When the Democrats — who I thought were the good (or at least the anti-Bush, and pro-Constitution) guys — took back Congress in the last election, I was overjoyed. I thought we’d see an end — finally — to the Bush administration’s recklessness and lawlessness that’s made me feel ashamed to be American. Of course, the Democratic leadership has been a pathetic, embarrassing, contemptible, miserable failure, and now we see that not only have they enabled Bush’s insanity, they’ve been willing participants, helping him and Dick Cheney feed our constitution into the shredder. Yesterday, for the first time in ages, I felt my faith in our government begin to return, and I have Chris Dodd to thank for it.
It’s been depressing to watch our Democratic congressmen — the very ones we all worked so hard to put into the majority — do nothing to slow Bush’s destruction of what it means to be American.
I still don’t understand why Harry Reid will honor Republican holds and do back flips to make Mr. 24% happy while he extends a hearty “F you” to Senate Democrats, the Democratic party, and now the vast majority of Americans who are begging congress to do something — to do anything — to stop this tyrannical lunatic before it’s too late to save our country.
It is outrageous that Senators Clinton, Obama and Biden are asking for our votes, but are unwilling to provide leadership now. If they won’t stand up for the principles we all hold dear when they’re trying to earn our votes, how can we expect them to do it once they’re in the White House? Leadership is doing the right thing when it’s risky and when it’s unpopular. (And how depressing is it that upholding your oath of office is risky and unpopular? How doubly depressing is it that the only people who think that — and the only people being listened to — are Joe Klein, the DLC consultants, and the rest of the pundit class?)
Well, as a complete idiot once said: Fool me once, can’t get fooled again.
John Edwards has inspired the hell out of me with his message of hope for America, but Chris Dodd has shown real leadership on one of the most serious issues we’ve faced lately with telco immunity. While the other Senators have talked a good game, Senator Dodd actually did something when his country needed him.
I wanted to share my letter to him here, in the hopes that somehow it will find its way into his hands.
Dear Senator Dodd,
I doubt you’ll get to see this personally, as you’re very busy campaigning and defending our constitution from, well, everyone in government, it seems.
I hope a staffer will convey my immense gratitude — not only as a Democrat but as an American — to you for respecting your oath of office, and standing up to defend the very values that have made America great.
I sent e-mails and I made phone calls yesterday, but you stood up on the floor of the Senate and did something no other Democratic candidate for president seems to be willing to do: you were a leader. You stood not only with the base of our party, but with the vast majority of Americans who want the recklessness of this lawless president brought to a halt.
Your real leadership has inspired me and many others I know who have lost faith in our government, but especially in the Democratic party.
Best of luck to you in the primaries, and thank you for restoring a little bit of my faith in America.
Sincerely,
Wil Wheaton
Pasadena, CA
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Amen. I also sent letters to both of my Senators yesterday. We too must get off our asses and do something.
Did you ship the softcover backlog yet? Need by xmas.
“and now the vast majority of Americans who are begging congress to do something — to do anything — to stop this tyrannical lunatic before it’s too late to save our country.”
“Leadership is doing the right thing when it’s risky and when it’s unpopular.”
So basically you feel that Bush is a real leader – you just don’t like the direction?
Here is what I wrote on Crooks and liars yesterday:
Dear Senator Dodd,
There will come a time when historians will look back on our current era and take account. It is the duty of Congress to be a third branch of government, to have checks and balances on on the Executive branch.
Ever since the President took office, those checks and balances have been absent. The President and Vice President have used fear to as an excuse to destroy our civil liberties and to increase the power of the Executive in ways not intended by the founders of our great nation.
History will take account of those who stood up in this time of darkness and crisis, who said ‘enough is enough’ and began to turn the tide back and to restore the balance.
I commend Senator Dodd for his stand. I only wish other Senators would do the same.
Christopher Turkel
Cheshire, MA
Romans called those not involved in politics, idiots. It’s good to be involved, even if on the opposite side of so many issues. Merry Christmas!
“and now the vast majority of Americans who are begging congress to do something — to do anything — to stop this tyrannical lunatic before it’s too late to save our country.”
“Leadership is doing the right thing when it’s risky and when it’s unpopular.”
So basically you feel that Bush is a real leader – you just don’t like the direction?
He said “doing the *right* thing”
How does one define the fine line between “tyrannical lunatic” and “real leader?” As we can see Wil has drank the Kool-aid.
Clinton and Obama are too busy running for office to do anything with their current offices.
Candidates that are campaigning should not be allowed to do so while they still hold another office.
“Drank the Kool-aid?”
What the hell are you talking about?
Dodd’s opposition to the bill – or at least his willingness to stand up and do something about it – was inspired and propelled by citizen action. It’s a pretty interesting story – Greenwald has details.
To be fair, Wil, part of the reason the Dems haven’t been able to get very far yet is that they just don’t have the numbers to override vetos or get supermajorities when needed for other things. Half of congress just isn’t enough for any real control.
Yes, some Dem leaders have been chicken shits, but that’s less of a problem than the sheer numbers issue.
And YES on the Edwards support. Hil is a corporate shill and Obama is inexperienced (and the GOP candidates are warmongers, religious nuts or completely *koff*RonPaul*koff* out of their minds.) Edwards is the only guy out there who really has a plan to fight the corporate overlords who have decimated our government and the economy in the name of greed.
Ok, so part of me is saying Dodd is going to see this and go “OMG! Wil Wheaton totally e-mailed me! This is going in my LJ!”
And the other part of me is just going, “Bravo and well said, Wil.”
However, looking at how overwhelmingly the FISA bill passed, it looks like Reid was just doing what the majority wanted, which is really fucking sad in this case.
I miss my country.
To be fair, Wil, part of the reason the Dems haven’t been able to get very far yet is that they just don’t have the numbers to override vetos or get supermajorities when needed for other things. Half of congress just isn’t enough for any real control.
The Dems in Congress have the power to tell the President, “We can’t force you to sign our bills, but they’re the only bills you’re going to get.” They may not be able to override his veto just on their own numbers, but they certainly do NOT have to play lapdog for the White House.
Right on! I’m currently “undecided” in the primary election – as in, when the caucuses come around, I’ll support (within reason) whoever has the best chance of keeping Clinton from getting the nomination. I really want to like Obama, but he was awfully quick to run to the wishy-washy, so-called “center” and follow Clinton’s lead. He seems to have been indoctrinated already into the inside-the-Beltway groupthink. I like Edwards’ talk this time around – he’s clearly just saying what we want to hear (he’s another DLC Dem, after all), but at least he seems to have a clue what we want to hear. Now, though, I’m seriously considering going into the caucuses supporting Dodd – then switch if I need to in order to keep a precinct vote from Clinton. (I don’t know if they do caucuses in CA, but let me tell you, they’re all about that kind of compromise and deal-making on a very local level – very exciting and participatory.)
This is a great email, Wil. Far too often we only send emails and letters when we’re unhappy about something. It’s nice to send a letter of thanks every now and again. And even nicer to receive one, I imagine!
Wil, sometimes, you give me hope that your strident liberal bleating will eventually lead you in a rational direction.
“Of course, the Democratic leadership has been a pathetic, embarrassing, contemptible, miserable failure, and now we see that not only have they enabled Bush’s insanity, they’ve been willing participants”
This is an honest, eyes-open assessment. And the exact reason why they lost two elections to someone even Republicans will admit isn’t the brightest light on the tree. Democrats seem to believe that sound bites = sound governance, and that pandering to the media is the best way to get elected. Both sides need to form PLANS for the country, not just criticisms of the past. Frankly, I’m not sure either party is up to that.
If Dodd, Kucinich, or Gravel get the nomination (or vice-president, or something, hopefully our country will begin to turn around. Politics is something I am very passionate about, and even though I rarely respond here, I felt compelled to.
It was like..
“Dood, Wil totally has the same ideas as me…..awesome!”
Wil, sometimes, you give me hope that your strident liberal bleating
will eventually lead you in a rational direction.
Wow. That’s one of the most insulting, belittling things that’s been said to me all year. I’m so profoundly offended, I should probably just stop typing now.
At least you took in the spirit in which it was offered…
Merry Christmas, if I’m allowed to say that.
Senator Dodd has done something so important for our country, and I’m impressed that he took time out of Iowa to do it, while Clinton and Obama remained on the stump (though they took enough of a break to sent out an “attaboy” press release).
I faxed my senator yesterday, and he was among those who spoke so eloquently on the Senate floor in support of Dodd. While I’m not sure about Dodd for president, I admire and respect his principled stand on FISA.
Keep on with the strident liberalism, Wil. People who hate all politics usually believe they are so above it all, and they are, because the gasbag that is their head has achieved escape velocity.
Merry Christmas, if I’m allowed to say that. Oh please. Take your fucking “war on Christmas” strawman someplace else.
See? I should just stop typing.
But Merry Christmas, in any event. In fact, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and happy whatever it is you celebrate that makes you happy, because that’s what the whole season is about.
Hey, I know! I’ll make a donation to the ACLU in your name, so we can all feel safe to celebrate — or not — however we want.
“Drank the Kool-aid?”
What the hell are you talking about?
Wil,
I believe that would be a rather tasteless reference to the Jonestown Massacre (Wikipedia), a mass murder-suicide where nearly 1,000 men, women and children (members of the Peoples Temple) died by drinking poisoned Kool-Aid/Flavor-Aid.
Merry Christmas, if I’m allowed to say that?
Ahhhh, it becomes clear! Our friend Todd is a falafel man!
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1013043mackris1.html
I still am disturbed at the amount of people who truly do not understand my position (and yours, Wil, since we seem to have very similar political beliefs).
I don’t understand why it’s so wrong, in the eyes of some people, to:
stand up and ask for change to wake up and refuse to be zombified
to want an end to innocent slaughter
to want a TRUTHFUL RATIONAL answer out of own government and President
to have the right to be ANGRY AND PROTEST when elected officials do not do the job they were called to do.
Last I checked this was the U.S. of Fucking A and I’m fucking pissed off. I was livid when I heard that congress was going to go ahead and give Shrub more money for this war.
Wh.. how… Is this the Mob? What have they been slipping our Democratic Senators, Dumbfuck Shutuppus pills? Glad to head Dodd hasn’t taken the medicine.
I’m angry too (can you tell? I’m rambling and probably not making sense). And investigating other parties. I’m NOT happy with our Democratic party.
That would be “hear Dodd hasn’t taken the medicine.”
See what happens when I’m angry? Yes… “you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry”
And all that jazz.
Hey, what’s Canada like, anyone? Nice? Are the politicians truthful? Do they have cable?
Well done, Wil. I hope Dodd sees your letter. I also called my congresscritters (even the stupid Republican one) to ask them to stand with Dodd and for our Constitutions. Lo and behold, Harkin actually did. I will be caucusing for Dodd (and going to Edwards if Dodd isn’t viable -that is caucus mumbo jumbo) and I send Dodd $$ everytime he does something that helps preserve our rights. It is great to hear that other people understand and appreciate what a great thing he did yesterday!!
Speaking as a Nutmegger… yup, he’s one of mine.
I once got a reply to an email I sent Senator Dodd about privacy laws. But it was empty.
I cried.
This has been a pointless announcement. Carry on.
Not quite sure where this hostility is from (or the falafel comment). I was complimenting you (backhandedly, but a compliment nonetheless). You were RIGHT about the political enabling by the Dems. It’s almost like they said “Let’s give Bush everything he wants, no matter how stupid we think it is, just so we can say ‘I told you so'” It seems like that’s their playbook for the coming election too. Rather than formulating and communicating a PLAN for the future of the US, they’d rather Monday Morning Quarterback. They’re the political equivalent of Skip Bayless.
Hi Wil,
I’m curious how you came to the belief that the Democrats are pro-Constitution? Generally they expand the government beyond Constitutional limits. Of course both parties are now doing that.
I do not wish to belittle or insult you, but thinking the vast majority of Democrats stand for the Constitution demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the Constitution itself.
The Democrats and the Republicans are no longer the answer. We don’t have to “sides” to pick any more, they are all cut from the same cloth. Just depends on which of your freedoms they step on.
Hey, what’s Canada like, anyone? Nice? Are the politicians truthful? Do they have cable?
Let’s see. Yes, we have cable. And we love to watch shows about American politics. I miss Newt Gingrich, as he was such a … Martian.
At the moment Canada is cold. As in, here in Toronto we just had a snow storm. Good times. Good times.
Our politicians are not particularly truthful. They like to lie. They just don’t have the scope and opportunity to do the things American politicians can. Often Americans seem to interpret our lack of doing anything as virtue. It isn’t . It’s just limited reach.
America is a great country. It has the problem of having so much power: what to do? I am not being sarcastic at all about that. I got in an argument about Iraq recently. I think it’s better off now than under Saddam. This drove my fellow Canadians nuts. I think Iraq has hope for a future because of the USofA.
But here’s the thing. It’s easy to criticize when somebody does something. And it’s easy to see virtue when somebody, like oh, Canada, doesn’t do anything. We have lots of evil here, fear not. Google Pickton Trial.
I’m curious how you came to the belief that the Democrats are pro-Constitution?
Johnny:
My take on this isn’t the the Dems are more pro-Constitution, or even that the rank-and-file Republicans are especially anti-constitution. My fear/irritation/exasperation is that the current Bush-2 administration literally thinks that it operates outside the law. However, they built up such a smokescreen of “we’re patriots, you’re for us or you’re a terrorist” that no one with real authority has had the guts to stand up and say that they’re full of shit and knock it off before we impeach your ass.
And unfortunately right now the US Senate is effectively in deadlock all the time. Republicans are in the minority, so they can’t bring bills to a vote. But the Democrats have less than 60, so they can’t overcome a fillibuster, so Republicans can basically block anything. That means that the Democrats are in a weak position in the first place.
And despite the clear mandate from the last elections, the Democrats are afraid for their jobs and can’t put together the intestinal fortitude to send the bills that they support to the white House to be signed or vetoed. They’re afraid of the backlash from having a halted Federal government because no budget gets passed.
Like most things in our TV-based voting Federalist Republic, the White house is still winning this war of words (or at best only being slightly pushed back) because they have a shorter message and they stay on topic. For the past 5 years, and particularly since the Democrats took the majority, they’ve been so distracted with the idea that they as a party have lost sight of the central issue. I’ve desperately wanted them to say:
“Yes, Iraq is probably better off without Saddam Hussein. Yes, Osama Bin Laden being on the run is a good thing.
“However, that’s not the point. This was was entered into on totally false pretenses. During the confusion, the White House put several laws into effect that would never have passed with full debate that lessened fundamental rights and bypassed the normal rule of law.
“Furthermore, the White house has continually run all the departments of the executive branch and the intelligence community as if they were all subject to their whims, to the point of claiming that the constitution does not apply and they are above rule of law.”
Anyway, Wil, I feel your pain and I very much agree with you. I felt an actual glimmer of hope in government in the last couple of days when a judge ordered the White House to produce visitor records in a short period of time. I think the tide is finally beginning to turn. I only hope that we can get back to something of a functioning government in one term of whoever is elected president next.
I’m curious how you came to the belief that the Democrats are pro-Constitution?
Johnny:
My take on this isn’t the the Dems are more pro-Constitution, or even that the rank-and-file Republicans are especially anti-constitution. My fear/irritation/exasperation is that the current Bush-2 administration literally thinks that it operates outside the law. However, they built up such a smokescreen of “we’re patriots, you’re for us or you’re a terrorist” that no one with real authority has had the guts to stand up and say that they’re full of shit and knock it off before we impeach your ass.
And unfortunately right now the US Senate is effectively in deadlock all the time. Republicans are in the minority, so they can’t bring bills to a vote. But the Democrats have less than 60, so they can’t overcome a fillibuster, so Republicans can basically block anything. That means that the Democrats are in a weak position in the first place.
And despite the clear mandate from the last elections, the Democrats are afraid for their jobs and can’t put together the intestinal fortitude to send the bills that they support to the white House to be signed or vetoed. They’re afraid of the backlash from having a halted Federal government because no budget gets passed.
Like most things in our TV-based voting Federalist Republic, the White house is still winning this war of words (or at best only being slightly pushed back) because they have a shorter message and they stay on topic. For the past 5 years, and particularly since the Democrats took the majority, they’ve been so distracted with the idea that they as a party have lost sight of the central issue. I’ve desperately wanted them to say:
“Yes, Iraq is probably better off without Saddam Hussein. Yes, Osama Bin Laden being on the run is a good thing.
“However, that’s not the point. This was was entered into on totally false pretenses. During the confusion, the White House put several laws into effect that would never have passed with full debate that lessened fundamental rights and bypassed the normal rule of law.
“Furthermore, the White house has continually run all the departments of the executive branch and the intelligence community as if they were all subject to their whims, to the point of claiming that the constitution does not apply and they are above rule of law.”
Anyway, Wil, I feel your pain and I very much agree with you. I felt an actual glimmer of hope in government in the last couple of days when a judge ordered the White House to produce visitor records in a short period of time. I think the tide is finally beginning to turn. I only hope that we can get back to something of a functioning government in one term of whoever is elected president next.
I’m curious how you came to the belief that the Democrats are pro-Constitution?
Johnny:
My take on this isn’t the the Dems are more pro-Constitution, or even that the rank-and-file Republicans are especially anti-constitution. My fear/irritation/exasperation is that the current Bush-2 administration literally thinks that it operates outside the law. However, they built up such a smokescreen of “we’re patriots, you’re for us or you’re a terrorist” that no one with real authority has had the guts to stand up and say that they’re full of shit and knock it off before we impeach your ass.
And unfortunately right now the US Senate is effectively in deadlock all the time. Republicans are in the minority, so they can’t bring bills to a vote. But the Democrats have less than 60, so they can’t overcome a fillibuster, so Republicans can basically block anything. That means that the Democrats are in a weak position in the first place.
And despite the clear mandate from the last elections, the Democrats are afraid for their jobs and can’t put together the intestinal fortitude to send the bills that they support to the white House to be signed or vetoed. They’re afraid of the backlash from having a halted Federal government because no budget gets passed.
Like most things in our TV-based voting Federalist Republic, the White house is still winning this war of words (or at best only being slightly pushed back) because they have a shorter message and they stay on topic. For the past 5 years, and particularly since the Democrats took the majority, they’ve been so distracted with the idea that they as a party have lost sight of the central issue. I’ve desperately wanted them to say:
“Yes, Iraq is probably better off without Saddam Hussein. Yes, Osama Bin Laden being on the run is a good thing.
“However, that’s not the point. This was was entered into on totally false pretenses. During the confusion, the White House put several laws into effect that would never have passed with full debate that lessened fundamental rights and bypassed the normal rule of law.
“Furthermore, the White house has continually run all the departments of the executive branch and the intelligence community as if they were all subject to their whims, to the point of claiming that the constitution does not apply and they are above rule of law.”
Anyway, Wil, I feel your pain and I very much agree with you. I felt an actual glimmer of hope in government in the last couple of days when a judge ordered the White House to produce visitor records in a short period of time. I think the tide is finally beginning to turn. I only hope that we can get back to something of a functioning government in one term of whoever is elected president next.
I’m curious how you came to the belief that the Democrats are pro-Constitution?
Johnny:
My take on this isn’t the the Dems are more pro-Constitution, or even that the rank-and-file Republicans are especially anti-constitution. My fear/irritation/exasperation is that the current Bush-2 administration literally thinks that it operates outside the law. However, they built up such a smokescreen of “we’re patriots, you’re for us or you’re a terrorist” that no one with real authority has had the guts to stand up and say that they’re full of shit and knock it off before we impeach your ass.
And unfortunately right now the US Senate is effectively in deadlock all the time. Republicans are in the minority, so they can’t bring bills to a vote. But the Democrats have less than 60, so they can’t overcome a fillibuster, so Republicans can basically block anything. That means that the Democrats are in a weak position in the first place.
And despite the clear mandate from the last elections, the Democrats are afraid for their jobs and can’t put together the intestinal fortitude to send the bills that they support to the white House to be signed or vetoed. They’re afraid of the backlash from having a halted Federal government because no budget gets passed.
Like most things in our TV-based voting Federalist Republic, the White house is still winning this war of words (or at best only being slightly pushed back) because they have a shorter message and they stay on topic. For the past 5 years, and particularly since the Democrats took the majority, they’ve been so distracted with the idea that they as a party have lost sight of the central issue. I’ve desperately wanted them to say:
“Yes, Iraq is probably better off without Saddam Hussein. Yes, Osama Bin Laden being on the run is a good thing.
“However, that’s not the point. This was was entered into on totally false pretenses. During the confusion, the White House put several laws into effect that would never have passed with full debate that lessened fundamental rights and bypassed the normal rule of law.
“Furthermore, the White house has continually run all the departments of the executive branch and the intelligence community as if they were all subject to their whims, to the point of claiming that the constitution does not apply and they are above rule of law.”
Anyway, Wil, I feel your pain and I very much agree with you. I felt an actual glimmer of hope in government in the last couple of days when a judge ordered the White House to produce visitor records in a short period of time. I think the tide is finally beginning to turn. I only hope that we can get back to something of a functioning government in one term of whoever is elected president next.
I’m curious how you came to the belief that the Democrats are pro-Constitution?
Johnny:
My take on this isn’t the the Dems are more pro-Constitution, or even that the rank-and-file Republicans are especially anti-constitution. My fear/irritation/exasperation is that the current Bush-2 administration literally thinks that it operates outside the law. However, they built up such a smokescreen of “we’re patriots, you’re for us or you’re a terrorist” that no one with real authority has had the guts to stand up and say that they’re full of shit and knock it off before we impeach your ass.
And unfortunately right now the US Senate is effectively in deadlock all the time. Republicans are in the minority, so they can’t bring bills to a vote. But the Democrats have less than 60, so they can’t overcome a fillibuster, so Republicans can basically block anything. That means that the Democrats are in a weak position in the first place.
And despite the clear mandate from the last elections, the Democrats are afraid for their jobs and can’t put together the intestinal fortitude to send the bills that they support to the white House to be signed or vetoed. They’re afraid of the backlash from having a halted Federal government because no budget gets passed.
Like most things in our TV-based voting Federalist Republic, the White house is still winning this war of words (or at best only being slightly pushed back) because they have a shorter message and they stay on topic. For the past 5 years, and particularly since the Democrats took the majority, they’ve been so distracted with the idea that they as a party have lost sight of the central issue. I’ve desperately wanted them to say:
“Yes, Iraq is probably better off without Saddam Hussein. Yes, Osama Bin Laden being on the run is a good thing.
“However, that’s not the point. This was was entered into on totally false pretenses. During the confusion, the White House put several laws into effect that would never have passed with full debate that lessened fundamental rights and bypassed the normal rule of law.
“Furthermore, the White house has continually run all the departments of the executive branch and the intelligence community as if they were all subject to their whims, to the point of claiming that the constitution does not apply and they are above rule of law.”
Anyway, Wil, I feel your pain and I very much agree with you. I felt an actual glimmer of hope in government in the last couple of days when a judge ordered the White House to produce visitor records in a short period of time. I think the tide is finally beginning to turn. I only hope that we can get back to something of a functioning government in one term of whoever is elected president next.
The Jonestown reference is correct. Normally, you are very considered in presenting your ideas, but on this one, you’ve drank the radical Democrat Kool-aide and are in some strange place far from rationality. The clue to this is your use of the wonderful catch-phrase, tyrannical lunatic. This demonstrates that the writer has not given much thought to what they are saying, but rather are being influenced by the toxic effects of the Kool-aide.
You don’t really believe this, if you did, you would be screaming to remove him from office, rather than being angry that the Democrats continue to fund and enable this president.
This president has done a lot of damage, I’ll give you that. He is a statist tool just like Chris Dodd, they just believe in different routes that will, much to our detriment, achieve the same end goal. More government, which in turn will lead to less freedom. It’s just one emphasizes “defense” at all cost and other other emphasizes “compassion” at all cost. Both grow the government and try and use it to do “good” in their eyes. Of course, once Government has grown, it NEVER shrinks.
Wil, government is the enemy. You want real civil freedoms? Then you have to start getting rid of the thing that impinges on those freedoms; that would be GOVERNMENT!
Come on Wil, I know you are a libertarian at heart, check it out!
Wil,
I sent your comments to some Dodd staffers and will do my best to make sure he sees it.
adam
also note that chris dodd once dated carrie fischer aka princess leia.
To me this just looks like someone playing to the popular kid. If I recall, Bush’s ratings are still higher than those of the congress.
All of that aside, I think to say that the entire Bush administration is a failure is way off base. Yes, they have made mistakes, and I personally have found their domestic policies to be horrible. However, there have been some things that they have done that should have been a long, long time ago, namely the reconciliation of the Middle East after the hundred or years of European occupation which was truly occupation. To say that the Bush policy of change in the Middle East is a failure is to say that that the Status Quo was ok, and should have continued on in the same vein forever.
Did you want the people of the Middle East to be subjects of some Dictator or ruthless King? I think they deserve better, and we have given them the chance to take up the reigns for themselves. Whether they do or not is their own choice, but at least they have the choice, and that’s more than any other administration, republican or democrat, has offered to them.
As far as the domestic front is concerned, I think that any party that advocates the raising of taxes of any kind is only out for the government, and not the people. The fact that the Bush administration was willing to help the “little guy” by lowering taxes on anyone and everyone is a good thing. Economics 101 says that lower taxes are good for everyone. The fact that there are those that would act immorally is a different thing altogether. Those that act immorally should be dealt with individually, and without the help of the government, unless they are breaking the law.
My whole point in this diatribe is to say that a lot of the thing that are wrong that you, Will, attribute to the Bush administration are, in fact, things that could, and should be dealt with without that halp of the government. In effect, you are endorsing the need for a “Big Brother.”
cybersage,
lowering taxes is irrelevent, lowering spending is what matters. Sure the government could lower taxes to 0, and just print the money for their spending – but that will cause inflation which is exactly equivalent to a tax for the people (they have less money).
Of course lowering spending means you can lower taxes at the same time.
Lowering taxes while raising spending is just playing the people for idiots.
My whole point in this diatribe is to say that a lot of the thing that are wrong that you, Will, attribute to the Bush administration are, in fact, things that could, and should be dealt with without that halp of the government. In effect, you are endorsing the need for a “Big Brother.”
By the way, his name is Wil, one “l”.
The Bush-2 administration ordered and supported the NSA spying on Americans, completely bypassing FISA laws and are now in the process of trying smokescreen that process so that they don’t get caught.
While invoking “The War On Terror” (soon to be a movie starring Tom Cruise), the Bush Administration pushed through legislation that makes the SUSPICION of being a terrorist sufficient grounds to completely bypass the fourth ammendment.
As far as the domestic front is concerned, I think that any party that advocates the raising of taxes of any kind is only out for the government, and not the people.
Um…no. So the Bush-2 administration pushed lowering taxes…and at the same time headed up the biggest federal government overhaul since FDR. Oh, and gave us those fine people at the TSA who are spending billions protecting us from our own water bottles.
I’m not saying that the Democrats are saints or anything. But if Bush-2 has done one thing for sure, it’s to show anyone who thought that LBJ was the worst president possible that they were horribly, horribly wrong.
Thats a good ol Wil Wheaton post. Thanks
http://www.pafundi.com
Number of Operations Iraq Freedom and Enduring Freedom casualties as confirmed by U.S. Central Command: 4349
Thats a good ol Wil Wheaton post. Thanks
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Number of Operations Iraq Freedom and Enduring Freedom casualties as confirmed by U.S. Central Command: 4349
Now this is a good ‘ol Wil Wheaton Post. Thanks.
Number of Operations Iraq Freedom and Enduring Freedom casualties
as confirmed by U.S. Central Command: 4349
ohh, drama. Let me just say good on you, Wil, for sending that letter. I do think it’s true that the Democrats need to stand up more, but I also think it’s unfair to expect them to do the impossible–they still have one hand tied firmly behind their backs. Nothing’s really going to change without a regime change in the next election. Still, I am extremely grateful when someone is willing to stand up for something–that’s why I wish Russ Feingold would run for president. Maybe someday…
Wheaton Rocks The Vote
Excerpt From Living On Anon
As a voter in the state of Connecticut, I can’t help but to disagree with your views on Dodd, especially since I’ve been watching him closely for several years. As Quadropheniac said, Dodd is the same statist that Bush is. On the other hand, I totally respect your desire to “defend our Constitution.” That can only be done by reining in our federal government’s powers accordingly, not expanding its taxation and bureaucratic capabilities like Dodd has always advocated for. That would be no better than what Bush has done.
I don’t think you’re necessarily “drinking Kool-Aid.” You’re just frustrated as hell like the rest of us. I would just ask that you look at Dodd using the same standards that you use to look at Bush, even if Dodd is the one standing up against Bush. But either way, I think this was your best post in months. A well calculated risk that I believe will pay off.
Dude, when the majority is only a few seats it might not even exist as long as the other side votes the party line. Anyone who thought the slim Dem majority would mean anything was out to lunch in highschool civics.
Will,
You might one day leave the west coast and join the rest of America.
You’re politics are so skewed because of where you are from it is not even funny.
You dislike Bush because he has the balls to stand up for what he knows to be right and liberals like you would rather stick your head in the sand and apologize to those who hate us.
The only problem with Bush is
1. No child left behind act. Terrible legislation.
2. He didn’t destroy our enemies with all the firepower we have at our disposal.
3. He can’t run for a third term.
The problem with the democrats
1. They are socialists.
2. Hillary & Bill.
As of today Islamic terrorists have carried out over 10,000 attacks since 9/11. (thereligionofpeace.com). The US conservatives and republicans are the only ones willing to fight them.
Take a step back and join reality. You’re the one drinking the kool-aid.
Buildersent, where is Osama then? Why did we pay warlords to go into Tora Bora instead of going in ourselves? Those people let him escape. Why do we befriend nations with dictators we like and demolish others we don’t? is Saudi royal family any better than Saddam? Maybe they didn’t make people disappear, but they are no better. As a lifelong Democrat I can FIRMLY say we are not socialists. Bill Clinton is not the problem. Republicans would like everyone to believe he is, but my family was so much better off during his presidency. If anybody is drinking Kool-Aid, it’s the neo-cons who think things are just peachy right now.
“You might one day leave the west coast and join the rest of America”
Wow, buildersent, it’s amazing how your math skills think that less than half of the country counts as “the rest of America”. I guess those schools in the red states must be really *top notch*
If you think you are in the majority, you’re the one drinking the kool-aid. Have you even paid attention during the last two elections?
And by the way, the East Coast agrees with the West Coast. It also happens that the ten states with the highest levels of education have been unanimously blue for the past 8 years… all coastal states, btw.
Sooo… you’re one of them “blow ’em all out of the water and let God sort ’em out” people? You must be. You’re obviously racist since you seem to lack the capacity to understand that EVERYONE is in favor of getting rid of our enemies. The problem is knowing who they are. Not everyone with brown skin who worships differently than you is a terrorist. Show me proof that someone is a terrorist and I’ll gladly step aside and let you wax your hard on by killing him.
By the way, I’m not a democrat or republican. I’m in favor of a true democracy, where everyone has a voice and anyone can attain political office. Not this Capitalist Republic farce where the only way to be heard is money and nepotism.
Think that last comment was overboard? Ask Alan Greenspan, former Secretary of the Treasury under your precious burning bush and see what he thinks. You know, the country’s top economist? As soon as he no longer had Bush editing his comments, he came right out and said if you’re not a millionaire, you’re fucked in this country.
And ask yourself this: yeah, there have been a lot of terrorist attacks since 9/11… all in Iraq, and all since we invaded. And I’m all about fighting terrorists. What you fail to realize is that there were NO terrorists in Iraq prior to our occupation. So you can stop beating that dead horse, your pathetic bleating has lost its luster. No amount of harping those lies is going to make them true.
Take some lessons on Middle East culture. You’ll find out that they don’t trust outsiders, with good reason. Westerners have been consistently butting into their business for the last millenium. That’s why they hate our interference… all of it… for the last 50 years. That’s why no amount of brute force is EVER going to make the region settled.
Perhaps some further education on your part is necessary? Oh wait, it wouldn’t do any good anyway, since even you agree that Bush has been working to kill education in this country.