nut he has a way with words:
"BuzzFlash Interviews
August 21, 2003
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Jim Hightower talks about his new book, "Thieves in High Places: They've Stolen Our Country and it's Time to Take it Back"
A BUZZFLASH INTERVIEW
As a former statewide office holder in the Lone Star State, he well knows the Bush Cartel is nothing more than a contemporary incarnation of the Barbary Pirates. That's why he subtitled his book: "They've Stolen Our Country and It's Time to Take It Back." To Hightower, the GOP is really the GKP, the Grand Kleptocratic Party, composed of corporate fat cats, right wing think tankers, empire builders, extremist media barons and "just plain greedheads." Of course, Hightower also uses his scalpel to lacerate Democrats who live in the shadow of the Republicans. This ignominious group of timid, reactive politicians, he calls "Wobblycrats."
Hightower lost his statewide office in Texas a few years back as a result of dirty tricks carried out by Karl Rove and a rogue FBI agent. But Jim's not the kind of guy to get discouraged. He's the ultimate populist optimist. He believes in the greatness of America and its people, but he also has learned -- from watching the Bush Cartel at work -- to always keep one hand guarding his wallet. Otherwise, he knows, the "thieves in high places" will pickpocket him through tax breaks for the rich and taxpayer money spent on corporate welfare. Sound familiar?
* * *
BUZZFLASH: Before I start talking about your new book, "Thieves in High Places," let me ask you: Based on your experience in Texas, what foretold the future of our nation based on what happened in Texas when George W. Bush was governor?
JIM HIGHTOWER: Well, we sat here for five years and watched this guy completely "corporatize" our state government with the full agenda of privatization and special tax breaks for his wealthy contributors and former business partners with insider deals, secrecy and opposition to protest. George W. Bush is in Washington what he was in Austin -- and has been throughout his life -- and that is an absolute corporate wet dream. Any fantasy that a CEO has, can come true by putting a donation either in Bush’s personal pocket or in his campaign pockets"
