President George W. Bush will officially say goodbye to the nation in a 13-minute television address at 7 tonight. “I’m going to urge our nation to continue to engage the world with confidence – confidence in the transformative power of freedom and liberty,” Bush said today, previewing his speech. If given the opportunity, how would WE Bloggers say goodbye to Bush?
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- ANTI on Open thread 11/23
- CapnAmerica on Open thread 11/23
- ANTI on Open thread 11/23
- ANTI on Open thread 11/23
- CapnAmerica on Open thread 11/23
- ANTI on Open thread 11/23
- CapnAmerica on Open thread 11/23
- Monkeyhawk on Open thread 11/23
- CapnAmerica on Open thread 11/23
- ProudMan on Too many exemptions
135 Comments
“…how would WE Bloggers say goodbye to Bush?”
Not this way:
“One can be reasonably sure that his exit, like his controversial entrance, will be marked by a graciousness usually absent in political circles. We can also be pretty certain that his departure will not feature the ransacking of the Oval Office and Air Force One, or the sophomoric removal of the ‘O’s’ from White House keyboards. If, as has been the case for his entire presidency, he is true to his word, he will be as magnanimous to his successor as he was to his predecessor; notwithstanding the disrespect he received at the hands of both.”
* * * * *
There are some dead-enders who don’t post on this blog.
http://spectator.org/archives/2009/01/14/george-w-bush-winner
And wasn’t that “W”s off the the keyboards story debunked?
Gee, George, weren’t you supposed to leave things behind better than you found them? What happened?
Raw meat.
‘bye!
You know, this is the one time when one of Ian’s middle finger icon scrolls would be fitting.
With the middle finger salute!
Thank you for your service.
Here’s how the Kansas City Star’s Mike Hendricks says good-bye to Phill (the second L is for “leaving” — Yea!) Kline.
http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/980051.html
I’m buying champagne, not because there’s a whole lot to celebrate, but at least the chief architect (or perhaps figurehead) of our current horrific mess will be taking his leave. That’s something to celebrate!
And Dan Perkins may have a chance to do a non-political cartoon or two (though with the mess we’ve been left, I doubt it!):
http://action.credomobile.com/comics/2009/01/ive_been_cartoonified.html
Thanks for running for President. The office of the President and the person who fills that role will always be respected by this one American. It’s not your fault you were given two terms to serve. So thanks for the good intentions and hard work.
Thanks for Justice Roberts and Alito.
Keep the shiny side up
Don’t take any wooden nickles
Beware of Democrats in conservative clothing
Texas, like a whole other country, enjoy your life Mr. President.
“Regular” blithers –
“Texas, like a whole other country, enjoy your life Mr. President.”
What’s your take on how Laura is retiring to Dallas and Shrub’s saying he’s going back to Crawford?
I think her memoirs got that $8 Million dollar advance because it’s going to be a tell-all in a nasty divorce.
Of course he’ll enjoy his life in Texas. He can drink out in the open again!
Bet Laura will keep the China too!
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=215905&title=six-days-seven-nights
Truly too good to miss this episode.
“What’s your take on how Laura is retiring to Dallas and Shrub’s saying he’s going back to Crawford?”
MH,
I’ve never seen that story anywhere else but here. I’ve seen stories on the internets about them both going to Dallas and stories saying they’re both going to Crawford. What’s your source on the break up?
“What’s your source on the break up?”
libsaregullible.com
#
Monkeyhawk
Posted January 15, 2009 at 3:41 pm | Permalink
“Regular” blithers –
“Texas, like a whole other country, enjoy your life Mr. President.”
What’s your take on how Laura is retiring to Dallas and Shrub’s saying he’s going back to Crawford?
I think her memoirs got that $8 Million dollar advance because it’s going to be a tell-all in a nasty divorce.
Of course he’ll enjoy his life in Texas. He can drink out in the open again!
——————-
dumb a.s.s.
The Presidential library for George W. Bush is at Southern Methodist University. Dallas will be where President Bush stays to coordinate functions of the collection and his own book writings.
Not even a good try at a rumor MonkeyHock.
History will be kind to W. I sincerely appreciate
that he is a man’s man. He stood for what is right and didn’t flinch. Even the namecalling didn’t
interrupt his committment to saving the U.S. from
terrorists. Thank you President Bush. Time will prove me right.
Joelle,
So Bush saves us from terrorists? And Obama saves us from Bush!
As my grandpa would say, we’re well shet of him!
I watched some of Larry King’s interview with George & Laura. There does not seem to be any truth to the rumor of a marital breakup. Like many rich folks, they will have 2 homes (both in Texas) and will spend some time at each.
From Fox News:
Despite record low job approval ratings, most Americans think George W. Bush is a good person. And as he prepares to leave the presidency, more than twice as many people think history will be cruel to Bush as think history will be kind.
According to a FOX News poll taken during Bush’s final full week in office, 34 percent of Americans say they approve of the job he is doing and 58 percent disapprove — his highest positive rating since December of 2007.
A 72 percent majority of Americans believe Bush is a good person, including an overwhelming majority of Republicans (93 percent) as well as majorities of Democrats (56 percent) and independents (74 percent).
As I understand it, when Truman left office, he was not popular at all. Now, though, he is loved.
Not by me, but…
I’d watch his speech, but I’d hate to have the flat screen damaged by the thrown shoes.
“If given the opportunity, how would WE Bloggers say goodbye to Bush?”
——–
I am ecstatic that he is not going to be in office after noon Tuesday. I would decline any opportunity to say anything to him. I believe if you can’t say something nice it’s better not to say anything at all.
It is possible he really did give the job “his all.” I hope he lives to see how history treats him.
Goodbye, Good Riddance, and Don’t let the door hit your butt on the way out.
Kake.com is having a rate the bush presidency vote, think I’ll give him an F (unless 0 is an option).
Had to give an F with 34% of others.
Good man, what you see is what you get.
Would much rather call him a friend, and depend on him, that most of the neurotic ‘do nothings’ around here.
“I believe if you can’t say something nice it’s better not to say anything at all.”—lindainks55
Then just shut up, you rarely have anything good or of value to say.
GOODBYE you SOB!
That’s off the cuff. More later.
Thanks for being a prez that has kept us safe for seven years. Thanks for being a man that made the hard decisions and didn’t govern by polls. History will recognize who you are and what you have done. Enjoy your retirement.
Faux news doesn’t have accurate polls. That’s probably the high end.
44% of Kansans say Bush was an F in the KAKE poll now.
Linda has as much or more right than you to post here bawks. She has class, credibility, and respect.
(Google them)
If you want to shut her up, you’ll go through me pops.
bush “F” now 45.2%.
Hmmm, I’m thinking there will be celebratory gunfire and hornhonking next Tuesday morning — that’s a given. ;>)
However, now that the topic has come up, perhaps more IS in order. I’ll have to give this further thought. I’m sure there will be a large number of black-tux white-tie celebrations this weekend and on into Monday, at least here on the E Coast. There are a great number of celebrations taking place here in SE Virginia. Certainly something on that scale is in order.
Of course, Augustus Stupidus’s place in history’s dustbin is assured. Once he’s safely out to pasture in Dallas (Crawford’ll be sold since its use as a place to be photographed clearin’ brush will be no finito), he’ll slide — arrogantly ignorant as usual — into the ignominy of living the life of a failed president.
The highlight of his life would be gaining the self-awareness of the massive amount of damage done at his hand to the USA, but I doubt he’ll ever rise that high. If he does somehow manage to rise to that level of grace then he’ll be grateful one day to take his place next to Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, and Warren Harding in the great pantheon of those presidents we Americans refer to as “wtf was the US thinking when they elected THAT guy?!?”
I think they’ll appreciate the company.
“If you want to shut her up, you’ll go through me pops.”—the big BlowJ, with the little weewee, Ha ha!
I am sometimes ashamed at the level some of you who claim to be democrats will lower yourselves to.
The comments of many of you reflect there is not a gentleman nor a lady amongst you.
We should be able to let the President leave office with the same respect we would expect others to show upon the new President’s arrival.
Our moment in the sun is near, yet we are not acting that way.
Moved up to 45.7, as many as A, B, and C, combined, with 12% giving a d.
dionysus
Posted January 15, 2009 at 7:51 pm | Permalink
I am sometimes ashamed at the level some of you who claim to be democrats will lower yourselves to.
The comments of many of you reflect there is not a gentleman nor a lady amongst you.
We should be able to let the President leave office with the same respect we would expect others to show upon the new President’s arrival.
Our moment in the sun is near, yet we are not acting that way.
—
True enough.
But life is short and made for living. The celebrations will definitely be in poor taste…but they’ll also be long, loud, happy, and noisy.
It ain’t all bad, life.
We should be able to let the President leave office with the same respect we would expect others to show upon the new President’s arrival.
You’re talking about a man who assumed office via massive voter suppression, and whose tenure has been marked by fundamental hostility to the very notion of a Executive branch being accountable to the people, their representatives, or their judicial watchdogs. That’s just for starters.
In less civilized countries, when such leaders leave office, they are typical deposed via a coup, and are promptly dispatched. We don’t do that here.
Like I said upthread, criminal investigations are quite enough for me. That which was merely criminally stupid cannot, and should not, be punished.
But to say he deserves the same respect as the new President (regardless of who actually won the election) is ludicrous. That person (who happens to be Obama) has not even served yet.
His administration long ago made disrespect of the people the rule. It was his way or you were a traitor, even if his way was in, in fact, genuine treason. If he wants respect after January 20th, he can take that up with the good folks of Texas. I will be content to ignore him. But expecting us to ignore history is asking far too much.
“We should be able to let the President leave office with the same respect we would expect others to show upon the new President’s arrival.”
Not when he is personally responsible for the death of over 4,000 American soldiers and over 100,000 Iraqis for nothing more than his desire to seek revenge and control of their oil.
I’m amazed at how some of you think he has “kept us safe from terrorists”…when he all but abandoned Afganistan to invade a country that was no threat to us and had nothing to do with 9/11…and bin Laden is still in his cave laughing at us.
Our economy was ruined under his watch, he was more concerned about taking care of his friends than the country, he vacationed during national disasters, and excelled in looking and sounding stupid on a regualr basis.
What would I say to Dubya as he leaves office?
FU*K YOU!!!!!
Rage,
You’re full of it, and I don’t mean intelligence.
You’re full of ‘Pelosi’, yeah that’s it, ’stinkin Pelosi’.
“Our economy was ruined under his watch”, but because of the Dimocrats!!!
Sorry, it was your boy Dubya that spent like a drunk democrat for 8 years…he never vetoed anything that came across his desk until the bill that would have expanded health care for children. And his bogus war will cost us trillions. You can’t blame it on anyone but him.
Boxlock20
Posted January 15, 2009 at 8:10 pm | Permalink
“Our economy was ruined under his watch”, but because of the Dimocrats!!!
—
lol
Yeah, those eeevil Democrats, in power all of 2 out of the 8 full years of Augustus Stupidus’s presidency. And I guess even in the 6 years they were out of power they somehow managed to pull the wool over Augustus Stupidus’s eyes, right?
What, did an eeeeeevil Democrat hypnotize Bush’s SEC Chairman? Or Bush? Or Paulson? Or the AG? Did they remove the “The Buck Stops Here” sign from Bush’s desk? How in the world did those eeeeeeeeevil Democrats manage to pull the wool over The Decider’s all-knowing, all-seeing eyes?
You Bush apologists are frickin hilarious, and in a “laughing at” way.
personally responsible for the death of over 4,000 American soldiers
I think you need to understand that a great many of our democratic friends in congress made very strong statements in support of authorizing the war and voted in that vein. The statements made by leaders in congress, who had access to the same materiel the president had regarding WMD indicate congress is just as responsible. At any time, many could have joined president elect Obama and voted their conscience – which was NO.
That they didn’t, that we so easily sweep the facts under the rug, scares me more than your statement attributing blame to one president. We all have a congress to ensure sanity, unless we pretend we don’t.
I will not cheer as cheering implies somehow by his leaving it means that it is better. The damage is done and will take more years then I will live to correct. I will not morn his leaving as all my morning has been spent on the moral core of this nation being lost in the last eight years. I will not look back with hatred, I have never hated Bush, as it is such a little emotion compare to what he has done to my country. He has damaged it far more then the terrorists could have.
I will try to explain to others what happen and the direction this country took. Little good that will do as it is beyond human comprehension as to why a great people allowed it to happen in the first place. I will not let history glass over or soft pedal what he did. My grandkids and if I live long enough my great grandkids will know the truth of the Bush administration.
The bushies remind me of the SS loyalist,blind belief in one person. They’ll go to their graves singing his praises.
“it is beyond human comprehension as to why a great people allowed it to happen in the first place.”
—–
Right in plain sight, with the plans posted on the internet…
It is incomprehensible.
Well said, Dog.
“scares me more than your statement attributing blame to one president. We all have a congress to ensure sanity, unless we pretend we don’t.”
He lied about the reasons for invading, he mislead and manipulated those who trusted him, and he threw out those who disagreed with him.
Little good that will do as it is beyond human comprehension as to why a great people allowed it to happen in the first place.
That, dog, is the most important, and chilling, lesson. Not only can it happen again, if we let it, it will. It’s too easy to think that somehow all the lessons of history have been learned, and we’re all so hip and modern and sophisticated, that we’d never fall for that.
Not true. Not true now, not true a hundred years from now. The lesson future generations must realize is it can happen here, no matter how distant and unlikely it seems.
BlueJay sings for bawks and all the bottom feeding apologists and hangers on…
It’s over it’s over it’s OVER I’TS OVER
It’s OOOOOOO verrrr.
I’ll bet there isn’t one of you slimy, two-faced Dimocrats that will read the following documented list of Dimocrats calling for the war with Iraq. And if I am correct at least look at the names at the end of each paragragh. But as I said, since you are dishonest to the soul, and two faced as they are I think this will go unread.
You are as big a liar, and as two face as they are and the proof follows.
If The Bush Administration Lied About WMD, So Did These People — Version 3.0
by John Hawkins
Since we haven’t found WMD in Iraq, a lot of the anti-war/anti-Bush crowd is saying that the Bush administration lied about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. Well, if they’re going to claim that the Bush administration lied, then there sure are a lot of other people, including quite a few prominent Democrats, who have told the same “lies” since the inspectors pulled out of Iraq in 1998. Here are just a few examples that prove that the Bush administration didn’t lie about weapons of mass destruction…
“[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq’s refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs.” — From a letter signed by Joe Lieberman, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara A. Milulski, Tom Daschle, & John Kerry among others on October 9, 1998
“This December will mark three years since United Nations inspectors last visited Iraq. There is no doubt that since that time, Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to refine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer- range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies.” — From a December 6, 2001 letter signed by Bob Graham, Joe Lieberman, Harold Ford, & Tom Lantos among others
“Whereas Iraq has consistently breached its cease-fire agreement between Iraq and the United States, entered into on March 3, 1991, by failing to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction program, and refusing to permit monitoring and verification by United Nations inspections; Whereas Iraq has developed weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and biological capabilities, and has made positive progress toward developing nuclear weapons capabilities” — From a joint resolution submitted by Tom Harkin and Arlen Specter on July 18, 2002
“Saddam’s goal … is to achieve the lifting of U.N. sanctions while retaining and enhancing Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction programs. We cannot, we must not and we will not let him succeed.” — Madeline Albright, 1998
“(Saddam) will rebuild his arsenal of weapons of mass destruction and some day, some way, I am certain he will use that arsenal again, as he has 10 times since 1983″ — National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, Feb 18, 1998
“Iraq made commitments after the Gulf War to completely dismantle all weapons of mass destruction, and unfortunately, Iraq has not lived up to its agreement.” — Barbara Boxer, November 8, 2002
“The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retained some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capability. Intelligence reports also indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons, but has not yet achieved nuclear capability.” — Robert Byrd, October 2002
“There’s no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat… Yes, he has chemical and biological weapons. He’s had those for a long time. But the United States right now is on a very much different defensive posture than we were before September 11th of 2001… He is, as far as we know, actively pursuing nuclear capabilities, though he doesn’t have nuclear warheads yet. If he were to acquire nuclear weapons, I think our friends in the region would face greatly increased risks as would we.” — Wesley Clark on September 26, 2002
“What is at stake is how to answer the potential threat Iraq represents with the risk of proliferation of WMD. Baghdad’s regime did use such weapons in the past. Today, a number of evidences may lead to think that, over the past four years, in the absence of international inspectors, this country has continued armament programs.” — Jacques Chirac, October 16, 2002
“The community of nations may see more and more of the very kind of threat Iraq poses now: a rogue state with weapons of mass destruction, ready to use them or provide them to terrorists. If we fail to respond today, Saddam and all those who would follow in his footsteps will be emboldened tomorrow.” — Bill Clinton in 1998
“In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including Al Qaeda members, though there is apparently no evidence of his involvement in the terrible events of September 11, 2001. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons. Should he succeed in that endeavor, he could alter the political and security landscape of the Middle East, which as we know all too well affects American security.” — Hillary Clinton, October 10, 2002
“I am absolutely convinced that there are weapons…I saw evidence back in 1998 when we would see the inspectors being barred from gaining entry into a warehouse for three hours with trucks rolling up and then moving those trucks out.” — Clinton’s Secretary of Defense William Cohen in April of 2003
“Iraq is not the only nation in the world to possess weapons of mass destruction, but it is the only nation with a leader who has used them against his own people.” — Tom Daschle in 1998
“Saddam Hussein’s regime represents a grave threat to America and our allies, including our vital ally, Israel. For more than two decades, Saddam Hussein has sought weapons of mass destruction through every available means. We know that he has chemical and biological weapons. He has already used them against his neighbors and his own people, and is trying to build more. We know that he is doing everything he can to build nuclear weapons, and we know that each day he gets closer to achieving that goal.” — John Edwards, Oct 10, 2002
“The debate over Iraq is not about politics. It is about national security. It should be clear that our national security requires Congress to send a clear message to Iraq and the world: America is united in its determination to eliminate forever the threat of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction.” — John Edwards, Oct 10, 2002
“I share the administration’s goals in dealing with Iraq and its weapons of mass destruction.” — Dick Gephardt in September of 2002
“Iraq does pose a serious threat to the stability of the Persian Gulf and we should organize an international coalition to eliminate his access to weapons of mass destruction. Iraq’s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to completely deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power.” — Al Gore, 2002
“We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction.” — Bob Graham, December 2002
“Saddam Hussein is not the only deranged dictator who is willing to deprive his people in order to acquire weapons of mass destruction.” — Jim Jeffords, October 8, 2002
“We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction.” — Ted Kennedy, September 27, 2002
“There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein’s regime is a serious danger, that he is a tyrant, and that his pursuit of lethal weapons of mass destruction cannot be tolerated. He must be disarmed.” — Ted Kennedy, Sept 27, 2002
“I will be voting to give the president of the United States the authority to use force – if necessary – to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security.” — John F. Kerry, Oct 2002
“The threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real, but as I said, it is not new. It has been with us since the end of that war, and particularly in the last 4 years we know after Operation Desert Fox failed to force him to reaccept them, that he has continued to build those weapons. He has had a free hand for 4 years to reconstitute these weapons, allowing the world, during the interval, to lose the focus we had on weapons of mass destruction and the issue of proliferation.” — John Kerry, October 9, 2002
“(W)e need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime. We all know the litany of his offenses. He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation. …And now he is miscalculating America’s response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction. That is why the world, through the United Nations Security Council, has spoken with one voice, demanding that Iraq disclose its weapons programs and disarm. So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real, but it is not new. It has been with us since the end of the Persian Gulf War.” — John Kerry, Jan 23, 2003
“We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandates of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them.” — Carl Levin, Sept 19, 2002
“Every day Saddam remains in power with chemical weapons, biological weapons, and the development of nuclear weapons is a day of danger for the United States.” — Joe Lieberman, August, 2002
“Over the years, Iraq has worked to develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. During 1991 – 1994, despite Iraq’s denials, U.N. inspectors discovered and dismantled a large network of nuclear facilities that Iraq was using to develop nuclear weapons. Various reports indicate that Iraq is still actively pursuing nuclear weapons capability. There is no reason to think otherwise. Beyond nuclear weapons, Iraq has actively pursued biological and chemical weapons.U.N. inspectors have said that Iraq’s claims about biological weapons is neither credible nor verifiable. In 1986, Iraq used chemical weapons against Iran, and later, against its own Kurdish population. While weapons inspections have been successful in the past, there have been no inspections since the end of 1998. There can be no doubt that Iraq has continued to pursue its goal of obtaining weapons of mass destruction.” — Patty Murray, October 9, 2002
“As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I am keenly aware that the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons is an issue of grave importance to all nations. Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process.” — Nancy Pelosi, December 16, 1998
“Even today, Iraq is not nearly disarmed. Based on highly credible intelligence, UNSCOM [the U.N. weapons inspectors] suspects that Iraq still has biological agents like anthrax, botulinum toxin, and clostridium perfringens in sufficient quantity to fill several dozen bombs and ballistic missile warheads, as well as the means to continue manufacturing these deadly agents. Iraq probably retains several tons of the highly toxic VX substance, as well as sarin nerve gas and mustard gas. This agent is stored in artillery shells, bombs, and ballistic missile warheads. And Iraq retains significant dual-use industrial infrastructure that can be used to rapidly reconstitute large-scale chemical weapons production.” — Ex-Un Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter in 1998
“There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years. And that may happen sooner if he can obtain access to enriched uranium from foreign sources — something that is not that difficult in the current world. We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction.” — John Rockefeller, Oct 10, 2002
“Saddam’s existing biological and chemical weapons capabilities pose a very real threat to America, now. Saddam has used chemical weapons before, both against Iraq’s enemies and against his own people. He is working to develop delivery systems like missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles that could bring these deadly weapons against U.S. forces and U.S. facilities in the Middle East.” — John Rockefeller, Oct 10, 2002
“Whether one agrees or disagrees with the Administration’s policy towards Iraq, I don’t think there can be any question about Saddam’s conduct. He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do. He lies and cheats; he snubs the mandate and authority of international weapons inspectors; and he games the system to keep buying time against enforcement of the just and legitimate demands of the United Nations, the Security Council, the United States and our allies. Those are simply the facts.” — Henry Waxman, Oct 10, 2002
http://www.rightwingnews.com/quotes/demsonwmds.php
” It is a tale full of sound and fury told by an idiot, signifying nothing”
Crickets chirping…chirping…
Like I said, BlowJ, just one of, but the blue ribbon winner of the slimy two faced Dimocrats, too afraid to read the truth. Too simple minded to admit their own were fully apart of it too.
And like was said tonight, and is easily confirmed objectively for those honest enough to do so, Iraq is far better off today by any measure of quality of life, and getting better, at least for now and until a new administration may or may not keep it improving.
Rage it may not have even taken a hundred years many times what had happen seems remarkable similar to what happen in 1930’s Germany. Unquestioningly following and accepting what a leader said is the truth.
Which led to a country waging war other others whom had not committed any act against them.
The leader’s stated goal was to insure the safety and will of the country by the use of force against those in the world whom do not agree.
“Of course the people don’t want war. But after all, it’s the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it’s always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it’s a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger.”
– Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials
You’re CLEARLY taking this kinda hard there bawksy.
Good.
” It is a tale full of sound and fury told by an idiot, signifying nothing”
Serious question: from Faulkner?
Shakespeare there Steven
“Hamlet”
Heh heh bawksy.
It wouldn’t smart so much if you were waiting for old John to die so lil’ Sarah could be President would it?
but OOPS! That didn’t happen!
Thanks, Jay. I will look, but I think Faulkner stole that line. It happens, you know.
Hey, dude, hope you are doing okay. Good to see you the other day, even if it was not in the parking lot of the Dillons at Rock and Central.
Too bad, so many of these bloggers here are such cowards.
Sorry, Jay.
I think your are correct. Check out this link:
http://blevkog.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/a-tale-told-by-an-idiot-full-of-sound-and-fury-signifying-nothing/
See you tomorrow.
Steven
Always a pleasure Steven.
If I could speak to bush personally?
I imagine standing a few feet from him looking him in the eye. Ever the glad hander, he extends his hand. I shake my head and his smile fades.
I look him up and down and he does not understand my expression. Because he has never seen it. It has been always kept from him and he never cared to seek otherwise. Slowly, it dawns on him that what he is seeing contempt and disgust. Even more slowly, he realizes it is directed at him. He sees my fists clench and senses I am about to strike.
And then I shake my head again and turn my back on him….
“See you tomorrow” should have been, “see you later”
“You’re CLEARLY taking this kinda hard there bawksy.
Good.”—the BlowJ
Not taking anything “hard” at all, I’m just amazed there are other two faced liars like yourself. Of course not to your extent.
“Too bad, so many of these bloggers here are such cowards.”—Steven, a poor judge of character because he is of poor character
Oh an looks who’s talking, ha. And talking about the guy that took his nitwit friend BlowJ to school because BlowJ was to naive and stupid to realize others were not as immature as he.
Obama wasn’t even there to hear Bush’s last speech, he was out feeding his face at some restaurant.
With paulie gone, I think bawks will serve as a fitting monument to bush for purposes of this forum.
Boxielocks,
I swore off speaking to you, because you are one of the most hateful cons who has ever graced with your presence.
Go Fucque yourself. Please. I bet even your silly wife, would appreciate it. And, good night.
Is it just me or did the editors really pile on the posts today???
I think I know why…..
Phill wants to put the anti-retailer post on how the Eagle stands with shoplifters as far behind him as possible because it contains me making notes like this …..
CALLING ALL RETAILERS.
Send the receipt post on this blog to all of your pals at the Chamber.
The Eagle wants you to stand down while being robbed blind.
BOYCOTT THE EAGLE FOR SIDING WITH THE SHOPLIFTERS IN THEIR SNOOTY LIBERAL WAY.
Advertise on talk radio. 99% of their listeners support your right to protect your private property from pilfering.
graced with = graced us with
“I imagine standing a few feet from him looking him in the eye. Ever the glad hander, he extends his hand. I shake my head and his smile fades.”–the BlowJ
Oh my my, look how ‘the BlowJ’ needs to engage his silly imagination to compensate for his terribly poor self-image and weak ego.
You’re a bit of a joke there BlowJ, though a bad one. Ever considered psychiatric evaluation and treatment.
With an imagination like that I bet you’re quite something with a magazine in the bathroom.
Shudder much there Steven!
“joined president elect Obama and voted their conscience – which was NO.”
Ummmm whoever said this upthread??? Obama wasnt involved in the voting on the issue of the Iraq “war”…
Bawksie??? Not ONE of your precious out of context quotes said anything about an invasion being agreed to… They did, a few, mention the use of force – if necessary – Do you want to retract your LIES now, or later??
It is amazing how much alike BJ and Steven are. Both delusional egotists. Ledgends in their own mind. Totally absent from reality. Believe in fairy tales with themselves as the hero.
Pathetic. I can see Bush look at you little BJ with contempt because you are such a little man.
“Shudder much there Steven!”
I’ll bet a lot less than you do, you cowardly, pr*ck.
How about posting a list of quotes from many of those same folks, who later said they had been sold a bill of goods on Iraq, and would not have voted with Bush, if they had known the truth that the intelligence was bogus?? You want to dig out those quotes??
I seriously doubt if you would… ALSO, please to note how many of your “quotes” are from 1998…. BEFORE Bush was in office… BEFORE there was a 9/11…
Bush clearly used 9/11 as his firestarter for invading Iraq… a nation, albeit quite violent to its own people, who had never launched threats to the USA….
okobserver – clue to you – no one with any sense reads your posts.
Maybe your family will grow a backbone and take away your keyboard. I am not holding my breath…
Hey Steven…Ha ha ha ha, right in your stupid looking face!
http://www.rightwingnews.com/quotes/demsonwmds.php———
Chas all of the quotes you need from Prez Clinton on down. I won’t argue the Iraq war but will say demos and repubs alike were for it. They thought Saddam needed to be removed. The quotes prove that. Bush made a hard decision as Obama will have to do. As a country we should respect the office and understand that it is a very tough job.
The bush terms will not only be a subject for Historians, but also an object lesson for Sociology. Another example of what happens when someone can stir up the more basic of human instincts, blood lust.
We and the world may have survived bush’s terms, but barely more than that.
“Not ONE of your precious out of context quotes said anything about an invasion being agreed to… They did, a few, mention the use of force – if necessary – Do you want to retract your LIES now, or later??”—Chas, the faux preacher
Dream on there faux preacher. I’ve got the recorded quotes….you’ve got nothing, with this or anything else I’ve ever seen.
Steven I used to have some respect for you but haven’t for some time. It is sad that you have regressed so much. You deal with mental health of other I have heard. Maybe you need some counseling of your own.
As for not reading my posts; I don’t doubt that at all. I research and post facts pertinent to the discussion and you and your ‘friends’ wouldn’t know a fact if it hit you in the face.
Incidentally, Kake is going to announce their poll results on the 10:00 news. Currently 47.2 F.
I can’t do any better than the crowd that spontaneously gathered in front of the White House on election night: “nah, nah, nah . . . nah, nah, nah, nah . . . hey, hey . . . good bye . . . ”
And thus the worst presidency in the history of our country ends not with a bang, but a whimper.
Wrong there Okob… Those Dems, many of them, retracted their approval once they learned that the intelligence was bogus… ANd, they didnt vote to invade Iraq… they voted for a use of force “if necessary” to disarm Saddam… NOT to invade and take over the whole country…. Better you and Bawksie go read those “quotes” again…. And you might try something a little more middle of the road besides your Reich Wing link…. LOL
Stevie Davis the baby of the blog whines: “remarkable similar to what happen in 1930’s Germany.”
I didn’t realize nazi germany had a democrat majority in their congress who voted in approval of everything Hitler said.
I think you better look in the mirror buddy, at the blind love fest going on with Obama, “THE ONE” before you even attempt to pretend Bush was comparable to Hitler. You are grooming the Nazi poster boy and he is a democrat, with a one party controlled congress presenting the nazi salute.
That was not the case with George Bush and your attempt to pretend it was so is a joke. LoL.
Thanks, ODieDokie,
Your whatever deserves this . . . .
Chas in decisions concerning war you don’t get a revote. You can’t just vote present. You have to make a decision. I have heard Bill Clinton and Hillary say that Saddam had to be taken out.
Monday morning quarterbacks are always right but unfortunately the game is already over and the call was made.
CrapnAmerica presents the best of the liberal masses as ” the crowd that spontaneously gathered in front of the White House.”
That’s real mature.
Republicans are apparently above all that. Didn’t happen when Clintons robbed the white house blind and DID take the letters off the keyboards. It’s called theft – unless a socialist does it. THen it’s for the public good.
I didn’t watch his farewell speech either, in a personal protest of his stolen presidencies, and because of my contempt for him and what he’s reduced America to.
Bet he didn’t even mention the ‘terrorist appeasers’, or say once “If you’re not with us, you’re against us”.
Thanks for your first post, Steven.
This proves what I’ve been saying for many years–rightwing lies never die.
The Congressional Budget Office examined the charges of vandalism and theft after the Clintons’ left the White House. Contrary to every right-wing source in the world, they found a completely normal and expected amount of damage and no theft worth noting.
Like cancer cells, lies by CONs are immortal . . .
There will probably be a spontaneous shoe throwing when he vacates the premises too.
#
Rage
Posted January 15, 2009 at 8:04 pm | Permalink
We should be able to let the President leave office with the same respect we would expect others to show upon the new President’s arrival.
You’re talking about a man who assumed office via massive voter suppression, and whose tenure has been marked by fundamental hostility to the very notion of a Executive branch being accountable to the people, their representatives, or their judicial watchdogs. That’s just for starters.
In less civilized countries, when such leaders leave office, they are typical deposed via a coup, and are promptly dispatched. We don’t do that here.
Like I said upthread, criminal investigations are quite enough for me. That which was merely criminally stupid cannot, and should not, be punished.
But to say he deserves the same respect as the new President (regardless of who actually won the election) is ludicrous. That person (who happens to be Obama) has not even served yet.
His administration long ago made disrespect of the people the rule. It was his way or you were a traitor, even if his way was in, in fact, genuine treason. If he wants respect after January 20th, he can take that up with the good folks of Texas. I will be content to ignore him. But expecting us to ignore history is asking far too much.
====================
Boo
Hoo
Hmmmm maybe the Bush office staff will steal all of the “O’s” from the keyboards???
That was a bogus story RoaCH… It has been debunked numerous times… Oh, but maybe you didnt know how to read back then, eh RoaCH??? LOL
OKIE — Yes, you CAN vote NO after you vote yes…. It is called parliamentary procedure… You know… bills, voted and passed in Congress???
Nearly all of those above referenced quotes were from resolutions… NOT laws…. Resolutions arent LAW….
KAKE’s poll was close to 50 percent F grade for Bush.
The ones I’m worried about are the 13 percent who gave him an A.
They are at a high risk of investing in time shares in Branson, Missouri.
I truly hope that George and Laura will go back to Texas… Lock themselves into Crawford, put on some good listening music, make up a big batch of Texas Sweet Tea, and take ALL the time they need to just RELAX… no press… no interviewers… just them, and their family…. just RELAX… and let it all sort of fade out for a while… Eight years is a long time to be cooped up in the White House, with all kinds of eyes watching your every move (even for security’s sake with Sec. Service agents)….
I truly hope they take however long they need to just BE THEMSELVES…. Hey, he is all done just in time to watch the rest of the NFL Playoffs, and the Superbowl…. And see all of the new, and many times, FUNNY commercials….
I truly hope they do that… Even if he has been a royal screw up, they deserve that kind of time to totally UNWIND from that time in the White House….
He acknowledged that some of his actions in response to 9/11 had been controversial but he stood by them and reasserted his with-us-or-against-us doctrine widely criticized overseas.
Thanks for reposting Rage’s excellent post, Regular.
I missed it upthread.
Your puerile and unfunny attempt to ridicule it was a small price to pay to get to read it.
Gaza War Protest . . . and Anti-Israel Rally . . .
San Francisco, January 10, 2009
http://zombietime.com/gaza_war_protest/
. . . . Pathetic . . . .
“….time shares in Branson” ROFL CapN…. But that one nearly made me choke on my coffee!!!
Those 13% will probably go underground, then again, they may be too stupid to.
Hehe, yup, Chas. I’m kinda proud of that one my own self . . .
We may be turning the page, but we’ll be living with the fall out of this bleak chapter in our history for quite a while.
Re: Dadman’s outrage at protest against Israel
The CONs never met an innocent kid bombed by a big imperial power that didn’t deserve to die:
Vietnam = napalm
Iraq = shock and awe
Gaza = white phosphorous
Dadman needs them Jews, so that we can have the Rapture, right after they convert to Christianity!
Interesting note on KWCH in a scientific survey where there were controls in place only 19% gave Bush an F grade. Guess your email campaign to stuff the ballot box on KAKE just prove one thing. Sheeple are easily led.
How funny!
Good point, Phantom. Our founders explicitly warned us not to establish a national religion.
So, we unilaterally support Israel which is based on nothing but a national religion.
If the Zoroastrians tried to establish their own country in, say, Florida, we’d drive them into the sea and hate them for their arrogance at the same time.
But when the Jews do it in Palestine, well . . . it’s in The Bible or something . . .
You know those giant foam rubber hands with a finger held up that fans wave at football games?
I’d like one with the middle finger raised: “Hey, W, you’re number one!”
Branson, Missouri — What Las Vegas would be if Hitler had won the war.
Or the Davidians try to establish their own little nation in Texas!
Farewell speeches are a ritual for departing U.S. leaders, but the stakes are especially high for Bush, who will step down with one of the lowest public approval ratings of any president in modern times — in the mid-20 percent range.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090116/pl_nm/us_bush_farewell_5
I’m outta here!
“I don’t know if you are still there Mr. bush. And frankly, I don’t care. You wouldn’t understand what I have to tell you even if you did hear it.
The only half hearted compliment I have for you is that I don’t think you are a bad man. But it is not meant as a compliment. I only say you are not a bad man because you’ve never demonstrated any deliberation or dedication to much of anything. You’re too dumb and uninvolved and deliberately disinterested to know OR care if you are seen as a bad man, let alone to weigh the matter in your own mind.
You were a puppet. Even less than that, you were a cardboard cutout. A face for a cause. That was the purpose of the forces that made you. THOSE are the folks who have told you what a good job it is you have been doing while they shield you from the knowledge of the damage you have done and the contempt you have so richly earned in the pursuit of their cause. You’ve made them lots of money and nearly completed their agenda.
I’m thinking you will have no visible monuments mr. bush. There will be no statues of you. History will not sing your praises in your lifetime or in the lifetime of your great great grandchildren. Oh you will hear for the rest of your days how wonderful you are, just as you always have. But the praise will come from the same, small circle that has surrounded you all your life. That’s your niche, and I have every confidence you will show no more interest in venturing beyond it going forward than you have up to now.
SO you will not see the monuments that are in your name. You won’t know the loss of a job or what it is to lose a home. You won’t work for a boss who treats you as with the contempt and disdain of a disposable object. You will not find yourself needing help and confronted with sympathetic but resigned folks who will tell you “sorry, but we just can’t afford it.”
But I will take comfort, mr. bush, in knowing that at best you will be remembered as Mr. “not quite”. You didn’t quite manage to load the Supreme Court to carry forward your peculiar ideology. Your successor will render YOUR appointments to the Court irrelevant relics. You didn’t quite manage to return American to the days of the robber barons as even now, card check legislation in a Congress YOU helped give to the Democrats will bring a resurgence in Unions that your makers worked for thirty years to almost destroy. Not ONLY did you not give America over fully to your petroleum invested friends and makers, you have actually forwarded through no intention of your own the forces of invention and innovation that will unseat them. You didn’t quite bring the vision of American empire to fruition as more and more American people question the fundamentals, religious and otherwise that have long directed our foreign policy. You didn’t “get” Osama bin Laden, thus bringing forever into question whether you really meant to bring to justice the greatest assailant on America in history or whether you simply used him as a bogeyman to futher the agenda you were set on.
But like I said george, none of this matters to you. You ARE the consummate failure and the worst President in history. But you don’t concern yourself with history. You have never considered much of anything beyond yourself. It’s not entirely your fault. That’s who your mom taught you to be. In her eyes, you are vindicated.
But you didn’t run for President for her. You didn’t even want the job. Involvement and curiosity and leadership have never been your thing.
You ran to impress and vindicate yourself to your dad. Oh and to vindicate him too.
Your dad was a better man than you. He was a generation closer to reality. And you never stood out in his eyes. Your brother Jeb was the real hope of the family. Jeb is a better man than you too but it is a benefit to the country and a loss to your family that you have destroyed his political future.
YOU wanted to impress dad. You wanted to go it one better and make up for the mistakes he made. But all you did was compound your fathers mistakes and so, call harsher attention on them. When HE won election, he said to those who did not vote for him “I want to be your President too”. When his cronies helped you steal the election, you declared “A President is President of ALL the people” and spat in the face of those disenfranchised and defrauded.
You didn’t vindicate the name of bush. You made it infamous. Your father will be a footnote below the harsh reviews of what you have done, not done, and screwed up. And I THINK you know it and will live with it at least until your dad is gone. And so, quietly alone with yourself, you will live the rest of your days and die feeling a failure in the reflection of your fathers eyes.
It is indeed a pity that that is all you will suffer. But for you, I hope it is painful enough.
Funny you should mention Las Vegas and Branson MH. One of my ancestors owned the land where Las Vegas sits.
Octavius Gass was sort of responsible for preserving the land that Las Vegas now stands. His Grand Uncle, Patrick Gass, was a Sergeant on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Can read more about Octavious Gass here:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=12834304
In Branson, Missouri – my relatives owned some land in town and around the lake – they sold in the 1970s sometime.
Sergeant Patrick Gass was quite a character. He wanted to fight in the Civil War when he was in his 90s. :)
sits=sets
So basically, “Regular,” you’re admitting bad real estate management is in your DNA, right?
“It is amazing how much alike BJ and Steven are. Both delusional egotists.”
Steven helps people. I like to think I do too.
Okie? What is more egotistical than exploiting prison labor to make yourself money and pretending at being charitable for it? Like you do?
You’re not quite the monument to bush that someone like bawksy is okie. But you’re in the running.
#
Monkeyhawk
Posted January 15, 2009 at 11:05 pm | Permalink
So basically, “Regular,” you’re admitting bad real estate management is in your DNA, right?
====================
Well, no – They were related by marriage through my fourth grand aunts. :) Two sisters married Gass brothers.
If my direct line ancestors would have passed on land to their descendants, things would be different. But that is true for most families’ ancestors.
Just thought was interesting to throw in some historical information and background. Maybe it will come up as a trivia question on Jeopardy. :)
I’ll play a round of Jeopardy, Reg.
So am I correct that Monkey Hawk is an Eagle editor? Watch him or some nick try to bury my last post on the article arguing that merchants should just allow pilfering of their stock with no defense at the doors.
Nervous about a boycott, are we Eagle?
Seattle Intelligencer … another Boeing town with a liberal organ going belly up.
bjb
Posted January 15, 2009 at 11:38 pm | Permalink
I’ll play a round of Jeopardy, Reg.
So am I correct that Monkey Hawk is an Eagle editor? Watch him or some nick try to bury my last post on the article arguing that merchants should just allow pilfering of their stock with no defense at the doors.
=================
Naw, MonkeyHawk is a former talk show host (KC I Think.) He was let go for making disparaging remarks to the guests.
Imagine that
The awaiting moderation thing has to do with the blog software (Wordpress) and it’s buggy control using its dictionary to control curse words and ’shock’ words.
It gets everyone sooner or later with the annoying “awaiting moderation” message.
Wow. Great analysis, BlueJay.
A helluva lot more insightful that most of the common-sensical stuff The Eagle prints on its Op-Ed page.
I went to the 40th anniversary of M. L. King’s “Ain’t Gonna Study War No More” speech that was played at Lindquist Hall on the WSU campus.
What a mixture of feelings surged through me sitting there listening to that.
First, what a truly inspiring figure King was–how on point his message was. And second how far we’ve still got to go. The wealthy-powerful are so entrenched in this country . . . 40 years hasn’t touched them at all.
The notion for instance that it’s better to spend 2 billion a week in Iraq for six years than to use that money to send millions of students to college or rebuild every school in our country or provide health care for every child under 18–these priorities that benefit the rich have not changed, in fact they’ve gotten worse.
Americans work harder now than they did 40 years ago. Most Americans work a FULL MONTH more than in 1969. Wages are so low that both husband and wife have to work to earn what one made before. Productivity is higher than it’s ever been, but all the wealth it creates goes right to the top.
Communities, church, and civic clubs are falling apart because people have to work harder for less money. Who has the time for Rotary or the Masons or the Lions Clubs these days? All those great fraternal organizations our dads belonged to?
Can’t do it when both spouses are working two jobs.
“Slave owners used to own their slaves. Now they just rent us.”
“bjb” declares –
“…am I correct that Monkey Hawk is an Eagle editor?”
Oh, it’s far worse than that, “bjb.”
“Your inferior weapons are no match for our superior intellect!”
I’m an alien.
Deal with it.
My great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather landed on earth in the year 3,095,394,198,593,583,813 B.C. and, well, he fuc#ed a monkey. He was drunk at the time and it’d had been a long trip and it really was a good looking monkey — not that I’m excusing prehistoric date-rape or anything — but, yeah… I personally am the source of all your problems, “bjb.”
Not that it’ll make you feel any better, but please try to understand you’re not the target of my evil schemes; merely collateral damage.
Hope that works out for you okay.
Beyond Vietnam — A Time to Break Silence
Delivered 4 April 1967, at a meeting of Clergy and Laity Concerned at Riverside Church in New York City
Over the past two years, as I have moved to break the betrayal of my own silences and to speak from the burnings of my own heart, as I have called for radical departures from the destruction of Vietnam, many persons have questioned me about the wisdom of my path. At the heart of their concerns this query has often loomed large and loud: “Why are you speaking about the war, Dr. King?” “Why are you joining the voices of dissent?” “Peace and civil rights don’t mix,” they say. “Aren’t you hurting the cause of your people,” they ask? And when I hear them, though I often understand the source of their concern, I am nevertheless greatly saddened, for such questions mean that the inquirers have not really known me, my commitment or my calling. Indeed, their questions suggest that they do not know the world in which they live.
. . .
Since I am a preacher by calling, I suppose it is not surprising that I have seven major reasons for bringing Vietnam into the field of my moral vision. There is at the outset a very obvious and almost facile connection between the war in Vietnam and the struggle I, and others, have been waging in America. A few years ago there was a shining moment in that struggle. It seemed as if there was a real promise of hope for the poor — both black and white — through the poverty program. There were experiments, hopes, new beginnings. Then came the buildup in Vietnam, and I watched this program broken and eviscerated, as if it were some idle political plaything of a society gone mad on war, and I knew that America would never invest the necessary funds or energies in rehabilitation of its poor so long as adventures like Vietnam continued to draw men and skills and money like some demonic destructive suction tube. So, I was increasingly compelled to see the war as an enemy of the poor and to attack it as such.
. . .
As I have walked among the desperate, rejected, and angry young men [in the black ghettos], I have told them that Molotov cocktails and rifles would not solve their problems. I have tried to offer them my deepest compassion while maintaining my conviction that social change comes most meaningfully through nonviolent action. But they ask — and rightly so — what about Vietnam? They ask if our own nation wasn’t using massive doses of violence to solve its problems, to bring about the changes it wanted. Their questions hit home, and I knew that I could never again raise my voice against the violence of the oppressed in the ghettos without having first spoken clearly to the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today — my own government. For the sake of those boys, for the sake of this government, for the sake of the hundreds of thousands trembling under our violence, I cannot be silent.
To me the relationship of this ministry to the making of peace is so obvious that I sometimes marvel at those who ask me why I’m speaking against the war. Could it be that they do not know that the good news was meant for all men — for Communist and capitalist, for their children and ours, for black and for white, for revolutionary and conservative? Have they forgotten that my ministry is in obedience to the One who loved his enemies so fully that he died for them? What then can I say to the Vietcong or to Castro or to Mao as a faithful minister of this One? Can I threaten them with death or must I not share with them my life?
. . .
Somehow this madness must cease. We must stop now. I speak as a child of God and brother to the suffering poor of Vietnam. I speak for those whose land is being laid waste, whose homes are being destroyed, whose culture is being subverted. I speak for the poor of America who are paying the double price of smashed hopes at home, and death and corruption in Vietnam. I speak as a citizen of the world, for the world as it stands aghast at the path we have taken. I speak as one who loves America, to the leaders of our own nation: The great initiative in this war is ours; the initiative to stop it must be ours.
. . . .
The war in Vietnam is but a symptom of a far deeper malady within the American spirit, and if we ignore this sobering reality…and if we ignore this sobering reality, we will find ourselves organizing “clergy and laymen concerned” committees for the next generation. They will be concerned about Guatemala and Peru. They will be concerned about Thailand and Cambodia. They will be concerned about Mozambique and South Africa. We will be marching for these and a dozen other names and attending rallies without end, unless there is a significant and profound change in American life and policy.
It is a sad fact that because of comfort, complacency, a morbid fear of communism, and our proneness to adjust to injustice, the Western nations that initiated so much of the revolutionary spirit of the modern world have now become the arch antirevolutionaries. This has driven many to feel that only Marxism has a revolutionary spirit. Therefore, communism is a judgment against our failure to make democracy real and follow through on the revolutions that we initiated. Our only hope today lies in our ability to recapture the revolutionary spirit and go out into a sometimes hostile world declaring eternal hostility to poverty, racism, and militarism. With this powerful commitment we shall boldly challenge the status quo and unjust mores, and thereby speed the day when “every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.”
It is time for all people of conscience to call upon America to come back home. Come home, America. Omar Khayyam is right: “The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on.” I call on Washington today. I call on every man and woman of good will all over America today. I call on the young men of America who must make a choice today to take a stand on this issue. Tomorrow may be too late. The book may close. And don’t let anybody make you think that God chose America as his divine, messianic force to be a sort of policeman of the whole world. God has a way of standing before the nations with judgment, and it seems that I can hear God saying to America, “You’re too arrogant! And if you don’t change your ways, I will rise up and break the backbone of your power, and I’ll place it in the hands of a nation that doesn’t even know my name. Be still and know that I’m God.”
Now it isn’t easy to stand up for truth and for justice. Sometimes it means being frustrated. When you tell the truth and take a stand, sometimes it means that you will walk the streets with a burdened heart. Sometimes it means losing a job…means being abused and scorned. It may mean having a seven, eight year old child asking a daddy, “Why do you have to go to jail so much?” And I’ve long since learned that to be a follower to the Jesus Christ means taking up the cross. And my bible tells me that Good Friday comes before Easter. Before the crown we wear, there is the cross that we must bear. Let us bear it–bear it for truth, bear it for justice, and bear it for peace.
Moving words and accurate analysis, BlueJay. Americans are better and more noble than the idiots who have been messing up our country these last eight years.
Capn, thanks for sharing the words of Martin Luther King! It would do us all good to read them often and remember.
Oh and Cap’n, about those 13 percent who are, “at a high risk of investing in time shares in Branson, Missouri.” That was funny! And full of hope — most of them are old coots and won’t have anything to do with shaping our future for too much longer
Whatever happened to Jim Cross? He used to be journalist for the Eagle. Some of you remind me of him.
It’s been somewhat nauseating to listen to Bush wax uber nostalgic. That last international conference, the last ride in Air Force One, that last gift of shoes, the sight of the last upraised one-finger salute; makes you wanna cry! Now it’s time to take poor rabid Old Yeller out back and shoot him, and hope that the new puppy stays healthy and makes us all better.
Monk,
Sorry, but your ancestor’s primate fixation wasn’t particularly impressive. What I want to know is how did he cover it up by making the universe seem only 13.7 billion years old?
Jed – That made me laugh (old Yeller)
Say “goodbye” to Bush, in person? Not a chance. I’d spit on the ground at his feet, turn around, and walk away.
No words would be necessary.
Say goodbye by explaining why Europe found Iraqi WMDs going to its neighbor, Syria,, and then how Europe watched Syria test a few of them in 2004!