Then...
They said cigarettes didn't cause cancer.
They said blacks shouldn't be able to vote and or marry whites.
They said that if we didn't keep fighting in Vietnam, the Commies will invade California.
Now ...
They say Global Warming is a hoax.
They say Valerie Plame wasn't a covert agent hunting WMDs.
They say that if we don't occupy Iraq, the Muslims will invade Hoboken.
What will they say next?
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Thursday, July 05, 2007
The Hole in the Commutation/Pardon Plan
Any otherwise legal act becomes a crime when done in an act of bribery, in obstruction of justice, or in the commission of other crimes.
For example, it is perfectly legal for you to drive a car. But if you knowingly drive a car transporting a bank robber away from his crime, you are guilty of a crime.
Libby's acceptance of the commutation was in furtherance of obstruction of justice, and in exchange for his silence. That's 2 new crimes for him, not covered by the commutation, and 2 new crimes for Bush.
In addition, the pardon power at the time the constitution was drafted did not cover the furtherance of a conspiracy to protect the Executive from future prosecution. It was intended to be an act of mercy for past crimes not related to the person granting the pardon. Just as no man may be a judge in his own case, no executive may grant a pardon in a matter that had put him in legal jeopardy.
For example, it is perfectly legal for you to drive a car. But if you knowingly drive a car transporting a bank robber away from his crime, you are guilty of a crime.
Libby's acceptance of the commutation was in furtherance of obstruction of justice, and in exchange for his silence. That's 2 new crimes for him, not covered by the commutation, and 2 new crimes for Bush.
In addition, the pardon power at the time the constitution was drafted did not cover the furtherance of a conspiracy to protect the Executive from future prosecution. It was intended to be an act of mercy for past crimes not related to the person granting the pardon. Just as no man may be a judge in his own case, no executive may grant a pardon in a matter that had put him in legal jeopardy.
A Priest, a minister, and Scooter Libby ...
... walk into a bar.
Pretty soon they're all wasted and start busting the joint up.
"Oh, my!" said the minister, "I broke a table. But Jesus will forgive me in the morning."
"Oh, my!" said the priest, "I broke a chair. But I can give myself absolution right now."
"Oh, you are such losers!" sneered Scooter Libby. "I can break every law in the book, and George W Bush will pardon me in November!"
... walk into a bar.
Pretty soon they're all wasted and start busting the joint up.
"Oh, my!" said the minister, "I broke a table. But Jesus will forgive me in the morning."
"Oh, my!" said the priest, "I broke a chair. But I can give myself absolution right now."
"Oh, you are such losers!" sneered Scooter Libby. "I can break every law in the book, and George W Bush will pardon me in November!"
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
1947 v. 2007
1947: six years after Pearl Harbor, America is victorious everywhere and at peace for two years. Hitler is dead, and Tojo about to be executed.
2007: six years after 9/11, America is bogged down in Afghanistan & Iraq, with peace at least ten years in the future. bin Ladin is laughing his ass off!
The difference:
FDR was in it to win.
The House of Bush and Saud are in it for the money.
1947: six years after Pearl Harbor, America is victorious everywhere and at peace for two years. Hitler is dead, and Tojo about to be executed.
2007: six years after 9/11, America is bogged down in Afghanistan & Iraq, with peace at least ten years in the future. bin Ladin is laughing his ass off!
The difference:
FDR was in it to win.
The House of Bush and Saud are in it for the money.
Friday, June 22, 2007
How The Con Works
Atop the table on the sidewalk are three cups.
The man puts a ball under the cup labeled "Iraq".
Next to it are "Iran" and "Korea".
"The first round is free!" he says. "It'll pay for itself! Trust me!"
So you say, ok, I'll play.
He moves the cups around, back and forth.
When they stop, you pick "Iraq".
OK, the ball's there.
"Ready to play?"
So you plonk down the ante.
$100 Billion dollars.
100,000 cases of PTSD
10,000 wounded.
1000 dead.
America's safety goes under a cup. He moves them around and around.
Pick the cup.
Wait! It's not there!
Try another cup?
"Sure, ante up again."
More dollars.
More PTSD
More wounded.
More dead.
Missed again! But now you see how he does it.
Ante up again.
Missed it again!
But next time, you will win for sure!
The game goes on.
It will go on as long as you care to play.
Why?
You are an honest, decent citizen.
You do not understand how cons work.
The ball is not under any of the cups.
The ball is in his hand all the time.
As long as the game continues, you keep giving him money.
Why would he want the game to stop?
Why do you want to keep playing his game?
The man puts a ball under the cup labeled "Iraq".
Next to it are "Iran" and "Korea".
"The first round is free!" he says. "It'll pay for itself! Trust me!"
So you say, ok, I'll play.
He moves the cups around, back and forth.
When they stop, you pick "Iraq".
OK, the ball's there.
"Ready to play?"
So you plonk down the ante.
$100 Billion dollars.
100,000 cases of PTSD
10,000 wounded.
1000 dead.
America's safety goes under a cup. He moves them around and around.
Pick the cup.
Wait! It's not there!
Try another cup?
"Sure, ante up again."
More dollars.
More PTSD
More wounded.
More dead.
Missed again! But now you see how he does it.
Ante up again.
Missed it again!
But next time, you will win for sure!
The game goes on.
It will go on as long as you care to play.
Why?
You are an honest, decent citizen.
You do not understand how cons work.
The ball is not under any of the cups.
The ball is in his hand all the time.
As long as the game continues, you keep giving him money.
Why would he want the game to stop?
Why do you want to keep playing his game?
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Republican Party to Quit the GOP
Washington (AP) - Faced with a complete abandonment of traditional conservative principles and a revolt among the rank-and-file, the Republican Party announced today that it is leaving the GOP.
"We can no longer remain in an organization headed by a President who believes in large, intrusive government," said a spokesman. "The GOP has lead America into a morass of costly foreign adventures and no-knock warrants. We don't stand for that."
White House spokesman Tony Snow dismissed the statement. "George W Bush has never been a member of the Republican Party, regardless of what those liberals want you to think."
"We can no longer remain in an organization headed by a President who believes in large, intrusive government," said a spokesman. "The GOP has lead America into a morass of costly foreign adventures and no-knock warrants. We don't stand for that."
White House spokesman Tony Snow dismissed the statement. "George W Bush has never been a member of the Republican Party, regardless of what those liberals want you to think."
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Lawrence of Arabia Said...
"Do not try to do too much with your own hands. Better the Arabs do it tolerably than that you do it perfectly.
It is THEIR war, and you are to help them, not to win it for them.
Actually, also, under the very odd conditions of Arabia, your practical work will not be so good as, perhaps, you think it is."
T.E.Lawrence, August 20, 1917
It is THEIR war, and you are to help them, not to win it for them.
Actually, also, under the very odd conditions of Arabia, your practical work will not be so good as, perhaps, you think it is."
T.E.Lawrence, August 20, 1917
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