Repudiation, Not Impeachment
Posted on May 31, 2007
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| AP Photo / Ron Edmonds |
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By Scott Ritter
(Page 2)
While I reject violence as a means of redressing social wrongs, especially when applied to issues of governance, and instead rely on the rule of law as manifested by the Constitution and those legitimate bodies empowered by the Constitution to remedy every situation, I cannot help but fear the moment when the foundation of legitimacy which defines who we are and what we are as a nation fades away into irrelevance amidst a sea of complacency and ignorance. There is no greater breeding ground for the forces of tyranny than the surrender of civic responsibility on the part of those entrusted with the defense of liberty. And in this I do not mean the Congress of the United States, but rather the people of the United States, the duly elected representatives of whom constitute the Congress.
I fear not the bloody rebellion of an outraged citizenry, but rather the passive submission of a shameful mass which betrays the cause of liberty and freedom through the abandonment of the Constitution, and the obligations of citizenship derived thereof, in favor of the narcotic of consumerism. Such a mass, foreswearing blind obedience to those who profess how to best construct a cocoon that immerses the occupant in transitory comfort, is the most pressing problem facing America today. In a nation whose defining document begins, “We the People,” I find that it is we the people who constitute the greatest threat to the future of America. It is not through the force of our actions, but rather the vacuum created by our inaction and apathy, a vacuum all too readily filled by those who would have us exchange our hard-fought freedoms for a gilded cage of market-driven consumerism.
This is the main reason why I am not a proponent of the “impeach now” mentality so prevalent in political circles that oppose George W. Bush. The expediency of impeachment simply replaces one source of tyranny (President Bush) with another (whoever replaces him). It is not the failures of an individual that have gotten us to where we are today, but rather the failure of the collective. So before we speak of impeachment and the notion of executive accountability, I would like to address the issue of repudiation and the necessity of civic responsibility.
Whatever field I endeavored to participate in—whether as a football player in college, an officer in the Marines or a firefighter today—whenever the going got tough, it was always pounded into my head to fall back on “the basics.” That is to say, a foundation of norms from which everything else was derived. By adhering to these “basics,” I and others were able to navigate whatever treacherous course we were attempting, more often than not with success. As such, in formulating a coherent response to the challenge put to me by the Irishman concerning the need to “fertilize the tree of liberty,” I find myself falling back on the “basics” of citizenship, to seek out the fundamentals of individual responsibility in the American democratic experiment. And there is no better source for these fundamentals than the most strident defender of the individual American—Thomas Jefferson himself.
Jefferson was in France during the drafting of the Constitution, and did not play a direct role in negotiating its content. But such was his heft as a founder of America that his opinion was sought by many of those who were so engaged. One of these critical players, James Madison (who later became the fourth president of the United States, following Jefferson), wrote a letter to Jefferson shortly after the Constitutional Convention finished its work in September 1787, and prior to ratification, interpreting critical aspects of the Constitution. I view Madison’s words to be worthy of consideration when addressing the issue of citizenship and responsibility.
“In the American Constitution,” he wrote on Oct. 24, 1787, “the general authority will be derived entirely from the subordinate authorities. The Senate will represent the States in their political capacity; the other House will represent the people of the States in their individual capacity. The former will be accountable to their constituents at moderate, the latter at short periods. The President also derives his appointment from the States, and is periodically accountable to them. This dependence of the General on the local authorities seems effectually to guard the latter against any dangerous encroachments of the former; whilst the latter, within their respective limits, will be continually sensible of the abridgement of their power, and be stimulated by ambition to resume the surrendered portion of it.”
In short, Madison underscored the fundamental role of the people in the chain of accountability, and the necessity of their informed involvement if the system of American constitutional governance was to work. A breakdown on the part of the “general authority” would lead to chaos and anarchy. Likewise, the failure of the “subordinate authority,” inclusive of the people, to hold the “general authority” in check would facilitate a slide toward tyranny and oppression.
Jefferson himself, before the convening of the Constitutional Convention, had long reflected on the issues of constitutional government. Just as his rendering of the Declaration of Independence drew from his earlier work, “A Summary View of the Rights of British America,” so, too, were his views on the American Constitution drawn from his earlier writings on issues pertaining to the Constitution of Virginia, which are contained in a collection of work dating from 1781-82 known as “Notes on Virginia.” The purpose of a Constitution, Jefferson wrote, was “ ... to bind up the several branches of government by certain laws, which, when they transgress, their acts shall become nullities; to render unnecessary an appeal to the people, or in other words a rebellion, on every infraction of their rights, on the peril that their acquiescence shall be construed into an intention to surrender those rights.”
Here Jefferson himself answers the question of the need to “fertilize” the “tree of liberty” with the blood of rebellion: It is not required, nor desired, so long as a system of rule by law (i.e., a Constitution) is present and adhered to. The importance of a Constitution in preserving the character of a nation through perpetuity was paramount, in Jefferson’s view. “It is true,” he argued in his “Notes on Virginia,” that “we are as yet secured against tyrannical laws by the spirit of the times. ... But is the spirit of the people an infallible, a permanent reliance? Is it government? Is this the kind of protection we receive in return for the rights we give up? Besides, the spirit of the times may alter, will alter. Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless.”
Today one need only observe the corruption of our rulers and the carelessness of our people to understand the significance of the Constitution when it comes to preserving these United States of America. The nefarious nature of the Bush cancer is that, in its infection of the American system, it seeks to draw legitimacy for its tyrannical actions by citing the very same Constitution it seeks to destroy. The promoters of this point of view cite the academic term “Unitary Executive Theory” when defining their philosophy. To me, it is nothing less than treason. The Founding Fathers, in discussing the concept of a “unitary executive,” made use of the term in a manner reflective of their desire to restrain executive power, versus the extreme interpretation embraced by counsels to President Bush and Vice President Cheney, who seek to expand executive power and authority to near dictatorial levels, especially during a time of war.
The tendency on the part of President Bush to obviate the role of Congress is well documented, in matters pertaining to governance in times of peace as well as war. The unprecedented number of “presidential signing statements” issued by Bush speaks volumes to this trend. These signing statements, historically a device used by executives to protect presidential prerogative when it comes to how a bill might be interpreted in a court of law, have been used by the Bush administration to negate the legal impact of a given piece of legislation by clearly stating the intent of the president to act in a manner inconsistent with the letter of the law. That the president believes he has a right to conduct himself in this manner is the height of hubris; that Congress continues to facilitate this behavior unchallenged represents the depth of legislative depravity.
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By Skruff, June 8, 2007 at 5:30 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
76254 by cyrena on 6/07 at 9:13 pm says:
“Now for Skruff...”
“I was never aware that the earlier societies had been opposed to mandatory education. That worries me, since many people are STILL opposed to it, which is in part why our foundational institutions have crumbled...”
I appears you did not get the point of my post. People were better educated (at least in Massachusetts) BEFORE the imposition of mandatory education.
I would suggest that in a “free society” people might have the “freedom” to behave in a way not acceptable to others. (as long as that behavior is not DIRECTLY hurtful.
I worked as a clerk at Zayer’s and at that time, the cash draw could not be opened for “change” without a sale, UNLESS a supervisory key overrode the register.
Report thisBy national-security-4-us, June 8, 2007 at 12:21 am #
PELOSI IS FULL OF SHIT ABOUT CLEANING UP THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION - SENT HER MYSPACE PAGE SHE READ 1/4/07
Date: Nov 18 2006 4:33 PM --- PART 2
CONGRATULATIONS MADAME SPEAKER,11/18/06-1:33PM
THE CONFIRMATION I RECEIVED ON THIS HITS EVERY LEVEL EVEN FROM A COUPLE D.H.S. EMPLOYEES + A AGENT FROM THE D.S.S.-DIPLOMATIC SEC.SERV. IN WASH.D.C.-I HAVE HIS NAME/WHEN I CALLED HIM TWICE + MANY OTHERS NAMES WHO ARE WELL AWARE OF ALL OF THIS-INCLUDING ALL THOSE
WHO’VE RESIGNED THEIR POSTS FROM 2004 & BEYOND.
IT’S UTTERLY AMAZING THAT A TERROR SUSPECT CAN OBTAIN
A CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY 2 REPRESENT THEM/I CAN’T SEEM
2 FIND A CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY 2 REPRESENT ME.
HERE’S WHY THE O.P.R. BLEW THE INVESTIGATION-BUSH PURPOSELY DENIED SEC.CLEARANCES 2 JUSTICE DEPT. OFFICIALS-SINCE THE ADMIN. HAD THE “NSA” ILLEGALLY MONITORING MY PHONE CALLS 2 STOP ME FROM ACQUIRING A CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY-THEY HEARD MY CONVERSATIONS W/
O.P.R. WHEN I CALLED THEM B-4 I MAILED THIS LETTER.
I THINK O.P.R. SHOULD’VE STARTED THEIR INVESTIGATION
W/ME-REGARDLESS OF HOW THOROUGH-I MAY HAVE EXPLAINED THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT + THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD’VE STARTED AT THE BOTTOM/WORKED ITS’ WAY 2 THE TOP NOT GOING STRAIGHT 2 THE WHITE HOUSE FROM THE BEGINNING.
WHEN THE W.H. LEARNED THAT O.P.R. WAS COMING THE W.H.
KNEW EXACTLY WHY/ENDED THE INVESTIGATION B-4 IT EVEN STARTED-MORE CORRUPTION.
I FEEL O.P.R. SHOULD’VE WENT 2 CONGRESS 2 GET THE AUTHORITY THEY NEEDED 2 PROCEED-SINCE IT SEEMS
CONGRESS BY A CONGRESSIONAL ACT-CREATED OFFICES LIKE O.P.R. 2 INVESTIGATE WHERE-EVER A INVESTIGATION MAY LEAD THEM.
HERE’S THE LETTER THAT I SENT TO O.P.R.
===================================================
Dear Office of Professional Responsibility,
SENT CERTIFIED 9/13/05
SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION
NATIONAL SECURITY 4 US *Required
YOU CAN READ THE O.P.R. LETTER AT
http://360.YAHOO.COM/CASPERERASER1
SO OUT OF THE LIKE 300 + MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO IN SOME WAY SHAPE OR FORM WERE MADE AWARE OF THIS EITHER
Report thisBY PHONE / FAX / MAIL / E-MAIL --- THERE IS NO EXCUSE
4 THEM THEY ARE ALL EQUALLY GUILTY & THEY ALL SPEAK WITH A FORKED-TONGUE…
By national-security-4-us, June 8, 2007 at 12:16 am #
PELOSI’S FULL OF SHIT ABOUT CLEANING UP THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION-SENT 2 HER MYSPACE PAGE SHE READ 1/4/07
Date: Nov 18 2006 4:33 PM
CONGRATULATIONS MADAME SPEAKER,11/18/06-1:33PM
I MUST SAY MY PRAYERS WERE W/BOTH HOUSES REGAINING CONTROL SO SOME ACCOUNTABILITY/THOROUGH OVERSIGHT
CAN COME BACK INTO OUR POLITICAL GOVERNMENTAL STANDARDS 2 SAVE OUR NATION B-4 IT BECOMES A AFTER-THOUGHT A THING OF THE PAST-SINCE EVERY ASPECT OF OUR GOVT. SEEMS HELLBENT ON DESTRUCTION.
U KNOW AMERICA WILL NEVER GET BETTER W/THIS INJUSTICE
THAT AMOUNTS 2 TREASON.
OUR GOVT. CRIED WOLF ON 5/26/04 /I POUNCED ON THE OPPUNTUNITY ONLY 2 HAVE GREED/JEALOUSY/ENVY + A ARRAY
OF CRIMINAL CONDUCT PERPRATRATED UPON ME EQUIVALENT 2
TREASON 4 DOING A NOBLE DEED/PROTECTING AMERICA/ITS’ CITIZENS.
HERE’S A LIST OF FACTS EVERY-1 WILL HAVE 2 GIVE ACCOUNT ON 1 DAY & SORRY 2 SAY I’LL HAVE THE LAST LAUGH ON EACH & EVERY-1 OF THEM WHO CHOSE FEAR OVER TELLING THE TRUTH.ENJOY.
SEN.KERRY/EDWARDS DIDN’T TELL THE TRUTH WHEN I GAVE THEM BOTH REAL FACTS.
SEN.KERRYS’ STAFF WAS TOLD BY ME/BY FAX 2 USE THIS INFO."THE TRUTH” AS AMMO WHEN HE WAS GOING 2 DEBATE BUSH IN MIAMI PRES.DEBATE OR LOSE-HE CHOSE 2 FOLLOW BUSHS’LIES/NOT TELL THE PEOPLE OF MIAMI/FLA./THE AMERICAN PEOPLE-THAT ON 5-29-04-2 OF THOSE 7 FROM THE
5/26/04 PRESS CONF.WERE CAPTURED IN FLA.
6 OF THE 7 WERE SPOTTED BY ME IN 12 DAYS-CALLED PROPER PEOPLE ON 6/8/04 W/ALL THE INTEL-THEN ON OR AROUND 7/25/04-THE 3RD OF THE 7 WAS CAPTURED/FLOWN OVERSEAS 2 DENY PAYING THE REWARDS.
2 HAD REWARDS AT 25 MIL EACH + HAD LAPTOPS W/EVEN MORE CAPTURES GLOBALLY IN THE FALL OF 2004.I KNOW THE TRUTH SUCKS.
READ THE REST/KEEP LISTENING 2 ALL THOSE THAT LIE 2 THE PEOPLE.
I KNOW THAT FED.OFFICIALS WILL CONTINUE 2 LIE 2 COVER
THIS UP-2 STEAL REWARDS INSTEAD OF PAYING THEM BY HONORING “PUBLIC LAW-98-533” AKA “THE REWARDS 4 JUSTICE PROGRAM”
PEOPLE ARE ENVIOUS/JEALOUS OF WHAT I DID-STOPPED A UP-COMING ATTACK-NO ONE IN THE INTEL.COMM.KNEW WAS COMING + GET(MWT)CAPTURED DUE 2 MY VIGILANCE OR MAYBE
THERE WAS COLLABERATION W/DELIBERATE INTENT.
WERE THE MILITARY TRIBUNALS CONCOCTED SO THAT THE TRUTH DOESN’T COME OUT IN OPEN COURT-WHY ARE THOSE WHO WERE INDICTED IN SOME U.S.FED.COURTS-NOT HAVING THEIR TRIALS THERE-BECAUSE THINGS ARE TRYING 2 BE HIDDEN FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE-IF THERE WERE ANY ASSISTANCE PROVIDED 2 ANY OF THESE TERRORISTS-ONLY THOSE TERRORISTS WOULD KNOW/BE MORE THEN WILLING 2 SHARE THIS 2 THE AMERICAN PEOPLE-DURING THEIR TRIALS WHICH MUST BE HELD IN OPEN FORUMS/NOT IN SECRET MILITARY HEARINGS OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL NEVER REALLY KNOW THE TRUTH.
PUT YOURSELF IN MY SHOES-IMAGINE IF YOUR CHILD/ RELATIVE/SPOUSE DID WHAT I DID-I BET THE MEDIA WOULD HAVE COVERED THIS CORRUPTION-WHY AM I ANY DIFFERENT.
THIS CRIMINAL CORRUPTION STARTS AT THE BOTTOM W/THE SHERIFF DEPT. WHO ANSWERED THE CALL W/4 DEPUTIES RESPONDING 2 MY 911 CALL/ARRIVING ON THE SCENE-2 THE FBI WHO TOLD EVERY-1-2 STAY SILENT/SUPPRESS THESE EVENTS FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BY/THRU MANIPULATING THE MEDIA-ALL THE WAY 2 THE PRES.WHO HAS DISAVOWED THESE ACTIONS FROM EVER HAPPENING AS A MATTER OF NAT.
SEC.
BUSH DISGRACED HIMSELF W/MANY HI-LEVEL CABINET OFFICIALS WHO LEFT OFFICE IN DISDAINMENT OF BUSH NOT HONORING HIS WORDS OF HONORING “PUBLIC LAW-98-533”
BY LAW THE TAPED 911 CALL CAN’T BE DESTROYED-I HAVE
A COPY OF THE CALL WHICH WAS BUTCHERED AS 2 ALL THAT WAS SAID AS THIS CALL LASTED 15-20 MIN. AS I FOLLOWED
THEM UNTIL A S.O. PULLED UP BESIDES ME-ASKING ME SOME
???.
THESE MATTERS/THE ACTION THIS ADMIN. TOOK IS
“TREASONIST” AT BEST/CRIMINAL AT WORSE WHICH STILL ADD UP 2 THE SAME RESULT WHAT WAS DONE 2 ME IS IMPEACHABLE-ALL THOSE WHO WILLFULLY CHOOSE 2 REMAIN SILENT ARE UNETHICAL/SHOULDN’T POSSESS THEIR JOBS ANY
LONGER-BE IT AT THE LOCAL/CO./ST./FED.LEVELS..
NATIONAL SECURITY 4 US *Required
Report thisBy national-security-4-us, June 7, 2007 at 11:32 pm #
cyrena
why wait until then - WE HAVE THE POWER NOW - IT IS CALLED THE POWER OF PRAYER…
JESUS SAID WHEREVER 2 OR MORE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER
WHATEVER YOU ASK IN MY NAME - I WILL DO…
SO THEREFORE WE HAVE THE POWER IN PRAYER TO BLESS THOSE “DESERVING OF BEING BLEST” & WE HAVE THE POWER TO “CURSE THOSE WHO ARE WORTHY OF BEING CURSED”
SO --- LORD GOD CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON OUR LORD & SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST - I ASK YOU LORD JESUS - AS WELL AS COUNTLESS OTHERS WILL AS WELL - “PLEASE FIND IT IN YOUR WILL TO ANSWER THE PEOPLES’ PRAYERS THAT ARE RIGHTEOUS TO MAKE THAT PACEMAKER FAIL - TAKING DARTH VADER OUT OF EXISTANCE
BY PLACING HIM IN THE GRAVE OR AS IT IS SAID ABSENT
FROM THE BODY BECOMES PRESENT BEFORE THE LORD - SO THAT HIS LIFE IS REVIEWED & SENTENCED ACCORDINGLY FOR
ALL OF HIS WICKED EVILNESS BY CASTING dick INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE…
AMEN & HALLELUJAH…
LORD I AM NOT ASKING YOU 4 - 2 MUCH PLEASE START 2 ELIMINATE “FAMILY TREES”
PLEASE BURN THE BUSHS’ ENTIRE CORRUPT CLAN…
THE POWER OF PRAYER HAS POSITIVE ASPIRATIONS & ALSO HAS NEGATIVITY 4 THOSE WHO ARE WORTHY & CURSE THEE…
Report thisBy cyrena, June 7, 2007 at 9:13 pm #
Now for Skruff...you’re right. The legal system here is broken. It no longer works for the folks it used to work for, but it has never worked for most. It’s been that way a while now. I was never aware that the earlier societies had been opposed to mandatory education. That worries me, since many people are STILL opposed to it, which is in part why our foundational institutions have crumbled, and you can’t get any of your legal business issues tended. Nobody knows what the hell they’re doing anymore. And, the people that don’t have a problem with mandatory education, and might actually do something useful with it, can’t AFFORD it. According to Mike Gravel, 30% of the US population doesn’t complete high school, and a full fifth of us are functionally illiterate. My own reasearch pretty much confirms that. That is problematic, and might speak to why you have issues stuck in the legal system, and why I just had negotiate the changing of a $5.00 bill at my local K-Mart.(the cashier had to get her Supervisor’s approval and the whole nine yards, and then she could only give me “dollars” rather than “dollars AND coins”...you would have thought I was trying to buy a nuclear weapon, instead of trying to change a $5 dollar bill.) All of this has become pretty routine. It’s not a good thing to have a brain dead society.
For whomever said that Nancy Pelosi is no “fool”, I would be willing to agree. She’s not at all. She’s a politician, wrapped in the same cloak of “realpolitik” that Hillary is wrapped in. She won’t do the right thing, because she doesn’t think it’s politically expedient. But, I beg to differ on that point, specifically about “tying up her people” with the efforts of an impeachment process. For starters, it’s NOT that big of a deal, (because most of the work has already been accomplished by professionals)and because THAT’S what I’m paying her to do!!! It’s her JOB. And if she can’t handle more than one piece of business at a time, or find somebody to delegate it to, then she needs to retire, collect her generous pension, and cruise the world while there’s still gas to fill up the ships. And, I won’t even be mad about being left behind.
Furthermore, I don’t see impeachmet of ALL of them as a “National Trauma”, but more like a “National Rescue”, and we’re not talking about just george, or just dick. They ALL need to go, and it’s not like we don’t have others capable of pulling us out of this dive. To suggest that we shouldn’t waste time on a procedure that would at least stop the bleeding is like telling a patient at the emergency room that he/she is gonna die anyway, so there’s no point in doing anything to try and save them. Would you stand by while a team of crooks robbed your home and all of it’s contents, and just stand there looking at your watch or calander, saying..."Oh well, they’ll be finished by this time next year, and then we’ll be able to go back in the house and survey the damage?” Or maybe you would offer them some snacks and stuff while their doing the robbery? I’m not buying it.
So, Ms. Pelosi’s “no fool” wisdom could in fact backfire on her. She would have been better off using the time involved with handing over that blank check, on impeachment proceedings instead. Because at this point, she’s likely to be impeached herself. We card-carrying Dems are NOT happy with her, and she might find that out the next time her own name shows up on a ballot. Or, we might not wait that long. She’s impeachable as well.
I know everybody is afraid of Dick Cheney, and there’s real reason to be, because we see the damage he’s done. What he did to Joseph and Valerie Wilson is standard operating procedure for him, even if the rest of us only get hit more indirectly, and don’t make the news.
So, lets get the syringe ready for our collective antibiotics. If there aren’t enough votes in Congress now, then we need to get them.
Report thisBy cyrena, June 7, 2007 at 8:53 pm #
Stephen (#75741) My optimism is definitely forced. Like, I have to go looking for the slightest little possible crack in the walls that might break us out of this nightmare. Grasping at straws I suppose, but that is why I’ve been looking at the International Law as a possibility for a way out of this. Desperate people do desperate things I guess, although I’ve pretty much cast my lot with Hitchens as well, and quite long ago I should add.
Your paranoia is certainly valid, but if we somehow miss having an election next year, (and I agree that anything is possible with these thugs) it’ll all be over but the shoutin’. It’ll be pack up the kids, the old folks, the dog, and whatever we can throw in a back pack, and start walking or swimming.
Still, thanks for the info on the ICC, and how those others got caught. No doubt Kissinger is too smart to get caught doing the same thing, but Cheney isn’t worried about such concerns. He goes wherever the hell he wants to. So, I’ll hold out hopes of his capture and trial for sometime in the future, even if it’s a long shot.
Report thisBy national-security-4-us, June 7, 2007 at 7:45 pm #
FOR THE IDIOTS THAT CAN NOT OBVIOUSLY READ
LISTEN / READ CAREFULLY
PURSUANT TO EXECUTIVE ORDERS & SOME SECRET ONES WE
THE PEOPLE HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT…
HERE IS THE DEAL JUST PRIOR TO 1/20/2009 FOR THOSE WHO DON’T KNOW—IT IS INAUGURATION DAY…
SOMETHING WILL OR WILL NOT HAPPEN WHEREAS bush WILL
USURP his PRESIDENTIAL POWERS & DECLARE A EMERGENCY BE IT REAL / PERCEIVED OR IMAGINED…
THIS CAN BE DONE PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY THEREBY POST-PONING OR CANCELLING THEM ALL TOGETHER…
6 MONTHS CONGRESS CAN NOT DO SHIT…
IN ANY EVENT bush DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY KEEPS him IN POWER—NO CHANGE OF PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE - he
becomes THE DICTATOR his daddy COULDN’T BECOME DUE TO AGE…
WAKE-UP ZOMBIES THIS IS THE MASTER PLAN OF THE EVILOIDS…
IMPEACHMENT MUST OCCUR SOONER RATHER THEN LATER OR WE THE PEOPLE ARE ALL GOING TO BE FUCKED…
REALISTICALLY ALL GOVT. WORKERS AT EVERY LEVEL NEED TO BE BOOTED FOR “WORSHIPPING THE DOLLAR” OVER DOING
TRUE SERVICE TOWARDS THE PEOPLE / PUBLIC WHO PAY THEIR INFLATED SALARIES…
SO IN CLOSING BUSH & HIS CRIMINAL CO-HORTS ARE NOT IMPEACHED --- GET READY TO BE RULED BY THIS PUSSY OF A PRICK—UNTIL THE DAY THAT HE MEETS HIS DAY WITH DESTINY…
CORPORATION MUST ALSO BE CHARGED WITH TREASON FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS…
SCUMBAG SEN. THOMAS JUST MET HIS—UNFORTUNATELY FOR US - THE SUPREME BEING IS NOT KNOCKING THEM OFF FAST ENOUGH FOR HIS NATION / HIS WORLD TO BE SAVED OR
FREE FROM DEMONIC INFLUENCES…
GOD-SPEED THE DAY FATHER…
“BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD -EVEN SO COME LORD JESUS”
KILL ALL OF THE WICKED CHILDREN OF SATAN IN ONE FELL SWOOP FATHER - FOR IT WILL BE PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT.
Report thisBy Blueboy1938, June 7, 2007 at 6:35 pm #
Ritter’s right: repudiation rules.
The practical reality of a Bush impeachment would be a Cheney presidency. That is why Rep. Kucinich filed Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President first. Unfortunately, or really fortunately, that will go nowhere, because Ms. Pelosi is no fool. She doesn’t want her Congress tied up in a pointless exercise that would only result in a possible eight more years of another future Republican administration
Should that nevertheless be successful, however, a matter of considerable doubt, since there are nothing like enough votes in the Senate, as presently constituted, for a guilty finding, President Bush would simply appoint a new Vice President. Inevitably, that would be an electable Republican who would have the boost of incumbency. So, even if the president is eventually impeached, there would be another Republican in the White House, who would sail through the 2008 election, following as it would the “national trauma” of an impeachment - no, make that two impeachments. Let’s let the impeachment idea die, shall we?
On the other hand, we can all take heart that there are only 592 days, 15 hours, 30 minutes, and counting, as the time of this post, until the Bush administration ends on a date certain in January, 2009.
http://bushclock.lose.com/
Report thisBy Stephen Smoliar, June 7, 2007 at 5:30 pm #
Dan Uu Noel (#76177), it is not just the comfort of retirement that impedes opposition. The current “power elite” has amassed a reputation for making ANY voice of opposition extremely uncomfortable, sometimes in the worst possible way. (Remember Joseph Wilson?) Even if they cannot exert their “muscles of terror” the way they once did, the THREAT is still there; and that threat is enough to make even those with the most honorable intentions think twice. It appears that any act of retribution that might have even the slightest effect is going to require considerable courage as well as will (#75004). Hell, the guy even seems to be able to get the rest of the G8 to cave before him!
Report thisBy Dan Uu Noel, June 7, 2007 at 4:31 pm #
This article makes an excellent point. The contention that the evil perpetrated by the federal government will cease if Bush and his aides get fired is wishful thinking. At best, the symptoms of this evil, like the Iraq war, may be alleviated, but they will be ready to return at any time.
In fact, evidence abounds that W was much more benevolent as Texas governor than as U.S. president. What made him become so malevolent all of a sudden?
This raises the very likely possibility that the federal government no longer view its mission as the service to us the people, but something else; this something else could be the service of special interests who finance campaigns, or the perpetuation of the government itself, or the continuous protection of entrenched corrupted practices
One of the most stunning aspects of the W administration has been the compliance of career public servants. Whether it has been about refusing to analyze the 9/11 debris, waging war, supplying phony intelligence, encouraging electoral fraud, destroying national parks, emasculating anti-pollution rules, or chipping away at civil rights, thousands of federal public servants could have stood up to W, refusing to carry orders, threatening to resign, whistleblowing, leaking, etc. Why didnt they do so? There are, roughly, 2 hypotheses, each of which ought to make every one of us cringe: either they are corrupt like the president, or they keep their eyes on the prize of their cushy retirement; in either case, serving the public has become a secondary concern.
This brings the point that firing W and his top accomplices will not yield much. What is needed is a thorough evaluation of all federal employees, accompanied by a purge of those who simply dont fit the basic concept of public service. A precedent, albeit on a smaller scale, is the vacuum-cleaning of Tammany Hall by La Guardia.
Ritter is very correct: impeaching W is useless. The flaws of his leadership are only the tip of an iceberg that runs much deeper. Melting this iceberg will require in-depth analysis and work. The repudiation of the cancer that has overtaken the federal government is the necessary start. Firing before repudiating amounts to putting the cart in front of the horses.
Love,
Report thisBy Skruff, June 7, 2007 at 12:50 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
76081 by Billy the Dik on 6/07 at 10:58 am
“However, By 1978 it was approaching really genocidal levels...’
Actually, it was November 1977 that Carter uped the Indoniesian allowence for weapons from 500 some-odd-million to 700 some-odd-million. You won’t get any defense of Carter from me… Reagan doubled that, and Bush and Clinton continued to fund Indoniesa till the end of the Suharto regime. Clinton claimed responsibility for liberalizing policy and allowing elections, BUT had Suharto stayed in poower, we’d still be funding him..
U.S. morality...gotta love it!
Report thisBy mother, June 7, 2007 at 10:17 am #
Though this article is extremely compelling it seems to offer more of what the problem is. The forest is lost through the trees, because in the end if we are to get back to foundations we better make sure that is what we get back to. The true foundation for this country was a people who took an evolutionary step that they were willing to die for. Simply to safeguard their beliefs. Going back to their step is a step backwards, we must step from where their sacrafice left us, forward to our own. The real “blood” that is sacrificed in any cultural advance is not the human blood on the physical battlefield, it is the blood of the step in repudiation so extolled in this article. When we repudiate we loose to gain, loss is and always will be felt as a bloodletting. The challenge that the people have been unwilling to face is not the ability or willingness to point out the corruption of our government. The challenge is letting go of what is known and secure, even if it is corrupt, this aspect of human nature, is both a safeguard and a trap. It safeguards any tendancy to rush the process of change when necessary, and it traps us by the binding unwillingness we feel toward change.
Report thisRecognition for how times have changed is the first step to repudiation, because a sound case for repudiation is demanded of any revolution. What will we repudiate? A couple hundred years ago, the repudiation was of the one powerful king to the power of a few wealthy, white, land owning men. Today the repudiation may likely be of the congress to the power of the many middle class and lower class americans, the new people. Taking true stock of what changed those many years ago is what is crucial to our education. The one tyrant king evolved into the few powerful men. Today it is the few powerful men that are tyrannizing the many people and stalling our country’s necessary evolution. What are we to repudiate to succeed in carrying the torch forward? More likely than not it is the system set up by the few in power that works presently not to free, but to corrupt those weilding it. These few, thought they could do so much better than one, it was a valiant thought in the day, but it only succeeded in doing somewhat better than one tyrannical king could do. The assumption that democracy as founded was the fountain of freedom for the people of this country is quite ignorant indeed. The education of the most educated of the people is only the education the few decided was necessary for the many. The biggest sacrafice will be the limiting belief that democracy, as instituted 231 years ago was for you, or me. From this manure a democracy of by and for you and me, for the many, can spring forth.
By tom camfield, June 7, 2007 at 7:17 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Scott Ridder’s title, “Repudiation, Not Impeachment,” is puzzling in the utmost. How are we to manage something close to ‘repudiation’ of the Bush administration unless we use the impeachment procedures to maximize the exposure of the administration’s trashing of the constitution? To rouse the citizenry and members of the Congress and Senate to reject (repudiate) that long list of activities and tendencies that Ridder so ably assembles will require considerably more exposure and discussion than has yet occurred. Repeat, and repeat, and repeat this mantra: TO FAIL TO IMPEACH IS TO CONDONE THEIR CRIMES / TO FAIL TO IMPEACH IS TO CONDONE THEIR CRIMES / TO FAIL . . . .
Report thisBy Skruff, June 6, 2007 at 2:50 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
According to BBC and several other sources, East Timor was The Ford administrations boondoggal. Kissinger was involved, and by Carter, he was out, so this had to be a Republican administration opperation. Carter took office on a Friday, January 21, 1977
There is more, the cast of characters sounds like a LiL Bush fan club… Check it out:
http://www.easttimorfilm.com/
Report thisBy Stephen Smoliar, June 6, 2007 at 2:28 pm #
Thank you, Skruff (#75725), for correcting my typing error. Clinton signed Kyoto. Bush revoked Clinton’s ratification. I meant to say that the ICC decision took place between Bush’s “liberating” the United States from Kyoto and 9/11.
Report thisBy Stephen Smoliar, June 6, 2007 at 7:41 am #
cyrena (#75674), I wish I shared your optimism; but this is one of those (rare?) occasions where I find myself casting my lot with Christopher Hitchens. I suspect that Kissinger is the primary reason why our country has distanced itself so outrageously from the ICC; so the departure of Bush and Cheney from the Executive (assuming they DO depart in 2009, how’s that for paranoia?) is not likely to have much effect. Unless I am mistaken, the ICC only caught up with Pinochet because he made the mistake of leaving Chile (for medical care, as I recall); and we are unlikely to see Kissinger make the same blunder.
Meanwhile, as we saw in today’s news, Kissinger is still firing on all cylinders, having written a letter in favor of Scooter getting a Presidential pardon. In the text of the letter, he calls Libby a “patriot.” I suppose this is the same brand of patriotism that had been applied to bombing Cambodia to the brink of oblivion! Doesn’t that advance the path towards repudiation? (I can’t figure out which emoticon to use for sarcasm!)
Report thisBy Skruff, June 6, 2007 at 5:39 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
75582 by Stephen Smoliar on 6/05 at 3:51 pm
“For the record, I am pretty sure that the United States still does not participate in the International Criminal Court system I remember when Bush refused to ratify participation. It was between signing on the Kyoto...”
I don’t think we signed Kyoto either.”
“Many opined that his ICC decision had been intended to save Kissingers ass. Perhaps (just perhaps) he may have been prescient enough to recognize that he might also have been saving his own.”
Bush was Ford’s CIA chief when The U.S. rubber stamped approval of Indonesia’s upcomming genocide in East Timor. The world (except in the US where it was not even news) was horrified at the massacre of women children, and non-combatant males. the world court (formally called the International Court of Justice) indicted Kissenger as a “war criminal.”
At this time Kissenger also had a previous intictment by the IJC for his involvment in the assassination of Salvator Allende in Chili. Theoritically Kissenger could be executed for his crimes. He can not travel in countries where the IJC is accepted. He can’t even land briefly on the tarmac in France, Germany, or Italy. He has become a recluse and seldom traveles outside the US.
GHWB (on the other hand) is now a former president. He can no longer be called to account for his crimes without a vote from the full Security Council, where the U.S. has a Veto.
Report thisBy ardee, June 6, 2007 at 4:57 am #
Ernest Canning,
Pretty hysterical actually that our resident Dik hasnt enough reading comprehension skills to note when his argument is being denied. I wonder why he asked me to learn from what you stated when it simply reinforced and made clearer that his insanity about the UN somehow diminishing our decision making is exactly that...insanity.
I have never put anyone on the ignore list, free speech is ,after all, a constitutional guarrantee, but scrolling quickly past his efforts is fine by me.
By the by, I certainnly do learn from your erudite and accurate posts, thanks for them.
Report thisBy cyrena, June 5, 2007 at 9:26 pm #
#75582 by Stephen Smoliar
This is correct from Stephen. because the US has not signed on to the ICC, and I’m sure that you’re right on about the reasons.
But, although I don’t know exactly HOW it would need to happen, it still seems like the international community could try them, even if it had to be something on the order of a specially created tribunal.
I’m thinking that they were finally able to get Pinochet, and that other guy, Myslo...(I know I’m butchering his name, but I’m too lazy to look it up) but you know who I mean. The guy from the former Yugoslavia, who died last year in prison. They got him.
Then too, we can always sign on to that Convention once we get rid of Dick Bush, and then there won’t be any problems. We’ll just make our particiaption -retroactive- (a little creative stuff to off-set what John Yoo and Gonzo, and some of the others have done) and we’ll get the ball rolling. (Yeah, we’ll have to get a new Amb. to the UN as well). But, we have agency. I’m sure the rest of the world will support us on this one.
Report thisBy cann4ing, June 5, 2007 at 7:55 pm #
Billy the whatever, you are way out of line. What I said concurs with and amplifies Ardee’s post. Thus, I resent your use of my post as a basis for your unwarranted personal attack.
The purpose of the comment section is to permit a dialogue amongst concerned citizens with an eye towards increasing the knowledge base of all. There may be times when we disagree with one another--often vigorously. But there is never a need for invective.
You certainly don’t have to agree with anything I or anyone else at Truthdig has to say. That is the essense of free speech. I would simply and respectfully suggest that all would be better served through the maintenance of civility in what one would hope would be a worthwhile intellectual exchange.
Report thisBy cann4ing, June 5, 2007 at 6:48 pm #
Ardee: It is unfortunate that there are vast swaths of the populace who do not understand that obligations entered by treaties, be they bilateral or, in the case of the UN, the ultimate in multi-lateral relationships are not only embodied in the U.S. Constitution but are an essential component to peaceful and cooperative relationships between nation-states. The neoconservatives have long spun this nonsense about the multi-lateral approach to international relations embodied in the UN charter as somehow amounting to a “surrender of U.S. sovereignty” because the very concept of a united world body of nations stands as an obstacle to their twisted vision of U.S. imperial hegemony over the entire planet and its resources--a vision embodied in the Project for a New American Century.
Report thisBy ardee, June 5, 2007 at 5:02 pm #
#75595 by national-security-4-us on 6/05 at 4:42 pm
You do understand that capitalisation is considered shouting, or maybe you do not.
Do you actually read what you post? To say that the US or any other nation surrendered its sovereignty by opting to join the UN is sheer and utter nonsense. Did we surrender anything when we joined NATO, or SEATO or ,oh what the heck, you are far too far gone to listen anyway. The UN does some wonderful things in the area of medical assistance, childrens relief, certain monitoring functions and peacekeeping duties as well. Other than that they are rather useless.
Please try and under utilize the caps at least....thanks.
Report thisBy national-security-4-us, June 5, 2007 at 4:42 pm #
1945 - USA SURRENDERED HER SOVEREIGNTY AS DID OTHER NATIONS.
EVERY NATION THAT’S A MEMBER OF THE UNITED NATIONS - UPON SIGNING THIS CHARTER - RELINQUISHED THEIR INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY & NATIONAL POWER 2 THE UNITED NATIONS’ - SECURITY COUNCIL…
GRANTED AMERICA MAY HAVE ALITTLE MORE JUICE THEN EVERY OTHER NATION - THAT IS ONLY BECAUSE WE HOST THE BODY IN THE U.S. - THE UNITED NATIONS’ SECURITY COUNCIL…
“BEHOLD A PALE HORSE - BY WILLIAM COOPER”
“CHAPER 13 - TREASON IN HIGH PLACES”
THE U.S. CONSTITUTION ARTICLE VI STATES:
All Debts contracted & Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the U.S. under this Constitution, as under the Confederation…
This Constitutional & the Laws of the U.S. which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; & all Treaties made, or which shall be made,under the Authority of the U.S., shall be the supreme Law of the Land; & the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby,any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding....
The Senators & Representatives b-4 mentioned, & the Members of the several State Legislatures, & all executive & judicial Officers,both of the U.S. & of the several States,shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation,to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States....
HAVE WE ALREADY JOINED A NEW WORLD ORDER ???
U.S. SOVEREIGNTY --- FACT OR FICTION…
The Executive,Judicial & Legislative Branches of the U.S. Government have followed the policy that the United Nations Treaty APPROVED under the United Nations’ Participation Act of 1945 in behalf of the United States of America by Harry S. Truman & the United States Senate,which treaty SUPERSEDES the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION UNDER THE TERMS OF ARTICLE VI OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION…
THE COUNCIL OF FOREIGN RELATIONS created the UNITED NATIONS. Their member agents,Alger Hiss & Leo Pasvolsky did the paperwork,but the honors went to a special committee appointed by President Roosevelt to draw the first draft of the Charter…
The members of the Committee were: Sumner Wells,
Isaiah Bowman,Hamilton Fish Armstrong,Benjamin Cohen,
& Clark Eichelberger - all members of the COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS & members of a secret ORDER OF THE QUEST CALLED THE JASON SOCIETY…
THE CHARTER WAS RUSHED THROUGH THE U.S. SENATE without printed copies to guide the Senators: it was EXPLAINED to them by RUSSIAN-BORN REVOLUTIONARY LEO PASVOLSKY…
The Charter conferred no real power on the General Assembly; all the power was in the Security Council where the VETO was. The Senate would not have ratified the Charter except that the American delegation had a right to VETO if our interests were threatened by action of other member States…
“EXCERPTS FROM BEHOLD A PALE HORSE - BY WILLIAM COOPER - PAGE 240…
THIS MANS’ CONSCIENCE FINALLY CONVICTED HIM TO TELL -A TELL ALL BOOK - WHICH EVENTUALLY LED 2 HIM BEING MURDERED - 4 TELLING THE DIABOLICAL DEEDS AMERICA HAS
COMMITTED IN WHICH HE HAS EYE-WITNESSED/HEARD & EVEN PARTICIPANTED IN OVER THE YEARS…
HE LEARNED ALL OF THIS AS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING TEAM - WITH VERY HIGH - THE HIGHEST SECURITY CLEARANCES....HE SPOKE TRUTH 2 POWER & DIED 4 IT…
“TRUST YET VERIFY"- HIS WORDS ARE VERIFICATION - READ THE BOOK & LEARN A HELL OF A LOT…
Report thisBy national-security-4-us, June 5, 2007 at 4:26 pm #
READ THIS PIECE - ECONOMIC HITMEN CONTROLLED COUTRIES
2 FAIL WHILE CORPORATION GOT PAID “UNGODLY”
SAD BUT TRUE & VERY SHOCKING…
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/06/05/149254
Report thisBy national-security-4-us, June 5, 2007 at 4:18 pm #
i doubt as 2 whether or not it matters if the usa is
part of or recognizes the i.c.c. for the usa or its’ members 2 be prosecuted…
internetional law / treaties supercedes americas’ dominance - as long as the rest of the world screams & howls loud enough action will eventually be taken..
like 2 years ago a melbourne florida lawyer won a seat on the i.c.c. - i forget his name yet read it in the papers…
as 4 the kyoto treaty i think bush did right by not signing on because it absolutely relinquishes americas’ sovereignty as a nation…
even though that has already happened in 1945 treaty
signed in the dead of night in secret when the league of nations converted in to the united nations led by war criminals & spies to hood-wink america into signing it --- you know if you can’t beat them—join them…
the kyoto treat states in part - “SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF AMERICAN SOIL UNDER THE DIRECT CONTROL OF THE UNITED NATIONS & MUCH OF THE AMERICAN INDUSTRY
WILL BE SUBORDINATED 2 FORIEGN CONTROL UNDER THE
“KYOTO TREATY” --- DECEMBER 1997…
CLINTON SIGNED ONTO THE KYOTO TREATY B-4 LEAVING OFFICE & BUSHS’ 1ST ORDER OF BUSINESS WAS 2 REVOKE IT
Report this& I 4 ONE APPLAUDED HIM 4 THAT - EVEN THOUGH HE IS STILL A VILLIANOUS CRIMINAL…
By Stephen Smoliar, June 5, 2007 at 3:51 pm #
For the record, I am pretty sure that the United States still does not participate in the International Criminal Court system. I remember when Bush refused to ratify participation. It was between signing on the Kyoto and 9/11. Many opined that his ICC decision had been intended to save Kissinger’s ass. Perhaps (just perhaps) he may have been prescient enough to recognize that he might also have been saving his own.
Report thisBy Skruff, June 5, 2007 at 5:17 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
“All you could do was attack me like the jack-booted, goose-stepping thugs that is liberalism.”
Historical note:
Hitler hated “liberals” A liberal might find himself standing in line next to jews and homosexuals and Gypsies at Dachau.
“Universal education is the most corroding and disintegrating poison that liberalism has ever invented for its own destruction.”
Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
Report thisVoice of Destruction
By national-security-4-us, June 5, 2007 at 1:23 am #
HERE’S MY TAKE ON THE MILITARY COMMISSIONS’ ACT…
4 STARTERS SOME OF THEM CAPTURED HAVE BEEN “INDICTED”
IN FEDERAL COURT 4 A VARIETY OF CRIMES ON INTERESTS/ PROPERTY OF THE U.S. EITHER HERE OR ABROAD…
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK FEDERAL COURT HAD IN THE PAST “INDICTED” A SLEW OF PEOPLE…
NOW REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY WERE NABBED - THE U.S. FEDERAL INDICTMENT TAKES PRECEDENCE—UNTIL THE MCA
WAS DIABOLICALLY CRAFTED…
WHY WAS IT MADE ---- SIMPLY 4 THIS REASON:
IMAGINE THE TERRORISTS IN OPEN COURT W/PEOPLE/PRESS &
THEY TELL THE TRUTH LIKE POSSIBLE GOVT. ASSISTANCE IN
ANY PAST OR PRESENT OPERATIONS—NOW IF THIS IS TRUE
AT ALL WHATSOEVER - THOSE WHO KNOW PONDERED THIS POSSIBLITY…
WE ALL SAW THAT LAST ASSHOLE GO OFF IN COURT - LUCKY
4 THE GOVT. HE WAS A NOBODY & DOES NOT KNOW WHAT SOME
OF THESE PEOPLE MIGHT OR DO POSSIBLY KNOW…
MILITARY TRIBUNALS DONE IN SECRET = NO PRESS/PEOPLE..
IF THE TRUTH IS SPOKEN - IT WILL NEVER GET OUT UNLESS
A RIGHTEOUS JUDGE DOES THE RIGHT THING & TELLS ALL OR
DISMISSES THE CASE ALTOGETHER…
BELIEVE ME PEOPLE IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH BRAIN POWER 2
FIGURE THIS ONE OUT --- ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT I HAVE BEEN THOUGH…
THAT’S WHY THEY ARE TRYING 2 KILL THAT TERRORIST THAT
THEY DUMPED IN SOMALIA AFTER HOLDING HIM 4 LIKE 30 MONTHS & APPARENTLY HE DID NOT BREAK…
THE CRIMES/CRIMINAL CONDUCT HAS ONLY ACCUMULATED 2 THE POINT THAT IT HAS SURPASSED ANYTHING THAT THE TERRORISTS COULD DO - SINCE AMERICA FIRST TRAINED
THEM & FINANCED THEM --- ONLY 2 HAVE THEM TURN ON US.
I COULD IMAGINE THE STORIES THAT WOULD BE TOLD IF ONLY THE TERRORISTS COULD HAVE THEIR DAY IN COURT --
Report thisIN FEDERAL COURT OPEN 2 THE PUBLIC - WHERE THEY WERE
INITIALLY INDICTED - NOT IN A SECRET MILITARY COURT..
By cyrena, June 4, 2007 at 11:58 pm #
Oh humble servant, no apologies required for your absence. I was counting it among the limited “blessings” there are available to us these days. Could I perhaps pay you to stay away longer? Or even forever? Nevermind that, seeing as how I’m not rich. My daddy’s dead, and he didn’t own a liquor store. Matter of fact, all he really knew how to do was design airplanes, and help build them, but the time I came along, I only had time to learn how to fly them. (I never could draw).
On the law, I’m a bit more familiar. Quite a bit actually. Enough to be aware of the Electoral College. However, we didn’t use the Electoral College in The Coup of 2000, and we didn’t use the popular vote either. The Bush Appointed Supreme Court APPOINTED their leader as president, and that’s just the bottom line. So, let’s call it what it is. A judicial Coup, and the worst thing to happen to our Nation in over a century.
Now, you mentioned that you PAST 5th grade civics. I presume that to mean that you skipped it, because when I do my student grading, they either PASS, or they don’t. So, by your own admission, you (since you say you PAST it) I have to assume that you did a George W number, which that you simply skipped out. Too bad you don’t have a rich daddy, you could have obtained a MBA from Harvard as well. Then you wouldn’t have had to go off to work, and leave us all here so lonesome for your free vision into a psychopathic mind. There are meds available now you know. They could help. Check in with a doc if you can, provided you have some insurance to go with your job. I can’t make any promises, but it’s certainly worth a try. I hate to see anybody so miserable if they don’t have to be. It’s not like there isn’t enough to go around.
And you’re right. I’m a woman, and I am gorgeous, but we never put much stock in physical beauty in my neck of the woods. In all honesty, I’d rather just use my brain to support myself, and anytime I’m likely to be frustrated, there are always people like you to make me remember how fortunate I am.
Report thisBy national-security-4-us, June 4, 2007 at 11:57 pm #
WAY 2 GO TOBY
humble is a fumbling-bumbling idiot…
anyone who comes here 2 post negative shit on FACTS
known 2 be TRUE - we know where they stand it is that simple…
if only the american people / the entire world community could unite - W/A LITTLE HELP FROM THE I.C.C. - we can put all of these pieces of trash where they belong—IN THE GRAVE 4 THEIR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY & TREASON…
All of CONGRESS by the way are just as guilty as bush 4 the continuation of the war…
please read ARTICLE I SECTION 8 - SUBSECTION K OR THE
11TH PHRASE IT STATES:
“2 RAISE & SUPPORT ARMIES,BUT NO APPROPRIATION OF MONEY 2 THAT USE SHALL BE 4 A LONGER TERM THAN 2 YEARS”
so with that said - CONGRESS realistically could also
face “WAR CRIMES” - 4 NOT DEMANDING THE WAR END IN 2 YEARS BY NOT FUNDING IT ANY LONGER…
the international criminal court was made 2 destroy
america 4 all of its’ arrogance & school yard bully
tactics it forced on nations 4 some time now…
not only the executive branch - also the military brass/soldiers + 535 CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS potentially could face tribunal hearings some where down the road when the I.C.C. gets its’ head together
I do know recently a judge from MELBOURNE,FLORIDA won
a spot on the court --- talk about having a conflict of interest issue & pushing american influence…
hopefully the outcry from all nations will force the
I.C.C. 2 take action very soon…
wouldn’t it be sweet - all of the deceiving/thieving/
lying/conniving scumbags get tried in one fell swoop
showing a lesson 2 america & the rest of the world /
future leaders what can happen by breaking treaties/
international law & just being plain greedy/evil…
I’ve been warning senator feingold of this scenario 4
sometime now - but these bigwigs dumb-ass dildos who
believe in every other “ISM” other then “CREATIONISM”
ARE PLAYING WITH FIRE & SOON 2 GET BURNED…
why do you think the SCOTUS allowed 4 prisoners 2 be
Report thistreated fairly against bushs’ will—BECAUSE THE I.C.C. could have possibly found that the SCOTUS has VIOLATED international law / treaties…
By cyrena, June 4, 2007 at 10:56 pm #
For Skruff,
You wrote:
The standard innocent until PROVEN guilty leaves LBJ innocent of lying to congress (Tonkin Gulf) Jamed Polk innocent of an unprovoked attack on Mexioc and subsequent theft of sovereign lands…
And, I do in fact appreciate the reminder that nothing is absolute in US Law. It it couldn’t be argued, we wouldn’t have the law. But, on the “innocent until proven guilty” wouldn’t it be fair to say that we never TRIED to prove LBJ guilty, (although we certainly tried with O.J. and if they hadn’t tried to “frame” an already guilty man, he might have been appropriately convicted).
So, we didn’t do anything about LBJ lying us into Vietnam, although admittedly, he at least took some sense of moral responsibility for his bad choices. I honestly believe when he said he rarely slept during that war, and I don’t doubt that he left the White House a broken man as a result.
But, back to my point. We just never tried to prove any of these people guilty. But with Dick Bush Rove Axis, we actually have tons of evidence. (I think someone else mentioned Elizabeth De La Vargas’ piece, which lays it all out really well) And then, there’s the Scooter Libby trial, which was effectively a case for at least Cheney’s impeachment. (at least the same evidence already in the record could be used). And, if push comes to shove, even I could come up with something that would probably be acceptable to the International Criminal Court, (I’d need a little professional mentoring on some of the finer points). But over all, it seems like if the only thing that we have to do is PROVE them guilty, it’s definitely “do-able”.
Meantime, we lose ground everyday that these guys can give orders to attack, anywhere, and anyone. How long before the first cluster bombs are dropped on Iran? Cheney hasn’t dispatched all of those war ships just so they could toole around the Persian Gulf this summer. That’s like a whole lot of petrol just for an excusion. Scares the living shit out of me.
Report thisBy Toby, June 4, 2007 at 7:47 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
RE: #75360 by Humble Servant
Interesting fellow “Humble Servant” ...
A living, breathing (I assume) typing example of the results of the “altered reality” of Schizoid Karl, Rhetorical Bush and their favorite Dick.
For in fact “Humble Servant” serves only himself.
In classic neo-con fashion, he takes advantage of this forum and these posters and we commenters, to promote himself and his web site.
This needs to be pointed out as being distinctly different from those who post links to many sites, in some cases their own, for the purpose of expanding on the subject at hand, or offering additional information that might lead onward and upward to the TRUTH.
Little wonder “Humble Servant” is angry and frustrated. After all, he daily provides us with the opportunity to click on his site, giving him some measure of satisfaction and perhaps a sense of self and success. And I suppose he needs all of that he can get (don’t we all) But, in my humble estimation If his site reads like his postings here, I don’t see an alternate path to truth there. I see an alternate path to the twi-lite zone. A slightly tipped, not quite as good as the original, version of spin-meister Roves altered reality.
So I will not be visiting his site.
If I were to offer Humble Servant anything, it would be ...
Sir, it is never to late to get help.
Treatment is available.
Schizophrenia can be controlled.
However the reaction to such sound advice would be, I am quite sure, a litany of derision, attack and extreme foolishness in the name of truth.
Therefore, I for one from this point on intend to ignore him utterly.
Period.
Post On Truthdiggers!
Report thisPost On!
By Stephen Smoliar, June 4, 2007 at 6:29 pm #
Skruff, your comment about saviors (#75010) is the point I was trying to make back about Secular Messianism in comment #74237; but that was back on May 31. It feels as if an eternity has passed since then! (Unfortunately, we still seem to be drifting away from the concept of repudiation; but that is the way discussions progress!)
Report thisBy Humble Servant, June 4, 2007 at 5:44 pm #
My dear friends at Truthdig,
I apologize for my prolong absence; however, I was at work today. I know that most liberals do not understand the concept of work. This is where you leave your parents basement, and perform some service or task in exchange for money. You do not have to depend on the government sending you a check.
The exchanges here have been most interesting. You have reaffirmed my raison d’être. I started my blog to show the hypocrisy within liberalism. Your responses to me fulfilled my every expectation. Liberals want everyone to believe they are the party of inclusion, that they are open-minded, and that they embrace diversity. Only in some drug-induced fantasyland is this true. All you could do was attack me like the jack-booted, goose-stepping thugs that is liberalism.
My dearest Cyrena, your ignorance of the Constitution is only overshadowed by your shear stupidity. In fact, I did past 5th grade civics. However, it seems that in your special ed class, you were still struggling with coloring within the lines, rather than studying civics. I’ll type this slow so you can understand. No where in the US Constitution are you give the right to vote directly for the President of the US. We elect a President through the Electoral College not by popular vote. Never have, never will. If you are a woman, I hope you are good looking, have big boobs, and your daddy owns a liquor store...life will be so much easier for you. If you are a guy, good luck with that career at McDonalds. “Would you like to super-size that sir?” Keep on practicing you’ll get it memorize in no time.
My time spent here inspired my latest post on my blog: http://liberal-hypocrisy.com/blog/2007/06/04/true-libe ralism-at-truthdig/.
Please do not save all of your politics of personal destruction for my visits back to this site. You are welcome to come over to my home and spew your bigoted, racist, drivel. I promise to allow you to post anything other than porn, no matter how stupid it makes you look.
I eagerly await our next meeting.
As always,
Report thisYour devoted, humble servant
By JNagarya, June 4, 2007 at 4:58 pm #
It isn’t either/or.
There’s no reason we not both impeach and repudicate. In fact, impeachment is a repudiation of the behaviors, and the policies which flow therefrom, of those impeached.
It also makes for a bigger crowd: those who are for repudiation join with those who are for impeachment, and _vice-versa_.
Report thisBy JNagarya, June 4, 2007 at 4:55 pm #
“#75291 by Skruff on 6/04 at 8:01 pm
(Unregistered commenter)
“75253 by Fritzer on 6/04 at 11:10 am
We need you and America needs a savior ...
“I would suggest that this may be part of the problem. Why a savior why not jump in and do it yourself.
“It should be evident to every voting age citizen in these united states, we cant hire an employee to do it for us they just dont”
Actually, they do. Your problem is that they don’t view you as their only constituent.
“They get to Washington and have a personality change and behave exactly as those they displaced.”
Actually they don’t. And you’re making the same excuses as the person to whom you respond. This is the alternative, the reality --
“Democracy is responsibility.”—Justice Louis Brandeis.
Report thisBy Skruff, June 4, 2007 at 1:31 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
75253 by Fritzer on 6/04 at 11:10 am
“We need you and America needs a savior ...”
I would suggest that this may be part of the problem. Why a “savior” why not jump in and do it yourself.
Bet a Buick you would fare as well in Washington as a Ritter.
It should be evident to every voting age citizen in these united states, we can’t hire an employee to “do it for us” they just don’t” They get to Washington and have a personality change and behave exactly as those they displaced.
Report thisBy Stephen Smoliar, June 4, 2007 at 1:09 pm #
tedbohne (#75261), reflecting back on yesterday (#75004), when I suggested that repudiation amounts to saying “I screwed up, and I am committed to undoing the mess I made,” whether or not those “rodents” are impervious to either reason or the desires of the American people is not the issue. That paraphrase cannot be uttered (at least in a meaningful way) without a sense of SHAME. We are in this mess because those who put us there are so convinced of the rightness of their acts that they cannot conceive of a sense of shame about them. Of course there is nothing new about such oblivion to shame. It can be traced back at least as far as Nietzsche and was mastered by both Hitler and Stalin. Now it is in our own backyard; and those of us who were brought up to “do the right thing” really have no way of dealing with it.
Report thisBy Mudwollow, June 4, 2007 at 1:00 pm #
Just read Elizabeth de la Vega, Indicting Bush.
http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=143205
And Pelosi took impeachment off the table. This man should be arrested first and impeached later. A shockingly clear list of the Bush administration crimes against the people of America. Off the table my ass.
Report thisBy tedbohne, June 4, 2007 at 11:49 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
It is unfortunate that Major Ritter still misses the point. But then, so far, so has nearly everyone else. It’s not the people. It’s the system, local, state and federal. It is DEAD. It was never meant to work with this many people and with a country the size of the US in terms of land mass. Does the Major actually think he can petition ANY aspect or person in this “government” for redress or the adoption of an entirely new social control paradigm? At it’s roots, the current construct is no different from any other throughout human history. I wonder then, when we “repudiate” this group of miscreants what is to be done? Do we turn our backs on them? Do we tell them to get out? What? These rodents are impervious to reason or the desires of the American people, whatever those are. Further, the American people seem quite content to allow things to go on as usual. By the time NOTHING happens in congress, the 2008 elections will be here, and my suspicion is that the republicans and republicrats have already a plan in place.
Report thisBy Fritzer, June 4, 2007 at 11:10 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Thank you and BRAVO Scott Ritter.
Please switch from the Republican-Mafia-Type-Party and join the Progressives. Please Jump in and SAVE America and discard the betrayers and war lovers in the Democratic Party too!
Please switch from the Republican party which nowadays, for the most part, stands and represents:
The Liars, the Thieves, the Mafia-Mentality-Party, the Terrorists-producers, the WARS for Profiteering lovers, the Corporate lovers, the Oil lovers, the Chaos lovers, the Anti-Law and Order, the Anti-We-The-People, For Profits-Only at any costs to the World, For the destruction of all environment, For lies about Global warming, the Anti-Constitution, Anti-American, For the 1% richest to control the other 99% of the people, Anti middle class, Anti poor, Anti-hungry, Anti-Healthcare, Anti PEACE, Anti family values, For Dictatorship in America, For Dictatorships every where in the world, For Nazi-Type-Propaganda, For confusion, For destruction all that is good, For monopoly of all Communication channels and all MSMs, Anti Freedom, Anti Liberty, Anti Justice, and finally the party that is totally dedicated to ANTI-HUMANITY GOALS!
Do you realize that you can be a million times more effective if you hold an office?
You have great ideas and you can really affect America when you speak from an official capacity, like a Senator, a Congressman or President!
We need you and America needs a savior to tell the truths that you articulate so fantastically.
BRAVO Scott Ritter!
Thank you,
Report thisBy ocjim, June 4, 2007 at 9:52 am #
Much has been said already. The only thing I can add involves the long-term impact of what we have done in concert, regardless of whether you voted for the mediocre occupant of the White House or not. There was a time that we could elect (or appoint) an incompetent leader and the damage done was minimal and confined to our country. Now Bush has proven that global damage can be done and that doesn’t even consider the opportunity costs of decisions benefitting a tiny fraction of our globe’s occupants. Due to Bush administration bonehead decisions, Perhaps, without thoughtful decisions by our future leaders, our demise can be singular but probably not. It is tragic that a Bush came along at this time when the world is so vulnerable to wrong turns by powerful leaders.
Report thisBy Mark A. Goldman, June 4, 2007 at 9:50 am #
Well Skruff, the truth of your observations do not justify more injustice. And to make the mistakes and neglect of the past precedents to follow in the future, I think is a mistake. We need to defend the rule of law if we hope to put our house in order, otherwise every affront to the Constitution and basic decency will become its own justification and a reason to accept the further disintegration of our culture and our humanity.
Report thisBy Leefeller, June 4, 2007 at 8:56 am #
ardee,
I agree with your points on your post and reading the new posts since ours, I am forced to agree with you once more.
My ranting days, have been less of late, but I still enjoy an occasional purging of, yee old pent up fustrations.
Report thisBy Skruff, June 4, 2007 at 4:47 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
I hate to jump into a conversation where the terms “Jackass” and “Dumbass” are used, but I can’t resist pointing out, that one of the first things students in prelaw learn is that there are no “absolutes” in U.S. Law. We never make a law which can’t be argued.
Lincoln was not impeached for suspending habeas corpus, Reagan was not impeached for violating the Boland ammendment, Roosvelt was not impeached for his (seemingly unconstitutional) attempt to alter and pack the Supreme Court, and Bush will not be impeached for his actions. The standard “innocent until PROVEN guilty” leaves LBJ innocent” of lying to congress (Tonkin Gulf) Jamed Polk innocent of an unprovoked attack on Mexioc and subsequent theft of sovereign lands,
In short the result of all this is we have an “innocent” O.J. Simpson living in his million dollar Florida estate, a president who (under our law) serves legally dispite the questions concerning how he was elected, and a war in Iraq which continues unabated while the world body to which most of our allies subscribe, has declared it outside the strictures of U.N. member behavior.
U.S. duplicity is not a crime. We can use the U.N. and other world bodies for our gain while ignoring their edicts, and failing to pay our dues.
U.S. citizens do not have a lock on spinelessness.
Report thisBy cyrena, June 4, 2007 at 12:16 am #
For Humble Servant,
It would be interesting to know who you are “humbling serving” but it’s not a priority at the moment.
What is important for you to know, is that you might learn something, if you keep reading, and if you unclog some of the arteries that connect between your butt and your brain.
The fact of the matter is that this administration, (and you can use George’s name if you want, since he is the president on paper at least) has in fact violated so much of the Constitution that the list is incredibly long, and you wouldn’t be able to make the connections in your own retarded mentality. But, there’s hope, since it appears that you can at least read and writeat the basic levels, and that’s more than a lot of folks are capable of, including George.
George was NOT constitutionally elected in 2000. It’s that simple. The people voted for Al Gore, and the Mob took possession of our government instead. And, we’ve been in free fall ever since.
I cannot explain to you why the Democrats did not begin impeachment proceedings as soon as they finally gained that very marginal control of our Congress, after 12 long years of assault by the neo-cons, the last 6 of those years being the worst that our nation has ever lived through. In short, we have been an abused society, for a very long time now, and it’s taken it’s toll. And, the bottom line is that it’s a horrible infection that will take some time to cure. It didn’t happen overnight, and most of America is only just beginning to figure it out.
So, while I’m not making any excuses for the fact that there are in fact democrats who have NOT made impeachment a priority once they finally DID gain some measure of control in our Congress, I DO want to reiterate that it is NOT because Dick Bush hasn’t committed gross violations of the Constitution, or that these are NOT impeachable offenses. THEY ARE, and they are numerous. And, that’s just talking about the U.S. Constitution. They are in equal violation of International Law, and so they can be tried and convicted for War Crimes, as well as Crimes against Humanity, and a host of others.
And, at some point in time, I’m sure that they can be convicted. Meantime however, what is most important for us, is to impeach them (and, practically speaking, Cheney needs to be the one impeached first, just because he is the DANGER, because HE CALLS ALL OF THE SHOTS!!!) G