Word Warriors

   The war of words between the president and the news media is escalating, even as traditional journalists do their best to stay neutral and report just the facts.
   But the reality is that facts alone are so egregiously beyond the pale of normal political behavior that simple recitation of the names of those who have been fired or who have quit their government posts in just the past few days since the president's impeachment victory is like a list of battlefield casualties.
   A larger reality, however, is that reporting the president's comments as he attacks those who disagree with him, and pours lavish praise on those do his bidding is comparable to describing the actions of an incipient dictator.
  The president's comments as he does his thing, however, support the conclusion that he is determined that everyone do everything his way all the time and never disagree or contradict what he says and does or face dire consequences peppered with insults and vilification.
  Perhaps there's a sign on his Oval Office desk: "Do it my way or else."
   Consider his history of making public comments such as, "The Constitution says I can do whatever I want." Or that "I could shoot somebody in the middle of Fifth Avenue and not lose any votes." Or his almost daily displays of ignorance, arrogance, vindictiveness and foul-mouthed lies.
   Yet his supporters in Congress and among voters continue to believe in him and what he says and does.
   Therefore, it falls to the independent news media to expose his incompetence and lies because it is the public's right to know and it is journalism's constitutional duty to do so.
   Failure to do that will only lead to a dictatorship.
   That can't happen, many will say.
   Historians will point out that it already has, several times, in other countries. But that was then, and that was there, many will insist. It can't happen here. Not in America.
   The same historians will say that even in America, it very nearly did. Twice. And as for saying that the novel of that name, "It Can't Happen Here," was only fiction, remember that it was based on historical reality. It very nearly did happen here.
   So what defenses do journalists and the general public have to fend off impending political disaster?
   Impeachment didn't work, and only led to retaliation. Public exposure of the political danger can work, however, if voters take heed.
   "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -- Attributed to Edmund Burke