A Man for This Season

I've been waiting for Q&A to post a transcript of the Chris Hedges interview on Sunday night. But it's been two days already. Nada. So click the link and watch the video. It's stunning.

The reason for the interview is publication of his latest book, Collateral Damage: America's War Against Iraqi Civilians, but he talks about many other subjects as well with the kind of moral insight rarely heard on television.

Hedges laments the decline of the mainstream press, points out that elite TV journalists (the late Tim Russert not excepted) are mere courtiers to the political establishment, and speaks of the reason for his departure from The New York Times.

He describes our democratic system as corrupted ("We live in a corporate state." [It's] "a coup d'état in slow motion.") and the election campaign as deeply flawed ("You can't run for president of this country unless you allow yourself to become a commercialized product.").

Asked whom he'll vote for, he says, "I'm going to vote for Nader. Part of it is a moral issue. I can't vote for anybody who doesn't call for an immediate end to the war in Iraq."

What makes the interview so striking is not that Hedges's beliefs are unique. Many others have expressed them -- Gore Vidal, for one, and perhaps with greater brilliance. It is his willingness to act on those beliefs at no little cost that makes Hedges are rare one.

Comments

[PublicAdvocate]

Chris Hedges is courageous and insightful as is Ralph Nader. The Fall election will determine whether the United States will complete its process to allow the political class to opt out of the rule of law and Constitutional integrity forever unless Ralph Nader or Bob Barr are elected.
Part 1:
Bush flagrantly violated our Constitution through:
The illegal war of aggression in Iraq
The illegal and abusive use of signing statements to nullify Congressional bills
The use of illegal spying on Americans breaking the 4th amendment
The use of torture in violation of the Geneva Convention and our Constutuion
The suspension of habeas corpus to reduce citizens and destroy due process and justice
Part 2:
Nancy Pelosi gave Bush the green light for continued violations of our Constitution through her "impeachment is off the table" comment of surrender.
Part 3:
Both Barack and McCain have violated their oath to abide by: public financing, voting/fillerbusting retroactive immunity for telecoms, Iraq funding extentions, torture, and The Patriot Act.
If either Barack or Mccain is elected, then they will be rewarded for violating both their oath of office as senators and their campaign promises mentioned above.