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Piling It Higher and Deeper
For a political party whose "strict constructionists" claim to value the "original intent" of the Framers above all else, the Republicans are not getting their money's worth from Attorney General Gonzales.
Take Gonzales' appearance Sunday on ABC's "This Week." Gonzales once again raised the option of prosecuting journalists for published leaked classified information under the creaky 1917 Espionage Act (a wonderful bill that was passed in an earlier frenzy of domestic oppression against critics of President Wilson's devious maneuvering to get the U.S. involved in World War I.)
Gonzales said that he understood "very much the role that the press plays in our society, the protection under the First Amendment we want to promote and respect...but it can't be the case that that right [1st amendment] trumps over the right [sic] that Americans would like to see, the ability of the federal government to go after criminal activity."
Very smooth. One "right" trumps another right. Except that there is no alleged "right" in the Constitution that guarantees "the ability of the federal government to go after criminal activity."
Now we have been learning that President Bush and his minions must believe in this unfettered "right...to go after criminal activity." They've thrown so many Constitutional rights out the window, some of which have been around for hundreds of years (habeus caucus for example), all in the name of pursuing terrorists.
But as Larry Beinhart puts so succinctly over at Huffington Post,
"With all this horseshit," where are the ponies?
(For those of you too young to remember President Ronald Reagan, one of his most well-known avuncular stories was about a boy digging in a pile of horseshit who said that with all this horseshit around, there must be a pony in there somewhere.)
Beinhart's point is a great one which Democrats ought to pick up on. After all the time and money and shredding of one Constitutional right after another, what has Bush got to show?
In a great comment on Beinhart's piece, Roddy McCorley reminds us that comparing the "war on terror" to the World War II doesn't hold up very well for Bush:
"Tell us how you've located Osama bin Laden. It's been over four and a half years."
I'd like to offer a bit of historical contrast, if I may: It took us less than four years to smash the Nazi war machine and defeat the Empire of Japan, either of which presented a more formidable challenge than al Qaeda. Somehow we liberated Europe without creating a tenacious pro-Nazi insurgency. If we haven't found Osama yet, it's because somebody very high up does not want to.
Could the Democrats bring themselves to use a commonsense argument like this one? Every day the pile of horseshit gets higher and deeper.
Ponies... phonies... what's the difference?
Wag the Dog, bring a shovel.
If they start prosecuting journalists, will the journalists become concerned?
I nominate Dana Milbank for first look. He is obviously guilty; such hypervigilance and oiliness can only mean one thing: double agent.
(JUST kidding, NSA!)
Great summary of all the "milestones" Bush has pronounced in the Iraq war:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/5/22/131213/935
Equinely speaking, I find it interesting that a race horse can get better health care than most a'murkins.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/22/AR2006052200180.html
Posted by: madame defarge at May 23, 2006 09:47 AM
Faux Dough Finish
I wish these buffoons would remember Washington's original intent, as expressed in his Farewell Address.
**********
Observe good faith & justice towds all Nations. Cultivate peace & harmony with all--Religion & morality enjoin this conduct; and can it be that good policy does not equally enjoin it? It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and, at no distant period, a great Nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a People always guided by an exalted justice & benevolence. Who can doubt that in the course of time and things the fruits of such a plan would richly repay any temporary advantages wch might be lost by a steady adherence to it? Can it be, that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a Nation with its virtue? The experiment, at least, is recommended by every sentiment which ennobles human Nature. Alas! is it rendered impossible by its vices?
In the execution of such a plan nothing is more essential than that permanent inveterate antipathies against particular Nations and passionate attachments for others should be excluded; and that in place of them just & amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The Nation, which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest. Antipathy in one Nation against another--disposes each more readily to offer insult and injury, to lay hold of slight causes of umbrage, and to be haughty and intractable, when accidental or trifling occasions of dispute occur. Hence frequent collisions, obstinate envenomed and bloody contests. The Nation, prompted by ill will & resentment sometimes impels to War the Government, contrary to the best calculations of policy. The Government sometimes participates in the national propensity, and adopts through passion what reason would reject; at other times, it makes the animosity of the Nation subservient to projects of hostility instigated by pride, ambition and other sinister & pernicious motives. The peace often, sometimes perhaps the Liberty, of Nations has been the victim.
So likewise, a passionate attachment of one Nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favourite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest, in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels & Wars of the latter, without adequate inducement or justification: It leads also to concessions to the favourite Nation of priviledges denied to others, which is apt doubly to injure the Nation making the concessions--by unnecessarily parting with what ought to have been retained--& by exciting jealousy, ill will, and a disposition to retaliate, in the parties from whom eql priviledges are withheld: And it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens (who devote themselves to the favourite Nation) facility to betray, or sacrifice the interests of their own country, without odium, sometimes even with popularity; gilding with the appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation a commendable deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good, the base or foolish compliances of ambition corruption or infatuation.
As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable ways, such attachments are particularly alarming to the truly enlightened and independent Patriot. How many opportunities do they afford to tamper with domestic factions, to practice the arts of seduction, to mislead public opinion, to influence or awe the public Councils! Such an attachment of a small or weak, towards a great & powerful Nation, dooms the former to be the satellite of the latter.
Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence, (I conjure you to believe me fellow citizens,), the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of Republican Government. But that jealousy to be useful must be impartial; else it becomes the instrument of the very influence to be avoided, instead of a defence against it. Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another, cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real Patriots, who may resist the intriegues of the favourite, are liable to become suspected and odious; while its tools and dupes usurp the applause & confidence of the people, to surrender their interests.
The Great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign Nations is in extending our comercial relations to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements let them be fulfilled, with perfect good faith. Here let us stop.
Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us have none, or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence therefore it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations & collisions of her friendships, or enmities.
Our detached & distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a different course. If we remain one People, under an efficient government, the period is not far off, when we may defy material injury from external annoyance; when we may take such an attitude as will cause the neutrality we may at any time resolve upon to be scrupulously respected; when belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when we may choose peace or War, as our interest guided by justice shall Counsel.
Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and
prosperity in the toils of European Ambition, Rivalship, Interest, Humour or Caprice?
'Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent Alliances, with any portion of the foreign World--So far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it--for let me not be understood as capable of patronising infidility to existing engagements, (I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy)--I repeat it therefore, Let those engagements. be observed in their genuine sense. But in my opinion, it is unnecessary and would be unwise to extend them.
Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable establishments, on a respectably defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies.
Harmony, liberal intercourse with all Nations, are recommended by policy, humanity and interest. But even our Commercial policy should hold an equal and impartial hand: neither seeking nor granting exclusive favours or preferences; consulting the natural course of things; diffusing & deversifying by gentle means the streams of Commerce, but forcing nothing; establishing with Powers so disposed--in order to give to trade a stable course, to define the rights of our Merchants, and to enable the Government to support them--conventional rules of intercourse; the best that present circumstances and mutual opinion will permit, but temporary, & liable to be from time to time abandoned or varied, as experience and circumstances shall dictate; constantly keeping in view, that 'tis folly in one Nation to look for disinterested favors from another--that it must pay with a portion of its Independence for whatever it may accept under that character--that by such acceptance, it may place itself in the condition of having given equivalents for nominal favours and yet of being reproached with ingratitude for not giving more. There can be no greater error than to expect, or calculate upon real favours from Nation to Nation. 'Tis an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard.
In offering to you, my Countrymen, these counsels of an old and affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will make the strong and lasting impression, I could wish--that they will controul the usual current of the passions, or prevent our Nation from running the course which has hitherto marked the Destiny of Nations: But if I may even flatter myself, that they may be productive of some partial benefit, some occasional good; that they may now & then recur to moderate the fury of party spirit, to warn against the mischiefs of foreign Intriegue, to guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism--this hope will be a full recompence for the solicitude for your welfare, by which they have been dictated.
Posted by: Matthew Carnicelli at May 23, 2006 09:59 AM
I wish Dubya would give a farewell address...now.
On second thought, I'd rather he just leave in silence...
Thank you Lloyd Bentsen for your service to this country and your serving as one of our state's greatest Senators. Your eloquence and dignity as my Senator, as our vice presidential candidate and steady hand as Treasury Secretary will be sorely missed. Senator you and your family are admired here in Houston and many folks in the country believe you should have been our presidential candidate.It is rather trite to say this but they just don't seem to make politicans like you any more. I opposed you when you ran against my beloved Senator Ralph Yarborough and to many in the country you were thought of as more conservative than others in our party liked. But over the years Texans learned what a very special man you were and how very fortunate we were to have you as our senior senator. When Texans see the kind of hard edged Republican representatives we now have in Washington, it is especially sad that we will no longer have your voice to lead us out of the wilderness. We have now lost Barbara Jordan,Mickey Leeland and now Llyod Bentsen; Texas leaders along with Lyndon Johnson of my generation. Bloggers, Texas politicans were once admired. Hopefully Texans will have another day in the sun in the spirit of Lloyd Bensten.
The following is a quote about Lloyd Bentsen in the Houston Chronicle which reflects the difference with today's cabinet members and how Senator Bensten was viwed by Bill Cinton:
An autographed picture from President Clinton was inscribed: "To my friend Lloyd Bentsen, who makes me study things until I get it right."
Could you imagine W saying such things to his cabinet members?
Posted by: Ira at May 23, 2006 11:55 AM
Perhaps, if the cabinet members names are Jim Beam, Johnny Walker, and John Daniels.
I knew Jack Daniels. Jack Daniels was a friend of mine. You sir, are no Jack Daniels.
Posted by: madame defarge at May 23, 2006 09:47 AM
That racehorse produced more income than most Americans. Which is not to say that the values aren't skewed, but I imagine that most PETS get better healthcare than most Americans.
Posted by: Casey Morris at May 23, 2006 01:55 PM
Casey, I worked in a dental office. Most patients were willing to pay out of pocket costs for dental care for their pets but not for themselves or even their kids sometimes. (not that the pets' care was any cheaper)
Also, many had health insurance for their pets but not for themselves or their families.
Those were the choices of a free society...
If you like Bat Boy, you will love this.
BUSH'S NEW PLAN FOR HOMELESS: CLOWN CARS!
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Bush Administration has a daring new plan to house the growing number of homeless people in the country -- clown cars!
"Did you ever go to the circus and see how many clowns come out of a single car?" Bush asked his Cabinet at a meeting last month. "There's like, tons! From one little car! What if we got a bunch of these cars and let homeless people live in them. Wouldn't that be great?"
According to a Cabinet official, Bush went to the circus last month and was impressed with how the clowns looked when they emerged from the cars.
"The President said, 'They're healthy. Energetic. So it must be pretty comfortable in there. And what's more, they can all drive around together and look for jobs! Talk about car pooling!'
"When the President gets really excited about an idea like this, there's no point telling him that the clowns don't really live in the car, and that it has a false bottom," the official said.
"So now we have scientists working on how to build a normal sized car that can hold 27 people.
The aide said that Bush also ordered the Pentagon to experiment with shooting soldiers out of a cannon into Iraq.
http://wwwweeklyworldnews.com/features/chamber/61641