FLAIT

Originally Posted: June 2005

As noted and posted, this story about Koran's being flushed down the toilet had already been reported one way or another. So the Pentagon couldn't deny it because they knew it was probably true. But it wasn't a big deal, even if it was. There have been worse stories coming out of these prisons for over a year, but half the country - the Republican half - doesn't care, and violence never broke out in the Muslim world because of it...until now (on the assumption the violence really was about the Koran and not other issues).

But instead of it being bad news for the White House, they spun it into another opportunity to energize the GOP base...as usual.

What does Terri Schiavo, John Bolton, Bush's Social Security personal accounts, the Senate filibuster and this story all have in common?

They're all opportunities for conservative Republicans to exercise their national pastime: blast, blame and ridicule "liberals" - or in Newsweeks case, the so called "liberal" media - with incessant immature insults.

It always has to be someone else's fault. So the White House is manipulating - heck, manufacturing - news and events for the sole purpose of inflaming their pugnacious base so Bush gets overwhelming support from the conservative wing of his party, regardless of whatever mess his arrogant incompetence has gotten the country into.

But even more important, it provides a distraction; because while conservatives are spewing their nasty wise cracks, the Republican party - and what they've become - goes overlooked.

Ruthless and corrupt Arab leaders have been doing this for decades. They've been able to stay in power by pointing at Israel and telling their people that Jews are the reason for their misery and hardship.

Bush turned to "his people," pointed at Newsweek, and blamed the "liberal" media for being anti-Republican. Not only does he divert attention from the prison abuse that is going on, but also keeps his belligerent base locked into their frenzied state, all set to bash "liberals" when the next orchestrated opportunity arise's, usually within days.

"Mission accomplished."

When you have a leash attached to the noses of your base supporters, you have to give it a yank every once in a while to keep them in line. How else do you think the conservative base has gotten to be so well trained?

In the 1930s, the Nazis manipulated hatred for the Jews, made them the enemy, and brainwashed Germans couldn't get enough of it. For the last 20 years, Republicans have manipulated hatred for "liberals," made them the enemy, and their brainwashed base can't get enough it.

And it's getting worse because the more they get, the more they want. And Bush is only too happy to provide it.