"Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do."
Dale Carnegie
"There's no use talking about the problem unless you talk about the solution."
Betty Williams
"Lead, follow, or get out of the way"
Thomas Paine
President Obama has been on a roll this year with anti-terrorism, and the latest recipient of American justice was Anwar al-Awlaki, who was involved in or connected to at least six acts of terrorism against America. The problem is, al-Awlaki was an American citizen. This gave President Obama's opponents an opportunity to voice a complaint that actually had a veneer of credibility: that America had sentenced an American citizen to die without due process, and has since carried out the execution.
Now Bill Maher on his show Real Time recently pointed out that such was Rick Perry's job, and most of us see the irony of Maher's joke. On the one hand, Maher supports President Obama's decision, but on the other hand, his quip clearly shows where such a precedent could lead if our president were lacking in sound judgment.
And there's the rub! Alwaki could not be captured. Unlike bin Laden, who stayed in the same compound for years and thus made himself a stationary target, al-Alwaki was a moving target, and despite all our military capability, it was logistically impossible and diplomatically perilous to send ground troops in to capture him. If the president had stood on principle and idealism and had not acted, he would have placed American lives and the American economy at significant risk, since al-Awlaki had shown himself to be a capable and determined threat. If the president did make the decision to kill al-Alwaki, the precedent is set. But no president is given the luxury of indecision, and the decision he had to make rested entirely on his shoulders.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Clavos
Your insistence on a citizen who complains having the obligation to present a solution to his complaint borders on being unconstitutional (and were it to be enforced by a government authority, literally would be unconstitutional), imposing as it does a condition on the First Amendment right to free speech, which as the language of the Amendment clearly indicates, the Founders intended to be an unconditional right.
2 - Glenn Contrarian
Clavos -
I'm speaking not from a legal or constitutional standpoint, but from a moral standpoint. Thus the final quote:
"Say and do something positive that will help the situation; it doesn't take any brains to complain."
It doesn't violate the constitution to be an idiot or a coward...but neither does the fact that it's not unconstitutional make an idiot or a coward any less of an idiot or a coward.
3 - El Bicho
Geez, Glenn, if people had to be solutions-orientated rather than just bitching about stuff they don't fully comprehend, a good portion of the Internet would shut down.
Your idea sounds good but is impractical as it requires more effort than most are willing to exert. Why should people work to improve the economy when it's so much easier to complain that it's not working?
4 - Clavos
Why should people work to improve the economy when it's so much easier to complain that it's not working?
More to the point, why should unpaid ordinary citizens have to work to improve the economy when there are highly paid experts in business, the government and academia whose job it is?
5 - Glenn Contrarian
El B -
That is a brilliant reply/retort, and I can't say a thing to rebut it!
6 - Glenn Contrarian
Clavos -
More to the point, why should unpaid ordinary citizens have to work to improve the economy when there are highly paid experts in business, the government and academia whose job it is?
"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
That, and "many hands make light work".
7 - El Bicho
Because the unpaid ordinary citizen is part of the economy; they are not an innocent bystander. What's more likely to improve the economy: a person using their time and energy to create something new or improving what already exists or the person doing nothing but complaining?
Am glad people like Steve Jobs, Thomas Edison, et. al. didn't wait for the so-called experts, but hey, if you want to, be my guest, though the papers suggest that tactic isn't working out.
8 - pablo
I guess Glenn does not subscribe to the rule of law, and that a person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
From the LAW of the land. Any other law, or executive order must be in conformance with the constitution or it is null and void on its face, thus making Obama's executive order ILLEGAL and UNLAWFUL on its face. He has committed a murder against a citizen. PERIOD
And all of your talk and questions about what would you do, is bullshit, you justify murder by the state for expediency. Shame on you Glenn.
"Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court."
Article 3, Section 3 US Constitution
Article 6 reads:
"This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding."
There is nothing ambiguous about the paragraph. Nothing to opine about, it is plain and simple.
Which is why Glenn your politics DISGUST me.
9 - roger nowosielski
I would't give a spittle for Glenn's political philosophy, Pablo, no more than I would for the political philosophy of such BC luminaries as zinzing or Jordan Richardson, whatever the fuck is his name -- have I missed anyone?
They're all fucking liberals, and the essence of being liberal is to defend the Anointed as though your life depended on it. For reasons I cannot fathom, the very fact they elected a black persoh to the Oval Office is their vindication, their badge of honor, something they're willing to live and die for, no matter how the motherfucker is a complete moron.
Which only goes to show the extent of the liberal guilt. It's pathetic.
10 - pablo
I could not agree more Roger. And now that they have a wolf in sheep's clothing in office, they love him even more!
11 - roger nowosielski
Pablo,
I'm sick to my stomach of all these people who pretend to be good Americans, patriots to boot, while they're all so ready to ignore the very principles upon which this nation was presumably founded.
The presumption of innocence was part and parcel of English common law, long before it became part of the American tradition, and it's all to the good. But now, we have such as Glenn and company willing to put an individual to a stake for the sake of God and country. In name of false sensof patriotism. Shame!
Elizabeth II was a far more enlightened ruler. Glenn and the like are in dire need of history lessons.
12 - Clavos
Am glad people like Steve Jobs, Thomas Edison, et. al. didn't wait for the so-called experts, but hey, if you want to, be my guest, though the papers suggest that tactic isn't working out.
Well, EB, you're right (at least, you obviously think you are).
So, pray tell us: what are you doing to improve the economy? How many workers have you hired lately? How much capital have you invested in our infrastructure? How many "new somethings" have you created?
You and Glenn both are skilled at setting up strawmen and attacking those who don't toe your line, but I don't see any tangible improvements created by either of you, and you both certainly do your share of complaining about those on the right, though of course not about your Messiah in the WH, who, come to think of it, does a fair amount of complaining as well, and does nothing to correct things.
But he sure knows how to shift blame and responsibility...
13 - Jordan Richardson
Roger, I don't "defend the Anointed." I'm not a Liberal. And I remain curious as to what it is about my "political philosophy," something you know dick al about, that you find so reprehensible.
No worries, I'm not expecting an answer that makes any earthly sense.
14 - roger nowosielski
Here's LB'a and Glenn's way of improving the economy: feed all donations to Obama's campaign - 80 million strong, and god save the suckers, to LA media.
It's bound, so I'm assured, to produce a beneficial results. LB had told me so!
15 - roger nowosielski
Well, Jordan, I just threw your name for good measure, especially since you were unusually cool if not downright hostile, when I posed the question about your Seattle experience with the Occupy movement.
Forgive me then for jumping to conclusions, but you know how it goes: what goes around comes around.
For a while, though, I thought you were one of us. Ir is a disappointment.
Next time perhaps.
16 - Jordan Richardson
I wasn't hostile at all, I'm just not writing about it.
And no, I'm not "one of you." Whatever that means. Happy to disappoint you. Feel free to lump me in with the "disgruntled homos" and assorted obstacles to democracy, please.
17 - roger nowosielski
Sorry to hear that for I meant it in the best possible sense.
And yes, it is disappointing that you're not joining the voices of such a Cindy or Mark Eden (never mind me) against oppression and the like.
Some other time, perhaps. I'll be ready whenever you are.
18 - Jordan Richardson
Yep, I'm actually for oppression. Another spot-on observation.
19 - roger nowosielski
OK, Jordan, have it your way. I was just trying to reach. Apologize for having been clumsy.
Manana.
20 - El Bicho
If you are going to talk about strawmen, you shouldn't use so many in your comment.
I'll tell you what I've done in terms of the economy, which are admittedly miniscule in the grand scheme, although your asking shows you obviously missed the point because I don't sit around bellyaching that the politicians at the national or state level haven't fixed the economy yet.
I have over 20 people now working for me at Cinema Sentries, which wasn't in existence last year, and the more they do the more opportunities they have to make money. Not enough to quit their full-time job, but they certainly can put a nice chunk of spending money in their pockets as some have.
Also, I have cut down my spending online and buy more things from local stores, like choosing nearby book sellers over Amazon for example.
If you think I only complain about those on the right and not Obama and others on the left, you should take off the blinders, which seem affixed pretty tight if you think he's my Messiah (yet another strawman).
Guess, we'll skip over my disagreements with Glenn, Roger, Cindy, zing, and others about some issues here, since you have, and just stick to disagreeing with Obama and his administration.
I don't get how his healthcare plan would have worked and not sure I understand what they have now after Congress got through with it, which seems less desirable. I don't understand the DOJ going after medical marijuana in states that have approved. Forget doing enough, I don't think he's doing anything about illegal immigration. If Solyndra is more than just a company failing in the marketplace, I'll have a problem with that. I was disappointed he continued Bush tax cut because I don't think we can afford it any longer. Looking at the website whattheheckhasobamadonesofar, there are a lot of important items he's spent money on, but I don't know where it's is coming from to pay it all.
I'm off to generate some content.
21 - El Bicho
Roger, considering your current financial situation, you are the last person to be talking about economic matters, but please don't let that stop you from playing the clown.
22 - Glenn Contrarian
Roger, pablo, Clavos -
Complain, complain, complain...yet none of you have had the intestinal fortitude to give a reasonable and workable alternative to Obama's decision. Kenn and Cindy tried, but failed. But at least they tried.
And THAT was the whole point of my article - that it doesn't matter that none of you can come up with a reasonable and workable alternative, and few of you even have the intestinal fortitude to try.
Read the first quote in my article, and accept my thanks to all of you for helping me prove it.
23 - roger nowosielski
@20
Whoopsy do, LB, I used to to when I was in business for thirty some years, employing in fact the skid row guys no one else would hire. So what now? Shall we both get a medal?
As to your subsequent remark, apart from the fact that you're playing dirty pool -- what else is new? -- what has one thing got to do with another? I never put personal economic well-being on top of my agenda, you see -- different strokes for different folks. And as to politicians, who said they can fix things. US economy is beyond recovery, I've said that before and I'm saying it again.
It'd seem, LB, you are the resident clown, but then again, don't let that stop you since the title fits. One no longer ever notices it.
24 - roger nowosielski
@20
Whoopsy do, LB, I used to to when I was in business for thirty some years, employing in fact the skid row guys no one else would hire. So what now? Shall we both get a medal?
As to your subsequent remark, apart from the fact that you're playing dirty pool -- what else is new? -- what has one thing got to do with another? I never put personal economic well-being on top of my agenda, you see -- different strokes for different folks. And as to politicians, who said they can fix things. US economy is beyond recovery, I've said that before and I'm saying it again.
It'd seem, LB, you are the resident clown, but then again, don't let that stop you since the title fits. One no longer ever notices it.
25 - roger nowosielski
Since you're asking for a solution, Glenn, here's one: let's set a drone on you.