Bush/Cheney White House has created a Nixon "imperial presidency" on steroids

Frank J. Ranelli


John W. Dean, former Nixon White House counsel, explains why today's contemporary conservatives would make Ronald Reagan turn over in his grave. Dean says that, "today's so-called conservatives are quite radical", and "antithetical to bedrock conservative fundamentals."

The complete article, (link found below) is interesting, yet chilling. Dean's theory that today's contemporary conservatives, known as neocons, are really "enemies of freedom, antidemocratic, antiequality, highly prejudiced, mean-spirited, power hungry, Machiavellian and amoral", appears to be more factual than just theoretical.

The most glaring excerpt of Dean's article might be this:

"There is nothing conservative about preemptive wars or disregarding international law by condoning torture. Abandoning fiscal responsibility is now standard operating procedure. Bible-thumping, finger-pointing, tongue-lashing attacks on homosexuals are not found in Russell Krik's classic conservative canons, nor in James Burham's guides to conservative governing. Conservatives in the tradition of former senator Barry Goldwater and President Ronald Reagan believed in ``conserving" this planet, not relaxing environmental laws to make life easier for big business. And neither man would have considered employing Christian evangelical criteria in federal programs, ranging from restricting stem cell research to fighting AIDs through abstinence."

When you have a lifelong conservative republican, John Dean, who spent time in jail for his complicit entanglement with the Nixon debacle, raising red flags and calling what's left of his party, "enemies of freedom", I think its time to push the panic button, hold the press and starting yelling, "Huston, we have a problem!"

# # #

Thanks to Common Dreams and John W. Dean.

The full article may be read here:
Triumph of the Authoritarians