Thursday, March 20, 2003
I've always been a huge fan of Kinsley. He has a unique talent of really cutting the opposition down to size in a cold and calculating way. He was great on Crossfire, and his latest column is absolutly devastating. It crystalizes everything that upsets me about Bush's war. Some excerpts:
If the United Nations wants to be "relevant," he said, it must do exactly as I say. In other words, in order to be relevant, it must become irrelevant. When that didn't work, he said: I am ignoring the wishes of the Security Council and violating the U.N. Charter in order to enforce a U.N. Security Council resolution. No, no, don't thank me! My pleasure!!
Putting all this together, Bush is asserting the right of the United States to attack any country that may be a threat to it in five years. And the right of the United States to evaluate that risk and respond in its sole discretion. And the right of the president to make that decision on behalf of the United States in his sole discretion. In short, the president can start a war against anyone at any time, and no one has the right to stop him. And presumably other nations and future presidents have that same right. All formal constraints on war-making are officially defunct.
In terms of the power he now claims, without significant challenge, George W. Bush is now the closest thing in a long time to dictator of the world.
Powerful stuff. Read it for yourself.
Scumbags out in force. Some of the most sleazy, disgusting smears I've seen in a while. Lets tart with what was said. Daschle basically repeating the exact truth by saying:
"I am saddened, saddened that this president failed so miserably at diplomacy that we're now forced to war. Saddened that we have to give up one life because this president couldn't create the kind of diplomatic effort that was so critical for our country."
"Any remarks that their lives in some way have been compromised by the president of the United States is irresponsible,"
Senate majority leader Bill Frist
(I agree, but as you well know Dr., he said no such thing)
"shut your mouth"
Tom delay (in french no less, isn't that cute? Telling a senator to shut up when he voices his opinion?)
"He's essentially blaming President Bush for the fact that we may be on the verge of war."
Ari Flieshcer, reigning king of the smarmy smears.
The server is getting inundated so you might not be able to get it, but apparently the live feed before Bush gave his statement last night was preceded by him being gromed by makeup artists, and mugging and goofing off in front of the camera.
check it out.
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
From Atrios. Makes you think.
The entire situation is reminiscent of the old Star Trek episode "Patterns of Force" (in which) Federation history professor John Gill becomes the drugged leader of a Nazi planet:
GILL (seen on TV at a rally): If we fulfill our own greatness,
that will all be ended.
Working together --
SPOCK: Captain, the speech follows no logical pattern.
Random sentences strung together.
MCCOY: He looks drugged,Jim,
almost in a cataleptic state.
GILL: ...reach our goal,
And we will reach that goal.
(cheering)
Every thought ...
directed toward a goal.
This planet ...
can become a paradise,
if we are willing to pay the price.
As each cell in the body ...
works with discipline and harmony for the good ...
of the entire being --
Tuesday, March 18, 2003
Bush then:
Q: Thank you, Mr. President. As you said, the Security Council faces a vote next week on the resolution implicitly authorizing an attack on Iraq. Will you call for a vote on that resolution even if you aren't sure you have the votes?
Bush: Yeah. Well, first, I don't think it -- it basically says that he's in defiance of 1441. That's what the resolution says. And it's hard to believe anybody saying he isn't in defiance of 1441, because 1441 said he must disarm. And yes, we'll call for a vote.
Q: No matter what?
Bush: No matter what the whip count is, we're calling for the vote. We want to see people stand up and say what their opinion is about Saddam Hussein and the utility of the United Nations Security Council. And so, you bet. It's time for people to show their cards, let the world know where they stand when it comes to Saddam.
Bush now:
In a National Security Council meeting yesterday morning, Bush finalized the decision to withdraw the resolution from consideration and prepared to deliver an address to the nation that had already been written.
Cananyone believe a word out of his mouth anymore?
Sunday, March 16, 2003
"[America] has abstained from interference in the concerns of others,
even when conflict has been for principles to which she clings, as to
the last vital drop that visits the heart.
She goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the
well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the
champion and vindicator only of her own.
She will commend the general cause by the countenance of her voice,
and the benignant sympathy of her example. She well knows that by
once enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the
banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the
power of extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of
individual avarice, envy and ambition, which assume the colors and
usurp the standard of freedom. The fundamental maxims of her policy
would insensibly change from liberty to force.
She might become the dictatress of the world. She would be no longer
the ruler of her own spirit. Her glory is not dominion, but liberty."
John Quincy Adams
to the 3 people whe bother to rea this I apologize for the little self imposed hiatus. I'll be back stronger than ever this week.
Man Bush pisses me off.
