What Happened to the Screeners?

Here's the story to which I refer: http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/06/bush.ap/index.html

Someone needs to give Harry Taylor a standing ovation. Somehow, he snuck into a Bush townhall meeting, got the microphone, and read President Bush for the lying tyrant he is. Hopefully, Mr. Taylor will not "disappear" or be "rendered" to some CIA gulag overseas.

Staring down at Bush from his balcony seat, he said that Bush has asserted his right to "tap my phone, to arrest me and hold me without charges, to preclude me from breathing clean air and drinking clean water, eat safe food, and if I were a woman to restrict my opportunity to make a choice" to which Bush interrupted him with "I'm not your favorite guy" coupled with that smarmy grin of his. Of course, the right wing audience started to boo the guy. It's what the right does best: when they don't like what you say, they shout you down. Bush, probably knowing the cameras were on him, told the audience to let him finish.

Mr. Taylor continued, "I feel like despite your rhetoric, that compassion and common sense have been left far behind during your administration. And I would hope from time to time that you have the humility and grace to be ashamed of yourself."

How many of us have been PRAYING for leaders within the Democratic party to stand up to Bush and say these very words?!?! While I'm stunned that apparently the Gestapo techniques used thus far in his presidency to keep dissenters at bay have been called back (either that, or someone lost his job yesterday), it's so refreshing to see someone finally stand up to Bush and say the things that need to be said. If only someone who wasn't crazy within the Democratic Party would do the same thing...consistently.

Of course, the criticism went in one ear and out the other with Bush. He used the opportunity to say he wasn't ashamed and he wouldn't apologize for protecting our nation, blah, blah, blah. Que the cheering jingoist crowd. Bush takes criticism in front of cameras, dismisses it, and "stands firm" which is one of the traits people liked about him in 2004. Of course, now we know that standing firm is one thing, but blind stubbornness is another. Still, plenty of folks in this country are still drinking the Bush kool-aid and think that plowing ahead come hell or high water is an admirable trait.

Personally, I'm hoping for more people like Mr. Taylor will stand up and confront this president until he's finally out of office in January 2009.