Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBush’s Greatest Sin Was Telling America to Be Afraid
If FDRs presidency could be summed up with his famous line we have nothing to fear but fear itself, the years under Bush basically consisted of the message fear everything.
On 9/11 we were attacked by terrorists who wanted to create irrational fear in the American public in the hopes it would cause us to make terrible decisions. Bushs response to that event played right into their hands.
After 9/11 Bush didnt tell us to stay calm and carry on. He didnt tell us to be more vigilant but not let terrorists change what makes us great. He told us to be scared, not just scared but irrationally terrified.
His administration not only preyed on our fear but created fictitious dangers behind every corner. At a moment of national panic we were told to buy duct tape and plastic. We were constantly told to worry about color coded threats that were never specified. At airports 90 year old men were treated as threats and we were told nail clippers were too dangerous to carry aboard.
...
Bush exploited this fear he helped fuel relentlessly. He used it for political gain. He use it to strip us of our civil liberties. He used it to get us into war. He used it to bankrupt the country by dramatically expanding our defense industry while also enriching his friends.
This promotion of fear by Bush was his greatest sin, because it made all the rest possible.
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2013/04/26/bushs-greatest-sin-was-telling-america-to-be-afraid/
On 9/11 we were attacked by terrorists who wanted to create irrational fear in the American public in the hopes it would cause us to make terrible decisions. Bushs response to that event played right into their hands.
After 9/11 Bush didnt tell us to stay calm and carry on. He didnt tell us to be more vigilant but not let terrorists change what makes us great. He told us to be scared, not just scared but irrationally terrified.
His administration not only preyed on our fear but created fictitious dangers behind every corner. At a moment of national panic we were told to buy duct tape and plastic. We were constantly told to worry about color coded threats that were never specified. At airports 90 year old men were treated as threats and we were told nail clippers were too dangerous to carry aboard.
...
Bush exploited this fear he helped fuel relentlessly. He used it for political gain. He use it to strip us of our civil liberties. He used it to get us into war. He used it to bankrupt the country by dramatically expanding our defense industry while also enriching his friends.
This promotion of fear by Bush was his greatest sin, because it made all the rest possible.
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2013/04/26/bushs-greatest-sin-was-telling-america-to-be-afraid/
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
4 replies, 733 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (2)
ReplyReply to this post
4 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Bush’s Greatest Sin Was Telling America to Be Afraid (Original Post)
phantom power
Apr 2013
OP
msongs
(67,433 posts)1. dick cheney had halliburton to feed, fear was the best way to do it nt
Mike Nelson
(9,966 posts)2. Fear benefits Republicans...
...freedom from fear works better for Democrats and other living things.
gugubar
(3 posts)3. not exactly
not even a sin, just a attempt at manipulating
LeftInTX
(25,515 posts)4. The fear mongering won't stop
CNN was on at the local gym a few nights ago.
Then last night, I had it on: They had Wolfawitz, with the "War on Terror" under the headlines. A bunch of neocons and fear mongering. I couldn't take it. I had to turn it off.
It's like they are trying to get us to "relive 9/11". I guess it was a moment of glee for them??
It doesn't stop.
Is it going to be 9/11 - 24/7/364 now?
I wish the fear mongering would stop. It is irrational.