by mikemurphy » Tue Jan 27, 2009 4:17 pm
John,
Just lurking, but having a great laugh at this banter. However, I had to chirp in on a couple of things.
1) --quote--Again, in case you missed it, I do truly wish the incumbent president the best but I am not expecting it. Tax cheats heading up the Treasury/ IRS, unabashed detractors of our military/intelligence gathering to head the CIA...... and it goes on and on.--unquote--
I know how you love to bash the democrats, but before you hold your mighty republicans to such a high level, remember your flag bearer, Ronny Reagan had the most corrupt administration in history. 138 people either convicted or indicted, including James Watts (Sec. of Interior) and Casper Weinberger (Sec of Defense) if my memory serves me right. I'm too bored to go into Dubbya's admin. again.
Also, the 14th Amendment didn't protect the slaves before it was passed as they were not complete citizens up to that point, only 2/5 a person does not a citizen make!!
On to other things... I'm glad that we have such people out there who simply want to go out and shoot these people or put them in a plane that hits a flock of birds. If we are going to, as a country, stand high and mighty as the 'best country in the world', and one that everyone should look up to, and spread this wonderful democracy to the four corners of the planet (or in the case of Iraq, force it down it's throat), then shouldn't we at least act like it? If these "terrorists" are guility, then why haven't we tried them? If we aren't so sure, why not hand them over to the world court for trial? So, weren't not sure, so we'll hold them until whenever at an obsolete base that isn't even property of the United States and torture them (yeah, I believe torture is a matter of semantics....right).
We are human beings first and Americans second folks. How about it's time to start showing it? We have plenty of ways to defend ourselves before we start sinking down to the level of the terrorists, don't we? Aren't we the smartest nation on the planet too? Until you are ready to carving yourself to a person you are not quite sure is in involved in terrorism against the US (and I'm pretty sure most don't have the balls for that), then let's start thinking of other ways to make it work around the planet. Mmm?
And the President is a little more than a figure head that you say. The Queen of England or Emperor of Japan are figure heads. The president can push policy, is the head of his/her party, can negotiate treaties, is Commander in Chief of the military and (thanks to the War Powers Act) can involve our military in any affair he/she wishes for a limited time. He/she can even get around that by calling it a NATO or UN mission. Hardly a figure head.
Fred, just a case in point, nobody was "punished" after the Civil War. There was only one execution for war crimes (Henry Wertz of Andersonville fame) and the four accused in the Lincoln assassination. All other Confederate leaders were pardoned by Andrew Johnson after serving at the most 4 years (that includes Jefferson Davis who was never even charged with anything).
I, like you, wishes President Obama the best as everyone will benefit if he accomplishes some good, so let's be a little more hopeful here (Bill's going to hate that word).
mike