RIP Habeas Corpus
Once again, the Constitution lies under siege in this new millennium. Thanks to Keith Olbermann for reporting on this grave issue affecting all American citizens.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUzUljH8EHU
Olbermann delivers the bad news with such panache that no words I write could affect the same consideration. Have I given Keith Olbermann a Golden Ruler, yet? Well, he deserves one.
For acts of bravery and courage to stand up and protect our Constitution with all its rights and privileges afforded unto us, I hereby grant Keith Olbermann with the Golden Ruler. Mr. Olbermann, please use this Golden Ruler to continue measuring and correcting our leaders to the standards of truth and justice as carried out in the Constitution of the United States, and continue to defend our freedoms and rights, both here and abroad.
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Monday, October 09, 2006
Doublethinking the Democrat Rally
There's nothing like getting a bunch of local Democrats together, and last night's rally at Wild Rose Casino in Emmetsburg reaffirmed my belief that Democrats are wild for their country.
Sure, it was like a high school pep rally, with all the rah-rah cheers and coaching staff hyping everyone to think that we can make a difference. Yes, we can make a difference, I thought. Yes, my vote just might make a change in our country's direction.
As an "unbiased" member of the media, I extinguished those thoughts for the rest of the rally.
Note: Although I serve a very, very small base of listeners, I am apparently exempt from the first amendment, lest others think I am partial and drawn to one side simply out of loyalty. Which, to me, is complete hogwash, as I am about as impartial as they come (with the exception of the truth, which I support over any bias I might hold) and I want to expose various perspectives and views that surround an issue.
Iowa Senator Jack Kibbie emceed the rally, in Jack Kibbie style, of course. Local and state Democratic officials and candidates were on hand to voice their views and concerns about the state of affairs. Chet Culver, candidate for Iowa Governor, was there promoting his ideals to lead Iowa. Dr. Seldon Spencer, candidate for US Congress in Iowa's 4th District, spoke how he wants to motivate change in congress.
Same old, same old talk. Go, team, go! Rah! Rah. Rah... Don't get me wrong, rallies are a good way to motivate your base. It's just that they don't usually motivate the people that need motivating. Democrats talk of values and morals, just like the Republicans have done in 2000, 2002, and 2004. Neither side is innocent.
"We are in perilous times...," headliner John Kerry told the standing room only crowd. This Kerry fellar has some "idears", some big "idears" for these perilous times
Kerry's first "idear": Tell the Truth. Ok, Ok... This is a big one, because we all know how difficult it is for any politician to do this, Republicans and Democrats alike. And even those other political parties are not immune. Politicians will do whatever it takes for their constituents, whether they be in Iowa, California, Texas, Exxon, Diebolt or Halliburton. That's just the fact of the political process in the good ole US of A. Kerry went on, saying how he wants to "hold people accountable" and "fire incompetence."
Kerry's second "idear": Export Products, Not Jobs. But how would Wal-mart be able to keep their prices low with a smiley face? We all know that it is better to keep prices low over jobs, because if we gave the lower classes jobs, then that would mean that there is hope, and the only hope there is, is located in Arkansas, and we all know that's where Bill Clinton is from. And that is why Republicans don't want to create any more Hope, because that may create more Bill Clintons.
Kerry's third "idear": Energy independence. Sure, maybe one week of the Iraq war could pay to put an alternative fuel pump in every gas station in the US, but do we really need it? Isn't so much nicer to share, like with the Saudis? They apparently make great bed pals, just ask our president. Moving on...
Kerry's fourth "idear": One of the biggest challenges facing us: Global Climate Change. Kerry says we have ten precious years to change our environment. This is a non-issue for Republicans, because it doesn't exist in the Republican world. 'Nuff said.
Kerry's fifth "idear": A Tax Code that Values Work, Not Wealth. I'm sure Kerry's wife cringes when he starts off on this. What Kerry and others on Capitol Hill fail to realize is that our capitalist society rewards wealth and power. And it is that wealth and power that makes the rules. Which is why the tax code will always value work and tax the working class to the limit, just because it can. Every policy this country has put into place in the last five years, from No Child Left Behind to the Iraq War, is all about winners and losers. None of these policies define an "everyone wins" situation, only because it does not exist in a capitalist country. If we want everyone to win, we'd be called a "socialist" or "communist" country, now, wouldn't we?...
Kerry's sixth "idear": Set a Date for Iraqis to Stand Up for Iraq and Set Up a Democracy for Themselves as much as We Want it for Them. Then, bring our heros home. Kerry explains that having deadlines is how teachers and bosses work. Hasn't Kerry heard the song "You Can't Hurry Love..."??
A wonderful pep rally, really. I just kind of wonder if we aren't playing the wrong game??...
Well, there's my doublethink on the local Democrat Rally. Doublethink. Devil's advocate, if you will. There's always two sides to a story, and then there's the truth. At least, that's how I see it.
Friday, September 08, 2006
More Lies?
Don't you think we've heard enough lies and half-truths, if you will, about any and all links to 9/11?? Now, the ABC mini-series docu-drama "Path to 9/11" that will air this Sunday and Monday is reported to stray from 9/11 commission report and fictionalizes key scenes.
Sounds a lot to me like what the DaVinci Code did to Christianity...
Oh, and it gets deeper... Apparently, there's a darker mission in ABC's "Path to 9/11": Pinning the blame on former President Bill Clinton. The documentary's creators are aledging that the Clinton administration let Osama bin Laden get away in the 90s, as they think that at that time the CIA had several chances to nab him. Osama bin Laden? Wasn't he the CIA's best friend in Afganistan? Oh, right. That was the 80s. I just keep getting stuck in the 80s! Love that music.
Whoa... Letting Osama bin Laden get away? I thought I heard some strange report that in the height of the war on terror in Afganistan, George W. Bush let Osama bin Laden get away? Maybe the creators of "Path to 9/11" are getting their wires crossed and are confused about the timeline of events?
At the time of the Clinton presidency, bin Laden had been a minor terrorist to American interests. There were few that got super-enraged about the strikes bin Laden's posse made on Americans in foreign lands. Few media sources really trumped what bin Laden was doing in 90s as a major evil terroristic force. Remember, we were still reeling from Khaddafi.
Even before the 9/11 attacks, the Bush Administration on September 10th put together a strategy to deal with the Taliban. If the bin Laden and al-Qaeda were such a "menace", if you will, to the US, then both the Clinton and Bush Administrations both really dropped the ball on this one.
Oh, wait. Osama bin Laden is wanted by the FBI for..."murder of U.S. Nationals outside the United States; Conspiracy to murder U.S. Nationals outside the United States; Attack on a federal facility resulting in death." It mentions the August 7, 1998 bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya, but no mention of September 11, 2001. What?
So, Osama is still free out there to plot and reign as terror king. Why?
Ok, if there are no other truths out there lurking, let's just say that the ball was dropped by both administrations on this whole Osama (Usama) bin Laden thing. I'm sure there are reasons behind it.
It's not just the Clinton Administration's fault, especially when the Republican Party was in process to impeach Clinton for enjoying some hanky-panky in the White House.
And when the filmmakers sent copies to important people, including Republican pundit Rush Limbaugh, but sent no copies to Democratic interests and especially not to the Clinton Administration depicted in the film...I'm sure there are reasons behind it.
Sounds a lot to me like what the DaVinci Code did to Christianity...
Oh, and it gets deeper... Apparently, there's a darker mission in ABC's "Path to 9/11": Pinning the blame on former President Bill Clinton. The documentary's creators are aledging that the Clinton administration let Osama bin Laden get away in the 90s, as they think that at that time the CIA had several chances to nab him. Osama bin Laden? Wasn't he the CIA's best friend in Afganistan? Oh, right. That was the 80s. I just keep getting stuck in the 80s! Love that music.
Whoa... Letting Osama bin Laden get away? I thought I heard some strange report that in the height of the war on terror in Afganistan, George W. Bush let Osama bin Laden get away? Maybe the creators of "Path to 9/11" are getting their wires crossed and are confused about the timeline of events?
At the time of the Clinton presidency, bin Laden had been a minor terrorist to American interests. There were few that got super-enraged about the strikes bin Laden's posse made on Americans in foreign lands. Few media sources really trumped what bin Laden was doing in 90s as a major evil terroristic force. Remember, we were still reeling from Khaddafi.
Even before the 9/11 attacks, the Bush Administration on September 10th put together a strategy to deal with the Taliban. If the bin Laden and al-Qaeda were such a "menace", if you will, to the US, then both the Clinton and Bush Administrations both really dropped the ball on this one.
Oh, wait. Osama bin Laden is wanted by the FBI for..."murder of U.S. Nationals outside the United States; Conspiracy to murder U.S. Nationals outside the United States; Attack on a federal facility resulting in death." It mentions the August 7, 1998 bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya, but no mention of September 11, 2001. What?
So, Osama is still free out there to plot and reign as terror king. Why?
Ok, if there are no other truths out there lurking, let's just say that the ball was dropped by both administrations on this whole Osama (Usama) bin Laden thing. I'm sure there are reasons behind it.
It's not just the Clinton Administration's fault, especially when the Republican Party was in process to impeach Clinton for enjoying some hanky-panky in the White House.
And when the filmmakers sent copies to important people, including Republican pundit Rush Limbaugh, but sent no copies to Democratic interests and especially not to the Clinton Administration depicted in the film...I'm sure there are reasons behind it.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Ah... Gravitas!
Seriously... We need to get serious. And finally Keith Olbermann is giving true gravitas to the grave concerns of the state of the union.
As I read about the references to the traditions of network television news after Katie Couric's premiere performance, the accomplishments of those early pioneers in television news are indeed amazing. They were cowboys of their era, riding into a new frontier of journalism, with the ability to truly make a genuine difference to better this world because of their honest reporting.
Where have all the cowboys gone? Up until now, I thought they had gone to Comedy Central, because it seems in our culture today, the only way to say there's a major SNAFU here, is to pepper it with laughter. It takes balls to call out someone's bluff, or to point at authority and say they've done wrong, or to do some serious investigative reporting and publicize the real truth behind the smoke screens.
It was such reporting by CBS News that changed the tide for Nixon and quite possibly ended the Vietnam War. We, as the collective people, do not fully understand the impact television news has when they offer us their reporting perspectives on today's stories. And we should be concerned when the rhetoric of governmental offices are echoed in the evening news without the least bit of questioning, probing, or indepth independent investigation. We do not understand the full impact of the reprimand CBS News received after the whole investigation into the president's alleged time in the national guard. This was grave.
Maybe that is why people are turning to the lighter side for their news. We all need a laugh ever so often, and sometimes we like to know what's going on around us, too. Thank goodness for Comedy Central's Daily Show and Colbert Report, where gravitas is spoken with a sprinkling of jest.
A new cowboy is riding on the horizon. Keith Olbermann. I've watched his show a couple of times, as I get a chance, since he is one of a few television newsmen that tries to tell it like it is, beyond the propaganda from biased agencies. Thanks to another cowboy, I've been able to see the continued rise of prominent people to speak up about the concerning state of our country. A couple of days ago Olbermann spoke up about his concerns on the direction of our country, lead by President G.W. Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
At the end of Olbermann's perspective look, he quoted Edward Murrow: "We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty." Olbermann continues with a strikingly mellow and sobering countenance, in the fashion of those old cowboys, like Cronkite and Murrow: "We must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear - one, of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of un-reason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men; Not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were - for the moment - unpopular."
If you look up Murrow's quote, some sources take that first sentence and end it with, "When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it." Murrow is not talking about terrorist opposition, but loyal opposition--a big difference. Loyal opposition, in my humble view, are among "we the people" who honestly question, research, and investigate actions and intentions that stray from our Constitutional foundations. Loyal opposition defends our Constitution.
Keith Olbermann is bringing television news back to the journalistic integrity of days gone by. (And for those naysayers who think the past is irrelevant to day, just look to our Constitution if you want relevence to your own freedoms.)
Keith Olbermann delivers gravitas! (And he does carry out, too! Check out his blog!)
As I read about the references to the traditions of network television news after Katie Couric's premiere performance, the accomplishments of those early pioneers in television news are indeed amazing. They were cowboys of their era, riding into a new frontier of journalism, with the ability to truly make a genuine difference to better this world because of their honest reporting.
Where have all the cowboys gone? Up until now, I thought they had gone to Comedy Central, because it seems in our culture today, the only way to say there's a major SNAFU here, is to pepper it with laughter. It takes balls to call out someone's bluff, or to point at authority and say they've done wrong, or to do some serious investigative reporting and publicize the real truth behind the smoke screens.
It was such reporting by CBS News that changed the tide for Nixon and quite possibly ended the Vietnam War. We, as the collective people, do not fully understand the impact television news has when they offer us their reporting perspectives on today's stories. And we should be concerned when the rhetoric of governmental offices are echoed in the evening news without the least bit of questioning, probing, or indepth independent investigation. We do not understand the full impact of the reprimand CBS News received after the whole investigation into the president's alleged time in the national guard. This was grave.
Maybe that is why people are turning to the lighter side for their news. We all need a laugh ever so often, and sometimes we like to know what's going on around us, too. Thank goodness for Comedy Central's Daily Show and Colbert Report, where gravitas is spoken with a sprinkling of jest.
A new cowboy is riding on the horizon. Keith Olbermann. I've watched his show a couple of times, as I get a chance, since he is one of a few television newsmen that tries to tell it like it is, beyond the propaganda from biased agencies. Thanks to another cowboy, I've been able to see the continued rise of prominent people to speak up about the concerning state of our country. A couple of days ago Olbermann spoke up about his concerns on the direction of our country, lead by President G.W. Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
At the end of Olbermann's perspective look, he quoted Edward Murrow: "We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty." Olbermann continues with a strikingly mellow and sobering countenance, in the fashion of those old cowboys, like Cronkite and Murrow: "We must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear - one, of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of un-reason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men; Not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were - for the moment - unpopular."
If you look up Murrow's quote, some sources take that first sentence and end it with, "When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it." Murrow is not talking about terrorist opposition, but loyal opposition--a big difference. Loyal opposition, in my humble view, are among "we the people" who honestly question, research, and investigate actions and intentions that stray from our Constitutional foundations. Loyal opposition defends our Constitution.
Keith Olbermann is bringing television news back to the journalistic integrity of days gone by. (And for those naysayers who think the past is irrelevant to day, just look to our Constitution if you want relevence to your own freedoms.)
Keith Olbermann delivers gravitas! (And he does carry out, too! Check out his blog!)
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Headlines: DemoIndeRepub... Who Wins? And More!
Ah, HEADLINES for the midweek crisis...
DemoIndeRepub--Where's the Party for Joe Lieberman? Who Wins?
Well, Iraq war loving Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman lost his bid for the democratic ticket to ... who is Ned Lamont? The Republican Party would love it if Lieberman had won or lost, because now they are just reviving the lost Democratic Party propaganda machine. And what a great diversion to this whole Israeli-Lebannon issue! Kill two birds with one stone on this one!! I don't know who wins, but the American people yearning for truth will ultimately lose. Sorry, truth, we are too busy attacking and/or defending the weakness of the Democratic Party.
Cease-Fire? I Thought You Said Seize Fire!
Isrealis push forward to more bombings and a ground war in Lebannon, as contemplations of a cease-fire seem to be ignored. Cease fire--seize fire?? I guess it's either cease fire and seize the day or seize fire and cease the day. Israelis continue to show the world that their policy is about "loving thy neighbor"--to death. Who wins? God only knows.
Fed Up?
The Feds decided on a holding pattern yesterday, but who knows what the future holds. Talks of recession (downers) and inflation (uppers)... Who wins? The ones with the most money. Sigh.
DemoIndeRepub--Where's the Party for Joe Lieberman? Who Wins?
Well, Iraq war loving Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman lost his bid for the democratic ticket to ... who is Ned Lamont? The Republican Party would love it if Lieberman had won or lost, because now they are just reviving the lost Democratic Party propaganda machine. And what a great diversion to this whole Israeli-Lebannon issue! Kill two birds with one stone on this one!! I don't know who wins, but the American people yearning for truth will ultimately lose. Sorry, truth, we are too busy attacking and/or defending the weakness of the Democratic Party.
Cease-Fire? I Thought You Said Seize Fire!
Isrealis push forward to more bombings and a ground war in Lebannon, as contemplations of a cease-fire seem to be ignored. Cease fire--seize fire?? I guess it's either cease fire and seize the day or seize fire and cease the day. Israelis continue to show the world that their policy is about "loving thy neighbor"--to death. Who wins? God only knows.
Fed Up?
The Feds decided on a holding pattern yesterday, but who knows what the future holds. Talks of recession (downers) and inflation (uppers)... Who wins? The ones with the most money. Sigh.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Colbert, That's French, Isn't It?! That's OK, Mr. Colbert, Here's a Golden Ruler!
Although not characteristic of Stephen Colbert's "professional newsiness", a nudge-nudge and a wink-wink might sums up his monologue at the White House Press Correspondents Dinner last Saturday night.
Mr. Colbert decisively marked the evening with way more inside humor and jabs than the large gathering of media, government leaders, and stars could possibly digest, especially the guest of honor, our president.
Playing as if he's in on the good-ole-boys club and up on their antics in the media, Colbert subtly and many times not so subtly discloses his perception of the media's coverage on important events, while maintaining his composed "newsiness" during the speech.
Maybe the reason why some didn't like his speech could be the same reason they now refer to freedom fries and freedom toast. There's just too much French in that guy's name. Toward the end of his speech, President Bush looked like he was about ready to export him back to France. Colbert better be carrying his passport next time he's close to the president, or might get a special trip out of the country. You know how the president feels about those darned immigrants!
On his truthiness, Colbert knows better than most real news outlets how to give his audience the truth, and he delivered in his usual fashion. Why are some people upset about this? Did you not know his style? Did you not watch his show?
Regardless of his neo-con leanings, Colbert stuck it to the man. Thank goodness he got some practice on Bill Kristol a couple days prior to his WHCD gig. He was ready to tackle the news that the media forgot to tackle. And tackle, he did.
By the way, what was with the lame Double-W skit? And last year's skit where the president was running around the room looking for WMDs while our troops in Iraq were dying? And those skits don't offend people? But Stephen Colbert's truthiness does offend? Why can't those people handle the truth?
Mr. Stephen Colbert, in recognition of your courage to fight for the truth, I bestow unto you the Golden Ruler Award. Just as those golden nuns from parochial school used rulers to maintain order and keep their students in line, this Golden Ruler exemplifies your accomplishments to keep truth in line. Use this Golden Ruler to continue to keep truth and justice in line, and to give a gentle tap on the hand to those who deviate from the truth.
Mr. Colbert decisively marked the evening with way more inside humor and jabs than the large gathering of media, government leaders, and stars could possibly digest, especially the guest of honor, our president.
Playing as if he's in on the good-ole-boys club and up on their antics in the media, Colbert subtly and many times not so subtly discloses his perception of the media's coverage on important events, while maintaining his composed "newsiness" during the speech.
Maybe the reason why some didn't like his speech could be the same reason they now refer to freedom fries and freedom toast. There's just too much French in that guy's name. Toward the end of his speech, President Bush looked like he was about ready to export him back to France. Colbert better be carrying his passport next time he's close to the president, or might get a special trip out of the country. You know how the president feels about those darned immigrants!
On his truthiness, Colbert knows better than most real news outlets how to give his audience the truth, and he delivered in his usual fashion. Why are some people upset about this? Did you not know his style? Did you not watch his show?
Regardless of his neo-con leanings, Colbert stuck it to the man. Thank goodness he got some practice on Bill Kristol a couple days prior to his WHCD gig. He was ready to tackle the news that the media forgot to tackle. And tackle, he did.
By the way, what was with the lame Double-W skit? And last year's skit where the president was running around the room looking for WMDs while our troops in Iraq were dying? And those skits don't offend people? But Stephen Colbert's truthiness does offend? Why can't those people handle the truth?
Mr. Stephen Colbert, in recognition of your courage to fight for the truth, I bestow unto you the Golden Ruler Award. Just as those golden nuns from parochial school used rulers to maintain order and keep their students in line, this Golden Ruler exemplifies your accomplishments to keep truth in line. Use this Golden Ruler to continue to keep truth and justice in line, and to give a gentle tap on the hand to those who deviate from the truth.
Friday, February 03, 2006
US Press Ignores Danish Cartoon Freedom Issues
Did you notice? No one major media outlet in the US is touching the whole controversial Danish cartoon story. Not even with a ten-foot pole.
Even on the satire news outlets. Jon Stewart--nothing. Stephen Colbert--nada. (Ok, ok...update: so they are now reporting about it, but very carefully, as if walking on glass with bare feet.)
Why?
Well, right click on the title link and read that article. Is it fear? Fear of retalliation? I thought we were fighting so we would be free, and so would Iraq and Afganistan.
I think it is culture clash. I'm sure that the hit "Rock the Casbah" from the 80s rock band The Clash is offensive to Islam, too. But then again, we had Ronald Reagan in the White House, who scared the living daylights out of anyone who dared to harm us with his iron clad phrases like:
Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have.
Ronald Reagan
It is the Soviet Union that runs against the tide of history.... [It is] the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism- Leninism on the ash heap of history as it has left other tyrannies which stifle the freedom and muzzle the self-expression of the people.
Ronald Reagan (Replace Soviet Union with current "evils")
Coersion, after all, merely captures man. Freedom captivates him.
Ronald Reagan
I don't believe in a government that protects us from ourselves.
Ronald Reagan
It is the Soviet Union that runs against the tide of history.... [It is] the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism- Leninism on the ash heap of history as it has left other tyrannies which stifle the freedom and muzzle the self-expression of the people.
Ronald Reagan (Replace Soviet Union with current "evils")
History teaches that wars begin when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap.
Ronald Reagan
You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down. Up to man's age-old dream -- the maximum of individual freedom consistent with order -- or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. Regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would sacrifice freedom for security have embarked on this downward path. Plutarch warned, "The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits."
Ronald Reagan
The ultimate determinant in the struggle now going on for the world will not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas-a trial of spiritual resolve: the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish and the ideals to which we are dedicated.
Ronald Reagan (Boy, isn't that the truth!)
If you want to read more quotes from Ronald Reagan, check out one of my favorite sites: Wikipedia's Wikiquote!
Don't be surprised when you read these quotes that your head starts to shake from side to side. It seems just about all great leaders contradict themselves or their political party's beliefs at one time or another.
Even on the satire news outlets. Jon Stewart--nothing. Stephen Colbert--nada. (Ok, ok...update: so they are now reporting about it, but very carefully, as if walking on glass with bare feet.)
Why?
Well, right click on the title link and read that article. Is it fear? Fear of retalliation? I thought we were fighting so we would be free, and so would Iraq and Afganistan.
I think it is culture clash. I'm sure that the hit "Rock the Casbah" from the 80s rock band The Clash is offensive to Islam, too. But then again, we had Ronald Reagan in the White House, who scared the living daylights out of anyone who dared to harm us with his iron clad phrases like:
Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have.
Ronald Reagan
It is the Soviet Union that runs against the tide of history.... [It is] the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism- Leninism on the ash heap of history as it has left other tyrannies which stifle the freedom and muzzle the self-expression of the people.
Ronald Reagan (Replace Soviet Union with current "evils")
Coersion, after all, merely captures man. Freedom captivates him.
Ronald Reagan
I don't believe in a government that protects us from ourselves.
Ronald Reagan
It is the Soviet Union that runs against the tide of history.... [It is] the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism- Leninism on the ash heap of history as it has left other tyrannies which stifle the freedom and muzzle the self-expression of the people.
Ronald Reagan (Replace Soviet Union with current "evils")
History teaches that wars begin when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap.
Ronald Reagan
You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down. Up to man's age-old dream -- the maximum of individual freedom consistent with order -- or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. Regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would sacrifice freedom for security have embarked on this downward path. Plutarch warned, "The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits."
Ronald Reagan
The ultimate determinant in the struggle now going on for the world will not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas-a trial of spiritual resolve: the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish and the ideals to which we are dedicated.
Ronald Reagan (Boy, isn't that the truth!)
If you want to read more quotes from Ronald Reagan, check out one of my favorite sites: Wikipedia's Wikiquote!
Don't be surprised when you read these quotes that your head starts to shake from side to side. It seems just about all great leaders contradict themselves or their political party's beliefs at one time or another.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
War is not Justice.
Originally penned Wednesday, June 29, 2005
The President of the US of A is claiming that terrorists in the same vain as Osama bin Laden are the insurgent terrorists fighting in Iraq. From my perspective, terrorists of Osama bin Laden don’t seem stupid enough to take on a military force like the US. Nor to use such insignificant and simply planned car bomb attacks to make a statement. Nor would they make such a statement in a war-torn country. Osama bin Laden is NOT behind the insurgency in Iraq.
Osama is sitting somewhere rounding up his own troops and they are most likely as I type, strategically planning their next attack against the United States. Osama and his buddies are safe somewhere, as the US is diverted with the war in Iraq. Osama is most likely enjoying his luxury to be able to plan his next hate-filled act, since we have pretty much ended the major attempts to find and persecute the mastermind of 9/11.
The Bush administration is hell-bent on fighting a war, not prosecuting Osama bin Laden. If this were not the case, then we would have been able to focus our intelligence and military forces and already have found Osama. He, and his trenchmen, would be serving their just sentences (life in prison, or execution) for violating criminal laws in the United States. No, justice for 9/11 was not the intention for Bush and Cheney, and their band of cohorts. They wanted war. War is not justice.
The two definitions of the noun war, as defined by dictionary.com:
A state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried on between nations, states, or parties.
The period of such conflict.
The techniques and procedures of war; military science.
A condition of active antagonism or contention: a war of words; a price war.
A concerted effort or campaign to combat or put an end to something considered injurious: the war against acid rain.
Dubya’s war is marked by the first definition, regardless of the spin he puts on it to make it sound like it is the war to end terrorism. Terrorism will not die. As long as there are vengeful, prideful, spiteful people, there will be terrorism. The terrorists see the US actions as terrorism. Thus, the US is also a terrorist.
The five definitions of the noun justice, as defined by dictionary.com:
The quality of being just; fairness.
The principle of moral rightness; equity.
Conformity to moral rightness in action or attitude; righteousness.
The upholding of what is just, especially fair treatment and due reward in accordance with honor, standards, or law.
Law. The administration and procedure of law.
Conformity to truth, fact, or sound reason: The overcharged customer was angry, and with justice.
Abbr. J. Law.
A judge.
A justice of the peace.
After 9/11, I, and many of my fellow Americans, wanted to see justice. Instead, we got revenge with a hate-filled, prideful, spiteful war against a country that had very little to do with 9/11. (Mind you, the majority of the terrorists that struck on 9/11 were Saudi nationals.) Is this just to you? How would we feel if Canadian terrorists attacked Russia, and then Russia decided to counterattack the US and leave Canada unscathed, even though the terrorists were from Canada?
Justice is what I want to see happening. Justice is not going to a country and destroying the lives and well-being of millions of innocent Iraqi citizens. Justice is not being served when we see over 2,000 of US troops, and the lives of soldiers from other countries, killed because of an unspecific war, supposedly on terror (and WMD, and Sadam Hussein), in Iraq.
The insurgency in Iraq is not due to terrorists. The insurgency is due to the fact that we are unjustly meddling in the affairs of another country. The insurgents are justifiably mad-as-hell at the US because we have destroyed a civil society. Unfortunately, their gut reaction to fight is not necessarily the right way to get the effect they want, if it is to get the US out of Iraq.
If the insurgents were as smart as Osama bin Laden and his gang, they would not have started the car bombings and suicide attacks. If the people of Iraq, and especially the insurgents, want the US to get out of their country, they need to start acting civil and form organized groups that can plan their strategy, just like Osama is right now in a more deviant way, so they can get on with their lives. This will, hopefully, give a good reason for the US to get our troops out of Iraq and let the Iraqis fend out their “new country” for themselves and make it what Iraqis want to make it.
The President of the US of A is claiming that terrorists in the same vain as Osama bin Laden are the insurgent terrorists fighting in Iraq. From my perspective, terrorists of Osama bin Laden don’t seem stupid enough to take on a military force like the US. Nor to use such insignificant and simply planned car bomb attacks to make a statement. Nor would they make such a statement in a war-torn country. Osama bin Laden is NOT behind the insurgency in Iraq.
Osama is sitting somewhere rounding up his own troops and they are most likely as I type, strategically planning their next attack against the United States. Osama and his buddies are safe somewhere, as the US is diverted with the war in Iraq. Osama is most likely enjoying his luxury to be able to plan his next hate-filled act, since we have pretty much ended the major attempts to find and persecute the mastermind of 9/11.
The Bush administration is hell-bent on fighting a war, not prosecuting Osama bin Laden. If this were not the case, then we would have been able to focus our intelligence and military forces and already have found Osama. He, and his trenchmen, would be serving their just sentences (life in prison, or execution) for violating criminal laws in the United States. No, justice for 9/11 was not the intention for Bush and Cheney, and their band of cohorts. They wanted war. War is not justice.
The two definitions of the noun war, as defined by dictionary.com:
A state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried on between nations, states, or parties.
The period of such conflict.
The techniques and procedures of war; military science.
A condition of active antagonism or contention: a war of words; a price war.
A concerted effort or campaign to combat or put an end to something considered injurious: the war against acid rain.
Dubya’s war is marked by the first definition, regardless of the spin he puts on it to make it sound like it is the war to end terrorism. Terrorism will not die. As long as there are vengeful, prideful, spiteful people, there will be terrorism. The terrorists see the US actions as terrorism. Thus, the US is also a terrorist.
The five definitions of the noun justice, as defined by dictionary.com:
The quality of being just; fairness.
The principle of moral rightness; equity.
Conformity to moral rightness in action or attitude; righteousness.
The upholding of what is just, especially fair treatment and due reward in accordance with honor, standards, or law.
Law. The administration and procedure of law.
Conformity to truth, fact, or sound reason: The overcharged customer was angry, and with justice.
Abbr. J. Law.
A judge.
A justice of the peace.
After 9/11, I, and many of my fellow Americans, wanted to see justice. Instead, we got revenge with a hate-filled, prideful, spiteful war against a country that had very little to do with 9/11. (Mind you, the majority of the terrorists that struck on 9/11 were Saudi nationals.) Is this just to you? How would we feel if Canadian terrorists attacked Russia, and then Russia decided to counterattack the US and leave Canada unscathed, even though the terrorists were from Canada?
Justice is what I want to see happening. Justice is not going to a country and destroying the lives and well-being of millions of innocent Iraqi citizens. Justice is not being served when we see over 2,000 of US troops, and the lives of soldiers from other countries, killed because of an unspecific war, supposedly on terror (and WMD, and Sadam Hussein), in Iraq.
The insurgency in Iraq is not due to terrorists. The insurgency is due to the fact that we are unjustly meddling in the affairs of another country. The insurgents are justifiably mad-as-hell at the US because we have destroyed a civil society. Unfortunately, their gut reaction to fight is not necessarily the right way to get the effect they want, if it is to get the US out of Iraq.
If the insurgents were as smart as Osama bin Laden and his gang, they would not have started the car bombings and suicide attacks. If the people of Iraq, and especially the insurgents, want the US to get out of their country, they need to start acting civil and form organized groups that can plan their strategy, just like Osama is right now in a more deviant way, so they can get on with their lives. This will, hopefully, give a good reason for the US to get our troops out of Iraq and let the Iraqis fend out their “new country” for themselves and make it what Iraqis want to make it.
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