Thursday, January 19, 2006

Hello, Osama! Thanks, Denny!*


That we are watching yet another video of Osama Bin Laden today, living and breathing and threatening every one of us, is unmistakably part of the legacy of the worst Speaker of the House in our history.

Anyone who does not believe that Denny "J. Dennis" Hastert is largely responsible for Osama Bin Laden's current state as a solid element of the universe -- as opposed to now being a gas or liquid -- is kidding themselves.

In his unfailing support of this Imperial Presidency, Hastert has altered the position of Speaker of the House to that of personal secretary to the King. And in his dogged pursuit of a leadership position that requires no confrontation (he loathes it), he has miserably failed to uphold his Constitututional duty to protect our freedoms by allowing the Executive Branch carte blanche

As another writer put it, Hastert's main job has been to fetch sandwiches and coffee for corporate executives during their legislation-writing visits to the Capitol. That's only part of the job description of Speaker, as it now exists.

Had Hastert alone been the one to tell George W. Bush in the winter of 2001, "you know... I think we should finish the job in Afghanistan..." we may have succeeded at Tora Bora.

Now we have Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran... AND Bin Laden, who by now should be sealed in a septic tank with his followers and shat upon for all eternity.

*Denny Hastert is pictured here riding in his antique fire engine, one of nearly 20 antique vehicles he's collected for years, which are housed at his rural estate outside Plano, Illinois.

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