Republicans are fond of bumper sticker talking points. I mean, why fuss with asking questions or probing deeper into the reasons, causes or effects. Thinking is hard and the conservative rank-and-file just can't bother with such silliness. Keep it simple and make it sound good. In so many ways Joe the Plumber represents the right-wing rank-and-file, clearly lacking any depth of knowledge but willing to debate the issues anyway by throwing around the GOP talking points as if they were a substantive arguments.
This year we heard "Drill baby drill" or "Obama is a socialist who pals around with terrorists." None of these drones bothered to ask why drilling is the answer or what the viable alternatives were. None could provide a clear definition of socialism. This is just an example of how they throw around terms that evoke certain emotions without regard to meaining. Again, why bother? Thinking is hard. It's far easier to be stupid.
Let us rewind the clock ten years to the days of the Lewinsky scandal and the subsequent impeachemnt of President Clinton. The right-wing bumper sticker talking-point was "We must uphold the rule of law." It was everywhere. I am no Clnton apologist. Clnton was a liar, but his crimes did not rise to the level of criminality of the Bush administraiton and yet the right is silent. No suprise. The Bush administration is probably one of the most criminal presidencies in American history, but now more than ever we need that bumper sticker slogan as a serious rallying cry. Restore the rule of law!
Few Americans truly realize the dramatic erosion of the Constitution and the rule of law this country has experienced over the past eight years. What is America without the rule of law? The United States Constitution is the oldest written constitution in the world still in force. It's a testament to its greatness. Life in 1787 is hardly recognizable compared to life in 2008, yet our Constitution still bears significant relevance.
Under Bush we saw domestic spying, denial of habeas corpus, torture, signing statements, kangaroo courts, blatant defiance of Congressional oversight. One of Obama's first acts as president should be to clearly and explicitly reverse this. Give a speech proclaiming that America will not torture and will be bound by the rule of law. Work with Congress on passing legislation limiting presidential power. Obama just might be the man of great enough strength of character to get this done. A one-time constitutional law professor, Obama has spoken about this early in his campaign so I have hope that something will be done.
If Obama fails to take action to restore the rule of law then we will have an institutional autocrat in the President. Obama can save this and it can be one more thing that will lend to his greatness as President of the United States of America. Restore the rule of law!