Grover, the Stealth Bomber

"I don't want to abolish government, I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub."   - Grover Norquist  

Who the hell is Grover Norquist? This guy flies under almost everyone's radar. Yet he's one of the most powerful men in America. So just in case he's below your radar, let me tell you a little about the man who wants to drown your government in the bathtub. Grover Norquist is at war against our U.S. Government. And it's as if he's commandeering American Stealth Bombers and raining destruction over all of us Main-Streeters of America. His "bombs away" tactics in Congress blow away almost any boost to the middle class, including almost all job-opportunity legislation. While Grover Norquist is on his single-minded quest to take down our American government, he leaves us Main-Streeters virtually out in the economic street. Yeah, we ARE down, because of him. We are nothing to this dictator, this bully, this warlord. We are simply his "Collateral Damage." And very few of us are aware of what, or who, is causing this rain of terror over us Americans. From his mike in his Stealth Bomber, he belts out:  "This is Grover, over! This is Grover, over!"  

Should Grover Norquist  be arrested for his beliefs? Not on your life. This IS America. But he must be stopped. His plans to dismantle the American government must come to a screeching halt. He is not actually commandeering an American Stealth Bomber. His destruction is coming to us more underhandedly. He is, so to speak, flying paper airplanes directly at all Republican legislators of America. His paper airplanes contain  his pledges, each of a mere 60 words,  euphemistically called "Taxpayer Protection Pledges." These pledges serve to force Grover Norquist's will on each Republican legislator in America. Each Republican legislator justly feels overwhelmingly intimidated into signing each of these pledges. And the threat is very real from Norquist and his army.  His message is: You will sign this pledge and never, ever vary from its 2 provisions, or else. Or else my army will descend upon you and you will lose to my candidate, put against you,  in the next primary battle.  And believe you me, you will be in a battle that you don't even want to think about. We will come at you with millions of dollars worth of hate ads. And your days in this Congress will be numbered.  Obey me, or start counting. 

Where did I get the idea that Grover Norquist wants to "dismantle the American government?"  Now that is a serious charge, I will admit. Please read again what this Grover Norquist has said: "I don't want to abolish government, I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub." And I can not find anywhere where Grover Norquist has recanted this statement of anarchy. I have read his book Leave Us Alone, and I've looked through his other writings and interviews, and he just seems satisfied to allow these words of anarchy to echo along.    

"Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful." (Wikipedia.)  Seems to me that this is exactly Norquist's meaning. Am I wrong? Do all of you out there see this statement the same way that I do? Let's see. He wants to "reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom." This guy is advocating strong-armed force against the U.S. Government. He wants our government radically changed to something very tiny. Or maybe to no effective government at all. 

Yet this is America. We are the leading nation in the world, with the largest military presence, by far, in the world. With an itty-bitty government, we could no longer maintain our military services, which Grover Norquist claims to support. And when he says "drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub" he surely sounds like a heartless bully.  I see an image of Grover Norquist taking our whole American system and holding it all under water in that bathtub, as if the American people are an unwanted litter of kittens. Talk about nasty plans for our government of America! .

Look at  what he is doing to the Republican legislators all over America. He is actually terrorizing them.  No stealth attack here. Right at 'em. They dare not cross this bully. And that must be paralyzing for each of them. Each has worked his or her way up to the very top of their political profession. Almost all of them deserve the title of "Honorable." Yet they must cater to Grover Norquist's iron-fisted will. He locks them in with each and every pledge... and if they do not do precisely as he commands, they will be swiftly and surely hounded out of office. 

This is actual humiliation. One of the worst situations anyone, anywhere could be in. Our Republican legislators, nee "Pledgees," are forced each day to do exactly as this bully commands. As they are cowing down, they must feel vile disgust on their consciences and in their souls. Add to this an especially lingering distaste on their lips, as they bend over........to kiss smug Grover...............on his ass.

                                                                               

Well, that's my take.  What's yours?

Sincerely,  Don Dyson.  (djd)