By Bridget Gibson Online Journal Contributing Writer

Some men wish evil and accomplish it But most men, when they work in that machine, Just let it happen somewhere in the wheels. The fault is no decisive, villainous knife But the dull saw that is the routine mind. —Stephen Vincent Benet from "John Brown's Body"

May 12, 2003—Plans are under way for a parade. What to call it is of much concern. You see, "victory" cannot be proclaimed in Iraq because if we are victorious it is time to leave. If we stay after declaring "victory," we become "occupiers." We can't be using that word, so the search is on for new words proclaiming our mighty military prowess. I propose we call them the "Kick-The-World's Ass With Our Military" celebrations.

The White House "officials" have come out saying that no Weapons of Mass Destruction are likely to be found in Iraq, but we had the right and might to destroy that country because they had scientists that might have been capable of developing weapons at some point in the future.

The reasoning and logic of this process must be delightful to the neo-conservatives who are taking over the Republican party. The messy business of finding reasons to invade and conquer other nations can be speedily dispatched by the fact that there might be universities or schools which teach people to read within their borders! The mighty United States military machinery can be unleashed and sicced upon any country that has even attempted to educate its people.

The news that North Korea has three hundred nuclear warheads or missiles pointed at American cities can be ignored indefinitely by the corporate media because it doesn't "sell" anything well. The message of the victorious annihilation of a third-rate military with decades old conventional weapons can be glossed over by the carefully staged photo-op of George W. Bush on the deck of an aircraft carrier, sea to the background—a great picture for the future presidential campaign backdrop of how "successful" a reign this administration is having. Perhaps while you are looking at this crafted image you will forget that George was AWOL from the Texas National Guard for over a year during the Vietnam conflict.

Syria is getting its final notice served by Rumsfeld and Powell—look what we did to your neighbor and we are close by and watching you!

Bechtel and Cheney's Halliburton are having a field day with their new and improved contracts that will surely result in campaign contributions to those Republican coffers that will be filled to overflowing for the 2004 race.

What?? No clapping yet? Wait, I have the news that will do it for you—George is making a big push around the country "selling" his tax cut plan. He knows that the average family making $36,000 will only get $289 in tax cuts, but he and Dick will be getting $327,000 each if he sells this well. Oh, never mind. Don't think about that. Think instead of the economic recovery that is just around the corner. You know the thing that is being anticipated with baited breath—losing more than half a million jobs in three months shouldn't bother you, yet. The "trickle down" economic theory has hardly had time to finish you off. Wait for it—coming soon to a town near you.

Changes are coming. You can fight them or you can embrace them. But that will not stop them. Republicans have a choice to make. They can chose to keep this "incumbent" president [sic] on their ticket or they can find themselves someone who truly represents them. To choose to not have a choice is still a choice. Don't let someone else make it for you.