You get yourself a fair election, and you'll get a Democratic winner. The Republicans are that screwed, and they know it.

Would have gotten us a Democratic winner.

But what do I know?

The Republicans still have the power to go to war whenever they want, they've got the Bush Court, they've got the press, they've got the VRWC, they've got excellent lines of communication and they're wholly committed to doing whatever it takes to hang onto power, up to and including cancelling the election because of a state of national emergency, or from "continuity of government" issues.

In addition, factions in the press are busily promoting a third party to split the Democratic vote, and enough insufficiently cynical voters might buy into it to deny us the Presidency.

Let's have no premature triumphalism, please.

No authoritarians were tortured in the writing of this post.

Not a solution, never has been. Read some history, say for instance France, to examine the effects of chaos on governance. In the aftermath of the Revolution, in a state of near-anarchy with conflicting and ever-shifting alliances contending for fragments of power within the new political vacuum, a draconian dictatorship seized authority and imposed a reign of terror "in the interest of public safety" supported by people who had become afraid of the violence and uncertainty that had blossomed in the absence of any effective governmental structure. There followed a series of repressive dictatorships that all but uninterruptedly pursued policies of repression, belligerence and mayhem leading inevitably to the catastrophe of WWI.

I’ll take our method of structured periodic peaceful revolution by elections, flaws and all. The repressive movement’s dominance over the last 40 years is awful, but just the latest in a series of rightward lurches here and abroad that have all eventually wilted in the face of Western Civilization’s inexorable progressive path. Soon enough, maybe even 2008, we will see in the aftermath a swing towards a more liberal and equitable administration of governance. My children, and theirs, will bring to fruition the promise of equality, life, liberty and freedom to pursue happiness. Dark days, these times, but we have a strong structural remedy available and I have confidence it will prove to be effective now as it has been in the past.

Anarchy is a path chosen by the unimaginative and the impatient, not the humane and the thoughtful. Generally enjoy reading your posts, Shane-O, even when I can’t completely agree. This is one where I just have to say that not only are you wrong, you are dangerously wrong. Advocacy of anarchy even as rhetorical hyperbole cannot go unchallenged. We certainly have choices other than those you insist we must pick from, of anarchy or theocracy. Democracy is messy, it’s slow and unwieldy, but over time, over time, it has brought us from legalized slavery and paternalism to institutionalized universal suffrage and civil rights. Much more to be done, for sure, but we’ve come a long ways as a people. The political structure that has been a force for good for so long is not broken, just misused. We will get hold and set things aright without destroying it in the process.

"If we leave Iraq prematurely, jihadists around the world will interpret the withdrawal as their great victory against our great power." said Sen. John McCain, 17July2007. He is again publically on record as supporting a policy of letting the opinions of stateless terrorists determine the foreign policy of the United States. Beyond disgusting.

Your observations are appreciated and well taken. I should be more thoughtful in my comments – even the throwaways. It was not my intent to advocate anarchy – only to use the concept of it in juxtaposition with our current leadership. You were kind to point out that my comment was “rhetorical hyperbole.”

I am also glad that you did not let my throwaway go unchallenged.

Perhaps impatience comes from the slow pace of structural remedies available – rarely used and consistently thwarted – to reverse the recent regression in our government.

Of course the feelings of loss of power in the aftermath of 9/11 – the uncertainty, the fear - led to the things about which I often complain. True chaos, anarchy, would have an exponentially greater effect – as in the reign of terror in France (I’d bet you’ve got a copy of “The Anatomy of Revolution” in your bookshelf).

Bringiton, thank you for setting me straight – anarchy is the opposite of progression.

But what do I know?

The key element for both the common man and would-be leadership to consider is the unpredictability of sudden revolutionary fervor, ask Robespierre. Reading Brinton turned me philosophically away from some previously close associates who went on to pursue a more, umm, confrontational approach, a decision I have not since regretted while they have come to remorse over theirs. Measured change, measured response, all corrections made in small increments, is necessary to avoid loosing control altogether.

It took a good long while, from Nixon’s first formulation of his Southern Strategy (white, male, racist) to the amalgamation with Southern theocrats (white, male, racist, misogynist, homophobic) and their marriage with corporatist criminals (white, male, racist, misogynist, homophobic and greedy) for this cabal of autocrats to gain control of the Republican Party and the government. It will take a while longer to undo what they have done. Weariness at the pace is inevitable, as is despair over ever reaching a true state of common good. The occasional venting of frustration is entirely understandable and forgivable, we’ve all done it.

And this is not a struggle that will ever end; the opposition sees the future as a war of many battles, and so we must as well. From Dow Jones on line, the following: Wal-Mart To Test Bible Action Figures In 425 Stores. “One2believe Chief Executive David Socha said his products were part of a ‘battle for the toy box’ with dolls and figures that he said carry negative messages. ‘If you're very religious, it's a battle for your children's minds and what they're playing with and pretending. There are remakes out there of Satan and evil things,’ Socha said.”

We are in a never-ending war with fanatical theocratic criminals on two fronts, both at home and abroad. Winning will consist of denying them power over us while retaining our freedoms. While that is the best we can hope for, it is on balance pretty damn good.

I enjoy your writting and your viewpoints, Shane-O, don't hold back, give 'em hell. Another interesting and instructive read on revolution is Citizens by Simon Schama.

PS: My favorite Christ action figure, with Glow in the Dark hands no less, is at http://www.accoutrements.com/products/11... .

Please tell me the Christ action figure came before General JC Christian, and not after!

No authoritarians were tortured in the writing of this post.

When you exist in all places and all times, have always been and always will be, concepts like before and after have no meaning.

Does that help with your headache?

In fact, I think my hands are starting to glow...

Teh stupid! It b-u-r-r-r-n-s!

No authoritarians were tortured in the writing of this post.

...There is no action figure more deserving of a deluxe edition than the Son of God.

Hard to argue with that, eh? Of course it should be noted that the same company that thoughtfully equips the SoG figure above with GENUINE plastic accessories including loaves of bread and fishes, plus that lovely wine jug for Cana reenactments ("not guaranteed to work as original did!") also sells these items.

I smell a rat...do we in fact know that this firm is not owned by Jesus' General hisownself? Stranger things have happened, and it would explain how JG can crank out his line of tchotkes like the coffee cups and such so fast. I had better not find out that the most brilliant religiopoliticalhumor blog on the Net is merely a sales tool for a bunch of Washington capitalist child-exploiters.

Hmmmm.

Lambert warns: "Let’s have no premature triumphalism, please."

Righteo. My guess is that the Republicans, crazy and bankrupt as they may be, are still capable of reptilian adjustments in strategy. Plan A (Win the Election!) is probably off the table already, with Plans B, C, etc. (Steal the Election! Start a War! Throw Them All in Jail! ...) lumbering toward us.