Sunday, November 9, 2008: the Presidential triumvirate conducted another two-hour long broadcast from St. Kitts. This time it was not as light-hearted, and a lot more substantive. Colin Powell presented startling statistics as to the unpreparedness of the U.S. military. Always having been one of the strongest nations in the world - from a military standpoint - Powell admitted that much of the military had been destroyed in the O.U.T.R.A.G.E. bombings last January. He humbly requested that young able-bodied men consider joining the armed forces in an effort to build up military reserves. "We are in a vulnerable state right now," Powell confessed. "Quite frankly, there are several nations that are stronger militarily than are we; and, quite frankly, these nations could easily overtake the United States should they choose to do so. We pray that they will not access such option at this time." It was a scary admission, something most people alive on the planet had never before heard: what was always considered the world's greatest superpower had been reduced to a shell of its former self.
John McCain soberly talked about the state of the national economy, and admitted that it was in no better shape. "Most of our major banks no longer exist," he said. "Many of our smaller, regional and state-chartered banks have either failed, or are in jeopardy of failing." A run on the banks just days ago had created the "Great Depression II", and McCain was trying to keep a brave face to the world in this most precarious circumstance. He knew, too, that the Chinese government, along with several other U.S. creditors, was in a position of strength never known before. If China wanted to, it could easily call in its markers, cut up America's 'credit card', and cause what might be the greatest economic collapse in the history of Earth. O.U.T.R.A.G.E. had been dispatching ambassadors to these nations in an effort to prevent such events, but McCain believed it to be in the public's best interests to know exactly what kind of slippery slope the U.S.A. was perched. "This is a time to be courageous," he bellowed, "and not a time to acquiesce." As in 1929, most American residents were out of work, out of money, and out of options.
Barack Obama delivered a moving speech following the addresses by Powell and McCain. He spoke of how important it was to "bond together" and maintain our community ties to one another. "Now, more than ever before in our nation's history, we must rely on one another and pay less attention to ourselves. This nation has been guilty of global gluttony for decades; now we must return to being an integral part of the world, working with our neighbors across the continents to establish peace, enhance our environments, and keep this good Earth from self-destructing. We implore all governments of the world to join us in this monumental effort. It is truly a matter of life and death for us all." Obama's speech, while delivered forcefully and without malice, appeared to many to be a retreat...an admission of defeat. America was no longer the military super power it once was; it no longer had the world's strongest, most stable economy; and its people were, for the most part, impoverished and disillusioned. Vulnerable and weak, the great late United States of America seemed almost resigned to the fact that it might very well end up subservient to its now stronger and more powerful global neighbors.
As the three men spoke, still black-and-white slides graced the backdrop, illustrating the appalling conditions still existing in many parts of the country. People whom had once lived in $1,000,000 homes were now surviving in tents. Some were living in squalid conditions in their cars or pick-up trucks. Millions more were still residing in local gymnasiums, armories, meeting halls and other public buildings that were still standing. It was not the kind of America most recent government administrations ever had to portray; America the great had become America the downtrodden.
The public address ended at 4:55 p.m. (EST). Powell, McCain and Obama knew they had not instilled a lot of confidence; but they also knew that at this critical juncture in the history of the nation, the truth had to take priority. For over seven years, the public had been deceived, lied to, and victimized by the Bush administration hyperbole. Now it was time for raw honesty. The Presidential triumverate did what had to be done.
John McCain soberly talked about the state of the national economy, and admitted that it was in no better shape. "Most of our major banks no longer exist," he said. "Many of our smaller, regional and state-chartered banks have either failed, or are in jeopardy of failing." A run on the banks just days ago had created the "Great Depression II", and McCain was trying to keep a brave face to the world in this most precarious circumstance. He knew, too, that the Chinese government, along with several other U.S. creditors, was in a position of strength never known before. If China wanted to, it could easily call in its markers, cut up America's 'credit card', and cause what might be the greatest economic collapse in the history of Earth. O.U.T.R.A.G.E. had been dispatching ambassadors to these nations in an effort to prevent such events, but McCain believed it to be in the public's best interests to know exactly what kind of slippery slope the U.S.A. was perched. "This is a time to be courageous," he bellowed, "and not a time to acquiesce." As in 1929, most American residents were out of work, out of money, and out of options.
Barack Obama delivered a moving speech following the addresses by Powell and McCain. He spoke of how important it was to "bond together" and maintain our community ties to one another. "Now, more than ever before in our nation's history, we must rely on one another and pay less attention to ourselves. This nation has been guilty of global gluttony for decades; now we must return to being an integral part of the world, working with our neighbors across the continents to establish peace, enhance our environments, and keep this good Earth from self-destructing. We implore all governments of the world to join us in this monumental effort. It is truly a matter of life and death for us all." Obama's speech, while delivered forcefully and without malice, appeared to many to be a retreat...an admission of defeat. America was no longer the military super power it once was; it no longer had the world's strongest, most stable economy; and its people were, for the most part, impoverished and disillusioned. Vulnerable and weak, the great late United States of America seemed almost resigned to the fact that it might very well end up subservient to its now stronger and more powerful global neighbors.
As the three men spoke, still black-and-white slides graced the backdrop, illustrating the appalling conditions still existing in many parts of the country. People whom had once lived in $1,000,000 homes were now surviving in tents. Some were living in squalid conditions in their cars or pick-up trucks. Millions more were still residing in local gymnasiums, armories, meeting halls and other public buildings that were still standing. It was not the kind of America most recent government administrations ever had to portray; America the great had become America the downtrodden.
The public address ended at 4:55 p.m. (EST). Powell, McCain and Obama knew they had not instilled a lot of confidence; but they also knew that at this critical juncture in the history of the nation, the truth had to take priority. For over seven years, the public had been deceived, lied to, and victimized by the Bush administration hyperbole. Now it was time for raw honesty. The Presidential triumverate did what had to be done.
posted by Bushwacker! at 2:52 PM
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