Letters to the Editor
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Kovie
"But most of all, like a huge ship that has been steaming steadily in one direction, given the nature of our political process and reality, the problems that have beset our country, simply do not lend themselves to a quick turnaround, and to have expected serious improvements by now was, at best, a very long and unrealistic shot, and the fact that this hasn't happened should not cause people to lose hope and give up. I'm not guaranteeing that things WILL improve as much as we'd like them to, of course. What I'm saying is that if they can improve--and I personally believe that they can--it won't happen overnight, but rather take months, years and likely decades."
I was stunned by the way the Bush administration changed the U.S.A.'s traditional ways of doing things such as saying we would only attack if we were attacked. I recall that our country's policy was that it wouldn't undertake any action that wasn't just and fair. It changed overnight (it seemed to me) to preemptive war so we could intimidate the whole world. "Carry a big stick and use the hell out of it." I always remember Krauthammer around "Mission Accomplished" time saying the U.S.A. finally got its foreign policy right. If you don't do what we say we'll hammer the shit out of you.
The U.S.A. always challenged countries that were perceived as violating human rights, then overnight (it seemed to me) we instituted torture. John Yoo and Fredo and Addington and Bybee and Flanigan. I felt, once the American populace (the average Joe) found about about these "crazy" enactments, they would be horrified. No they are only horrified by some action of Nicole or Britney.
The U.S.A. prided itself on its Bill of Rights, habeas corpus, Miranda, et al. Then overnight (it seemed to me) my rights were gone. As I said I was stomped on by the DC Police. I was walking behind some people who were carrying a poster equating Bush to Hitler and the police came down on them, knocking me over. The Main Steam Media was there and watched and reported nothing.
I not a "quick study," but the above illustrate only a few events of a long list that happened overnight (or so it seemed to me).
But now you say we can't stop nor change the course of this huge ship doing 80 knots and out-of-control.
How come the neocons could change course by issuing a command, "hard right rudder," and have the changes occur
almost immediately. (or so it seemed to me)
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I don't get it, but I have a couple of ideas.
First, to Glenn, here's a typo in the article: "In response to a post I wrote last month ago" LAST MONTH AGO.
I think that the Bush White House plays crazy, as I've heard some poker experts explain. They are so nuts that you don't know what to expect except that it's going to be nuts AND awful. Media people need their jobs--and those gigantic paychecks. Bush will deny access if you fuck with him.
As for the Dems, I think they've given up. If they impeach, the dopes will think they're just getting back for what the Repug's did to Clinton. Also, the waiting game is working. They simply can't get at these mofos. God, it is depressing for those of us with human heads.
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Old South Meeting House
I just came from hearing Charlie Savage speak about his new book, Takeover: The Return of the Imperial Presidency and the Subversion of American Democracy at the Boston Old South Meeting House. The ghosts are restless in that place, and there is a palpable sea change in the air.
Charlie spoke to his pursuit of the history and mystery of the presidential signing statements, the recalcitrance of the current crop of presidential candidates to speak to what they believe about inherent and concentrated executive power, and what they intend to do about it and with it if elected to office.
During the question and answer portion, questioners were often asking about the seeming disconnect between the will of we the people to impeach and Congress' obvious reluctance to do so.
Charlie's response was that it was interesting for him on his nationwide book tour to routinely get these questions and animated discussion about the imperative to impeach, while within the Beltway, there is no impeachment discussion at all - by anyone.
His view is also that once executive power has been claimed, it rarely is reduced via remediation by Congress. There is even a huge question about who holds the legitimate authority to question presidential signing statements in the courts, and individual members of Congress do not have that authority, according to his research findings. - Maybe Glenn would write to this.
The bottom line is that we the people, having been publicly informed, are now aiders and abettors of torture and terrorism as a state sponsored and sanctioned program as long as we do nothing.
As citizens, we have a clear mandate:
To collectively call for impeachment of the president and the vice president and any elected or appointed official who has broken the oath to uphold and to defend the Constitution
To call for a Constitutional convention and restore government function to that under the Constitution
OR
Nothing - and to be collectively responsible for living as citizens in a terrorist state.
The shadows of the Sons of Liberty cast darkly over the audience tonight. Imperial presidency or inherent power of the king: the oppression of the people is evident, and the people are fomenting a rebellion.
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Nequals1
Thanks for that first person report. In MA, or all places. Ghosts, indeed.
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@ GG
"I am a huge believer in the fact that any systems constructed by human beings can be changed and torn down and replaced by other human beings. That makes defeatism inherently unwarranted."
And I am a huge believer in the fact that any such systems WILL be changed, torn down, and replaced.
" 'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
" Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!' "
Sometimes, it's all I've got.