The Legacy of Gerald Ford. . .
It is common to speak in eloquent terms of the recently departed. And I am hearing such things about Gerald Ford. It has caused me to second think my earlier supposition that Ford did a healing thing for the nation in pardoning Nixon. It was true that the nation had endured a great injury from Watergate. A president of the United States had lied to this country. That president tried to use his power and influence to stop an investigation into his illegal activities and suppress evidence. That president failed!
When Ford pardoned Nixon, to put it simply, I was pissed! I had just spent the last two years pointing out to everyone who would listen (or anyone I could trap into listening) how corrupt he was. I pointed to the evidence and I asked questions about why Nixon had all those lawyers around him and what was the function of all those "presidential aides?
Finally, the evidence was so overwhelming that even Republicans had to agree that Nixon had lied and had tried to corrupt our system of government. That was a glorious day for me and I immediately began looking forward to the trial. We speculated about how it would happen. Would Nixon end up in jail? Would he spend time behind bars before the trial? Get out on bail? Or just after he was found guilty? After all, his resignation was pretty much a confession of guilt!
Then Ford, after receiving the inclination while in church, pardoned Nixon. Ford explained how the nation had suffered enough through the thralls of Watergate and it was now time to move on and heal.
I was angry. I was very angry. The nation would not have the opportunity to see justice. The nation would not have the chance to witness our system in its full capacity of putting on trial its own leader because, no one, not even the President of the United States, is above the law! But the nation did not get to witness that! The nation did not get to heal through justice and fairness. The nation was preempted from seeing and viewing all the evidence and the true depth of Nixon’s crimes. Ford pardoned him. And I had no choice. The nation had no choice. We had to go on and accept the way things were because Ford had that power and Ford had used it.
Now, with Ford’s death, all those memories are coming back to me; the same anger, the same unfairness. And it’s causing me to rethink the matter.
What if Nixon had gone to trial? What if the nation had had the opportunity to see the evidence and witness the consequence for someone who had deceived it? How would that have stopped the healing this nation needed? Wouldn’t the nation have healed anyway?
We will never know because Ford pardoned Nixon. Yes, there was a committee that looked into any deal making that may have gone on when Ford was appointed to the Vice Presidency. Ford denied that. There was nothing this nation could do but move on and accept the reality of the situation. I moved on because I had no choice but to move on. And as the years passed, I could even forgive and come to believe that Ford had done the right thing.
Now, I have come up with new questions that are relevant. Let’s say that Nixon had been put on trial, convicted and jailed. What message would that send to later presidents? Like Bush? A message about usurping power, ignoring the Constitution, and outright law breaking? Could that have made him think twice before he attempted the things he has done? At least there would have been a precedent to show the Congress it could and should act in their capacity as a check and balance! Perhaps Ford’s pardon of Nixon wasn’t so good for the nation after all.
Now, we hear that Ford gave an interview in ’04, saying how he was opposed to what Bush had done in going into Iraq. His statement could be released when the book was published OR upon his death. This is what caused me to do my rethinking.
If Ford felt so strongly then, why didn’t he say something, THEN! What was the purpose for waiting? Did he feel it necessary to protect his Republican Party more than protecting the country? Or, perhaps, because he was never elected, he felt his opinion was inadequate in some way? Somehow, less important? That’s what got me to wondering about Watergate and the pardon of Nixon. If I can wonder that now, perhaps I was justified in being so pissed then!
It’s difficult for me to speak in eloquent terms about a man that may have put party before nation. Perhaps Ford was, after all, just a quick fix so someone, perhaps someone like Bush, could try it again later!
That’s as I see it. . . How do you see it?
Friday, December 22, 2006
The Constitution. . .
. . . is a wonderful document. It spells out every conceivable situation our government can experience with respect to the presidency except; . . . . . . . . INSANITY. If a president is incapacitated for physical reasons; the president gets incapacitated; a stroke, an illness; there is a plan for who should be in charge during that disability. There is NOTHING in the Constitution for a president who is insane!
George W. Bush is insane!
Insanity has many forms. We know this from modern science. Georgie ignores modern science. Einstein said the definition of insanity was repeating the same procedure and expecting different results. I can’t imagine a better definition for our president than that!
Georgie is now repeating the method used during Vietnam of giving enemy body counts to show we are winning. Georgie initiated the Iraq Study Group, gave Americans the impression he would respond to their advice, then ignores them and now says we need to commit more troops.
George is delusional. He is probably affected by his childhood, his alcoholism, and his desire to be better than his father. It all adds up to being nuts!
At what point do we, the people, decide this man is nuts and do something? This is no longer a partisan viewpoint. People on both sides of the isle are whispering. This man is incapable of leading this country. What do we wait for? How far do we allow this insanity to go on? Do we allow a war with Iran?
At what point do we declare the president as incompetent and follow the Constitution?
We are there! It just takes someone with courage to say it!
. . . is a wonderful document. It spells out every conceivable situation our government can experience with respect to the presidency except; . . . . . . . . INSANITY. If a president is incapacitated for physical reasons; the president gets incapacitated; a stroke, an illness; there is a plan for who should be in charge during that disability. There is NOTHING in the Constitution for a president who is insane!
George W. Bush is insane!
Insanity has many forms. We know this from modern science. Georgie ignores modern science. Einstein said the definition of insanity was repeating the same procedure and expecting different results. I can’t imagine a better definition for our president than that!
Georgie is now repeating the method used during Vietnam of giving enemy body counts to show we are winning. Georgie initiated the Iraq Study Group, gave Americans the impression he would respond to their advice, then ignores them and now says we need to commit more troops.
George is delusional. He is probably affected by his childhood, his alcoholism, and his desire to be better than his father. It all adds up to being nuts!
At what point do we, the people, decide this man is nuts and do something? This is no longer a partisan viewpoint. People on both sides of the isle are whispering. This man is incapable of leading this country. What do we wait for? How far do we allow this insanity to go on? Do we allow a war with Iran?
At what point do we declare the president as incompetent and follow the Constitution?
We are there! It just takes someone with courage to say it!
I used to enjoy disaster movies. It’s funny how attitudes change. . .
There is a trend now to make war movies. Clint Eastwood made one about Iwo Jima and then a Japanese version of the same thing, a very intriguing idea. The weird thing is; not a single veteran I know has gone to see them or wants to see them. Yet every “macho man” talks about seeing them or wanting to see them. I wonder why that is?
Life experience has a lot to do with it. Those who have been in the military and have seen the carnage do not want to see it again. Those who, for whatever reason; . . . circumstance, timing, or desire, and avoided military service somehow want to experience the adrenalin of that experience.
Which of the above do you figure Gerogie Boy is from?
There is a trend now to make war movies. Clint Eastwood made one about Iwo Jima and then a Japanese version of the same thing, a very intriguing idea. The weird thing is; not a single veteran I know has gone to see them or wants to see them. Yet every “macho man” talks about seeing them or wanting to see them. I wonder why that is?
Life experience has a lot to do with it. Those who have been in the military and have seen the carnage do not want to see it again. Those who, for whatever reason; . . . circumstance, timing, or desire, and avoided military service somehow want to experience the adrenalin of that experience.
Which of the above do you figure Gerogie Boy is from?
Saturday, December 02, 2006
NAFTA? CAFTA? What’s Afta’?
I think most people sleep fairly well at night. I know I do. The only things that wake me up are the occasional loud noise from outside or our barking Lassa Apso, Shanna Bu. I describe the waking type of outside noise because there is always noise from outside. We live in a small town west of Portland, Oregon and there is always the noise of trucks on the highway, distant barking dogs or the newspaper delivery person with squeaky brakes. I can sleep through all of those because I am used to it and the noise itself is meaningless.
I believe that’s how most Americans see politics. It is the usual distant noise that doesn’t require ones attention until it gets so loud or disturbing that you must pay attention and give it notice. That has been what has happened since George W. Bush took office in 2001. The noise of politics seemed distant and not too disturbing until things got so out of hand we had to change the course!
I don’t know how long it will take to undo the damage Georgie Boy and his cohort Republicans have done to this country, if, indeed, all of it can be undone. Time will tell. It will also take a dedicated, thoughtful and persistent congress to accomplish it. But all the damage to this country was not done under the rubber stamp congress.
Unfortunately, Americans weren’t paying attention when Clinton was president and the government passed NAFTA. My only excuse is that I was sleeping and the noise of politics didn’t disturb me enough to pay attention. I thought at the time it was a bad idea and could hurt our labor economy, but I reasoned that Clinton had been doing a good job and was a much smarter man than I, so Clinton probably knew more than I did and I trusted him. Well, I shouldn’t have! I should have spoken up. I should have written my congressmen and senators to express my concern.
NAFTA lowers the American middle class standard of living by exporting jobs to countries that pay pennies to our dollars for labor. This country’s labor force cannot compete at those prices for labor. The result is that jobs are exported, factories close and the labor force that had a middle class standard of living now have to take lesser paying jobs to survive. The middle class is disappearing.
The price conscious consumer may like it. Corporations most definitely love it! Corporations get cheaper labor, maintain good selling prices and increased profits and appeal to the uninformed consumer. That's why trickle down economics does not work. The wealthy do build factories and put people to work. They build them in China or South America!
Then Bush and the government passed CAFTA. It is the same, middles class destroying disaster that NAFTA was. What’s afta’ NAFTA and CAFTA? A disappearing middle class is what’s after any of the AFTA measures. They must be stopped!
Can they be undone? I don’t know. I believe that right now, the government has greater problems to solve, such as Iraq, health care and Social Security funding. The unfortunate big looser in this lack of priority is the middle class victims that have already lost their jobs, adjusted to a lesser life style and can not wait for government to “get-around-to-them.” When you are hungry, you must eat.
The most important lesson I learned about politics in all of this is to pay attention to all the noise. My only hope now is to make politicians listen and influence their vote as much as a constituent can. I encourage you to do the same. Watch the government! Remember, they work for us and we are their Boss!
I still sleep well at night, though I am concerned about the future and my own ability to continue to earn a living. But it’s been a hell of a lesson!
That’s As I see it. . . How do you see it?
I think most people sleep fairly well at night. I know I do. The only things that wake me up are the occasional loud noise from outside or our barking Lassa Apso, Shanna Bu. I describe the waking type of outside noise because there is always noise from outside. We live in a small town west of Portland, Oregon and there is always the noise of trucks on the highway, distant barking dogs or the newspaper delivery person with squeaky brakes. I can sleep through all of those because I am used to it and the noise itself is meaningless.
I believe that’s how most Americans see politics. It is the usual distant noise that doesn’t require ones attention until it gets so loud or disturbing that you must pay attention and give it notice. That has been what has happened since George W. Bush took office in 2001. The noise of politics seemed distant and not too disturbing until things got so out of hand we had to change the course!
I don’t know how long it will take to undo the damage Georgie Boy and his cohort Republicans have done to this country, if, indeed, all of it can be undone. Time will tell. It will also take a dedicated, thoughtful and persistent congress to accomplish it. But all the damage to this country was not done under the rubber stamp congress.
Unfortunately, Americans weren’t paying attention when Clinton was president and the government passed NAFTA. My only excuse is that I was sleeping and the noise of politics didn’t disturb me enough to pay attention. I thought at the time it was a bad idea and could hurt our labor economy, but I reasoned that Clinton had been doing a good job and was a much smarter man than I, so Clinton probably knew more than I did and I trusted him. Well, I shouldn’t have! I should have spoken up. I should have written my congressmen and senators to express my concern.
NAFTA lowers the American middle class standard of living by exporting jobs to countries that pay pennies to our dollars for labor. This country’s labor force cannot compete at those prices for labor. The result is that jobs are exported, factories close and the labor force that had a middle class standard of living now have to take lesser paying jobs to survive. The middle class is disappearing.
The price conscious consumer may like it. Corporations most definitely love it! Corporations get cheaper labor, maintain good selling prices and increased profits and appeal to the uninformed consumer. That's why trickle down economics does not work. The wealthy do build factories and put people to work. They build them in China or South America!
Then Bush and the government passed CAFTA. It is the same, middles class destroying disaster that NAFTA was. What’s afta’ NAFTA and CAFTA? A disappearing middle class is what’s after any of the AFTA measures. They must be stopped!
Can they be undone? I don’t know. I believe that right now, the government has greater problems to solve, such as Iraq, health care and Social Security funding. The unfortunate big looser in this lack of priority is the middle class victims that have already lost their jobs, adjusted to a lesser life style and can not wait for government to “get-around-to-them.” When you are hungry, you must eat.
The most important lesson I learned about politics in all of this is to pay attention to all the noise. My only hope now is to make politicians listen and influence their vote as much as a constituent can. I encourage you to do the same. Watch the government! Remember, they work for us and we are their Boss!
I still sleep well at night, though I am concerned about the future and my own ability to continue to earn a living. But it’s been a hell of a lesson!
That’s As I see it. . . How do you see it?
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Impeach or not impeach: It’s a fair question.
I am sure there are many who would like to see George and Dick impeached for their crimes against this country, against Democracy and against humanity. There have been times I strongly felt that way. But the real course of action should be to listen to the voters. And the voters have clearly spoken;
"GET OUT OF IRAQ."
Now that Democrats will be heading committees and chairing panels, there will be investigations. Some may say (and probably will say) the committee is on a "witch hunt," out to hang George W. and Dick Cheney. The reality is that the congress is charged with the obligation of oversight and to investigate and ensure the government is doing what the constitution says it should do. The "rubber stamp" congress of this last Republican controlled mess did no such thing. They allowed the executive branch free reign over the country and it has proven to be a disaster.
None the less, there will be those who advocate for impeachment and those who will proclaim "Witch Hunt!"
My personal opinion is this. Let Congress do the job they are constitutionally obligated to do. As the committee begins to gather information, it may be necessary to subpoena certain individuals to get their testimony. Then when the truth begins to come out, the evidence will indicate whether impeachment and of whom is necessary.
The first sign that truths are beginning to be uncovered is when witnesses give vague, "I don’t recall," types of answers. The second sign is when they use the fifth amendment right of not incriminating themselves. When you hear and see those things you will know there are hidden truths that "someone" doesn’t want us to know.
The question comes to mind about how the American people will know these things are beginning to come out. I don’t believe the major news media will cover the events fully at first. Only after the information becomes so obvious that it has to be acknowledged will the media begin to report. It will take someone with courage and audacity to start. Someone like Dan Rather.
Dan Rather has a news program on HDNET. You can only see it if you get high definition programming from a satellite or cable. I have watched it and find it to be the kind of news program I commonly saw in the 70’s. It doesn’t take a side but gives the facts. And Dan Rather is not afraid of telling it like it is about the most sensitive of subjects such as Iraq, K street and lobbyists, to name a few. When I say "sensitive," I mean the subjects George Bush does not want the news media to talk about. The exact types of subjects Americans need to be told. Check it out as soon as you can.
Dab Rather will cover the committee hearings and the investigations. Dan will let the American people know the truth. The truth will become so self evident that the decision to impeach or not impeach will be obvious. Watch for it!
That’s as I see it. . . How do you see it?
I am sure there are many who would like to see George and Dick impeached for their crimes against this country, against Democracy and against humanity. There have been times I strongly felt that way. But the real course of action should be to listen to the voters. And the voters have clearly spoken;
"GET OUT OF IRAQ."
Now that Democrats will be heading committees and chairing panels, there will be investigations. Some may say (and probably will say) the committee is on a "witch hunt," out to hang George W. and Dick Cheney. The reality is that the congress is charged with the obligation of oversight and to investigate and ensure the government is doing what the constitution says it should do. The "rubber stamp" congress of this last Republican controlled mess did no such thing. They allowed the executive branch free reign over the country and it has proven to be a disaster.
None the less, there will be those who advocate for impeachment and those who will proclaim "Witch Hunt!"
My personal opinion is this. Let Congress do the job they are constitutionally obligated to do. As the committee begins to gather information, it may be necessary to subpoena certain individuals to get their testimony. Then when the truth begins to come out, the evidence will indicate whether impeachment and of whom is necessary.
The first sign that truths are beginning to be uncovered is when witnesses give vague, "I don’t recall," types of answers. The second sign is when they use the fifth amendment right of not incriminating themselves. When you hear and see those things you will know there are hidden truths that "someone" doesn’t want us to know.
The question comes to mind about how the American people will know these things are beginning to come out. I don’t believe the major news media will cover the events fully at first. Only after the information becomes so obvious that it has to be acknowledged will the media begin to report. It will take someone with courage and audacity to start. Someone like Dan Rather.
Dan Rather has a news program on HDNET. You can only see it if you get high definition programming from a satellite or cable. I have watched it and find it to be the kind of news program I commonly saw in the 70’s. It doesn’t take a side but gives the facts. And Dan Rather is not afraid of telling it like it is about the most sensitive of subjects such as Iraq, K street and lobbyists, to name a few. When I say "sensitive," I mean the subjects George Bush does not want the news media to talk about. The exact types of subjects Americans need to be told. Check it out as soon as you can.
Dab Rather will cover the committee hearings and the investigations. Dan will let the American people know the truth. The truth will become so self evident that the decision to impeach or not impeach will be obvious. Watch for it!
That’s as I see it. . . How do you see it?
Monday, October 16, 2006
Blame Clinton!!!
Isn’t it amazing? Whenever the Republicans get caught with their pants down they blame Clinton. That is if they are not blaming gays or liberals. Let’s look at just the most recent examples from just the last few weeks.
Gays! Congressman Foley from Florida gets exposed as a pedophile. Not only is he a pedophile, it has been known for some time by the Republican leaders in Congress. The Speaker of the House knew it. The one in charge of the congressional pages knew it. And, apparently a lot of the Republicans knew it. So what did the Republicans do when it became public knowledge? Did the Republicans come clean and admit it? Did they apologize? Did they do one single thing that wasn’t reprehensible? The Republicans conflate Foley being a homosexual with pedophilia! The Republicans say that all homosexuals are child molesters. (By the way, 98% of pedophiles are heterosexual) The unified, single minded, reprehensible action by the Republicans is to BLAME THE GAYS!
Liberals! When it finally comes out, or at least suspected, that the Republicans have been covering up Foley’s pedophilia, what do the Republicans do? Do they apologize? Do they admit there was a cover up? No! The Republicans accuse the Democrats of a master conspiracy. A conspiracy to infiltrate the Republican Party with gays and, just before a midterm election (not a presidential election, mind you, which would have done more good for the Democrats than a midterm), the Democrats reveal their master plan by exposing Foley! What do the Republicans do? BLAME THE LIBERALS!
Clinton! The North Korean Dictator threatens to make nuclear weapons. Clinton prepares to attack North Korea, negotiates with the dictator making it clear that a nuclear North Korea was unacceptable. They negotiate and stop their processing of fissionable material started under Bush the First. Clinton provides them food and fuel oil for their electrical generators. They STOP their nuclear program, let in the IAEA and secure their fuel rods. I call that a success. What did the Republicans call it? Cowardice.
Then Georgie Boy becomes president. Georgie Boy refuses to talk with North Korea. Georgie boy invades Iraq, a nation with no nuclear weapons. North Korea sees that and realizes that Georgie Boy attacks nations without nuclear weapons. So they start their nuclear processing. Did they keep it a secret? No, they announced it to the world. The Republican administration says it is just as ploy to have one on one negotiations with the U S. North Korea agrees to six party talks. What does Georgie do? Georgie freezes their banking assets. And still, Georgie Boy refuses to negotiate. North Korea starts the processing and finally announces they are going to detonate a bomb. They announce it to the world! They detonate a bomb and what do the Republicans do? Do they realize that it is perhaps better to negotiate than to ignore? No. Do the Republicans take responsibility for what has transpired, knowing that not one single ounce of Plutonium was made by North Korea while Clinton was President? No. All the Plutonium made by North Korea was made while Bush One was president or when Georgie Boy was president! What do the Republicans do? BLAME CLINTON!
It makes me laugh. The Republicans always blame someone else for their shortcomings. They rarely, if ever, stand up and act like real men and admit their errors. But they sure do like looking tough. Take Chris Wallace.
When Chris Wallace on Fox (faux) News interviewed Clinton after promising to talk about Clinton’s pet project, thirty seconds into the interview asks, “Why didn’t you do anything about the attack on the Cole?” Keep in mind that the attack was in October of 2000. The CIA would not or could not confirm that Osama Bin Laden was behind the attack until February of 2001. So Clinton could NOT do anything about the attack on the Cole. It would have fallen to the next president inaugurated in January of 2001. Who would that be? Could it be Georgie Boy? What do the Republicans do? BLAME CLINTON!
When I saw Clinton turn the tables, wag his finger in Chris Wallace’s face and emasculate him with logic and reason, it made me feel good. It made me feel that there was a leader who was not afraid to tell the truth. It got me fired up to work hard for our good cause! What do the Democrats do? Do the Democrats use that kind of fire, that kind of willingness to stand up to lies? No. The Democrats are silent. . .
. . . and so is the rest of the Democratic Party. Do the Democrats defend Clinton and applaud him for telling the truth and for his good presidency? No. The Democrats are silent. . . and so is the rest of the Democratic Party. Do the Democrats rally around their falsely accused fallen leader? No. The Democrats are silent. . . and so is the rest of the Democratic Party. Do the Democrats even realize what an opportunity they have if only they could use Clinton to energize the people and get them fired up to fight for our cause? for truth? for justice? for Democracy? No. The Democrats are silent. . . and just let it quietly fade away.
I don’t know about you. But as for me, give me an outspoken, won’t take any crap from some weasel, articulate, educated, knowledgeable man like Clinton and I will follow him to the polls! I think a lot of Democrats would. I think a lot of Americans would! I think we need that kind of fire and leadership!
That’s as I see it. . .
How about you?
Isn’t it amazing? Whenever the Republicans get caught with their pants down they blame Clinton. That is if they are not blaming gays or liberals. Let’s look at just the most recent examples from just the last few weeks.
Gays! Congressman Foley from Florida gets exposed as a pedophile. Not only is he a pedophile, it has been known for some time by the Republican leaders in Congress. The Speaker of the House knew it. The one in charge of the congressional pages knew it. And, apparently a lot of the Republicans knew it. So what did the Republicans do when it became public knowledge? Did the Republicans come clean and admit it? Did they apologize? Did they do one single thing that wasn’t reprehensible? The Republicans conflate Foley being a homosexual with pedophilia! The Republicans say that all homosexuals are child molesters. (By the way, 98% of pedophiles are heterosexual) The unified, single minded, reprehensible action by the Republicans is to BLAME THE GAYS!
Liberals! When it finally comes out, or at least suspected, that the Republicans have been covering up Foley’s pedophilia, what do the Republicans do? Do they apologize? Do they admit there was a cover up? No! The Republicans accuse the Democrats of a master conspiracy. A conspiracy to infiltrate the Republican Party with gays and, just before a midterm election (not a presidential election, mind you, which would have done more good for the Democrats than a midterm), the Democrats reveal their master plan by exposing Foley! What do the Republicans do? BLAME THE LIBERALS!
Clinton! The North Korean Dictator threatens to make nuclear weapons. Clinton prepares to attack North Korea, negotiates with the dictator making it clear that a nuclear North Korea was unacceptable. They negotiate and stop their processing of fissionable material started under Bush the First. Clinton provides them food and fuel oil for their electrical generators. They STOP their nuclear program, let in the IAEA and secure their fuel rods. I call that a success. What did the Republicans call it? Cowardice.
Then Georgie Boy becomes president. Georgie Boy refuses to talk with North Korea. Georgie boy invades Iraq, a nation with no nuclear weapons. North Korea sees that and realizes that Georgie Boy attacks nations without nuclear weapons. So they start their nuclear processing. Did they keep it a secret? No, they announced it to the world. The Republican administration says it is just as ploy to have one on one negotiations with the U S. North Korea agrees to six party talks. What does Georgie do? Georgie freezes their banking assets. And still, Georgie Boy refuses to negotiate. North Korea starts the processing and finally announces they are going to detonate a bomb. They announce it to the world! They detonate a bomb and what do the Republicans do? Do they realize that it is perhaps better to negotiate than to ignore? No. Do the Republicans take responsibility for what has transpired, knowing that not one single ounce of Plutonium was made by North Korea while Clinton was President? No. All the Plutonium made by North Korea was made while Bush One was president or when Georgie Boy was president! What do the Republicans do? BLAME CLINTON!
It makes me laugh. The Republicans always blame someone else for their shortcomings. They rarely, if ever, stand up and act like real men and admit their errors. But they sure do like looking tough. Take Chris Wallace.
When Chris Wallace on Fox (faux) News interviewed Clinton after promising to talk about Clinton’s pet project, thirty seconds into the interview asks, “Why didn’t you do anything about the attack on the Cole?” Keep in mind that the attack was in October of 2000. The CIA would not or could not confirm that Osama Bin Laden was behind the attack until February of 2001. So Clinton could NOT do anything about the attack on the Cole. It would have fallen to the next president inaugurated in January of 2001. Who would that be? Could it be Georgie Boy? What do the Republicans do? BLAME CLINTON!
When I saw Clinton turn the tables, wag his finger in Chris Wallace’s face and emasculate him with logic and reason, it made me feel good. It made me feel that there was a leader who was not afraid to tell the truth. It got me fired up to work hard for our good cause! What do the Democrats do? Do the Democrats use that kind of fire, that kind of willingness to stand up to lies? No. The Democrats are silent. . .
. . . and so is the rest of the Democratic Party. Do the Democrats defend Clinton and applaud him for telling the truth and for his good presidency? No. The Democrats are silent. . . and so is the rest of the Democratic Party. Do the Democrats rally around their falsely accused fallen leader? No. The Democrats are silent. . . and so is the rest of the Democratic Party. Do the Democrats even realize what an opportunity they have if only they could use Clinton to energize the people and get them fired up to fight for our cause? for truth? for justice? for Democracy? No. The Democrats are silent. . . and just let it quietly fade away.
I don’t know about you. But as for me, give me an outspoken, won’t take any crap from some weasel, articulate, educated, knowledgeable man like Clinton and I will follow him to the polls! I think a lot of Democrats would. I think a lot of Americans would! I think we need that kind of fire and leadership!
That’s as I see it. . .
How about you?
Why Grid lock would be better than new legislation.
If and when there is an honest counting of ballots and Democrats take over the House of Representatives and, perhaps even the Senate, I wonder if the Democrats will be able to get any controversial legislation passed? There would most likely be a sufficient number of Lock Step Republicans that could filibuster any significant laws "The People" want. You know, laws like increasing Veterans benefits, taxing the high profits of the big corporations, providing money for schools and school security, or even breaking up the huge corporations with the Sherman Anti Trust Act. I would call those examples significant legislation.
Also to prevent such legislation would be the Veto power of the president. This president has only used the veto once in six years and that was to stop stem cell research. I’m sure Georgie Boy would pull out the old Veto Power to stop any legislation that would threaten his big Republican contributors, all the time professing a "Christian" belief in his cause. Of course, the Senate would not be able to over ride the veto because of the closely divided numbers of Democrats to Republicans.
But you know what? A Grid-Locked two years would be an improvement over the past six years! That’s because the Lock-Step Republicans couldn’t continue making legislation that benefits big business, places higher taxes on the little guy and subsidizes the oil, pharmaceuticals and the credit card companies. At least that would stop. That is why I say Grid Lock would be preferable to any new Republican sponsored legislation.
Now let’s focus for a moment on what kinds of things could get done in Congress during the next two years. Two words; Subpoena Power! Here’s an example: Which matter do you think is more vital to the reputation and honor of the United States, using a Christmas card list as contacts for political contributions or authorizing torture at an American run prison? The Republican Congress spent 140 hours of sworn testimony investigating whether Clinton used the White House Christmas list to contact people for political contributions and that Republican Congress spent just 12 hours investigating Abu Ghraib. (Thanks to the Mahablog for that info)
With Subpoena power, the Democrats will be able to do honest investigations into the atrocities of the Bush administration, the misuse of taxpayer funds, the writing of legislation by lobbyists or even the Energy Commission under Cheney. Just imagine how things could come to light and have to bare the scrutiny of truth!
Yes, I won’t mind a Grid Locked Congress. Watching the subpoena power work and expose the truth will be a better show than the Water Gate Hearings were.
That’s as I see it. . .
How do you see it?
If and when there is an honest counting of ballots and Democrats take over the House of Representatives and, perhaps even the Senate, I wonder if the Democrats will be able to get any controversial legislation passed? There would most likely be a sufficient number of Lock Step Republicans that could filibuster any significant laws "The People" want. You know, laws like increasing Veterans benefits, taxing the high profits of the big corporations, providing money for schools and school security, or even breaking up the huge corporations with the Sherman Anti Trust Act. I would call those examples significant legislation.
Also to prevent such legislation would be the Veto power of the president. This president has only used the veto once in six years and that was to stop stem cell research. I’m sure Georgie Boy would pull out the old Veto Power to stop any legislation that would threaten his big Republican contributors, all the time professing a "Christian" belief in his cause. Of course, the Senate would not be able to over ride the veto because of the closely divided numbers of Democrats to Republicans.
But you know what? A Grid-Locked two years would be an improvement over the past six years! That’s because the Lock-Step Republicans couldn’t continue making legislation that benefits big business, places higher taxes on the little guy and subsidizes the oil, pharmaceuticals and the credit card companies. At least that would stop. That is why I say Grid Lock would be preferable to any new Republican sponsored legislation.
Now let’s focus for a moment on what kinds of things could get done in Congress during the next two years. Two words; Subpoena Power! Here’s an example: Which matter do you think is more vital to the reputation and honor of the United States, using a Christmas card list as contacts for political contributions or authorizing torture at an American run prison? The Republican Congress spent 140 hours of sworn testimony investigating whether Clinton used the White House Christmas list to contact people for political contributions and that Republican Congress spent just 12 hours investigating Abu Ghraib. (Thanks to the Mahablog for that info)
With Subpoena power, the Democrats will be able to do honest investigations into the atrocities of the Bush administration, the misuse of taxpayer funds, the writing of legislation by lobbyists or even the Energy Commission under Cheney. Just imagine how things could come to light and have to bare the scrutiny of truth!
Yes, I won’t mind a Grid Locked Congress. Watching the subpoena power work and expose the truth will be a better show than the Water Gate Hearings were.
That’s as I see it. . .
How do you see it?
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