The Leastest Generation and the Worstest Pres at War

[Mucho]

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-maher16mar16,0,5068123.story?coll=la-opinion-rightrail
Us to George -- sure, whatever
In previous wars, we sacrificed our underwear. Now it's just our civil rights.
By Bill Maher
BILL MAHER is host of HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher."

March 16, 2007

STOP SAYING President Bush hasn't asked us to sacrifice anything for the war. He's asked us to sacrifice something enormous: our civil rights. To which the American people have responded: "Sure, whatever."

He's asked us to sacrifice the pride and joy that comes from knowing people all over the world look up to you. Yeah, what can you do? And he's asked us to sacrifice our future, because that's where all the real bombs he's planted — economic, environmental and security-related — are going to go off. Have a great weekend, everybody!

In previous wars, Americans on the home front were willing to give up a lot. During World War II, people even pretended Bob Hope was funny.

Women donated their silk undergarments to be made into parachutes — can you imagine nowadays Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan doing without underwear?

OK, bad example.

But the point is, we have sacrificed — we just sacrifice different things.

Bush took from us the things he knew we didn't care about: our privacy and our morality. He let us keep the money.

And it is morality when the chief law enforcement officer in this country tells Congress he doesn't believe in habeas corpus and is cool with torture and the practice of "disappearing" people. Alberto Gonzales even admitted to abusing the Patriot Act — is it even possible to abuse the Patriot Act?

When I heard that Bush was reading my e-mails, I'm sure I had the same reaction you did: "George Bush can read?"

This administration has gone through our phone records, credit card statements, our mail and our Internet logs — I feel like I'm on "Cheaters."

I mail myself a copy of the U.S. Constitution every morning just in the hope they'll open it and see what it says.

We have sacrificed a lot; it's just that we don't care that the NSA is listening to our phone calls. And that's especially tough for me, because I'm dating a girl named Jihadi Madrasa.

Six-tenths of the Bill of Rights, that's not something? Search and seizure, warrants, self-incrimination, trial by jury, cruel and unusual punishment.Here's what we have left: guns, religion and they can't make you quarter a British soldier. If Prince Harry invades Plattsburg, he has to bring a tent

A couple of months ago, Jim Lehrer questioned Bush about sacrifice. He asked if he'd ever institute a draft or raise taxes to pay for our national dream of making Iraq a Shiite theocracy. The president said this was World War III and a fight for our very survival, so a bunch of fresh troops and cash would probably just get in the way.

The president also said that Americans were already sacrificing. He said they "sacrifice peace of mind when they see the terrible images of violence on TV every night."

Yeah, if there's one thing Americans will not tolerate on their television screens, it's images of violence. I sure hope they don't start to show up in movies and video games.

Why isn't anyone asking the tough questions, like: "Is torture necessary?" "Who will watch the watchers?" and "When does Jack Bauer go to the bathroom?" Seriously, it's been five years. Is he wearing one of those astronaut diapers?

The great thing Ronald Reagan did was, he made us feel good about America again. Well, now we're a country that's tortured a lot of random people.

Do you feel good about America now? I'll give you my answer, and to get it out of me, you don't even have to hood me, hold my head underwater and have a snarling guard dog rip my face off. No, I don't feel very good about that.

It's been said that evil happens when good men do nothing. And as the Democrats prove, it also happens when mediocre people do nothing.


:

[The_Professor]

I have been a conservative for all of my adult life, both on social issues and on fiscal issues. I am pro-Life, etc. on the social issues scale, a proud member of what is called here the Ratwings and the Religious Right. I am a Republican of old, aka a William Buckley type, yes for fiscal responsibility and small government. I have voted Republican since 1980 (okay, I voted for Jimmy in 1976).

All this to say:

"Why is it that someone like me is so throughly disgusted with the current Republican that it makes me want to puke?"
"Why is it that someone with my voting credentials agrees that President Bush (whom I voted for twice) will indeed go down as one of the worst Presidents in modern history?"
"Why am I increasingly finding myself at odds, philosophically, with the Party I have supported my entire adult life?"
"Why am I increasingly even agreeing with MT and Domer?" (Heavens forbid!)
"Does this mean that Hillary Clinton will win this upcoming election regardless of the Republican candidate?"
"Why doesn't President Bush "just get it?" and get out of this Iraqi mess that I never supported?"
"Why are the dang neocons still so ensconed and in control, even after this mid-election debacle?""
"Why is "President Bush mortgaging my children's' (and Plane's) futures with this fiscal irresponsibility?"

PLEASE someone, okay anyone, even my Republican colleagues" enlighten me here....does this say ANYTHING about the near future of the Republican Party when partizan's like me are so throughly disgusted or am I really an anomaly?

[BT]

Life and politics is not like a TV show.

It requires interaction.

IF YOU are unhappy with the direction of YOUR Party, do something to change it or divirse YOURSELF from that party.

Don't just sit on the sidelines and bitch, otherwise you might as well be a libertarian.

[The_Professor]

I am attempting to do this by being invloved in the local Republican Party, BT.

However, this being a debate forum, I am also looking for perspectives perhaps I simply do not see.

Are you not "concerned" by the some of the actions of this Administration?

[BT]

I commend your involvement with your local GOP Party .

I am not a registered Republican though i usually vote that way. I have voted for democrats and libertarians in recent years. Most notably Zell Miller and libertarians in down ticket positions like sec state and labor commission.

I look at parties much like i do discount stores. Used to be if walmart didn't have what i wanted i shopped K Mart until K-Mart in the atlanta area became a non viable solution. Target fills that void now.

If the GOP strays from my philosophy i simply don't vote for them.

I don't feel an entitlement that they follow my exact wishes, i simply take my vote and or business elsewhere.

[Xavier_Onassis]

If you want small government, you won't find it with the GOP anymore.
Not even Bobdole would have given you small government.
Olebush was a member of the oligarchy.
Cheney is a walking, talking, rooting, tooting and shooting (with a realy bad aim) personification of the Military Industrial Complex.

What you are going to get from the GOP is oligarchy, an overzealous Homeland Security watching your every move and guys like Rove trying to convince you that Jesus will hate you if you don't elect them.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Only the Libertarians will promise a small government, but they won't ever actually elect anyone.

The Reform/ Perotista Party is dead meat. Poke a fork in them, they are done.

Voting Libertarian is like voting Communist or Socialist Labor Party. It's like peeing your pants while wearing a dark suit: no one will notice but you, but  you WILL get a warm feeling for a short period of time.

Then you will feel foolish, most likely, if you are normal.

The Democratic Party is far more subject to change based on the constituents' participation.
The Republican elite, who will always be in charge, thinks of in party elections they way corporations think of elections: we will choose the board, and you can take it or leave it. Approve the ticket or jump in the lake.

The Democrats are occasionally democratic.

It will be fun watching the elite of the GOP try to shut out Giulani.
If the Mighty Surge in Iraq is a disaster, then ancient McCain is doomed.

Gingrich is clearly soiled goods, Brownback is a kook from Flyover Country, Romney is a weirdo cultist Mormon.


But never forget: in the wings, patiently waiting, is the Jebster.

HOWEVER:

In several years, Charlie Crist might have a shot at the presidency, and he is far, far FAR better than any GOP we have ever had running anything in Florida, at least so far.

I didn't vote for Crist, but I have yet to see or hear any reason to dislike or mistrust him. Infinitely better than Jebbie.

He's Greek, but only the informed know that he's not some sort of Anglican High Church Country Clubster.

[Amianthus]

The Democratic Party is far more subject to change based on the constituents' participation.

Which is why they castigate and "run out of town" anyone who dares to disagree with them...

[Xavier_Onassis]

All this to say:

"Why is it that someone like me is so throughly disgusted with the current Republican that it makes me want to puke?"
"Why is it that someone with my voting credentials agrees that President Bush (whom I voted for twice) will indeed go down as one of the worst Presidents in modern history?"
"Why am I increasingly finding myself at odds, philosophically, with the Party I have supported my entire adult life?"
"Why am I increasingly even agreeing with MT and Domer?" (Heavens forbid!)
"Does this mean that Hillary Clinton will win this upcoming election regardless of the Republican candidate?"
"Why doesn't President Bush "just get it?" and get out of this Iraqi mess that I never supported?"
"Why are the dang neocons still so ensconed and in control, even after this mid-election debacle?""
"Why is "President Bush mortgaging my children's' (and Plane's) futures with this fiscal irresponsibility?"

PLEASE someone, okay anyone, even my Republican colleagues" enlighten me here....does this say ANYTHING about the near future of the Republican Party when partizan's like me are so throughly disgusted or am I really an anomaly?

=================================================================================\
Sounds like you are getting smarter and smarter.


I think Charlie Crist is the first acceptable Republican I have seen in decades. I am beginning to not be sorry he was elected.

He's certainly less dictatorial than Giulani and a far better politician (ie better at getting along with people) than the Jebster.

[Michael Tee]

Apart from offering $10 million to the family of the 14-year-old boy killed in a county "boot camp," which the legislature still has to approve, what did Charlie Crist do to merit all this adulation?  All of a sudden he's becoming the Republican Barak Obama.

[sirs]

I am attempting to do this by being invloved in the local Republican Party, BT.  However, this being a debate forum, I am also looking for perspectives perhaps I simply do not see.  Are you not "concerned" by the some of the actions of this Administration?

I think I'm a good foil for you on this Professor, since I'm nearly as a partisan conservative as yourself, BUT, I have supported not just the war in Iraq, but this President thru thick & thin. 

NOW, before I transition any further, let me add, I've grown consistently sour with much of Bush's policies, ever since he took office, especially in his lack of vetoing out of control domestic spending, and his egregious immigration positions.  So the idea that he's some far RW zealot flies in the face of reality.  He was never a hard core conservative like Reagan or Buckley.  Not even in the same ballpark.  Not even the same frellin state

BUT, I have thoroughly been impresed with his leadership regarding the war on terror, and in the war in Iraq.  He took positions that most hated or wished to ignore, and stood by them.  He has accurately IMHO, grapsed the threat of militant Islam, and is trying to do something about it.  I wish he had the same zealotry to deal with the SS crisis, but that's neither here nor there currently.  Point being, he's aggressively gone after a threat, in an attempt not to see a repeat of what occured in the late 30's under the Nazi movement.  He's taken his oath to protect this country from enemies both foreign & domestic quite significantly, and while some will argue that the PA, the Foreign surveillance, and Bank record assessments, are some afront to civil liberties, in most of those cases they're perfectly legal and within the Constitutional parameters of the President.  The fact that no court ruling against those measures have held up, is also quite telling. 

Now, if the FBI has abused the PA in any way, those that abused it should be prosecuted to the fullest extent.  But the fact that no one has yet to demonstrate any illegal actions taken by Bush (which I'm sure everyone of the ABB folk have been trying to do) in trying to defend this country is by and large a testatment to how well he's adhering to the Constitution and his role as President (vs the garbage that he's just another Hitler dictator.  Moronic version of course)

[Xavier_Onassis]

Apart from offering $10 million to the family of the 14-year-old boy killed in a county "boot camp," which the legislature still has to approve, what did Charlie Crist do to merit all this adulation?  All of a sudden he's becoming the Republican Barak Obama.\
====================================================================
Crist is not at all contentious. He always tries to find something to agree with everyone about. During the Jebbie years, the Legislature was a constant namecalling and debating society. Now they are agreeing on all sorts of stuff.

Crist took on the insurance companies. My homeowners policy with State Farm, went from $1800 in 2006 to $5200 in 2007.

Crist got a whole bunch of studies on how to lower property taxes, which have gone up nearly exponentially as a result of the recent housing boom.

Crist took on corruption in the housing authority here in Miami-Dade County, where major ripoffs occurred. A huge housing project was destroyed and new homes were promised within two years, and six years later, the entire area is bare and deserted.

Either Crist is one of the best governors we have ever had, or he has the greatest PR people ever.

Everyone seems to like him, and he seems to like them back.

I didn't vote for him, because I thought he'd be another Jebbie (ie in bed with every developer, insurance co.and bank in the state). All I can say is so far, he's better than anyone expected, except perhaps the insurance companies, and the fools that ran that boot camp.

[Plane]

George Bush 43 is not all that conservative , rather than the mantle of Reagan , he seems to be wearing the mantle of George Bush 41.


It would be good to have a really serious conservative run for the presidency , but moderates are more " electable " for mathmatical reasons.

You are familliar with a "normal distribution"?


Rather than use legislation or executive authoity or even judicial ruleing to effect change in the direction we like , I consider it better and more virtuous to lead the public twards conservatism by exposure and expounding of the truth .

  After the people change their poition the politicians will follow.

[The_Professor]

I am attempting to do this by being invloved in the local Republican Party, BT.  However, this being a debate forum, I am also looking for perspectives perhaps I simply do not see.  Are you not "concerned" by the some of the actions of this Administration?

I think I'm a good foil for you on this Professor, since I'm nearly as a partisan conservative as yourself, BUT, I have supported not just the war in Iraq, but this President thru thick & thin. 

NOW, before I transition any further, let me add, I've grown consistently sour with much of Bush's policies, ever since he took office, especially in his lack of vetoing out of control domestic spending, and his egregious immigration positions.  So the idea that he's some far RW zealot flies in the face of reality.  He was never a hard core conservative like Reagan or Buckley.  Not even in the same ballpark.  Not even the same frellin state

BUT, I have thoroughly been impresed with his leadership regarding the war on terror, and in the war in Iraq.  He took positions that most hated or wished to ignore, and stood by them.  He has accurately IMHO, grapsed the threat of militant Islam, and is trying to do something about it.  I wish he had the same zealotry to deal with the SS crisis, but that's neither here nor there currently.  Point being, he's aggressively gone after a threat, in an attempt not to see a repeat of what occured in the late 30's under the Nazi movement.  He's taken his oath to protect this country from enemies both foreign & domestic quite significantly, and while some will argue that the PA, the Foreign surveillance, and Bank record assessments, are some afront to civil liberties, in most of those cases they're perfectly legal and within the Constitutional parameters of the President.  The fact that no court ruling against those measures have held up, is also quite telling. 

Now, if the FBI has abused the PA in any way, those that abused it should be prosecuted to the fullest extent.  But the fact that no one has yet to demonstrate any illegal actions taken by Bush (which I'm sure everyone of the ABB folk have been trying to do) in trying to defend this country is by and large a testatment to how well he's adhering to the Constitution and his role as President (vs the garbage that he's just another Hitler dictator.  Moronic version of course)

Thanks, Sir. I am also heartened by his post 9/11 heroic action, particularly Afghanistan. That was a necessary action and even most ofthis country supported it (even though, to be fair, we didn't get Bin Laden).

That being said, this Iraq mess is indeed that, namely a mess. The reasons for intervention were moronic at best and some of his other actions such as spending money like it is water (anti Buckley) and no action on SS is deplorable. And it goes on...

[The_Professor]

Plane, I suggest you and I lobby for Brownback or Romney here in Houston County -- http://www.houstoncogop.com/

[sirs]

Sir. I am also heartened by his post 9/11 heroic action, particularly Afghanistan. That was a necessary action and even most ofthis country supported it.  That being said, this Iraq mess is indeed that, namely a mess. The reasons for intervention were moronic at best and some of his other actions such as spending money like it is water and no action on SS is deplorable.
Plane, I suggest you and I lobby for Brownback or Romney here in Houston County

War is never pretty, and is ususally much worse than just "messy", and while I'm going to have to disagree with you on both the quality and content of our reasons for Iraq intervention, I wholeheartedly agree with you on the pathetic lack of any SS reform and obvious Liberal-like domestic spending

But on a side note, why should I, as a partisan conservative, be all reved up about Romney?