The View from the Meadow

Observations of the Passing Scene

Political and Social Commentary by Dave Satre

Conservatives Without Conscience

John Dean, the White House insider the Nixon Administration tried to blame for Watergate, presents a rational, nonpartisan view of the current situation in the Republican Party in his new book Conservatives Without Conscience. Although he is still a Republican and contends he is still a conservative he, like millions of others, finds himself frequently described as a liberal these days.

Dean has thoroughly researched the current situation and finds that the Republican party now views its base as the 30 % hard-right conservative voting block that put Bush in the White House. These are non-thinking conservatives who made their minds up long ago and refuse to examine issues.

These people have a penchant for authoritarianism, they blindly follow their leaders and have remained loyal to their cause far too long. They are basically amoral and, as Dean puts it, will march over a cliff for their leaders. They describe a liberal as anyone who disagrees with them.

Dean sees the Regime using this support to restructure Congress in support of authoritarianism. Cheney has pushed for presidential powers far beyond those ever exercised in the United States. Bush is absolutely the worst president to have these powers.

They have also pushed for excessive secrecy -- this administration is by far the most secretive in the country’s history. Their inflammatory policies and actions have actually incited terrorism and the administration has capitalized on the public fear generated by the terrorists to suppress criticism.

Dean doesn’t claim the Bush Administration is a fascist regime, but he does see America moving in that direction. He points to similarities in the development of a fascist state in Germany. He is also among the very few people in this country with the courage and credentials to stand up and call attention to the very real problems with the Bush presidency.

The book is highly recommended and is currently 2nd on the NY Times Best Seller List.

To view a brief video of John Dean in an interview discussing these issues with MSNBC’s Keith Olber:

CLICK HERE