The Illusionary Congress
Nonagenarian Senator Robert S. Byrd
Delivered a speech that never was heard
By most of his colleagues out on the floor
Delivered with passion and feelings galore
A speech comprehensive and quite brilliant
About how the chamber was totally silent.
About “No discussion: no pros, no cons”
For the colleagues it seems were long gone.
The chamber was empty no one to salute
“We stand” he said, “passively mute.”
About an issue involving war with Iraq:
And you and I should be taken aback.
At the implication that surely must follow
That our democracy is terminally hollow
If a tree falls in the forest with no one around
With an ear to hear it– was there a sound?
In like manner I ask if the chamber’s deserted
And the speech is to a camera is our process perverted?
For it seems to me that it must be said
That American democracy is already dead.
In this both parties are shamefully complicit
In making this procedure corruptly explicit
That TV’s alright as long as it’s focus
Is on the speaker only—what hocus pocus
And hides from the people this scandalous affair:
That congress is an illusion- it’s not really there:
For all are in studios in earnest rehearsals.
Creating thirty second sound bite commercials.
For their loyalty is not to me, you or our institutions
But to almighty dollars and campaign contributions.
From politicians we hear this shameful cry:
You’ve the best Democracy money can buy.
And because of this the old man in solitude delivers
A speech against war that gives me the shivers
And fills me with rage and anger
At how our country is in terrible danger.
Not from hostile outside forces seeking our destruction
But from this internal rot and spineless corruption.
Howard P. Charman, MD 5-28-2007
Comment: Senator Robert S. Byrd delivered a scathing analysis of the Bush regime’s rush to war and their total absence of evidence to support it. Unfortunately, this was delivered to a TV camera.