By Nighthawke

Since my last case of Roadrage there's been a lot happening out there.

Although I'd love to spend some time on the burlesque stylings of Al Greenspan (not to be confused with soul man Reverend Al Green) strip-teasing for the Street as he slowly peels off interest points there are far more important things for me to be talking about than the economic impact of interest rates.

My hat is decidedly off though to good ol boy James Carville for inventing the myth that 'it's the economy stupid.' (The operative word here being stupid.) That was a hoax designed to fool most of the people for some of the time. It worked so well the Republishams have decided to employ the same sleight of hand tactics in the new administration.

Like all great illusionists the politicians have learned that if you keep people's attention focused on something with one hand you can do just about anything with the other. And, if you can be entertaining enough even if they look at your lips move every once in a while like Edgar Bergen -- they don't care because Charlie McCarthy is funny.

Clinton came in riding the Economy train and kept it on the tracks regardless of his misbehavior by opening the palm he held his Presidential Staff in and saying it's not here -- it's over there -- the good economy -- (stupid). 'Yuk yuk Al -- they went for it again.'

Now comes the re-Bushing of America.

More than twenty years ago slime ball Larry Flynt's Hustler magazine created quite a stir in Cincinnati (and in the pants of adolescent males world-wide) with his avant-garde display of the smoothly shaven fem-fatale. Hairy Supreme court battles were waged and won by the hirsute pornographer (ahem) opening up women all across the fruited plain to the coiffured mons.

This was a great thing for those of us who didn't like plucking short and curlys from our teeth during the gustation of honey pie. But I fear the aerodynamic look has waxed cold as Bush has taken over the pink (er White) house.

Now at one point in time getting a little bush was a good thing in America. But nowadays I fear the little Bush is going to be just one big cover up after another. He started out by hedging on the economy even before he was inaugurated. He would point to shaky stocks on the Street and say 'see-- America needs my budget plan the economy needs a stimulus.'

Of course he knew as long as he was waving the big 'Economy' flag people wouldn't be looking at the fact that the reason the Street had the jitters was because of the long-drawn out uncertainty precipitated by the electile dysfunction suffered by retirees in Florida.

All the Viagra in Bob Dole's garage wouldn't be enough to rectify the dangling Chad problem. So, the Stupreme Court had to step in and appoint a president for us. So now we again have Bush.

The natural consequence of the scare-mongering has been a slide in consumer confidence, the subsequent abysmal Christmas shopping season, and next comes worse than expected quarterly reports, and bang -- we have some real turmoil on the Street and a real slowdown (in growth). Naturally this has our full attention.

But what should have us erect in our seats is the social engineering the Republicram's in the Congress, Senate, and White House are going to start stuffing through the mill. Starting with Bankruptcy Law. Just in time for you to be laid off from work the re-Bushers have decided to seriously alter the rules governing one of the institutions America was founded upon. But wait. These are New Republicans. They're not like the old 'Big Business' Republicans. Another Carvilleism co-opted by the fundamentalist born-again Bush hounds.

Thomas Jefferson filed bankruptcy four times in his lifetime. But, now with the new rules proposed by the House and Senate (to be signed by the little Bush) if you're laid off from work and can't repay all those pre-approved credit card debts at 21% per year the odds are that you won't be able to file the same kinds of Bankruptcy protection you would have once been provided by the courts. It would hurt the banks too much. Poor banks.

Don't get me wrong -- I want to have my tax cut. Don't you? The economy needs it. (pllllt) We could all use a little extra spending money right? Keep your eye on the Tax cut. Pay no attention to the other bills going on behind the curtain.

This will just be the start. The other moralizing bills are yet to come. And what's worse -- I think the country will have the stomach for them. Prodded on by the senseless school shooting problem I'm getting crap like this in my e-mail box:

Now when I was a kid we were not worried that some kid was going to come in and shoot us. No. We were worried that a NUCLEAR Missile was going to hit the school!!!!

This thought process is prima facia evidence of the Re-Bushing of America. It suggests that if every child could just be taught to live, think, walk, and talk like a white, Anglo-Saxon, heterosexual, middle-class protestant we could eliminate violence. Is this really the thought process that's going to solve this problem?

If kids have to pray aloud in school then they aren't being taught at home. If they can't find God there and pray to themselves then they aren't being exposed to any spiritual teaching -- at home. If the intent is to impose these views on someone else's kids besides the author's (who are obviously the problem in this thought process) then the would violate the civil rights of the other parents and students.

This is something we need to think about with the current Stupreme Court.

But really; how many Southern Baptists living in Utah want their children to be forced to read The Book of Mormon in class in public school? I suspect not many. But they didn't think of that.

If they want to pray at home to God to stop school shootings that's fine. If they want to teach their children that it is a lack of God in public life that causes death -- that's their prerogative. However, the next time a tornado strikes a church full of people in Alabama -- they may get a little confused.

I make no argument that the public education system in this country needs no overhaul -- starting with the NEA. But, you know, if we made education our first priority and had started out paying teachers a decent wage in the first place -- the NEA may not have gotten so out of synch with reality.

If people want to live in total safety -- there is no safer place on the planet for day to day life than the interior of Communist China. (provided you don't want any personal freedom and don't publicly or privately criticize the government.)

This is how America will be re-Bushed. I'm trying to read his lips. But it's getting a little hard.

Could I have a Razor Please?