By Zamboni
As the Charlie Black story enters its third day, we cats would like to reflect upon the notion of the American character.
We're not sure, but we suspect that the Founders — those pesky guys named Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Monroe and Franklin — would not have been pleased with the Cheney-inspired autocracy that emerged after the terror attacks of September 11. They wouldn't cheer for spying on Americans, the suspension of habeas corpus, or the use of fear to win elections for the Republicans in 2002 and 2004.
We also think that Mssrs. Jefferson, Adams, et. al. would look askance at Mr. Black's assertion that another attack on America would be a "big advantage" for John McCain's run for the Presidency. After all, those 18th-century gentlemen lived through a very dicey Revolution — one from which they were never sure they would emerge alive — and later, they witnessed a British invasion of America that resulted in the burning of the White House itself. In light of these events, the destruction of a couple of skyscrapers in New York — as awful as that was — would not have inspired them to curb civil liberties or suspend the Bill of Rights.
In other words, Mr. Black and your craven lot of campaign advisers, Americans are made of stronger stuff than you think. We cats would like to believe that, rather than stampede voters to your candidate in fear and trembling, a second September 11 would cause them instead to wonder why you Republicans had allowed the terrorists to attack us again.
We'll be happy never to find the true answer to that question. But in the meantime, we're sick and tired of the politics of fear. This country has been through far worse than September 11, and we've come through. The Republicans insult us when they imply anything less.
(Photo: Joe Rosenthal)
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