Bring It On!

In the best of times, satire is hard to do. Given the Orwellian times in which we live, with the Clean Air Act, the Patriot Act, No Child Left Behind and other government programs doing pretty much the exact opposite of what their names might imply, satire is damn near impossible. How are you supposed to parody an administration that constantly beats you to the punch -- and insists that it's playing it straight?

Listening to Air America radio yesterday, Randi Rhodes was complaining that the Republican National Committee had recently produced an ad warning of the danger to the nation inherent in Senator Russ Feingold's attempt to censure the president for his illegal wiretapping venture. Their ad warned in dire terms that if the public dared to elect a Democratic Congress in '06, the voters could expect more of the same, and perhaps even impeachment proceedings. Ms. Rhodes' complaint was not so much with the RNC ad itself, but that it was almost exactly the same as a parody ad that her show had aired just the day before.

This morning my friend, JurassicPork, proprietor of the site Yep, another Goddamned blog, sent me a copy of the Republican ad that is even now making its way across the internets, scaring Republican sheep no end and attempting to rally the base to come out in herds -- I mean droves -- to vote in the '06 elections and prevent the unthinkable possibility of the current administration ever being held accountable for their shady dealings and criminal behavior. The ad fairly quivers with fear and anger at the prospect that -- horrors!! -- someone might dare to question the Commander in Chief Chimpy McJingo about his blatant and admitted violations of the Fourth Amendment and the FISA laws about obtaining warrants for wiretaps.

To which I say: Good. Bring it on. Given the president's dwindling popularity, I'd like to see this ad played out a national stage. Put it in all the major newspapers, run it on the major networks in prime time. Let people know the potential consequences (actually, the upside) of electing a Democratic Congress. In truth, I wish that the Democrats had created an ad very much like this one themselves; they should be sending the Republican ad out to all their constituents in an attempt to turn the tables on the fear-mongers and their flock. My only worry is that there are too many Democrats currently in office (hello, Joe Lieberman!) who would run screaming from the censure/impeachment scenario, even if they did gain the majority.

Be careful what you wish for, Republicans.

Cross posted at This Is What Democracy Looks Like.