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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by zeugma on January 24, 2006, at 16:02:12
to see what a contemptible set of individuals have been elected to the White House?
WASHINGTON - The White House is crippling a Senate inquiry into the government's sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina by barring administration officials from answering questions and failing to hand over documents, senators leading the investigation said Tuesday.
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In some cases, staff at the White House and other federal agencies have refused to be interviewed by congressional investigators, said the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. In addition, agency officials won't answer seemingly innocuous questions about times and dates of meetings and telephone calls with the White House, the senators said.The White House had no immediate response Tuesday afternoon.>>
I do not feel safe in this country with these obfuscators and incompetents running the country. And we are going to trust them with NSA operations in which our Constititional rights are taken away? No trust. I do not trust this government, that has illegitimately taken power and displays its gross incompetence and avarice at every turn.
For this, I will be blocked, but this Politics board is not much use if the crimes and incompetence of our government cannot be freely discussed here. By the way, there should be a provision in the Patriot Act sentencing to Guantanomo Bay any individual knowingly betraying government secrets including divulging classified information for political gain. Those individuals include I. Lewis Libby, Dick Cheney, and the rest of the Bush Administration. Karl Rove called his Democratic opponents "patriotic but wrong." Howard Dean said in reply, referring to the outing of a CIA operative (an act to my knowledge unique in American history) that is was both "unpatriotic and wrong." To say nothing of the gross violations of the Constitition, the starting of a disastrous war under false pretenses, and the appointing of base cronies to head FEMA. And now Alberto Gonzales is heading the probe to determine if Bush's violations of the Constitution are constitutional. Gonzales is of the same ilk as I.Lewis Libby and Michael Brown, more eager to betray the American people than to serve them.
-z
Posted by Declan on January 25, 2006, at 6:02:22
In reply to How much more is needed?, posted by zeugma on January 24, 2006, at 16:02:12
It's the incompetance, in the sense of unwisdom, that is the surpise to me. The idea that one's government can be, if not criminal, then extremely venal, is something one eventually realises. So it's not so much the criminality. But politics has always attracted awful people. What do you think of McCain? He seems like an adult and a real person. It's interesting that he's said to be to the right of Bush.
Declan
Posted by zeugma on January 25, 2006, at 20:24:46
In reply to Re: How much more is needed? » zeugma, posted by Declan on January 25, 2006, at 6:02:22
> It's the incompetance, in the sense of unwisdom, that is the surpise to me. The idea that one's government can be, if not criminal, then extremely venal, is something one eventually realises. So it's not so much the criminality. But politics has always attracted awful people. What do you think of McCain? He seems like an adult and a real person. It's interesting that he's said to be to the right of Bush.
> DeclanIt is the incompetence that gets to me. McCain is to the right of Bush- but in my opinion, Bush doesn't fit into the left-right scheme because he simply lacks the ability to stand for any principle (whether one I dislike or not) other than the military posturing of one who has never served a moment of his life. McCain is more honest, wouldn't be so strategically inept, wouldn't be cavalier with the Geneva Convention, would have a word that meant something... I would vote for McCain. Now Mcccain would probably institute the draft to deal with the disaster that is Iraq. But I am certain we would not be there now had McCain been President in 2003. We would not have had the farce of phony evidence bnrandished by Colin Powell at the U.N., and we would not be conducting (or rather, not conducting) the circus that Saddam's trial has degenerated into. it's a shame lawyers keep getting assasinated. What chaos must reign there if we can't even bring Numero Uno in that famous deck of cards to justice in a credible trial. It is a sad thought for all U.S. citizens, but it must overjoy our enemies.
But Rumsfeld says the U.S. military is in great shape, despite recent reports to the contrary. And Gonzales says wiretapping is limited to al Qaeda agents making collect calls to a cave on the Afghan border. Please. And Karl Rove says he is a patriot.
-z
Posted by Declan on January 25, 2006, at 22:23:15
In reply to Re: How much more is needed? » Declan, posted by zeugma on January 25, 2006, at 20:24:46
The left right thing is meaningless. I grew up with communism vs freedom, social democracy vs conservatism, and it has been one of the puzzles of the last 10 years to see that change. Now I agree with what my parents said: Vote for the candidate. Which means honesty first and foremost, and trustworthyness, not, I hasten to say the kind of trust with which Howard won this last election in his brazen way (who do you trust to run the country?), but trust meaning (only)a modicum of honesty in the traditional sense. And especially a small sense of fairness. By the standards of today McCain seems fine with me.
Declan
Posted by James K on January 25, 2006, at 23:00:42
In reply to Re: How much more is needed? » zeugma, posted by Declan on January 25, 2006, at 22:23:15
Alberto used G. Washington reading mail from England as precedent for the nsa spying. The problem is our constitution and bill of rights hadn't been written yet. He may be on the supreme court one day. I can't wait to see him defend that one in front of the current supreme court.
McCain is both one of my favorite leaders and most disappointing. He stands for the right things and tries, then seems to roll over when it gets rough. The attacks on the military service of himself, Kerry, Murpha, and some legless guy I forget the name of - and he took it.
Hillary is courting the center, not realizing that by doing that she will lose the left, and the right hate her so much she'll never gain from them.
Top republicans are mad, Arlen Spector a non-mainstream republican has even said the word impeachment out loud. He is head of the judiciary committee. It's a nice dream, but refusing to obey congress and ignoring the constitution isn't really a sex act level offense.
I forget the original point of this thread except zeugma is angry and I believe rightly so. I grew up in the Reagan years, learning about the Nixon years, and never thought we could go so far backward so quickly.
Oh yeah Katrina. Some people have been pointing out lately that Mississippi was destroyed by a natural disaster and New Orleans was destroyed by long-term and current governmental incompetence. We need to remember the rest of the gulf coast. If any of you reading this, and I know some of you around here are, are from these all these areas, my heart goes out to you. I've been in group with some evacuees who are staying here.
Lord I was born a ramblin' man,
James K
Posted by gardenergirl on January 26, 2006, at 0:00:53
In reply to Re: How much more is needed? » Declan, posted by zeugma on January 25, 2006, at 20:24:46
>
> he simply lacks the ability to stand for any principle (whether one I dislike or not) other than the military posturing of one who has never served a moment of his life.>to see what a contemptible set of individuals have been elected to the White House?
Sorry, but Dr. Bob has asked you to be civil before, so now I am blocking you for one week.
Follow-ups regarding these issues should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration. They, as well as replies to the above post, should of course themselves be civil.
Regards,
gg acting as deputy for Dr. Bob
Posted by Dr. Bob on January 26, 2006, at 1:08:41
In reply to Re: How much more is needed? » zeugma, posted by Declan on January 25, 2006, at 6:02:22
> the incompetance, in the sense of unwisdom
Please respect the views of others and be sensitive to their feelings. The last time you were blocked it was for 2 weeks, so this time it's for 4.
If you or others have questions about this or about posting policies in general, or are interested in alternative ways of expressing yourself, please see the FAQ:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
Follow-ups regarding these issues should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration. They, as well as replies to the above post, should of course themselves be civil.
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by teejay on January 28, 2006, at 18:53:21
In reply to Re: blocked for 4 weeks » Declan, posted by Dr. Bob on January 26, 2006, at 1:08:41
Sorry doctor Bob but I think this board is a complete and utter waste of time.
Politics is a powerful subject and something which evokes VERY strong feelings in people and to ban 2 posters simply for expressing their feelings in a way which to be fair is far less hostile than these politicians face every single day is just ridiculous.
Both posters used the word incompetent (interestingly one was banned for using it, the other not)......now lets examine an example for a moment and see how that statement stacks up?
Bush has stated his objective to take democracy to the middle east.......the palestinians voted this week in what was probably the fairest (we wont go into the controversy surrounding the way Bush got into power!!!), most transparent and most supported elections anywhere in the WORLD in recent times yet what does he do? Thats right, cos he doesnt like the fact the people gave a huge vote of no confidence in the way the west has treated them over the past few decades by voting in a party with terrorist links, he practically dismisses the whole result. What do you think the result of further alienating the palestinian people will be (not to mention the withdrawal of aid)? Do you think it will save lives or cost them? Do you think it will brink peace, or drive it further away?
The acts of a competent man? Well I believe your constitution allows me at the very least to ask the question!
TJ
This is the end of the thread.
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