I have listened to a lot of people who are busily denying that our drive for Empire exists, but I doubt that they got a card from Dick either. If they did they misunderstood his meaning somehow, it seems plain enough to me. Pax Americana Christianus is the anointed Empire of God and let no false Muslim Empire apply for that job. We will bring peace to the world without anyone agreeing to accept us in that role because we are the Baddest Boy in the Valley. But in order to get us there we will have to fear a little evil for the next fifty years. That is the time estimate made by Mr. Dick for how long the war on terror will last. Now I wonder if Dick talks directly to God or if his young, relatively that is, Emperor gets to do that himself?

This is an interesting time that we live in indeed. While I understand the fact that we live in a dangerous world and in dangerous times, I am more afraid of my leaders at home than anyone that has reared their head abroad. Even the Prophet of the new Evil Empire of Terror "Hose Your Mama with a Kalashnikov, Bin Laden" doesn't come close to scaring me as much as these true believers in Empire. I have never held much faith in those who carefully, or carelessly, put words in God's mouth to suit their agenda. It seems to me that God talks to us all every day through the power of his creation. Interpreting what he is saying beyond how beautiful it all is, and what a glorious thing life is, is simply beyond me. When a man who has spent his life filling his pockets with immense wealth and helping his friends do the same starts talking about God and Empire I start looking for the exits. When he is the Vice President of this nation I wonder if any exit exists from this nightmare we share.

This nation was begun as a protest against Empire. Every bit of meaning that has been handed down to us from our founders cries out against us assuming the mantle of Empire. Ben Franklin would no more have endorsed this Republic taking on the role of a World Empire than he would have burned our Flag in protest or spit on the "Bill of Rights". Those first ten amendments comprises a list of human rights that he fought with his dying breaths to have included in that document. It is not irony to find his words being used to declare our "God given" right to Empire, it is apostasy. Nothing would please Mr. Dick more than the declaration of the Empire of America with his protégé at the helm. Has his insanity finally taken over in our nation or are we all too busy worrying about Reality TV to understand reality anymore? Ozzie Osborne in a drug addled delusion would be a safer Vice President than our boy Dick!

Of course having an insane VP is an excellent hedge against anyone who might be desperate enough to try to end this regime by violence. I would throw myself in front of this President to save him, with Dick as our option. But nobody in this nation hates this President enough to want him dead anyway. Some of us might think he needs to be removed by election, some by impeachment but nobody in the country really wants him dead as far as I can tell. Thank the lord for that fact with Dick standing in the wings.

For those of us who deny the rush to Empire based on the attack of 9/11, please look at reality today instead of turning on the TV. Look at your Children and Grandchildren; do you want them to suffer "The Sorrows of Empire"? The phrase happens to be the title of a book by Chalmers Johnson that is required reading. At least it is for those of us who are struggling to understand what is happening to our Nation. I recommend it highly. Meanwhile please review what these people are signing us up for if they have their way with the future. Our military power will only suffice to maintain an Empire if we lose all sense of moral values and ethical behavior toward people. Not just people outside of our nation but our own people too. Read the bloody history of every Empire throughout human history and you will see what I mean. God bless you all and grant you the grace to choose our Republic over Dick's Empire in the next election.