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Archive for Confound Authority
August 19, 2007 at 11:44 pm · Filed under Confound Authority, Finish Ahead, Raise The Debate, Call Bullshit
It’s time to impeach Bush and Cheney.
Personally, I believed they should have been impeached after the whole secret torture prisons episode. Not only was it itself a travesty, but its execution further illustrated tis administration’s incompetence.
The first real “enough is enough” moment for me, though, has been the whole executive-branch/legislative-branch/just-go-fuck-yourself 3-card monty game being played by the white house, followed by the back-door pardon of Scooter Libby.
The last one was Cheney’s office explaining away his 1994 arguments for not invading Iraq: “He wasn’t the vice-president then.”
3,706 dead Americans.
On a more emotional level, I’m upset because I have always referred to them as President Bush and Vice-President Cheney, capitalized words like White House, Congress and Capitol; always believing that the office is above the man.
But this administration has done what Nixon and Clinton never did – brought the office low. They decimated the Justice Dept., FEMA, the FBI and other federal agencies in ways that reach down into our day-to-day lives. They go to extraordinary lengths to vigorously promote, defend and cover up torture. They have abandoned the rule of law. They consider me to be a traitor.
It’s time.
What we really need is a leader with a mandate – a landslide election. Currently, the only person that has a chance to give us that is Al Gore, and he won’t throw his hat in (yet). I thought we could wait for that, but these guys see the Visigoths coming over the seventh hill and have already started scorching the earth.
Congress wants to get rid of them, even the GOP members; but they are scared that they’ll pay for it next November. If enough people back them, they’ll do the electoral math and either do the right thing, or at least know the consequences of maintaining the status quo.
We can hope, anyway.
Either way, call your congressmen and tell them: It’s time.
March 20, 2007 at 11:20 pm · Filed under Confound Authority, Finish Ahead, Raise The Debate
Continuing with my reflections on this past weekend’s March on the Pentagon, I focus my attention today on war protestors.
War protestors are difficult to pin down. It’s not that they are scattered in their focus – on the contrary, they are often very single-minded. This is particularly true when the war hits home, by endangering, or claiming, the life of a loved one.
No, what makes them tricky is that so many of them are opposed to abstract concepts, rather than specific realities.
First of all, any enlightened being must be opposed to war. The suffering created by violence, in the interest of economy, territory and/or ideology is itself intolerable. “Live and let live” means exactly that, and doesn’t really leave any wiggle room.
Then there are those opposed to the secondary issues of war, such as occupation, economic collapse and suppression of civil liberties (both abroad and at home).
For example, I hear many people complain about how Americans are not asked to make sacrifices for this war, when the simple fact is that they have – they just don’t realize it, because there is no dollar amount associated with things like habeas corpus, Miranda rights and torture.
There are also the “anti’s”. A reflection of their pro-war – any war – counterparts, they are simply anti-establishment. They are typically anarchic, disdain all authority, and war protests serve only to give them an outlet for their dissent. They don’t want to see the war end, they want to see the government end; and there’s no reasoning with them.
Finally, there are the practical objectors. They see any military operation that does not directly relate to true defense as a waste of lives, money and resources. Many of them believe, in fact, that such opertations are folly and ultimately weaken our defensibility. While this persepective doesn’t adequately regard the human cost of such conflicts, it does address a very real aspect of ill-conceived combat operations.
Moving beyond the idea of war, and into the theatre of Operation Iraqi/Enduring Freedom, we find people opposed to every aspect of this partcular war – even some you never knew existed.
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March 19, 2007 at 3:44 pm · Filed under Confound Authority, Finish Ahead, Raise The Debate
The March on the Pentagon, this past weekend, was a profound educational experience for me – and on a number of levels.
The most powerful thing I walked away with was a clearer picture of war supporters.
I don’t mean the average joe, casual, ‘I voted for Bush so I have to stand behind him’ Republicans; but rather the die hard, dedicated, ‘dissension equals treason’ war supporters.
I talk about the war in Iraq with a lot of people. Most are against it, but some are for it.
Of those, it’s hard to get many of them past the bumper sticker arguments and indignant insults; but every once in a while, someone will be open to the idea of a reasonable discussion.
Here’s the big three points I’ve taken from them:
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March 18, 2007 at 12:16 pm · Filed under Confound Authority, Finish Ahead, Raise The Debate
I’ve set up some photos of yesterday’s march. I’ll be writing more on the experience later.
View the photos here.
It was really a profound experience that I whole heartedly recommend.
March 17, 2007 at 10:48 am · Filed under Confound Authority, Finish Ahead, Raise The Debate
9:00 am - It’s cold. 30º and windy, but the rain/sleet/ice is all gone and it’s sunny and beautiful – so long as you’re inside looking out a window.
The local news is dominated by last night’s NCAA tournament. But the national news shows republicans preemptively disputing the protest. Madman McCain is in New Hampshire right now hyping the end of the world that will come about if we leave Iraq.
The protest begins in just a few hours. You still have time to get here.
10:43 am - I’m leaving the Hotel Harrington now. I tried the diner, Harriet’s, for breakfast. No. The people are nice enough, but the service sucks and the coffee is terrible.
12:00 pm - It is freezing cold and the wind is brutal. There was another event planned for today – a Gathering of Eagles – which appears to be a bunch of Vietnam vets/bikers protecting the monuments from destructive hippies and showing their support for the war.
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March 16, 2007 at 8:39 pm · Filed under Confound Authority, Finish Ahead, Raise The Debate
12:20 pm - I’m on my way to DC this weekend for the big anti-war protest.
I was supposed to take a bus, but UCF’s Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) were in charge of that, and well, they mean well.
Then the bus was replaced by a carpool; but again, SDS was in charge, so I’m on plane.
Air travel has become so utilitarian, flying domestically is not so different from taking a commuter train – except you bring whatever you like on a train, with or without a Ziploc bag.
Speaking of which, can someone explain to me how taking the toothpaste out of someone’s carry-on bag, putting it inside a ziploc bag, and then returning it to the carry-on is keeping us all safe?
I’m sure the procedure didn’t start out that way, so what was the original intent?
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February 3, 2007 at 9:20 am · Filed under Confound Authority, Raise The Debate
…who is the deadliest of them all?
This isn’t really meant to be a political blog; but it seems impossible to talk about things like honesty, integrity and humanity without that one dreaded word weaving its way into the conversation: Bush.
I was listening on the radio, the other day, to a news item about an embattled president who – after being brought to power on a swell of conservative, right-wing, religious voters – had suffered a political “thumpin’” during the mid-term elections, and since has been steadily losing support from both members of his party and the conservative religious voters that make up his base.
A large part of his unpopularity stems from time and energy spent repeatedly bashing and provoking perceived enemies and his obsession over Iraq, while serious domestic issues continue to go unresolved.
Many fear that he will take his “dangerous regime” rhetoric to its natural conclusion, and embroil the country in an extensive regional war – a possibility the president himself declares to be his prerogative.
The president was Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Like the “face or vase” optical illusion, once you see it, you will always see it.
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January 28, 2007 at 9:19 pm · Filed under Confound Authority, Raise The Debate
I came across this on the United for Peace & Justice website.
According to the marketing copy, it “asks a provocative question to those who want the U.S. to leave Iraq but haven’t yet translated their opposition into action. Wearing it is a great way to spark conversations about peace.”
Generally speaking, I like the idea. But that may be because I’m really interested in the answer.
UFPJ’s official position is much like the shirt they sell – it’s provocative and a real conversation starter, but what is it doing to end the war?
“Bring the U.S. Troops home now” is item number one – and is the entirety of item number one.
How does UFPJ suppose that happens, exactly?
Make no mistake, I am thoroughly opposed to the war in Iraq, but saying “Iraqi sovereignty must be reestablished immediately” doesn’t make it that easy.
Not to seem too hard on UFPJ – they are a wonderful organization, after all – the Democrat leadership doesn’t fare much better when it comes to answering the question of “how?”
So I propose that there is something you can do to end the war: Figure out how. Tell someone.
Any ideas?
January 3, 2007 at 8:54 pm · Filed under Confound Authority
In a WSJ op-ed article, President Bush waxed eloquent about how the 110th Congress could/should best serve Americans in a piece titled What Congress Can Do For America.
Basically, he calls on them to support his list of “greatest hits” agenda items. You know, all those things he couldn’t get passed when the Republicans were in control.
Such old favorites like making tax cuts permanent, Social Security reform, and the line-item veto get the remix treatment: Permanent tax cuts are presented as a means to balancing the budget, Social Security is once again a vital entitlement that must be saved and the line-item veto is now the answer to all of those pesky earmarks.
For good measure, he also tosses out some work-in-progress items as a “see, they weren’t totally useless” shout-out to departing Republicans:
The strength of our economy also requires us to address some of the biggest issues facing the American people–greater energy security, comprehensive immigration reform, and affordable health care. While progress has been made in each of these areas, we must do more. I look forward to working with Congress on these difficult issues.
Like any “let’s work together on this” statement from the GOP, President Bush lays the groundwork for placing later blame by warning Dems of the bitch-slap to come:
Democrats will control the House and Senate, and therefore we share the responsibility for what we achieve.
Finally, he reminds everyone that if they don’t want to play ball, he still has that veto pen – somewhere.
The most remarkable thing he writes, though, amounts to a rather scathing assessment of the outgoing, Republican-controlled Congress. He discusses how the tendency to “play politics as usual” prevented them from solving complex problems, to the point that most Americans don’t even expect them to try anymore.
He also encourages the 110th to take a different tack than the one that gave us such huge time-wasters like gay marriage, flag burning and Terry Schiavo:
If the Congress chooses to pass bills that are simply political statements, they will have chosen stalemate. If a different approach is taken, the next two years can be fruitful ones for our nation.
One might almost forget that the President was the one that tried to shove all of those issues down everyone’s throat. But, why dredge up the past, right?
So, now that they know what they can do for us, here’s what we can do for them: Remind them that we are in charge. We elected them to do a job – and it’s their job – not the last guy’s.
President Bush had his chance to pass his legislative agenda - and with the GOP in charge of everything, it should have been a no-brainer – but he blew it. If the GOP can all agree on one thing, it’s the policy of Look Out For Number One. Too bad the President thought that Number One meant him.
Now it’s the other team’s turn, and as one of their hall-of-famers said “Ask what you can do for your country.” Well, this is it:
Write your congressional representatives, call their offices, fax and email them, and stop by their offices when they’re in town. Let them know that you and everyone else that voted for them stands behind them.
If we do, the President will be able to leave office having finally made one accurate prediction: “Let them say of these next two years: We used our time well.”
December 12, 2006 at 12:34 pm · Filed under Confound Authority
The war in Iraq has been a war of words:
Insurgents. Enemy Combatants. Sectarian Violence. Civil War.
It’s as if calling it something else will make it something else.
The latest from the Pentagon Lexicon: The War in Baghdad.
In a statement to the press earlier this year, the President claimed that the violence was really limited to Baghdad, and the rest of the country was “relatively peaceful.”
That’s not setting the bar very high. The inner city streets of Baltimore are relatively peaceful, compared to Baghdad. But that isn’t the point.
The point is that Mr. Bush would like us to believe that instead of an entire country in turmoil, it’s only a city. And cities in turmoil are much easier to dismiss – just ask the folks down in New Orleans.
For all of the bluster the Bush administration delivers over publicly supporting the troops, it is unconscionable to demean their sacrifices by trying to downplay the conflict in which they gave their last full measure of devotion.
Don’t let him get away with it! But what can you do? Plenty, I say; and in less than an hour.
First, call your Congressperson, Senator and the White House (in that order). It’s easy to do, and while you won’t actually get to speak with your representative, your concern will be noted.
Second, call your local news media outlets. Tell the news desk editors not to give the President a pass on this issue.
Finally, write a letter to the editor of your paper. Also post it on blogs, news websites and email it to your friends, family and colleagues (especially those that voted for him).
It’s clear now that nothing will change the way this President handles or discusses the war, but at least our soldiers – as well as the rest of the world – will know that he doesn’t speak for you.
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