The Bush administration and the neocons continue to pound the drums of war as an excuse to trample the rights and civil liberties of American citizens. They act as though we, the American people, do not have the right to both an effective defense and our constitutionally mandated civil liberties. Well I have news for them. The Constitution of the United States guarantees both of these things and it is his job to provide both. The president also appears to have the narrow minded view that one is mutually exclusive of the other. That is just plain wrong. His excuse that using FISA is too cumbersome or slow is no excuse either. It doesn’t take a lot of time to get a warrant from a FISA judge. The reality is that these judges approve these warrants virtually routinely as I addressed in my previous post. That is a lame excuse and not a reason to deny due process.
This administration continues to try to divert attention and not govern. The simple fact is that we must stay focused on the issues. This president tramples our constitutional rights in order to further his own personal agenda and does not look out for and further the interest of this nation and its citizens.
- It is this president who came into office with the intent to develop a corporate favored government through a series of tax cuts for the very wealthy that puts money in the pockets of the rich and takes it from the poor.
- It is this president who came into office with the express intent to invade Iraq for the enrichment of big oil to which he and his family are so closely tied and beholding.
- It is this president who is responsible for over 2,150 American soldiers deaths and 15,500 wounded.
- It is this president whose administration is responsible for the gross increases in the national debt.
- It is this president who has not captured Osama Bin Laden.
- It is this president who has not developed an effective policy for combating terrorism.
- It is this president who has not taken the steps necessary to secure our nation against terrorism and left our ports vulnerable to further attacks.
- It is this president whose administration failed to respond and continues to fail to respond to hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.
- It is this president who tramples civil liberties by not using the judicial branch to authorize “spying” on American citizens as provided for in our constitution.
- It is this president whose administration leaks national secrets that endanger our intelligence agent’s lives.
- It is this president whose senior staff is being indicted for perjury and corruption.
These are the issues that must be addressed and this president must not be allowed to shove these issues under the rug or divert America’s attention in the name of national security. National security is not something to play politics with and it is this administration and not the members of congress who want the truth who are playing politics with our national security. This presidents conduct borders on treason period. It is time Congress did its job and held this administration accountable for their actions.
Those Are The Sergeant Majors Thoughts On That.
8 comments:
You're sounding like the stereotypical Democrat/Leftist/Liberal - class warfare, Bush causes everything bad in the world, etc. Your hatred of "neocons" is clouding your judgment.
I could counter you point by point but I just don't have the time or energy.
First I am neither conservative nor liberal nor Democrat nor Republican. I get angry but I don't hate anyone but I also don't like those who declare stealth class warfare and cloak it in faux patriotism and then accuse the other party of class warfare. I find that those who face the truth often don't have time to deal with it. These posts are simply my informed opinions and nothing more. Read them or don't. Thanks for your comments.
> Bush causes everything bad in the world
anonymous, where did he say that? I think you'd like to characterize what he said that way, because it's easier for you to deal with. Please do counter him point for point. Don't be to hurried or flaccid.
I'm making a generalization much like he did.
There's really no logical reason to counter his points. I'm not going to change his mind and he's not going to change mine.
• It is this president who came into office with the intent to develop a corporate favored government through a series of tax cuts for the very wealthy that puts money in the pockets of the rich and takes it from the poor.
Tax cuts for the very wealthy = Class envy. The “very wealthy” are the ones who pay taxes. Be definition, a tax cut will benefit them.
• It is this president who came into office with the express intent to invade Iraq for the enrichment of big oil to which he and his family are so closely tied and beholding.
That’s a great accusation. I’d love to see supporting documentation. I had no idea that Bush main goal in was to make “big oil” even richer. The things you learn from a liberal…..
• It is this president who is responsible for over 2,150 American soldiers deaths and 15,500 wounded.
A very touchy subject, we’ll both agree. No one on either side of the issue wants to see Americans die. 100% volunteer military. FYI - Congress authorized the war.
• It is this president whose administration is responsible for the gross increases in the national debt.
Republicans are dropping the ball on this one. The debt is increasing to levels most people don’t feel comfortable with. Congress authorizes expenditures from the national treasury.
• It is this president who has not captured Osama Bin Laden.
What the hell???? That’s a damn silly statement. If you’d like, we can bring up news articles that show how The Chosen One – Bill Clinton – had the opportunity to capture Bin Laden but had other priorities.
• It is this president who has not developed an effective policy for combating terrorism.
I’d say no domestic attacks since 9/11/2001 is pretty damn effective. HOW MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE CAN YOU BE???? Maybe now I’m being silly….
• It is this president who has not taken the steps necessary to secure our nation against terrorism and left our ports vulnerable to further attacks.
I’d say he’s taking steps to secure our nation against terrorism. What is anyone else offering as a solution? I hear NOTHING constructive from Democrats. CONGRESS should accept the lion share of any blame. Just curious, did any other administration do what you’re saying Bush didn’t do?
• It is this president whose administration failed to respond and continues to fail to respond to hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.
That’s one of the most ridiculous statements on the page. You’re simply spouting a lie that, when repeated often enough, some of the dumb masses might start believing. Hopefully a legitimate congressional inquiry will resolve this matter.
• It is this president who tramples civil liberties by not using the judicial branch to authorize “spying” on American citizens as provided for in our constitution.
Another touchy subject. We’re operating under different rules and time tables. If a lead is discovered, the response must be immediate. There’s a very good article on this subject:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110007703
FYI, our savior, Bill Clinton used the NSA for economic espionage.
• It is this president whose administration leaks national secrets that endanger our intelligence agent’s lives.
GIVE ME A BREAK! Valerie Plame’s life has not been endangered and the leak caused no damage to national security. No laws (in terms of outing an undercover agent) were broken. The perjury issue remains to be seen. Now if you’re referring to the leaks regarding the NSA wiretaps, Abu Grabe (sp?), secret prisons in Europe…those leaks will likely cause significant damage in the war on terror. Where are the screeches from the left demanding an investigation on those leaks????
• It is this president whose senior staff is being indicted for perjury and corruption.
Noted. We’ll see how this one plays out. I think Delay (I’m assuming that’s the corruption fellow you’re talking about) is someone who doesn’t need to be “serving” in Congress. Even if he’s innocent, he’s damaged goods. As for perjury, if guilty and convicted, prosecute and punish.
I'd like to think that something could change my mind but you haven't given me anything so far.
We could go on tit for tat with this for days. A couple of what I consider critical points and then I’ll let this lie.
Valerie Plame’s position and roll in the CIA was classified. It was actually classified Secret Noforn which means Secret and no foreign access. You can look at that document on line. Having been a classified control officer I fully understand maintaining secrets. The big problem in this case is first that a national secret was compromised (divulged) and that a covert agent regardless of the reason for being covert comes in contact with numerous agents or operatives who put their lives on the line by just talking to a covert CIA agent. When you out that agent every operative and agent he or she has ever come in contact with lives’ are now in danger. The reality is we will never know the extent of the damage done by revealing her identity but we do know that a national secret was compromised. You can also bet that any number of people died as a result of this information being divulged.
With regards to Osama Bin Laden I would simply say that it is my professional opinion that were our resources focused on the terrorists in Afghanistan and not invading another country we could have probably captured him at Tora Bora. We were short troops in Afghanistan because we were already gearing up for Iraq instead of going after the bad guys that actually attacked us. Certainly in the years that have passed since we could have made some progress but then we’ve been distracted. That’s pretty straightforward stuff as far as I can see and not so outrageous. 9/11 was a year after Clinton so I'd say it's been on this presidents watch that we should be getting it done don’t you think.
The simple fact that we haven’t experienced a terrorist attack in the United States since 9/11 doesn’t make me feel any safer personally and I know that our borders and ports are not secure. I have had some discussions with folks involved in things like border and port security and the reality is that our resources are being diverted to the war instead of toward securing our borders. I have lived with terrorism for years and my own post was blown up so I know you never know when it’s going to happen and the bad guys wait years to make the strike they want and make it count. Do you not remember how long 9/11 was in the planning stages? Don’t be fooled into thinking this president has made you all safe and cozy. He hasn’t.
The Katrina response is what it is and it is a disaster after the disaster. I would suggest you do two things. One go there and walk the ground and see what’s been done to their lives and then take a look at the FEMA documents and e-mails leading up to and during the disaster and you’ll find they were on their butts. I think if you were sitting on the Gulf Coast today you would feel differently.
Lastly Bill hasn’t been president for five years so I think you should let go of that baggage but you can keep carrying it if you want. It’s your back.
Please don’t blow me off with those curt cutesy comments. I do that in my post for humor more than real comment but I try not to do it in comments.
I'm going to point out an excellent example of your conflicting statements:
"9/11 was a year after Clinton so I'd say it's been on this presidents watch..."
"Do you not remember how long 9/11 was in the planning stages?"
Am I misunderstanding you? Your first statement supports your assertion that it was Bush's failure for 9/11. Your second statement implies that 9/11 was a long time (years?) in the making. Since Bush was only in office for about 9 months when 9/11 occurred, where should the blame really be placed?
I'll answer that... who knows but it doesn't rest primarily on Bush's shoulders.
I'm with you in not feeling much safer now than on 9/12/01. We both know that someone intent on doing harm and not caring at all about their life will accomplish their goal (at least in part). It's only a matter of time before a suicide/homicide/jack@ss bomber blows himself up in a mall or grocery store. If you were so inclined, I have little doubt that you could do the same (though I'm sure we'd all prefer you don't).
There's lots of room for improvement. Maybe Congress will take meaningful action. Probably not.
There are so many LOGICAL steps that could be taken to combat terrorist - profiling comes to mind. However, the Left won't allow that.
Okay. One more comment. I have never stated that 9/11 was anyone's fault, period. (I do however believe that George W. Bush's response was inadequate which I've already stated clearly.) I also "know" that the Clinton administration informed the Bush administration that the "the greatest threat facing the country is Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda". I know that and that is a documented fact. Second I know that the Bush administration did not, from the beginning, take terrorism seriously in spite of being told by numerous professionals in both the Clinton administration and his own administration of the dire terrorist threat. Based on that you could ask the question was George W. Bush responsible for 9/11? And the answer is what ever your conclusion you come to. I’d say not perhaps directly. There are just too many variables. Even had he know the date and time and place it might not have been totally prevented or even partially. So could he have done more yes I think is the correct answer.
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