In 1776, there were a lot of complaints about another George. Let's look at some of them.He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
(The current George gets around this with "signing statements.")
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
(Can you say Department of Homeland Security?)
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation.
(That would be the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court).
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
(Substitute "terrorists" for "Indian Savages" and you've got the current George's foreign policy).
A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Pennysylania signers of The Declaration of Independence: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
16 comments:
Glaringly absent from an otherwise interesting attempt at historical correlation is mention of the democratic election, and subsequent, convincing re-election of George W. Bush.
Draconian measures have been taken by presidents throughout our country's short history. Habeas Corpus (the "crux of the biscuit," in the immortal words of Frank Zappa) was suspended by Lincoln. FDR's prosecution of WWII (the big one) included bringing captured Nazi's to the US, subjecting them to secret military tribunals, and executing them by firing squad within 30 days of their "convictions".
George Bush gives captured terrorists three squares a day and new Korans when the pages get too dog-eared. Our courts are poised to give these guys lawyers and all the rights you and I have as benefits of our citizenship. George W. Bush is a libertarian lightweight when compared to his predecessors.
"Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day." - Thomas Jefferson
Happy Independence Day.
"Glaringly absent from an otherwise interesting attempt at historical correlation is mention of the democratic election."
Since he didn't win a majority of the vote in 2000, it's hard for me to buy the democratic election line. Did he win the election through the electoral college? Yes. But is the electoral college a democratic institution? I and many others would say not so much
actually excuting them with in 30 days by fire squad would probally be a much more acceptable activity. Many of the people were held without even a miltary tribunal for years.
The Electoral College was established in Article Two of the US Constitution. It was revised, but reconfirmed in 1804 (12th Amendment)and 1961 (23rd Amendment). Arguments against it have long existed, but have never gained any serious consideration - not even after the heated dispute of 2000.
2000 notwithstanding, however, George W. Bush won an easy re-election with a majority of both popular and electoral votes in 2004.
We may not always like the rules, but it's important we understand them, and respect them until such time we change them - if we change them.
anonymous, I think I agree. If a Democrat icon like FDR or Harry Truman were in charge, we'd know nothing about any "detainees" at some place called Gitmo. Loose lips were believed to sink ships when those patriots ran the show.
Tribunals have to wait these days. Today's bad guys (so bad their former countries won't take them back), are lawyered-up and given access to US citizens' court system; all with the compliance of a political opposition so blinded by its hatred for their political conqueror, that it staunchly defends those who'd kill us all with no regard for the finer details of our political leanings. When did liberals and their party decide to stand down against medieval right-wing religious zealots of any stripe? Liberal political cartoonist Jeff Danziger has asked this question repeatedly.
I despise both major parties, exactly because blind partisanship prevents historical perspective. Bush is a mess to be sure, but lets not forget the enemy who'll still be there when the pendulum continues its movement back left and a Democrat likely takes over in January of 2009. And it won't be one of our fathers' Democrats either.
America Is Great. No other place does a person have so much free time to fill his/her time with dribble.
God Bless America!
Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, points out some interesting facts concerning the 2000 Presidential election:
Number of States won by: Gore: 19; Bush: 29
Square miles of land won by: Gore: 580,000; Bush: 2,427,000
Population of counties won by: Gore: 127 million; Bush: 143 million
Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by: Gore: 13.2; Bush: 2.1
Professor Olson adds:
"In aggregate, the map of the territory Bush won was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of this great country. Gore's territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government welfare..."
I would add the biggest blunder, and "tell all" of 2000 election is fact that Clinton or Gore couldn't even carry their home States. If only one, Gore would have won by the next day or so! Pretty ironic and funny, don't you think?
Please go easy on my buddy, Dubya! After all it is a holiday. Happy 4th. larry@kisslinger.com
that wasn't the point the point was that either you deal with them or let them go not hold them infinitum.
I just wonder how many among us would be willing to do what Jefferson, Washington and Franklin did.
In 50 years more detached and independent historians will place George W Bush in the lowest third of all Presidents. He truely by any party's standard a disaster and has set this nation domestically and in foreign relations back in so many ways.
" This nation will lose its independence from forces within presented as a threat from the outside" James Madison
In case Mr Kisslinger forgot..Gore won by over 500,000 votes. Most of the so called government owned tenement people don't even vote..Weren't you on the housing Authority..You should know that..Whether he won the election or not he is now supported by about 30% of americans..Time to do the Nixon thing and resign..Take that a**hole Cheney with him too..
Happy 4th!!
"...sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance"
This except reminds me of the "Click-it, or ticket" campaigns. "We can't catch criminals so we better just make sure granny is wearing a seat-belt; better use night-vision goggles to make sure we catch everyone."
or:
"Maybe we should hang out in bars and arrest people on private property for drinking too much."
Tom Foolery 4:18 PM said...
In case Mr Kisslinger forgot..Gore won by over 500,000 votes....
LK didn't forget anything at all! Seems you're the one who "forgot" that Dubya won the election, not Gore as you suggest. Also, Dubya's poll number is twice as good as Democrat Congress. No matter what, only poll that counts is election day. Bush and/or Cheney not going to resign, per my request. larry@kisslinger.com
As long the voice of discontent has not been silenced, there may yet be dancing in the streets. The future is yet ours to make.
I raise my glass to Freedom. Though it may be badly bruised, and sorely wanting, it still endures!
Do No Harm
the insanity of King George is probally a better a better aprasial of the man is deranged. He like every other dry drunk as obstant defiance disorder,will never admit he made a mistake and is will to have kill thousands of people killed for no good reason to keep from admiting it. THe simple fact is if we stay in iraq Al queda is more likely to come after us here rather than the other way around, and Every time bush Falsely states we are mainly fighting Al queda in Iraq he is helping the Enemy because all he is doing is propganda for Al queda.
Mr. Kisslinger,
George's poll numbers are not twice as good as the Demo Congress.
They are a few points ahead of Congress overall..It's the Republicans in Congress that are still dragging the numbers down..You got to stop watching that Fox Noise channel and pay attention to what is really going on..
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