My wife is
watching coverage of the Inauguration in the other room. She switches from NBC
to ABC to CBS to CNN, trying to find one talking head that doesn’t piss her
off. David Gergen, spinmeister to four presidents, seems to be on every
channel, jabbering incessantly about presidential stature, and the challenges
facing Obama in the next four years.
Over on ABC, Tim Gunn is analyzing
Michelle Obama’s attire and what her stint as First Lady has meant for fashion;
apparently, this is important and newsworthy. Tributes to our brave men and
women in uniform, our warriors, are repeated on every network. Praise the
American empire and our grand, stunning armaments. Brian Williams says Obama
appears calmer this time around, more relaxed and comfortable in his role as chief
executive and commander in chief; Williams and his colleagues have a lot of
airtime to fill so these kind of empty, stupid statements predominate.
Camera
shots of generals and admirals, protectors of the ruling class’s property and
wealth; long shots of the Capitol mall and the assembled crowd. I can’t help
but think of the pomp and spectacle of ancient Rome, at least until the
Disney-style music begins playing and I feel like I’m standing on Main Street
with an ice cream cone in my hand and a bunch of children screaming all around
me. Jimmy Carter is on hand, as is Bill Clinton, but where is W, and where is
his sidekick, Dick Cheney? Surely, these two great Americans were invited to
this celebration of Democracy and the orderly transfer of power. Portly Newt
Gingrich strolls in, though why the Toad was invited is a mystery to me. Still
no sign of W – where is that slimy motherfucker? John Boehner looks
constipated, though his fake tan is perfect, as usual.
I know this is
a solemn ceremony, far superior to a military coup or a fascist overthrow, but
it’s just another brick in the wall of lies we tell ourselves about ourselves.
It’s like asserting that the purpose of all this pomp is the welfare of people
rather than the protection of property. Bob Schiefer tells the audience that
Obama’s second term will be about bipartisanship, reaching across the aisle,
and maybe playing more rounds of golf with Republican members of Congress. Yes,
hit the links with Eric Cantor and Mitch McConnell, tee off with a smile on your
face and a song in your heart, but never turn your back on those two.
“We will
respond to the threat of climate change,” says Obama, knowing full well that we
will do nothing of the sort because this would only upset the property owners
and resource extractors – it’s another throwaway line that will soon be
forgotten.
Obama’s laying
out the laundry list now – help the poor, heal the sick, free the captive,
punish the wicked, save the weak.
Sounds good,
boss, why don’t you start right here on the fruited plain…
Keep in mind
that this is the same president who determines whether or not this or that
suspected terrorist is taken out by a drone strike, without benefit of legal
charges and trial; this is the same president who pushed a health care reform
scheme that kept insurance companies in charge of our medical care; this is the
same president who refused to prosecute the criminal bankers and financiers who
ruined the economic present and future for millions of people.
Different day,
same guy, same rules for the ruling class. Let freedom ring, baby. Let freedom
roll down from the mountaintop (and then blow the top off that mountain so we
can get to the coal below), let freedom flow like the mighty Nile. Today we are
one America, not divided by race (bullshit), sexual orientation (gays can’t
legally marry in most places), wealth (ha, ha, ha), or the Second Amendment
(another ha, ha – don’t try to take my guns, motherfucker).
And what would
an American political event be without the big guy, yes, that guy, Almighty
God, who pays special attention to these United States. We thank him, praise
him, raise our eyes to him – or at least some of us do. God has always been
useful to both wings of the Property Party.
Bring on
Beyonce and the Marine Band…then cue Wolf Blitzer.
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