Essential

I've long been an admirer of essayist Larisa Alexandrovna. Perhaps the fact that she was born in Odessa has made her uniquely appreciative of the ideals of American democracy, moreso than those of us "natives" to whom the precious freedoms of our nation are taken for granted.

Her latest post at HuffPo is no exception. Addressing the impending financial bailout being proposed by the Bushies, Ms. Alexandrovna writes:

As I see it now, we have but two options and I have long alluded to hoping against hope that one of these options would not be the only one left to a peaceful people. The first and frankly most preferable option is for Congress to immediately begin impeachment proceedings against the members of this latest Business Plot.

No time needs to be wasted on hearings as we already now have in writing, formally as presented to Congress, the intentions of this administration to nullify Congressional powers permanently, to alter Judicial powers permanently, and to openly steal public funds using as blackmail the total collapse of the US economy if these powers are not handed over...

The other option, the one I have long prayed we would never need to even consider, is a total revolution. But, if Congress won't act in its own self-defense, in the defense of democracy, in defense of us - the people who have elected them to protect us from this very danger - then what is left for us to do? I don't want to see it come down to this, but I fear that it will. Put your party politics aside right now. We are in a crisis so dangerous that should these people succeed in their coup, your party affiliation will no longer matter, your American flag will be a nice collectible item of something that once was, and your version of God will be worshiped in secrecy because your freedoms will be owned by the few.

You are no longer Republicans, Democrats, or any shade of voter. You do not live in a swing state or a solid colored state. You are simply this: an American. That is the only side that matters... Pick a side, because there won't be another time, another moment, another chance to be a patriot.

In a similar way, I have said and written for years that the very soul of our great American experiment has been under relentless attack during the disastrous reign of George the Younger - and that we are but one small step from open revolution. I, for one, have never felt more strongly that I cannot even recognize my country any longer, so twisted and distorted has the image of "America" become under its current stewards.

And as a person who lived through the tumultuous, war-torn, assassination-marred '60s, that's saying a LOT.

Contact your elected representatives and demand that they finally take one last stand against the theocratic dictatorship our Imbecile in Chief has slowly but surely tried to build on the ashes of the Twin Towers. With another 118 days in office - and no approval ratings or reelection bid to restrain him - Junior shows signs of accelerating his assault on our Constitution, our standing in the world community, and our very way of life.

The time is now...