Krugman: The Arabian Candidate (Allegory * to Manchurian Candidate)

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/20/opinion/20krug.html?hp=&pagewanted=print&position=

In the original version of "The Manchurian Candidate," Senator John Iselin, whom Chinese agents are plotting to put in the White House, is a right-wing demagogue modeled on Senator Joseph McCarthy. As Roger Ebert wrote, the plan is to "use anticommunist hysteria as a cover for a communist takeover."

The movie doesn't say what Iselin would have done if the plot had succeeded. Presumably, however, he wouldn't have openly turned traitor. Instead, he would have used his position to undermine national security, while posing as America's staunchest defender against communist evil.

So let's imagine an update - not the remake with Denzel Washington, which I haven't seen, but my own version. This time the enemies would be Islamic fanatics, who install as their puppet president a demagogue who poses as the nation's defender against terrorist evildoers.

The Arabian candidate wouldn't openly help terrorists. Instead, he would serve their cause while pretending to be their enemy.

After an attack, he would strike back at the terrorist base, a necessary action to preserve his image of toughness, but botch the follow-up, allowing the terrorist leaders to escape. Once the public's attention shifted, he would systematically squander the military victory: committing too few soldiers, reneging on promises of economic aid. Soon, warlords would once again rule most of the country, the heroin trade would be booming, and terrorist allies would make a comeback.

He's basically saying that Bush acts like he was planted there by Al Qaeda, since his every move has been a dream for bin Laden.

Last but not least, by blatantly exploiting the terrorist threat for personal political gain, he would undermine the nation's unity in the face of its enemies, sowing suspicion about the government's motives.

O.K., end of conceit. President Bush isn't actually an Al Qaeda mole, with Dick Cheney his controller. Mr. Bush's "war on terror" has, however, played with eerie perfection into Osama bin Laden's hands - while Mr. Bush's supporters, impressed by his tough talk, see him as America's champion against the evildoers.

Last week, Republican officials in Kentucky applauded bumper stickers distributed at G.O.P. offices that read, "Kerry is bin Laden's man/Bush is mine." Administration officials haven't gone that far, but when Tom Ridge offered a specifics-free warning about a terrorist attack timed to "disrupt our democratic process," many people thought he was implying that Al Qaeda wants George Bush to lose. In reality, all infidels probably look alike to the terrorists, but if they do have a preference, nothing in Mr. Bush's record would make them unhappy at the prospect of four more years.

Krugman better hire a bodyguard, a mail guard, and an e-mail guard!

Did you hear he is going to be a regular in Al Franken's program starting tomorrow?

really just a kick

The story actually starts 30 years in the past when the Arabian candidate's father, who's in the domestic oil business, sees the opportunity to make it big with the ME producers. From his CIA/family connections, he becomes close friends of the ME oil families that control vast mounts of hi-grade, easy to pump crude oil. Eventually, he becomes VPOTUS and he helps to formulate a US energy policy that kills alternatives to oil energy and guides the country into a cheap oil addiction. Along the way, these petro-dollars are reinvested into the US economy with little political oversight.

Meanwhile the Arabian Candidate grows into an intellectually lazy and rather spoiled young adult. He experiences a carefree life where self-created problems are always fixed and money is always readily available to start businesses that invariably fail...but the AC always lands on his feet, bailed out by friends of his father. Through no real effort of his own, he eventually becomes governor of a large Southern state that is owned by the energy companies.

Then, the AC is tapped by the political party that fronts Big Oil to become President.... after the election is fixed to assure his winning, he soon learns that he, like his father before him, has a big bill that's come due. The ME oil families have become richer than anyone's wildest dreams. They now have investments in the US economy of close to 7%. And they have the goods on the Arabian candidate and his father. They have incriminating evidence that would bring the AC's family down, unless he follows the script that they have planned for him. The script calls for him to enjoy himself...and he does. Presidenting is not too tough, in fact, he's able to spend 43% of his 1st 9 months on vacation.

Then, on 9/11, everything changes. And it dawns on him, sitting in a classroom reading a book about goats while the country is experiencing the worst attack in it's history, that he is really, really fucked......

above the level of slime mold. I am not convinced of that, myself.

:kick:

My husband and I read Krugman every time he shows up in print and both of us admire and respect him. However, this column worries me a great deal. Surely, Mr Krugman realizes that the mob squatting in the WH is ruthless and criminal and wouldn't think a second time before whacking him. We need all the Krugmans we can get in this dangerous world. So I'm sending the gentleman an e-mail - thanking him for his comments and pleading with him to hire bodyguards.

There it is, and it needed to be said. I didn't think it was possible but my respect for Krugman just increased by orders of magnitude!

No fluff. Every op-ed he writes speaks the truth.

Thanks, Mr. Krugman, for another excellent description of BushCo.

Rebuts nicely the right wing garbage that terrorists would somehow prefer Kerry as President.


:kick:

Nothing more important (since indictments seem to be unattainable) will come out of this election cycle!

I love Paul!