Echoes of Nixon. "If the President orders it to be done, that makes it legal."

Great article. If only more people agreed with your way of logic, our country wouldn't be going to hell.

It just makes me anticipate November even more eagerly. Just imagine all the fun and fireworks if Blue state people finally get some oversight, and subpeona power to smack around the arrogant scofflaws who have been ruining our country for the last 6 years.

Vote, people, vote.

I've been thinking about Nixon a lot lately. What if he had said 30-odd years ago that as prez, nothing he did could be illegal? Would it have been accepted then?

The thing is, signing statements are nothing new. Presidents before Reagan used them RARELY, knowing full well that an unchecked executive is a dangerous thing - the founders included checks and balances for a very good reason. Reagan had no such knowledge or didn't care about the reason behind it and opened the skirt-the-law floodgates. Since then, Bush I and Clinton have sailed through those same un-American waters, but Bush II, with more than 750 challenges, puts Poppy and the Slickmeister to shame. Shrubbie has used signing statements to avoid following the law more times than both his dad and his immediate predecessor combined. Will the masses find *that* acceptable?

President Bush is doing the work that President Clinton failed to do.

1) Iraq kicks out weapons inspectors, fires missiles at US military jets and violates other signed agreements after Gulf War I.

Action: President Clinton fails to execute Sadam Hussein using missiles fired from US warships. (Which was against international law enacted by President Carter.)

Action: President Bush gave Sadam the option to leave Iraq peacefully or else. Sadam choose or else. President Bush gave the government of Iraq a peaceful option, which they did not choose.

2) Bin Laden is a known high-level terrorist. Funding and training terrorists.

Action: President Clinton fails to assassinate Bin Laden.(Which was an act of war committed on Afghanistan by firing a salvo of missiles from US warships.)

Action: President Bush demands the Taliban hand over Bin Laden after 9/11 to avoid war. A peaceful solution.
Taliban refuse to turn over terrorist Bin Laden. President Bush calls for invading the terrorist-accommodating nation of Afghanistan, removes the oppressive Taliban and hunts for Bin Laden in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

3) Terrorists attack The WTC, two American embassies and one US Navy warship.

Action: President Clinton does nothing.

Action: President Bush announces to the world, any nation that aids or abets terrorists will have deadly consequences.

Chicago, defending the president is obviously important to you. So important that you'll defend him on a completely different issue than the one we're discussing here.

as for Chicago:

1) Apples to oranges, you make an idiots argument using flawed logic. Fun but pointless

2) And where is bin Laden? The most dangerous man in the woprld, and public enemy number one, according to Bush. Yet all the men and money that was and shoudl be in Afghanistan finding him is being spent in Iraq, and why is that? Because of the lies spread by this Administration perhaps?

3) Here Chicago contradicts himself and obviously has no clue as to what he is talking about. If you check you will find that those missles Clinton launched were in response to?

OK, so we have determined that Clinton was far from perfect, who cares? Chicago does, but that is always the last refuge of the large mouthed, small minded dittohead. When all else fails, shout "Clinton" a lot to rally the rest of the flock.

Blue Meanie, your last sentence contains everything I meant to say in comment 6.

I can't find a damned thing to argue with in this whole article. What fun is that???

No arguing? Sounds like heaven!

When we have a Republican administration, isn't it tradition when things go wrong to blame it on the Democrat who just left office? Whine..whine..whine "It's not our fault, the Democrats left us with this mess"...I believe I recall that Bush and his cronies were left with a good, healthy surplus in the budget. Well, it didn't take the "emperor" long to get rid of that "mess", did it? And, I wonder if we will ever be rid of the horrible messes he, Cheney and the gang have created. Isn't it ironic that the one intelligent, decent Member of his Cabinet left at the end of W's first term. If only Colin Powell had been the candidate in 2000, we would not be in this endless war and head over heels in debt to China.

Oh I don't know, there's lots to argue about, just not here. That you'd say that is an arguable point, but I wouldn't, though some would, that consists of an entirely different argument all together. As to whether you could classify it as heaven or something more down to earth, is really something that could be argued in a different forum.

Depending on your point of view...

what were we talking about?

Love
Jet

"paranoia will destroy ya"

- The Kinks

I think it says it all about this article.

Dave

At the moment, I'd say 66 out of every 100 Americans would disagree with you Dave!

Ah, the majority argument. Isn't that like saying "Bush won, get over it?"

Oh, I see, so it's okay for the right to say it, but not the left? Can you say hypocrite boys and girls?

Jet, as a sovereign citizen, I have always been and remain a majority of one.

Dave

Where did I insinuate "Bush won get over it" was a valid argument? It isn't. Majority != validity. Can you say spaz?

Prick us, do we not bleed?

that's from that sheakspere, us Shakepear, uh the bard guy.

Natalie sounds more like Lt. Cmdr. Philip Francis Queeg in the Cane Mutiny...

Ahh, but the strawberries that's... that's where I had them. They laughed at me and made jokes but I proved beyond the shadow of a doubt and with... geometric logic... that a duplicate key to the wardroom icebox DID exist, and I'd have produced that key if they hadn't of pulled the Caine out of action. I, I, I know now they were only trying to protect some fellow officers...

Ms./Mr. Macoat: Some believe that Queeg was insane, paranoid or both, but that doesn't mean that he was. And the comparison doesn't hold: Unlike the Caine Mutiny character, I am neither cruel nor stupid. While determined to speak up when necessary, I loathe confrontation. And Queeg thinks nothing through - that most assuredly cannot be said about me.

NR Davis

Any feeble attempt to distract from the subject eh NR? I think you're great, I wish I had you're writing style.

Republicans. Democrats. Doesn't matter. The GOP has the cash and the Dems are full of cowards except Howard. We need bold initiatives. We need people with vision inspiring us. Oops. We'll never get that, it doesn't sell commercials on television. Smash a couple of planes into a skyscaper and the bucks roll in. I know it sounds cold, but one has to wonder just how intense the collective orgasm was in the hallowed halls of network and/or cable television management.

Actually Captain Queeg, AKA "Old Yellowstain", reminds me more of ol' GW...as in, Where were you, in '72?...(he wasn't at Dannelly AFB)...

Mr. Jet: You gotta be YOU. I want to read *your* style.

---

"Republicans. Democrats. Doesn't matter."

A-fucking-men to that.

"The GOP has the cash and the Dems are full of cowards except..."

Chuck Pennacchio, Russ Feingold and - perhaps - Dennis Kucinich.

I'll concede on Russ Feingold and Chuckie. I like Chuckie because he's making Senator Sanctimonious so nervous. I wonder if Ricky S. is weeping like a little girlie-man every night? It will be a great day in the U.S. Senate if Santorum is driven out of office in November. Pennsylvania, for the love of God and country, do us proud -- DUMP SANTORUM!

Screw god and country: For the love of decency and humanity, dump Santorum! Pennsylvania's primary is May 16 - elect a true progressive candidate who will put PEOPLE first.

NR...

Thank you for your self diagnosis...Now I understand and can find a way to forgive you for your misguided veiws. Its really not your fault. Maybe if they could adjust your medication!

Mahat

Ms./Mr. Macoat, I have never taken antidepressants in my life. Thank goodness I am healthy and sane enough to know that your understanding and forgiveness are neither needed nor desired.

NR Davis

do any of you read "savage love?" i think they print it in the onion, as well as in several weeklies around the country... anyway, it's a sex advice column written by a gay guy named dan savage. he really despises this santorum guy, to the point that he created a new definition for the word "santorum": that frothy mixture of lube, cum and shit that leaks out after anal sex. obviously, after reading that, i would rather say "santorum" rather than "that frothy mixture of..." ICK! anyway, it's funny.

"Santorum" has come to mean someone who travels around with a dead fetus. Has to do with a true story: Years ago, the senator and his spouse suffered a miscarriage and brought the fetus home to bond with their children prior to its burial. The move was considered controversial and, to many, creepy, but I can't criticize an act obviously motivated by family love.

shit... that's just as nasty as the frothy mixture stuff.

A middle-aged woman at a recent protest rally was carrying a sign reading:

"Would someone give Bush a blowjob so we can impeach him!?"

Er, yes. It is. I think it's completely gross. But I can't fault what was in his heart that day. Have you ever lost a child? Suffered a miscarriage or stillbirth? As great as it would to be able to slam Santorum and as many legitimate and fair reasons as there are to do so, I can't slam him for this. Wouldn't be cricket.

hmm. i dunno. you could justify bringing THE KIDS to the hospital, but not a CORPSE to the kids. one way is kind of strange, but the motivation is obvious. the other way... just strange. too strange for the motivation to overwhelm the strangeness.

I don't disagree, but no one knows without walking in those particular shoes. I have dealt with miscarriage, though. Several times. While it never occured to me to transport the dead bodies of my children/fetuses, the devastation is still tangible for me. As such, I can't judge how someone else negotiates their grief. It's not something I would do, but... different strokes, y'know? Steer the topic to equality issues, protecting civil law from those trying to "reclaim the nation" for their own personal Jesus, and Santorum's support of the Bush agenda, however, and it's on, baby.

Does anyone read the Man Boy Love Blog? They are also against Santorum! Thats good enough for me!


PS Bush Lied!

Must be feeding time for trolls. I recommend starvation.

I guess if your a troll who eats aborted fetuses this seems like a place to feed! I support Chuck Pinocchio! Based upon his abortion platform if he is elected it will be like a "chicken in every pot" for Trolls like me!

OK

Nancy, a good follow up to this would be in the news right now, how Chenney is now out harrassing the Russians. For about 20 years we've had an uneasy peace with them and why he'd start bitching at them now is beyond comprehension. Maybe he wants to start the cold war back up again so his buddies at Halliburton can get more lucritive and rich government contracts before he leaves office?

It's been a lonnnnnng day Natalie, sorry about that, I know who you are.

Senility can be so embarrasing!

I cannot believe the anti Semitism permeating the country. As the US and the rational world seeks allies against the "Jew Hating Iranians", are we supposed to sit idly by until Iran uses their Nukes on Israel and Europe? Russia is in this for the money they are dreaming that the US fight against terror will wear us down like it the Afghan war did to them. In addition, stop the anti-Bush rhetoric for a moment and read Cheney's full speech and see what he actually was saying. "In many areas of civil society - from religion and the news media, to advocacy groups and political parties - the government has unfairly and improperly restricted the rights of her people,"

what?

No no What's on Second!

Jet -

How come you didnt call Chuckie Schumer on it when he said the following last week!

"There's real trouble there (Russia)," Mr. Schumer said. "Anti-Semitism has become politically acceptable. I fear real trouble, worse trouble than we have seen in a very long time, ahead." He said the anti-Semitism in Russia has reached a level of virulence "not different than it was 100 years ago."


BECAUSE IT WASNT BUSH!

No whos on first!

There are no whos on First!!!!! PANIC IN THE STREET!!!!!!!! are there still whos in whoville?

Just Cindy Lou, and she's strung out on crank and selling herself on the streets.

Dave

Now I'm very disillusioned

I wrote last week that America is finally taking note of this, which the admin has been doing since day 1. It's about freakin' time.

Al Sharpton said the Democratic Party has to stop treating blacks as their mistresses. Sharpton then explained a mistress is where they take you out to have fun, but they don't take you home. Was that really necessary to explain what a mistress is to Democrats?" --Jay Leno

"Was that really necessary to explain what a mistress is to Democrats?"

Didn't Newt Gingrich have a mistress?

Well Natalie,

Prescience indeed. You write an article about Bush being above the law and lo and behold - Mike West writes about his administration trying to snag every American phone call to listen to it!

A day later, the administration is adamant about "not breaking the law" and the fellow who called your article 'paranoia' (a nice bald fellow who does lots of good things here at BC)is mumbling about the Communications Act of 1934 having been overridden or something...

Kol hakavód - all honor to you!

Ruvy,

I hope you stay in Israel and dont vote here in the US. We dont need another America hater..

[Delted. I think I've practiced my language skills enough for one day so let's keep it in English, shall we? Thank you. Comments Editor]

Ira, I intend to stay in Israel, and even though I have the right to do so, I don't intend to vote in your country's elections.

As for your terms of endearment, let's put them in the proper context. Thank you for the opportunity and the pleaure of using the Yiddish I learned at my father's knee.

America is filled with a whole bunch of shmendriks with the brains of petzelehs who call themselves Jews. Most of these shmecks would vote for a political party that would, in the end, re-institute a numerus clausus against them, just like the one they suffered under the Czar. The rest of this bunch of nudniks would vote for a party whose leaders have only contempt for them and their homeland and can't wait to get rid of that "shitty little country." These people run a round like a bunch of meshugeners trying to defend their great leader, a man whose grandfather helped fund the worst enemies of their people. The kindest thing you can say about such a bunch of nebbishes is "nebukh, what a bunch of shlemiels"

But that isn't bad enough. The shitty little country itself is run by a goniff with the mind of a shnorrer and the morals of a putz. He is assisted with a man who has the mentality of a Cossack in a sukkeh, a killer of the first water who actually has sekhel, but who uses it for evil.

May you only live to be a 120, like our prophet Moishe Rabbenu and develop the sekhel before G-d and man and not write like a shmo or a shlimazel; may you be zokheh to develop the oytzeh to finaly come home and leave the shmaltzpot of Amerikeh and bring blessing upon yourself, your ancestors and your mishpukheh.

Zolst eikh hubben a guten tug. Zei gezunt.
(May you have a good day; be healthy.)

For those of you whose Yiddish is a bit short, it is better that Ira himself figure out what I've written.

So what does that say about you... a man who chooses to live in a "shitty little country"?

Ira,

I didn't come here because of my deep admiration for the idiots who run the place. I came here because I want Jewish grandchildren - a problematic issue for Jews living in America. There are no guarantees in life. So, I loaded the dice and gave a throw...

Now that I think of it, there was a fellow who gave me a bar mitzvah gift - a book "How the Hebrew Language Grew." Eventually, I learned, (or re-learned) a great deal of Hebrew from that book, and met the widow of the author who wrote it, a lady who lives in Jerusalem with over 100 Jewish grandchildren and great-granchildren throughout the country.

His name was Ira.

Would someone please explain to me how comment 54 isn't a personal attack?????

I think it's time this conversation returned to the topic under discussion, which is Ms Davis' article questioning Bush's respect for the law.

Jet,

If Ira hadn't labelled all these less than flattering Yiddish words, "terms of endearment" this might have been a personal attack. But he opened up an opportunity for me that - well - I'm good at exploiting.

But I have to give Ira credit. Unfazed, he came right back at me. And he may well do so again, equally unfazed.

If you read my answer carefully, Jet, AND WAS FLUENT IN YIDDISH, you'd realize just who it was who engaged in a what kind of attack. And you would see who gave who the ammunition to so engage...

Our Right Honourable Comments Editor is calling the conversation back to its original stream. Wise move...

The Los Angeles Times reports that questions abound in the Hayden nomination case, one of them being his role in the domestic spying via "telebell" that the the agency he headed, the NSA, was involved in.

Again, I have to compliment Ms. Davis on her prescience in seeing that your brave leader views himself as above the law he is charged to enforce.

Yeah, I was shocked - shocked, I tell you - when the news broke. Shocked.

Oh, and trust me, everyone: Ruvy gave better than he got from Mr. Ira.

When it is posted "your brave leader views himself as above the law he is charged to enforce" are we talking about the leader of the "shitty little country" again?.

Ladies and gentlemen, please pardon this brief departure from your fine Blog Critics porgramming.

Chris, you needn't have deleted Ira's "endearments" in commment #54 from the comment list. Lots of Americans use many of the terms he sent - even if they do not know exactly what they mean...

But apparently Natalie knew - and maybe you remembered a few also...

For further information and enlightenment, read "The Joys of Yiddish," a language that still lives in this country. Heh, the Hassidim that use it are utterly shocked and amazed that someone without the black hat and long coat knows fluent Yiddish. It's such a pleasure to see their mouths drop open in surprise...

Returning you now to your regular Blog Critics programming...

Fellow posters please digest this...

"If you made a phone call today or sent an e-mail to a friend, there's a good chance what you said or wrote was captured and screened by the country's largest intelligence agency." (Steve Kroft, CBS' 60 Minutes)

Those words were aired on February 27, 2000 to describe the National Security Agency and an electronic surveillance program called Echelon whose mission, according to Kroft,

"is to eavesdrop on enemies of the state: foreign countries, terrorist groups and drug cartels. But in the process, Echelon's computers capture virtually every electronic conversation around the world."


This is pre 911 under the Clinton administration...where was the "wailing and nashing of teeth" back then?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm???

Ohhhhh good try at deflection. the potential was there but it wasn't actually being done. Nice twisting ow words, worthy of one of the few Bush supporters left in the U.S.

The wailing an gnashing of teeth was aimed at a hypocritical republican congress trying to impeach a president over having an affair.

That same congress found Clinton not guilty of those charges in the white water scandal.

Gee...

Deflection...it was a real program..why the denial...I dont get the "whitewater". Rather than throw stones why not address the issue. Why do you think I am a Bush supporter?

Me thinks too much paranioa...Try and stay in the center

Voice of Reason:

I generally do not defend Clinton - except to say that he at least attempted to have a balanced budget.

I was aware of project Echelon then - as I am aware of it now.

Clinton was a lot cleverer at deflecting criticism than Bush has been. Clinton, for all of his many many faults, is an intelligent man who knows how to govern. Bush is not. That is why all this is hitting the fan now the way it is.

Clinton viewed himself above the law as much as Bush does - but he had the sense to make it appear that he was just as culpable and liable as all the other citizenry.

Ira: As I predicted would happen, you returned. Your president - the grandson of the fellow who invested in Adolf Hitler, ibn Saud, and the Soviet Union - whose father is in the hip pocket of the Saudi thugs - and who himself had to deflect American anger from these thugs to Iraq because he is also in their hip pocket - views himself above the law.

But so does Ehud Olmert - and all of the pigs he runs with in his pigsty called Kadima. Shimon Peres views himself so highly above the law that he has murdered two prime ministers - Yitzhak Rabin and Ariel Sharon - and gotten away with it.

As for the term "shitty little country", it was used by a British diplomat speaking to his French colleagues - or was it the other way around? But Ira, if they have such contempt for Israel, remember they have the same contempt for Jews - and nod approvingly when a bunch of thugs from France, Russia or the Ukraine kill one of us. And if a bunch of thugs kill Jews in America, they will also nod aprovingly - as long as their own hands are clean.

Since you appear to be one of the Tribe, this is something you would do well to remember

Are you talking about the father and son presidents...who have sent US boys into battle and authorized BILLIONS of US Tax dollars, so you could raise your "Jewish grandchildren"....

or am I alittle confused???

Ira,

Let's not hijack Ms. Davis' fine article with your complaints about Israel. Go here, to my article on "Dependence Day" for the answers you are looking for. Pay careful attention to comment #11. It is long, but it will answer a lot of the comments you make. And then, if you have further questions, put your comments there.

Earth to Ruvy

Earth to Ruvy

Come in Ruvy...

"The truth shall set you free...or shut you up."

I've had some juvenile conversations, I've read some childish arguments in my day, but you two sound like a couple of five year olds trying to top eachother's smart-ass remarks over something that no one but you care about!

Ruvy, for someone who usually sounds like an encyclopedia come to life, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Ira-you make even me sound like a spoiled brat

I never thought I'd see the day when I'd try to sound like the voice of reason on this site

sheesh
incredibly gross, misspelled and judgmental expletive deleted

Six minutes, you took to read all that, Ira? I can't believe you are that fast...

If you won't even read what I have to say, I can't help you.

I'm outta here.

Nice chattin', Natalie. The flies got in the way, though...

Ruvy,

Sorry all,,,my sophmoric response came before your posting.

Ira

Could you believe Bush's "speach" last night...is he kidding...