Letters to the Editor
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Two points
1. On victimhood: Another reason I would to the caution against feeling that all is lost and the "evil powers that be" control everything is that this attitude is one of the prerequisites for becoming a terrorist. We are discouraged now because a lawless group has done tremendous damage to our country. However, our country has weathered larger challenges and each time come out stronger. The blogging community has been a bulwark of hope in these days and we need to continue the process of investigation, exposure and action that it allows to each citizen.
Many avenues abound for quick action. I am going to place telephone calls to all of my congresscritters urging an emergency Senate session to prevent a recess appointment and steadfast commitment against a Bush insider or party hack getting the nomination. I've signed up for the MoveOn vigil tomorrow night. There is the general strike scheduled for September 11 and demonstration in Washington on September 15. Get out there and do something. Maybe the Gonzales resignation coming at the same time as the Petraeus-Crocker report will jolt enough people to action that the M$M and Democratic Party will realize something large and important is happening.
2. Suggesting a candidate: Both Florida and the United States would benefit from Charlie Crist becoming AG. For a Republican, his tenure as Florida AG was remarkably accomplished and impartial. Excerpts from his Wikipedia entry:
During his time in office, Crist has been applauded by civil rights and consumer groups for expanding the powers of the Attorney General to prosecute civil rights and fraud cases. He has also received acclaim for his work to combat spam e-mails, freeze utility rates, end telecom deception, and protect the environment.
/snip/
Crist's tenure as Attorney General has been criticized by some. Some activists who had pushed for government intervention in the Terri Schiavo right-to-life case strongly criticized Crist when he did not attempt further legal action to keep Schiavo on life support.
As an AG, Crist appears to be a wonderful public servant. As Governor, not so much. His efforts to slash property taxes dramatically threaten to bankrupt the state, although, to his credit, he has moved to improve the openness of the workings of state government.
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@independent
To my knowlege, there isn't a single republican who has come to jesus on any of the issues the Judiciary committee is dealing with. The closest candidate for this is Specter, and he has been absolutely shifting and spineless--frequently contradicting himself in a single utterance.
True, some GOPPERS had lost faith in Gonzales the man, but none have been on the right side of any issue of substance regarding FISA, Habeas, Torture, etc. etc.
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Redemption, eh?
Looks more like this situation is turning ugly right quick.
Well. Of course. It would be very pleasing, uplifting, inspiring, and all of that, if the Dems actually followed Glenn's advice and refused to consider/approve any replacement AG who didn't meet high standards of "independence."
Yes. It would.
However. We have had plenty of experience with this outfit in Congress paying essentially no attention (sometimes not even lip service) to such considerations. Eventually, they wind up doing whatever BushCheney want, over and over and over again.
We have no reason -- whatsoever -- to think this situation is any different from their perspective, do we? If there is any evidence that they see this situation differently and they will therefore act differently, I would like anyone at all to show it.
Failing that, I think we can rely on our experience with this group to recognize that they will go out of their way to be polite, that a few will bluster, and that in the end, they will approve the BushCheney appointment to AG, no matter all the phone calls, cards, letters, and emails they receive from us. No matter how much the so called lefty bloggers huff and puff and snark. We've seen this over and over and over again, and there is no sign, whatsoever, that the current crop of Senators have changed their spots over the summer.
If there is any sign and I've missed it, please, anyone, show it.
We also need to understand that Glenn, along with nearly all Big "Lefty" Bloggers, is antipathetic to direct public action by The People of the United States -- apart from, of course, calls, letters, votes at appropriate times and places, emails and blogging. "Taking it to the streets" gives them the willies. Glenn has long asserted that public demonstrations of displeasure with the actions of our government, or protest assemblies for redress of grievance are "ineffective," and thus not worth his time to do more than mock or denounce their advocates.
And that's fine. But what we don't know is what he thinks is -- or would be -- more effective.
Over and over we see the question, "Well, what would you do, Glenn?" No answer. Just more mockery, denunciation, and misrepresenting the positions of advocates of direct public action.
If there really is to be Redemption, then Our Dems -- and Congress as a whole -- need to know that they cannot get away with capitulation again. But they don't know that. They don't know it because the American People are almost completely conditioned now to do nothing as a consequence of the continued betrayals by Congressional Dems.
There are no consequences they need to pay any attention to, are there?
And there are plenty of rewards for ignoring and denouncing The People.
So, yeah. Glenn. What do you propose to force them to see conquences if they choose another capitulation?
How best to encourage them to do the right thing?
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OT-leakers
Early in this administration, the president and others--notably Rumsfeld--came out time and time again complaining about leakers. And for good reason--leakage was constant and uncontrolled.
But note how both Rove and Gonzo caught even the sharpest eyes unaware. The ship is now tight as a tick.
The only leaks emerging now appear to be highly controlled and for the benefit of the administration.
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...administration officials who have long considered him an embarrassment...
What B.S. Gonzo was the administration's creation, it's pet dog. The embarrassment belongs to the administration, not to Gonzo. He's just who he is, always has been and has always been known to be by anyone paying attention. It was making him AG that is the embarrassment. Wiping their hands and claiming to be relieved that he's gone is the worst kind of misdirection of responsibility.