The New Branch Davidians

ABCNEWS.com : Bush, Kerry Twisting Each Other's Words: "WACO, Texas Sept. 25, 2004 - President Bobo opened several new scathing lines of attack against Democrat John Kerry, charges that twisted his rival's words on Iraq and made Kerry seem supportive of deposed dictator Saddam Hussein."



On the weekend in which David Koresh's Camaro was being auctioned off on eBay, another Texas barnburner started flaming down there in Waco, fresh from his trip to Wisconsin. Bobo, Our Preznut, is smoking hot these days about Iraq, Prime Minister Allawi (Bobo's Mini-Me) and John Kerry actually taking a different stance on the war. Bobo stated flatly that Kerry had said earlier in the week "he would prefer the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein to the situation in Iraq today." The line drew gasps of surprise from the handpicked, loyalty oath audience in a Racine, Wis., park. "I just strongly disagree," the Chimperor said.

All this misplaced anger over words, and, of course, all that weaponry down there in Texas ... it reminds you of the Branch Davidians, redux.

In case you forgot about David Koresh and The Branch Davidians, here's the Cliff Notes leading up to the bonfire. On February 28, 1993, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) raided the Branch Davidian ranch in Mount Carmel, a rural area near Waco, Texas. The raid was conducted due to allegations of illegal weapons present on the property. The initial raid resulted in the deaths of four agents and five Davidians. The subsequent 51-day siege ended on April 19 when the compound was completely consumed by fire killing between 72 and 86 men, women, and children, including Koresh.

On the same weekend, the Republican National Committee started directly mailing several of the swing states with simple brochures with religious overtones. If you live in West Virginia, the advertisement infers: "The Bible will be banned by liberals in West Virginia." On the back, it states: "Our traditional values are under assault by Liberal politicians and their hand-picked activist judges. They are using the courts to get around the Constitution to impose their radical agenda .. removing "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance ... allowing teenagers to get abortions without parental consent ... overturning the ban on the hideous procedure known as Partial Birth Abortion ... Allowing same-sex marriages."

Of course, Pastor General John Ashcroft is writing the showtunes for the event marking the mailing as "The President Loves Him Some Old Time Religion" down in Waco.