It is the 4th of July, American Independence Day. I guess I should post something patriotic. Here are some
soul-stirring words from Keith Olbermann
We enveloped our President in 2001.And those who did not believe he should have been elected—indeed those who did not believe he had been elected—willingly lowered their voices and assented to the sacred oath of non-partisanship.
And George W. Bush took our assent, and re-configured it, and honed it, and shaped it to a razor-sharp point and stabbed this nation in the back with it.
Were there any remaining lingering doubt otherwise, or any remaining lingering hope, it ended yesterday when Mr. Bush commuted the prison sentence of one of his own staffers.
Did so even before the appeals process was complete; did so without as much as a courtesy consultation with the Department of Justice; did so despite what James Madison—at the Constitutional Convention—said about impeaching any president who pardoned or sheltered those who had committed crimes “advised by” that president; did so without the slightest concern that even the most detached of citizens must look at the chain of events and wonder: To what degree was Mr. Libby told: break the law however you wish—the President will keep you out of prison?
In that moment, Mr. Bush, you broke that fundamental com-pact between yourself and the majority of this nation’s citizens—the ones who did not cast votes for you. In that moment, Mr. Bush, you ceased to be the President of the United States. In that moment, Mr. Bush, you became merely the President of a rabid and irresponsible corner of the Republican Party. And this is too important a time, Sir, to have a commander-in-chief who puts party over nation.
*****
It is nearly July 4th, Mr. Bush, the commemoration of the moment we Americans decided that rather than live under a King who made up the laws, or erased them, or ignored them—or commuted the sentences of those rightly convicted under them—we would force our independence, and regain our sacred freedoms.
We of this time—and our leaders in Congress, of both parties—must now live up to those standards which echo through our history: Pressure, negotiate, impeach—get you, Mr. Bush, and Mr. Cheney, two men who are now perilous to our Democracy, away from its helm.
For you, Mr. Bush, and for Mr. Cheney, there is a lesser task. You need merely achieve a very low threshold indeed. Display just that iota of patriotism which Richard Nixon showed, on August 9th, 1974.
Resign.
And give us someone—anyone—about whom all of us might yet be able to quote John Wayne, and say, “I didn’t vote for him, but he’s my president, and I hope he does a good job.
20 comments:
In a nutshell, this is everything wrong with America. This is what you consider 'Patriotic'?
A partisan, hypocritical blather?
This is a time to discuss what a wonderful Country we live in. This is a time to discuss how blessed we are to have the freedoms and the opportunity that we do.
This is a time to discuss how we as a Country come to the aid of the world, how we as Americans give more to charity, the needy, than anyone in the world.
This is a time to quit the demeaning hatred of the Administration.
Thank you Olbermann - and thank you Dave for being the partisan hacks that we know you to be.
jim mowen,
You're welcome. But Olbermann was not criticizing Ameria. He was criticizing the Bush Administration. America has glorious traditions and ideals that people like Olbermann and me love and cherish. And it really frustrates and angers us when the current occupant of the White House undermines, violates things we love about America. Among these things are the rule of law, the idea that in America no one is above the law, the idea that unlike other countries America recognizes the inherit worth and dignity of all human beings and so we do not torture or "disappear" people -- even our enemies.
You conservatives seem to think self-criticism is a sign of weakness. We liberals see it as a sign of strength. I have to wonder how much you really love America and admire its strengths if you feel so insecure about it that you can't stand to hear any criticism.
Dave, thank you for the clarification. You goof, I know what he was saying and what you are encouraging.
MY POINT is that this is a day to celebrate the United States of America and all the wonderfulness that we enjoy here - yet you guys cannot even do this. Even when you try, you come off as little kids ranting and raving.
Can't you just say something nice about how blessed we are to live in this wonderful country without it becoming an attack?
jim mowen,
You are not listening. I and Olbermann think it is was a wonderful country with marvelous ideals and traditions. But it is not a wonderful country right now because we are killing and torturing people overseas needlessly and in a way that makes us less safe. Justice is being perverted and our rule of law is being trashed. If you think we are currently blessed and are living in a wonderful country right now then you are part of the problem.
Dave, you are not listening to me. Let me see if I can type a little slower...
You spend every day of your blogging life bitching, moaning, crying and calling names. Given the fact that this is Independence Day, (my point is)...
CAN'T YOU SPEND JUST ONE DAY REVELLING IN HOW GREAT THIS COUNTRY IS - RATHER THAN USING IT AS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO bitch, moan, cry, spew hatred and call names?
Just one day, try to relax and think nice things...
Your saying, 'I love this country, it is a great place, EXCEPT FOR (and then going on endlessly, as Olbermann did) really is not patriotic (at least not today).
jim,
People are being killed and tortured overseas needlessly in a way that is making us less safe and you want me to forget about it?! Our rule of law is being trashed and you want me to pretend it is not happening for a day? The most charitable interpretation I could put on your suggestion that I forget about this for one day since it is a holiday and all is that because you have not directly experienced this evil you do not fully grasp it.
Right there is the problem...you think that the evil that creates all these issues is the Administration, and you discount the evil that is Islamic-fundamentalism (and sluff off their evil by suggesting that we caused it)!
Right where is the problem? Where did I discount the evil of terrorism or of religious fanaticism? We need leaders who will stay focused on the real dangers that face us, unlike the Bush Administration which quit hunting for Osama bin Laden in order to invade Iraq. We need leaders who will combat evil rather than adding to it.
Can you make just one (1) comment without being a partisan jerk?
Can you say one positive thing without blaming the Administration for something?
The simple reality that you seem to want to overlook is that this is the greatest country on the face of the earth. It survived Carter, Clinton and it will survive a second Bush...that is what makes it wonderful.
Can you please just relax a little and take off the hate-colored glasses?
Another constructive comment from the left!
jim mowen,
For you to call me partisan is definitely the pot calling the kettle black.
Dave, it says a lot about you that you would allow a comment like Anonymous 12:42 to stand - and what it says is no flattering.
What kind of goofs do you have posting on this site?
Is this the kind of posts that the left finds reasonable banter?
And where does any of this, his comment and yours even come from...all I have even posted here is nothing more than asking for a positive comment towards our Country on Independence Day.
Regardless, I hope that you had a great day enjoying the freedoms that we have in the great United States.
jim,
"what kind of goofs do you have posting on your site"
Well, apparently, ones like you.
"do you consider reasonable banter"
If I deleted comments that I considered unreasonable I would delete the one you complained about but also many of yours. You are the epitome of unreasonableness. You are highly partisan but often claim that only your opponents are partisan. You say scurrilous things about your opponents but are quick to cry foul when they do the same to you. You never acknowledge any points in your opponent's argument but often complain that your opponents are not acknowledging your arguments. You keep attacking people and then try to play the victim.
I delete very few comments posted here but if I were to start deleting comments based on reasonableness I would probably delete most of yours.
Dave,
Good to know that you think that the 12:42 post is worthy of your site - tells one a lot about your site.
As for me being partisan, this claim is rather comical. Personally, I am a Conservative. I find the liberals like yourself virtually clueless, lacking any conviction whatsoever and totally lacking logic, reason and the concept of consequences of a decision or action.
However, I find Republican politicians to be so far off of what they stand for, they are not far from the liberal section of the Democrats. They have lost their bearings on limited government and controlled spending and their moral compass is moving left, to fill in the hole as the Democrats move further left.
If I am partisan, it is partisan to a Conservative/ Traditional mindset, not a failed Republican Party.
You however, seem to have fallen into the Party of limited thought and name calling. For you to condone the 12:42 post says volumes about you, as well as your intellect.
Enjoy!
Mowen, you are so ignorant!
"If I deleted comments that I considered unreasonable I would delete the one you complained about"
He blatantly says he agrees that the comment was bad, but that he is not in the business of censorship. I guess as a conservative that isn't a concept you understand. And as usual, you blindly disregard what was said and make up your own fantasy version of it all.
Mowen, you are a partisan hack. You have nothing to actually argue about so you just criticize others. How about you go start your own blog so we can all not visit it. Then we can have a little peace and quiet.
This is my favorite part of your babble: "I find the liberals like yourself virtually clueless, lacking any conviction whatsoever and totally lacking logic, reason and the concept of consequences of a decision or action."
Can you please tell me what issues and circumstances cause you to hold this opinion? I doubt you will have any, but I wanted to at least ask.
Robbie, Dave can hide behind the censorship line, but the fact that he allows it to be on his site does show something more than his belief in freedom of speech.
What issues, are you kidding me? Name any issue of supreme importance to our Country...
Taxation. The left cannot see that actual history shows that lower tax rates for all INCREASE government receipts.
Healthcare. Although I do not pretend to know the full scope of the answer here, thinking that a government-system can solve the problem. Canada's system is one of rationing.
National Security. The Democrat Presidents have always balanced the budget by cutting defense and weakening our National Security. In a time of terrorism, all we seem to hear about in Democrat camps is the rights of the terrorists and civil rights that hampstring the ability for the intelligence agencies to derive full insight.
Welfare. Although a needed focus, to assist those in need, our welfare state cannot end poverty. We have spent almost $6-BILLION since the mid-60's and poverty has gotten worse.
I appreciate the question.
Robbie, I am sorry, in an effort to not blather (ala TID), I was too brief in my comments about welfare.
The Dem's seem to think (at least speak) as though welfare were a Robin Hood effort, take from the rich and give to the poor. This has not worked! It has not done what was intentioned, to help those in need, it has erroded their self-worth and created a welfare (expectancy) State.
This give-away program has had a very negative impact on the personal responsibility that this Country was based upon - and, unfortunately, the liberals just don't see this (and the Republicans do not seem to have the political backbone to do much about it).
Clinton and the Republican Congress made a small effort in the late 90's, but it was a minimalist effort, at best and the system is still very badly broken (does not affect the problem that it was supposed to help) - and the Dem's think that throwing more money at it will help - their solution to most everything (and, again, the 'political' answer to everything (even now from the Republican camp)).
The interesting thing is those who support blind loyalty, jingoism, imperialism, and the "greatness" of this country are hailed as patiriots.
Those who support the founding document of this country, who work to support the Constitution (essentially, the laws that bind us together. The definition, if you will, of America) and who believe that all American Citizens should be equal partners in government, get equal treatment and enjoy equal justice get labeled as traitors.
Sir, without the Constitution there is nothing to be patriotic about. Withour Justice for All, there is nothing to be patriotic about. Without thoughtful, independent, criticism flowing freely, this country might as well be Afghanistan.
{The interesting thing is those who support blind loyalty, jingoism, imperialism, and the "greatness" of this country are hailed as patiriots.}
That statement can be attributed to both parties. Neither hardline Party supporters can see past their own tunnel-visions. Who knows as much animosity that has grown between the far left and the far right we could become more like Iraq than Afghanistan split down the middle with outright bloodshed over whose philosophy has the most mojo. There is a good start to hostilities on this very post. At the very least another US civil war would make for interesting blogging.
thescoundrel,
Oh, come on. Nothing started with this post. No new ground in animosity started here. Everything expressed here has been expressed many times before by everyone involved. It resemebles an old marriage more than a civil war.
But I think you are missing hippie's point about patriotism. It is only the right that claims their opponents are unpatriotic or hate their country. Although the left has a lot to say about the right we never claim you are unpatriotic.
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