Lincoln-Bush Debates: Texas Sheehanigans

The most unlikely of all divinely ordained impossibilities has occurred: my opinion has been solicited on a matter over which – and about which – I have absolutely no influence. Fortunately, I have a forum to present my views which is perfectly suited to address such a request. The topic is Cindy Sheehan and her fraudulent vigil. To begin:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

That's the passage that gives the President and all his supporters a free pass. Why? Well, because they can simply reassure everyone that they are aware of Ms. Sheehan's right to do what she's doing. From there, well, as they like to say, "the gloves are off". According to the right-wing noise machine, she's a bad wife, a crackpot, a lunatic, a liar, anti-American, a pawn, and (I kid you not) smells like hippie.

The purpose of all this yammer is clear: don't think about the war. Don't think about Iraq. Don't think about anything - except perhaps the "level of discourse" in the media. That's okay. It's also okay to talk about PACs and 527s, Fox News, Bush's vacation, Michelle Malkin being a douchebag, etc.

It's unlikely that Bush will end the spectacle outside his vanity ranch. It's impossible that troop movements will be effected. Still, it's nice that someone found a way to humanize a brutal and intractable conflict that was initiated in the most heartless and cold-blooded manner possible (i.e., via the labyrinthian sophistries of conservative think-tanks).

How Bush feels about the grief and loss of his feudal subjects is immaterial. He's a simple-minded dickhead and no amount of agony can arouse compassion in his heart. The swarms of people looking on, however, are a different matter entirely. Usually when a soldier is interviewed about their experience and/or valor in Iraq, they tend to sound like professional athletes: "Just doing my job", "this is what I was trained for", etc. While this is admirable in many ways, it is also bloodless and bureaucratic. When at war, a citizenry prefers that the stakes be at least high enough to arouse emotion. After all, isn't it only the most monstrous and base among us that kill as a machine would kill – without feeling or conscience? If a cause is just, and the passions inflamed, a people can carry on a war for 100 years. If, however, a cause is unjust - is dreamed up by the bizarre and convoluted politics of neo-cons... well, a kindly woman in a raincoat by the side of the road may actually wobble the foundation.

If not, perhaps the best we can hope for is the exposure of Bush's flawed "character". By way of comparison, this is how Bush handled the grievance of Ms. Sheehan:

But whether it be here or in Washington or anywhere else, there's somebody who has got something to say to the President, that's part of the job... And I think it's important for me to be thoughtful and sensitive to those who have got something to say. But, I think it's also important for me to go on with my life.

Let's measure that against the standard for which such things should be measured:

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.

I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours, to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of Freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

Abraham Lincoln

Finally, it should be noted that President Lincoln's letter was written to a Confederate sympathizer who disliked President Lincoln intensely.

(Gracias Biff).