response to natural disasters like a halo and expects us to revere them for that. Just as they expect us to forget about the time it allowed a major city to drown together with it's most vulnerable population.

This newest version of the Republican Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda tells us the surge of troops is working in Iraq while our sons and daughters and innocent Iraqi citizens die every day.

This week we will be bombarded by speakers sent forth by the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda and we will be told how grateful we should be for the Republican Party.


And we will be told how grateful we should be for George, and Dick, and John, and Rudy and Fred and Joe and Sarah and the lobbyists, and the fat cats, and the oil bigs, and the corporations - how grateful we should be to all of them for what we have - what we have sacrificed and lost that is - for the good of the country - so we can be called Patriots.


Thank you GOP.
Thank you Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda . Now we understand. We will remain quiet - we will not question your quest for domination.

As the Ministry of Homeland Security as said time and time again, Patriotism Means No Questions.