While leaving the constitutional convention in 1787, a passerby asked Ben Franklin whether the new government would be a Republic or a Monarchy. “A Republic, if you can keep it,” was Franklin’s famous reply. His words echo across the centuries. Can we keep it? There have been many challenges to our great republic over the years, but never since the civil war have the foundations of our republic been so shaken as they are today.
The threat comes from the Republican Party, their criminal corporate cronies, and a handful of DINOs that goose step behind the Republican leadership in betrayal of America. They would transform America from a democratic republic into a fascist corporate plutocracy, a regime of one-party Republican rule.
Every 4th of July, I make it a point to reread the Declaration of Independence. Every 4th of July, I cannot help but notice how many of our founding fathers’ grievances against King George still fit Republican policies.
Can we keep it? That’s up to you and I. I see it as a two step process. Admittedly the Democratic Party is a swamp, but doing anything about it is very difficult, as long as it is infested with vicious Republican alligators. Therefore step one has to be pest control. Exterminate the alligators (politically speaking, only). The Republican Party must follow the Whigs into political oblivion. Then it will be time to drain the swamp in step two.
I wish you all a happy Independence Day, rich in all the blessings you deserve.
21 Responses to “Happy Independence Day”
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Happy Independence Day to you, Tom. That puzzle is a doozy.
Thanks Leslie. Yes it was!
Happy 4th to you Tom , and all who read your blog—We still do have our Republic– and the task of keeping it!
Thanks Phyllis. Just barely and yes.
Happy 4th to One and All!
Thanks Nameless.
Happy 4th! Everybody! 😈
Thanks Johnny.
Stay informed, stay politically active, and VOTE! Happy Independence Day.
Ahab, Amen, amen, amen, and thanks.
Happy 4th TomCat.
The Democrats cannot clean up the republican party. The clean up will have to come from reasonable republicans, themselves. They are the ones who will have to kick out the corporate/extremist republicans and take back their party.
The Democrats have a big enough problem with their own party.
Jerry, I never suggested that the Democrats can clean up the Republican Party, but Republicans often stand in the way of cleaning up the Democratic Party. All to often we have the choice between a bad DINO and a worse Republican. Voting for the DINO is the only way to stop the Republican. Once the Republican Party is defunct, that is no longer an issue.
Yes, we can keep it if we can keep Republicans from rewriting the Constitution for idiotic things like flag amendments, religious amendments, etc., etc., etc.
Leave the Constitution alone. It’s bad enough that the political changes of the Supreme Court lead to different interpretations of the document constantly.
Happy 4th!
Tom, I agree, but some of those idiotic amendments are the least of our worries, in light of their more draconian attempts to destroy the American way of life.
Backatcha!
Happy and safe 4th to everyone!
TC,
Those are some ugly ass clashing colors, btw. Nice job!
Lisa
Thanks Lisa. I was going for a fireworks effect.
Happy 4th to you and everyone. I agree with others, keeping it is the hard part since so many wish to give it away.
Thanks Blue. Amen.
Like a Million Giant Fireflies
On the shortest night of the year, Poles created this mesmerizing – and “boomless” – alternative to our annual fireworks mania. It was Poland’s attempt to beat the Guinness record for most paper lanterns launched at one time … and according to CNN, it appears they succeeded!
June 21, 2011 – the summer solstice – was when over 11,000 paper lanterns were launched from both banks of the Warta River in Poznan, Poland. I happened to find a post about this just now, and was totally captivated by its slow-motion beauty. I found two stunningly gorgeous videos (to fully appreciate their beauty, please be sure to view them in Full-Screen mode) of the event.
The first gives a clearer perspective of what’s going on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJnuqP3OMfI
This is from the periphery:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsqmExj9CBw
Thanks Nameless. That second view is particularly stunning!