The GOP and FISA

Over at Salon, Glenn Greenwald picks apart the tired "fear, fear, fear!" strategy of the Republican party. This time, they're trying to scare us over FISA and the Protect America Act.

Impressively, the ad dramatically packs every component of GOP politics into one minute: There are dark, primitively omnipotent Arab Terrorists lurking darkly and menacingly, planning to slaughter you and your whole entire family right now. You have only a few seconds to live, literally or metaphorically. The clock on your life is counting down right now. You are in severe danger.

We want more unchecked government power. You better give it to us, or else the Terrorists will kill you all. Give up more power to us, do what we say, and you can lay your head down on your pillow at night without a care in the world, knowing that we love you and are keeping you Safe and Protected -- Keeping America Protected -- like a baby snugly embraced in the womb. You want that, don't you? We want to give it to you. The House Democrats want you dead.
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Just by the way, the whole premise of the ad is that we're all about to be slaughtered because the Protect America Act expired. It expired because George Bush threatened to veto any extensions and House Republicans unanimously voted against any extension. Our blood, to be gushing shortly like a volcanic eruption, will be on their loving, protective hands. - Glenn Greenwald

Whenever someone appeals to fear or hate, we must apply the highest scrutiny to what is being discussed. Here is how Keith Olbermann does it.



I think America is tired of fear. It's time for hope.