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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
jhudson2
Published Letters: 250 Editor's Choice: 13
I had a parent-teacher conference at my child’s elementary school yesterday. While waiting in the school office I read the commendations on the wall, the “Honored School” designation from the state legislature, etc. On one wall there was a photo of a soldier raising a US flag on some wooden structure - and apparently this was the same flag that now stood in the corner of the room. Above the pictures was an official-looking framed document. It said (I paraphrase) “This is to certify that this American flag was flow over Abu Ghraib Iraq on date x”. I was completely floored.
I turned to look at the school secretary and I can’t even imagine the look on my face. She said “what’s wrong?” and I replied “Do you know what happened there? Have you seen the pictures?” She frowned and me and said “well, we’re at war you know, and bad things happen to bad people in wars”.
Then went back to her typing.
http://www.tinyrevolution.com/mt/archives/000596.html
Forget hearings and public investigations - the Republicans will simply lie, and the fawning and complicit right wing media will rationalize and sugarcoat their criminality like Yoo does. This works because the base can sleep well at night knowing Dear Leader is looking out for them while actively searching for the "evildoers". That's what they're doing, right? Just looking for the bad guys.
I wonder what the reaction would be from Mr. and Mrs. Average Republican if they found out the government was listening in to their phone calls, or reading their mail/email, or monitoring the websites they go to. Because that's what we're really talking about here.
The next President needs to open the books: publicly and openly expose every domestic spying program initiated in violation of FISA - specifically and in detail, including the manner and method in which the information was collected and what it was used for. Those Americans whose information was illegally obtained should be able to search these records to see exactly the level of government intrusion they've allowed into their lives.
Let's see the Republicans stonewall that.
I have no idea what "drives" George Bush.
What drives me is concern for my 8-year-old daughter and 22-year-old stepson who has served one term in Iraq and will serve again in December. My now-deceased father was driven by the fear that his sons (me and my older and younger brother) might have to fight in Vietnam - thankfully that that did not occur. I hate the Republicans because of the contempt for which they hold my children.
And that's a powerful hatred.
This is about the Republican Party and all of it's members, right down to your neighbor and brother-in-law and coworker.
Sure, the Democrats are feckless and cowardly. They share the blame for a lot of this. But the Republicans are actively are working to keep these criminals in office. If even 10% of the Republicans currently in the Congress stood up and said "enough" this would be over, overnight. But they thwart at every turn any attempt at lawful oversight. And the average rank-and-file party member is perfectly happy to allow this to continue.
Republicans who don't actively oppose the conduct of their leaders are as culpable as Bush and Cheney for these crimes.
At first I was outraged, just another example of Republican contempt for the rule of law and our country in general. But then I thought, really, what do I care if Scooter Libby spends 30 months in jail? He's small fish. The damage done to Bush and the Republicans with this unethical pardon is a gift beyond price. He's a desperate man pandering to his rapidly disappearing base - and he's solidifying opposition to this entire corrupt party. Good on ya George! Keep it up and a Republican won't be able to get elected as a dog catcher anywhere in this country without first having to defend the Bush's abysmal record.
Here's the brilliant part.
I heard some Republican apologist drone on CNN defending the commutation by saying "well, Clinton pardoned Marc Rich" before launching into a silly argument about Libby's sentence being excessive for the crime committed (uh, wasn't it the Republicans who demanded mandatory sentencing rules?). Anyway, his Democratic counterpart came back and asked if the apologist knew who was Rich's attorney - and guess what?
It was Scooter Libby.
The Republican party is the party of liars and criminals. They don't know any different. It's who they are, it's what they do. And we should celebrate every time they commit their crimes in public view.
I appreciate the clarification. It's not "our" party, it's his - his and people like him who understand the ins and outs of DC politics. How does he know? Well, he spent twenty minutes at a diner in Iowa.
Jesus Mary and Joseph.
We have an illegal war in Iraq, the Republican are looting the treasury and breaking the law with impunity, our health care system is on the verge of collapse and this bozo wants to talk "politics".
Sorry Joe, but we folks on the ground here in America (you might have heard of this place in your travels) have had enough of you spineless, spitless beltway weasels who are as happy to sleep with corporations or Republicans - just as long as they're clubby "insiders" like you.
You're not the Democratic "decider" and you never will be.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Once seen as a lunatic fringe, reactionary anti-women groups are courting respectability
Salon headlines in your mailbox
