AN OUTSIDER'S VIEWS ON THE INDICTMENT OF 'SCOOTER'
Abdul - Kadir O. Etuazim
November 01, 2005
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”
-Abraham Lincoln
The indictment, not conviction, of Lewis “Scooter” Libby brings to mind the saying “The only thing man has learnt from history is that man has refused to learn history.” This is applicable to all challenges emanating from the unfolding events. Unfolding in the sense that political dramas have a way of changing from tropical storms to category five hurricanes in little or no time.
In the Igbo culture of mid-west and eastern Nigeria, it is said, “When you slap a man guarding his treasures with both hands, rest assured that when you guard your treasures with both hands, the same fate awaits you.” Both sayings would serve as the fulcrum of an outsider’s reaction to the indictment.
HISTORY
Much has been said by analysts of varying political backgrounds and interests on the indictment. Some commentators displayed analytical impartiality while a majority engaged in shameful political distortion of facts. A vital ingredient was missing. What was conspicuous by its absence is ethics. Church going and religious professing individuals look straight into television cameras and without bating an eyelid unleash untrue statements. Using the word lie might be too much!
Many reputations are on trial for massaging truth or skewing facts under the glare of klieg lights. The latest practice of politics is beginning to reveal the dark side of man. A particular case is very poignant. A respected columnist of one of the “IVY LEAGUE” newspapers, who is most of the time exuding confidence, looked like a frightened rabbit after stating his take on the issue. His body turned against him for the tongue in the cheek approach. He was visibly uncomfortable with his irrational contribution. I have never seen someone look that out of sorts in a long time.
The grand jury of public opinion indictment lasts longer than maximum prison sentences for charges of perjury. Individuals who are supposed to be role models offer, with glee, methods to deceive the public by diverting attention from serious issues. Politicians never cease to amaze. The art of speaking without saying anything is second nature of most politicians.
The Democrats, who were screaming blue murder during Clinton’s ordeal, are now jumping around and pontificating on the virtues of ethical behavior. We remember how Ken Starr was vilified and demonized when President Clinton was at the receiving end.
Republicans, who tried unsuccessfully to fly a kite that indictment for perjury was technical, have conveniently forgotten the glee plastered on their faces when the Democrats were sweating it out. During Clinton’s baptism of fire, with the charge of perjury, our Republican friends bemoaned the disrepute brought to the esteemed White House. How fickle they all are.
In the process of engaging in these political somersaults, the intelligence of some members of the public is invariably insulted. A friend argues otherwise thus: “We the masses do not deserve better. False promises are soothing! If not, why do we vote for the same guys and their parties election after election?”
POLITICS, TRUST AND THE FUTURE
There is something developing democracies can impart to entrenched democratic countries and it is “Trust Politicians at your peril.” In the case of developing democracies, the word politicians replace governments, with the advent of emphasis on democratic leadership. The rule used to be “Do not trust the Government.”
For those of us who have experienced tyrannical governments, the mistrust of government, and by extension politicians, is such that if a politician greets “good morning” I look at my wristwatch before responding accordingly! Obviously, this is a general rule.
There are exceptions, which are rare. Mistrust of the political leadership is sipping into the western world, especially the United States and this spells doom for the rest of the world.
The acrimonious state of politics in most countries threatens the continued practice of democracy, as we know it today. Unless there is concerted effort to change the present course, the face of politics will change, probably for the better, with diminished powers delegated to elected officials within the next half century.
What is intriguing, however, is the absence of partisan bickering when it is time to take care of the elected officials. They know how to bury all their hatchets and axes until their interests are adequately taken care of. Unthinkable alliances are formed and the citizens are left wondering what is amiss.
For example, feuding and name-calling go on sabbatical leave when it comes to pork barrel spending, there is no line demarcating the left and the right! A different mindset sets in. Why not sustain such meeting of the minds when other issues affecting the masses are involved?
POWER
Power is a five-letter word that permeates all strata of society and life. It is symbolic, all conquering and transient at the same time. Power is cherished by all beings. So far so good. However, whenever control is thrown into the same rink with power, things start going south.
By control is meant tethered control. There are many ways to discern when it is being used. For instance, when the following terms and phrases crop up “spin”, “leaky leaks”, “nuclear option”, “top government official”, “The people”, “duty to perform” “let’s focus on..” Embarking on any tortuous use of those terms should trigger an alarm. Someone or a group is attempting power control.
It should be obvious that leaks are part of the tools of control. Threats are instruments of last resort and ultimate cajole. Repeating a lie over and over transforms it into a truth, in some quarters. Planting and stoking fear is the decisive tool. It seldom fails in the short term if spearheaded by fear mongering adepts.
It is the quest to exert controlling power that is most likely to result in political scandals. A political ailment called PHD (Pull Him Down) syndrome exacerbates the situation. Today it is the Republicans. One day it would be the turn of the Democrats. What is the cost to the taxpayer?
For how long can we and should we stand such political tit for tat? The United States remains a beacon and an enviable model for democracy anywhere and anytime. Flowing from the last statement is a responsibility to curb excesses. This responsibility has to be jealously guarded while allowing for the flourishing of debate, free speech and other imperatives of an open society.
CONCLUSION
The political class needs to put its house in order. A part of me whispers that the scenario painted above is part of nature’s evolutionary approach to change organisms and systems. The present system of allowing elected representatives to introduce their personal agenda and pursue such under the guise of local, state and national causes cannot survive much longer.
The so-called foot soldiers of political parties and ideologies should reappraise their contributions towards the evolution of democracy. Has the existence of these interest groups and extremists – on the left and the right – stunted the evolution of politics towards compromise on many fronts? Are battles always necessary in a civilized environment? What messages do these acts send to nascent democracies?
Accept it or not, new centuries and millennia herald modifications or in some cases outright overturn of existing structures. Politics cannot be an exception. Consequently, these spates of scandals and dirty politicking would ultimately lead to gradual but eventually sweeping changes. The predicted changes – with the benefit of hindsight – might be traceable to the present age.
-Abraham Lincoln
The indictment, not conviction, of Lewis “Scooter” Libby brings to mind the saying “The only thing man has learnt from history is that man has refused to learn history.” This is applicable to all challenges emanating from the unfolding events. Unfolding in the sense that political dramas have a way of changing from tropical storms to category five hurricanes in little or no time.
In the Igbo culture of mid-west and eastern Nigeria, it is said, “When you slap a man guarding his treasures with both hands, rest assured that when you guard your treasures with both hands, the same fate awaits you.” Both sayings would serve as the fulcrum of an outsider’s reaction to the indictment.
HISTORY
Much has been said by analysts of varying political backgrounds and interests on the indictment. Some commentators displayed analytical impartiality while a majority engaged in shameful political distortion of facts. A vital ingredient was missing. What was conspicuous by its absence is ethics. Church going and religious professing individuals look straight into television cameras and without bating an eyelid unleash untrue statements. Using the word lie might be too much!
Many reputations are on trial for massaging truth or skewing facts under the glare of klieg lights. The latest practice of politics is beginning to reveal the dark side of man. A particular case is very poignant. A respected columnist of one of the “IVY LEAGUE” newspapers, who is most of the time exuding confidence, looked like a frightened rabbit after stating his take on the issue. His body turned against him for the tongue in the cheek approach. He was visibly uncomfortable with his irrational contribution. I have never seen someone look that out of sorts in a long time.
The grand jury of public opinion indictment lasts longer than maximum prison sentences for charges of perjury. Individuals who are supposed to be role models offer, with glee, methods to deceive the public by diverting attention from serious issues. Politicians never cease to amaze. The art of speaking without saying anything is second nature of most politicians.
The Democrats, who were screaming blue murder during Clinton’s ordeal, are now jumping around and pontificating on the virtues of ethical behavior. We remember how Ken Starr was vilified and demonized when President Clinton was at the receiving end.
Republicans, who tried unsuccessfully to fly a kite that indictment for perjury was technical, have conveniently forgotten the glee plastered on their faces when the Democrats were sweating it out. During Clinton’s baptism of fire, with the charge of perjury, our Republican friends bemoaned the disrepute brought to the esteemed White House. How fickle they all are.
In the process of engaging in these political somersaults, the intelligence of some members of the public is invariably insulted. A friend argues otherwise thus: “We the masses do not deserve better. False promises are soothing! If not, why do we vote for the same guys and their parties election after election?”
POLITICS, TRUST AND THE FUTURE
There is something developing democracies can impart to entrenched democratic countries and it is “Trust Politicians at your peril.” In the case of developing democracies, the word politicians replace governments, with the advent of emphasis on democratic leadership. The rule used to be “Do not trust the Government.”
For those of us who have experienced tyrannical governments, the mistrust of government, and by extension politicians, is such that if a politician greets “good morning” I look at my wristwatch before responding accordingly! Obviously, this is a general rule.
There are exceptions, which are rare. Mistrust of the political leadership is sipping into the western world, especially the United States and this spells doom for the rest of the world.
The acrimonious state of politics in most countries threatens the continued practice of democracy, as we know it today. Unless there is concerted effort to change the present course, the face of politics will change, probably for the better, with diminished powers delegated to elected officials within the next half century.
What is intriguing, however, is the absence of partisan bickering when it is time to take care of the elected officials. They know how to bury all their hatchets and axes until their interests are adequately taken care of. Unthinkable alliances are formed and the citizens are left wondering what is amiss.
For example, feuding and name-calling go on sabbatical leave when it comes to pork barrel spending, there is no line demarcating the left and the right! A different mindset sets in. Why not sustain such meeting of the minds when other issues affecting the masses are involved?
POWER
Power is a five-letter word that permeates all strata of society and life. It is symbolic, all conquering and transient at the same time. Power is cherished by all beings. So far so good. However, whenever control is thrown into the same rink with power, things start going south.
By control is meant tethered control. There are many ways to discern when it is being used. For instance, when the following terms and phrases crop up “spin”, “leaky leaks”, “nuclear option”, “top government official”, “The people”, “duty to perform” “let’s focus on..” Embarking on any tortuous use of those terms should trigger an alarm. Someone or a group is attempting power control.
It should be obvious that leaks are part of the tools of control. Threats are instruments of last resort and ultimate cajole. Repeating a lie over and over transforms it into a truth, in some quarters. Planting and stoking fear is the decisive tool. It seldom fails in the short term if spearheaded by fear mongering adepts.
It is the quest to exert controlling power that is most likely to result in political scandals. A political ailment called PHD (Pull Him Down) syndrome exacerbates the situation. Today it is the Republicans. One day it would be the turn of the Democrats. What is the cost to the taxpayer?
For how long can we and should we stand such political tit for tat? The United States remains a beacon and an enviable model for democracy anywhere and anytime. Flowing from the last statement is a responsibility to curb excesses. This responsibility has to be jealously guarded while allowing for the flourishing of debate, free speech and other imperatives of an open society.
CONCLUSION
The political class needs to put its house in order. A part of me whispers that the scenario painted above is part of nature’s evolutionary approach to change organisms and systems. The present system of allowing elected representatives to introduce their personal agenda and pursue such under the guise of local, state and national causes cannot survive much longer.
The so-called foot soldiers of political parties and ideologies should reappraise their contributions towards the evolution of democracy. Has the existence of these interest groups and extremists – on the left and the right – stunted the evolution of politics towards compromise on many fronts? Are battles always necessary in a civilized environment? What messages do these acts send to nascent democracies?
Accept it or not, new centuries and millennia herald modifications or in some cases outright overturn of existing structures. Politics cannot be an exception. Consequently, these spates of scandals and dirty politicking would ultimately lead to gradual but eventually sweeping changes. The predicted changes – with the benefit of hindsight – might be traceable to the present age.
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