A deceptive, conniving group of politicians and military leaders conspires to turn a free and vibrant republic into a warmongering, totalitarian regime.

Is this the latest “Star Wars” flick, or is it the extremist right-wing plan for America?

In "Star Wars," Emperor Palpatine pretends to love peace but advances war in order to consolidate his power and overthrow democracy. George Bush pretends to want peace while continuing to wage never-ending wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

At home, Mr. Bush and his extremist followers like Sen. Bill Frist have waged war on our own democratic institutions. They seem to want a two-party system in name only, where the minority democratic party is completely repressed. The attempted nuclear option in the Senate was one example.

Also, consider the recent assault on the United Nations.

Darth Vader said to Obi-Wan, “If you are not with me, then you are my enemy.”  Many of us see the “oil for food” U.N. investigation as revenge of the Bush administration to shame and discredit the United Nations for not backing our Iraq invasion.  Furthermore, the John Bolton nomination as U.N. ambassador is a transparent attempt to bully the United Nations into a rubber stamp for the Bush foreign policy.

The final blow to freedom is the end of a free press. Early in his presidency, Mr. Bush put the media on the defensive by labeling them “biased” and “liberal.” Now they are attacking Newsweek. By harassing news people, the Bush sdministration is repressing dissent, not to mention the truth.

In “Star Wars,” Annakin Skywalker embraced the Dark Side out of good intentions, but this led to his own ruin and corruption. The final “Star Wars” movie is a tragedy. Have our own good intentions caused us to embrace leaders who will only give us an extremist agenda of repression and war?  Are we creating our own American tragedy? 

For our own democracy to survive, our leaders must be both as brave and as wise as the Jedi Knights in battling the right-wing extremists.

“Give ‘em Hell” Harry Reid has put up a valiant fight to save the filibuster. Our own senator, Barbara Boxer, has bravely spoken out against the Bolton nomination. Yoda-like Senator Robert Byrd wields his pocket Constitution like a light saber of truth.

These and other courageous Democrats, and some Republicans like John McCain and John Warner, are using the force of truth to save our democracy.

— Sue Gunther, Newbury Park