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There should be no further commentary or complaint from the U.S. Congress regarding Afghan, Iraqi, Pakistani or Central American corruption. By comparison to our Congress those guys are in the low minor leagues. When it comes to institutionalized political corruption no one else can even come close to our numbers. We’re # 1, Yea!
The Senate Majority Leader stands to the podium and essentially says that “most” Senators have gotten something important to them into the health care bill. He goes on to say, in essence, that if they did not get their goodies, they weren’t doing their job. In other words if you did not get in on the feeding frenzy, if you did not “sell” you vote, if you did not engage in the worst kind of political corruption, “too bad for you, what a stiff”. “We had a fire sale and you did not show up”. What manner of victory is it when victory must be buttressed with disingenuous venality?
The converse of the Leader’s comment is, if you actually tried to craft a bill that made sense on a national basis, or let principal guide your vote or looked for rational compromise, you’re some kind of later day fool for being left out of the game. Fools indeed!
The symptoms tell the story. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 states are exempted from some of the bill’s provisions, it may be unnecessary to point out that all are states represented by Democratic Senators. Those Senators realized that certain provisions of the bill would have a negative impact on their constituencies. The other 38 states are left to suffer those negative consequences and to pay the bill for those states exempted. So the question simply is, if it was bad for your state why would it not be equally bad for all of the others? If it was equally bad for the others why the hell did you vote for it? Our Senators constantly speak to “national issues” and “the will of the American People”, but when the heat is on it’s every man or woman for themselves; national interests be damned. It’s a new twist on the old joke about “well, we’ve established what you are, we’re just negotiating the price”!
We even have media commentators praising Senators for getting something out of the process. Opining that no matter how unpopular the bill is with the public, the most corrupt of the lot will be welcomed as heroes at home for bringing home the bacon. Not only are we deep in the dark pit of institutionalized, legislated corruption, portions of our news media are cheering it on and declaring the worst scofflaws, heroes! What has become of us?
Bill Nelson’s interview with Greta Van Susteren last week, where he announced his belated support for the bill had the look of a hostage tape. The only way Senator Nelson could have looked more uncomfortable was if someone had shoved a pine cone down his pants and made him do push ups.
Imagine; the CEO of a corporation going to major shareholders and offering hundreds of millions of dollars of company money to support the CEO’s pet project or board selection. We can be reasonably assured that there would be a perp walk in that CEO’s future, and there should be. Help! Someone explain the difference between that and what we’ve seen in the House and Senate.
We could probably cover the entire tab for Afghan corruption with what Mary Landreaux got for Louisiana or what Bill Nelson got for Florida of what Chuck Schumer got for New York. The hypocrisy of the righteous indignation we level at others compared to what we actually do ourselves is nearly beyond rational comprehension.
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http://www.youtube.com/wa.....r_embedded
Nice video bill.
Did obama back out of closing Gitmo ? How about now after latest terrorist attempt…
“Speaking at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in which Holder testified, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., raised concerns that the attorney general was imperiling national security by determining that war-time combatants, potentially even Usama bin Laden, might be sent into the criminal system. “
“We’re making bad history here,” Graham said. “The big problem I have is that you’re criminalizing the war. … I think you’ve made a fundamental mistake here.”
“Meanwhile, President Obama said in one of a series of TV interviews during his trip to Asia that those offended by the legal privileges given to Mohammed by virtue of getting a civilian trial rather than a military tribunal won’t find it “offensive at all when he’s convicted and when the death penalty is applied to him.”
“Obama quickly added that he did not mean to suggest he was prejudging the outcome of Mohammed’s trial. “I’m not going to be in that courtroom,” he said. “That’s the job of the prosecutors, the judge and the jury.”
http://www.foxnews.com/po.....itol-hill/
Obama was quick to correct his buffoon statement. I suggest his rash of sub par pay grade mistakes should lead to pay cut and possible dismissal before the big one occurs.
“Gitmo prepares for trials instead of close in 2010”
By MIKE MELIA, Associated Press Writer Mike Melia, Associated Press Writer – Fri Dec 25, 3:50 pm ET
“SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Rather than shutting Guantanamo, the U.S. military is gearing up for the war-crimes trial of a former child soldier at the navy base on southeastern Cuba this summer.”
“But if some trials are to proceed without delay, there is no other viable location, thanks to congressional opposition to moving terror detainees to U.S. soil, plus the time required to buy and renovate an Illinois prison — the one place where they would be welcome.”
“The prosecutors in Khadr’s case have informed us that if the trial takes place in July 2010, it will be held at Guantanamo,” said Army Maj. Jon Jackson, one of the detainee’s Pentagon-appointed attorneys.”
“Some detainees are expected to face trial in U.S. federal courts, including self-professed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four alleged henchmen. But so far only one inmate has been transferred to New York for trial. Other prisoners are expected to be held indefinitely because they are considered too dangerous and their cases too compromised for prosecution.”
“At Guantanamo, officials say they are ready for a return to the spotlight after a lull in court proceedings since Obama took office.”
“Personnel are in place to provide support for any court action at Guantanamo, said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Brook DeWalt, a spokesman for the detention mission in Cuba. An Air Force expeditionary unit also has been helping to maintain the Camp Justice complex that includes a high-security courthouse and tents for support staff, attorneys and journalists.”
“We’ll just keep everything on track,” DeWalt said. “If a particular hearing is turned on, we’ll adjust fire and have our personnel ready to roll with that particular mission.”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/a.....aying_open
Are we seeing a unannounced shift in attitude toward Gitmo ? It is hard to imagine that Lt. Cmdr. Brook DeWalt is acting against the President’s wishes.
But with the latest airplane terrorist incident, obama’s worst nightmare has come true. A prudent President would heed Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C words.
“SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM, (R-S.C): Can you give me a case in United States history where a enemy combatant caught on a battlefield was tried in civilian court?”
“ERIC HOLDER, ATTORNEY GENERAL: I don’t know. I’d have to look at that. I think that, you know, the determination I’ve made –”
“Well, it does not depend. If you’re going to prosecute anybody in civilian court, our law is clear that the moment custodial interrogation occurs the defendant, the criminal defendant, is entitled to a lawyer and to be informed of their right to remain silent.”
“The big problem I have is that you’re criminalizing the war, that if we caught bin Laden tomorrow, we’d have mixed theories and we couldn’t turn him over — to the CIA, the FBI or military intelligence — for an interrogation on the battlefield, because now we’re saying that he is subject to criminal court in the United States. And you’re confusing the people fighting this war.”
http://newsbusters.org/bl.....sey-graham
Maybe now obama will not have to answer:
“SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM, (R-S.C): Can you give me a case in United States history where a enemy combatant caught on a battlefield was tried in civilian court?”
I can not guess what obama will do. Facilities at Gitmo are up to date ready and as safe as you can get.
But this so called ‘shame’ liberals throw around muddies liberal President solutions over Gitmo.
I’d say he’s caught between a ‘rock and a hard place’. His liberalism may cost American lives.
Gitmo and Bush did not start terrorist attacks on America or the hatred of America because of water boarding. If you wish to blame a President (which I don‘t) then it was Bill Clinton when first attack happened on Twin Towers.
I await to see how he works this out. In campaign mode or Presidential mode. Will he rise to his Office at last.
Yes, it looks like it was a close call. Almost another terrorist attack on US soil.
http://www.guardian.co.uk.....ot-detroit
Kendale Sturdivent
I hope we are not looking for more of those attempts but it will happen and worse. Peroxide bombs are cheap and material common place chemical. Basically add bleach I think.
This should not be a political football. Foreign Countries need to tighten their airport security. Just see so many possible holes.
An old saying anybody can be killed. These ‘man made disaster’ makers (I hate that term) are willing to die for their cause. Bad combination. Impossible to stop them all.
I agree. Can’t say we didn’t see this coming though. All we can do is put into place things to prevent as much of it as we can.
I agree
I agree to the corruption part. It seems very few is being done to eradicate this flaw in the system. We should oppose it in majority.