The ‘Gotcha’ Game of Politics
USA/Dr. Vincent G. Gioia
December 28, 2005 - The Democrat party and their media cohorts are playing a political game – the game is called ‘gotcha’. Congressional elected Democrats and their leaders ignore the role of elected members of the Senate and House of Representatives, which is to act in the best interests of the country and its electorate.
Since the Democrats lost majorities in the Senate and House, respectful disagreement also has been a casualty of a political war, replaced by the ‘gotcha’ game. Whether playing this game damages or benefits the Democrat players remains to be seen, but there can be no doubt that ‘Gotcha’ hurts our country.
If a scenario to damage America were written by Islamic fascists and our enemies at home and abroad, they would be unable to outdo the Democrats, liberals of all stripes, and the news media in creating a propaganda effort superior to the onslaught unleashed on the American people after the Democrats lost the last few national elections for the presidency and congress. Every day, (not ‘almost’ every day), we read in the papers, hear and see on news broadcasts, about some violation of ‘human rights’ or a law by our government and this administration, to the delight of the Western World press and our enemies, at home and abroad. It is nothing short of miraculous that this wholesale propaganda effort has not damaged the morale of our troops and the war effort. However, it is likely that there is damage to the war against terror because anything that helps our enemies harms us.
Although we can start our list earlier, let’s recall first the “Abu Graib” scandal. How awful it is that we exposed murdering terrorists to the indignities of college pranks. These prisoners from groups killing our soldiers and innocent civilians, and decapitating their captives, were not injured physically, but their sensitivities and religion were insulted. The world shuddered and our press gleefully displayed photos after photos, endlessly. Congressional reaction was outrage and the Defense Department was called on the carpet. Heads had to roll, fortunately only figuratively, and Democrats and gullible Republicans alike fell over themselves apologizing to the world. What awful people we are and how dare we do this to terrorists?
The administration was accused of other foul things. Someone, somewhere improperly ‘exposed’ the name of a CIA desk person. Patriotic members of Congress were again outraged and called for an independent investigation of this ‘national security leak”. This matter occupied months of news time so the public could learn of security lapses by members of the administration; indeed, one was indicted for something, but not for breaching national security. Congressional Democrats and their media cohorts called for the “head”, (by resignation) of a Bush trusted advisor (so as to shake up the administration, though they didn’t say as much).
Now, although this national security ‘leak’ of the CIA occupied months of print, no such outrage appears to arise for the real national security leaks of imprisonment and surveillance of terrorists and their accomplices. No congressional Democrat has asked for an investigation; unfortunately, no Republican has either. How can this be explained except that to do so would violate the ‘gotcha’ game rules.
How many more examples of ‘gotcha’ are needed? Well there are many more but none more obvious than the defeat of the effort to make the Patriot Act permanent.
First, it should be noted that when the Democrats think they will lose on a vote of something they don’t like, the plan is to not make whatever it is a ‘permanent’ law and to have the law. Rather, they prefer to have the law ‘sunset’ so further legislative action will be required at some time to keep it in force. This worked well with tax cuts, and it is now working with the Patriot Act. The willingness of Republicans and the president to go along with this scam is impossible to understand, but is likely due to a lack of ‘courage’ (cajones?).
Another explanation is fear of the all mighty “filibuster”. Now the filibuster, though not a new tactic, has been developed to an art form by the Democrats. In the past, the majority favoring passage of a law or a presidential appointment required the ‘filibusterer’ to speak continuously to hold up the legislation or appointment. Today, the ‘gentlemen’ of the senate have agreed to a ‘gotcha’ rule that allows anyone to say “filibuster’ and everything in the senate stops. No longer is it necessary to be uncomfortable to delay a vote, all you have to do is raise your hand and say “gotcha”, ah ha “filibuster”. This trick now requires the Republican ‘enemy’ to have 60 votes, instead of a majority, to pass the law. What a wonderful thing this is for the elected minority to use so they can control what laws are passed, or not.
Getting back to the Patriot Act, after the senate minority leader succeeded in preventing making the Patriot Act permanent, the newspapers printed a picture of minority leader Senator Reid smiling, or rather chuckling, at his accomplishment. “Gotcha’ wins again, and the country loses, but so what.
Interestingly, Saddam Hussein on trial in Iraq grasps the nuances of the “gotcha” game played by Democrats here. His latest outburst is that “Bush lied” and the Americans are “torturing” him. With thanks to Senator McCain, Saddam asserts treatment by American guards satisfies the McCain definition of torture. To their credit, the Iraqi court said that if Saddam is being tortured by the Americans, he will be placed in Iraqi custody. It looks like Saddam now prefers American “torture” to Iraqi custody.
What can Americans do to deal with ‘gotcha’ politics? For one thing they can see through the Democrat and media game for what it is and be strong enough to resist the propaganda effort. Another thing is to “vote the scoundrels out” at he next election. |
