Now it appears we have sanity in the House and none in the Senate? What is going on in Washington? Typically, the House of Representatives are the hotheads that furiously debate issues and the Senate calmly, and rationally take on the issues raised by the House. But now it appears to be turned around.
Take today for instance, the Senate simply pushed through the GOP crafted FISA bill. Effectively, bowing to pressure from the Bush Administration and the GOP cries that this will stave off some invisable, unseen and impending terrorist attack. All this despite the fact that the current FISA rules do not say they can't eavesdrop on these communications, they simply need to get warrants to do so. And these warrants are still the type that can be requested "after" the communications are intercepted. So please give me a break! The issue is not impossible, just difficult given that they don't like asking for warrants period.
But what gets my dander up is that we have been doing this for five years or so and they are now complaining that it has to be done immediately if not yesterday! This is a typical GOP tactic of using the "GWOT" as a rubberstamp to push whatever they desire through Congress. Well I am glad for once to see someone putting the brakes on and attempting to evaluate the FISA bill instead of giving Bush another "Blank Check" to run his private war. Accountability is a necessary part of any legislation and after five years of letting them run things into the ground it is time to put accountability back into government.
Thank you Rep. Nancy Pelosi!
Calling it like I see it,
Wynter
Article from CNN - http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/04/congress.fisa/index.html
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Friday, August 3, 2007
The Ugly Side of American Foreign Policy
In the business world today image is very important. It is closely guarded in the form of trademarks, emblems, advertisements, and such by a small group of designated representatives of these corporations. These corporate ambassador's to the public are much the same as our U.S. State Department is for our government as a whole. And the worst thing that can happen to a this is to have it hijacked by people that are not part of the official channels. This seems to be the case when politicians vying for higher office decide to blurt out clearly outrageous remarks as Tancredo did recently by threatening that if he were in charge he would warn Muslim Extremists that the U.S. would target their most holy sites in retaliation. Now to make this clear for any Muslims that may read this blog. Please note that the American People would NOT stand nor allow such actions to ever take place. Actions like this would be considered a war crime if it was ever attempted as a policy.
Tancredo article from CNN - http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/08/03/tancredo-bomb-muslim-holy-sites-first/
Now that type of comment by Rep. Tancredo while totally in the extreme is not the only item of issue that has come out of our wonderful electorial process. We all need to consider our words more carefully so that we don't impact our current government foreign policy. As in the case where Sen. Obama attempted to show that he is not naive when it comes to dealing with other world leaders. He deemed it necessary to threaten to invade Pakistan in his search for Osama Bin Laden and the remaining Taliban elements. Well this may make great political fodder, it makes a horrible impression on our current attempts to get some cooperation from Pakistan so we can go into that country quietly and assist them in taking out the Taliban forces. This action by Sen. Obama comes right back to him as a prime example of how naive he is in these matters of state. Of course we all wish would could walk into a foreign country and extricate those that may be planning to destroy our country, but we don't broadcast these plans so indelicately and directly as he has. We simply state that we will have a policy of intervention where possible and with close coordination with our allies. Nothing more than that. And definitely nothing specific!
Article - http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/03/obama.pakistan.ap/index.html
This all goes to show how our own officials can destroy and distort the message of our foreign policy to the world. We may be a country with many free voices, but we must all be aware that we all have a responsibility to watch what we say in our country's name.
In my own perspective,
Wynter
Tancredo article from CNN - http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/08/03/tancredo-bomb-muslim-holy-sites-first/
Now that type of comment by Rep. Tancredo while totally in the extreme is not the only item of issue that has come out of our wonderful electorial process. We all need to consider our words more carefully so that we don't impact our current government foreign policy. As in the case where Sen. Obama attempted to show that he is not naive when it comes to dealing with other world leaders. He deemed it necessary to threaten to invade Pakistan in his search for Osama Bin Laden and the remaining Taliban elements. Well this may make great political fodder, it makes a horrible impression on our current attempts to get some cooperation from Pakistan so we can go into that country quietly and assist them in taking out the Taliban forces. This action by Sen. Obama comes right back to him as a prime example of how naive he is in these matters of state. Of course we all wish would could walk into a foreign country and extricate those that may be planning to destroy our country, but we don't broadcast these plans so indelicately and directly as he has. We simply state that we will have a policy of intervention where possible and with close coordination with our allies. Nothing more than that. And definitely nothing specific!
Article - http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/03/obama.pakistan.ap/index.html
This all goes to show how our own officials can destroy and distort the message of our foreign policy to the world. We may be a country with many free voices, but we must all be aware that we all have a responsibility to watch what we say in our country's name.
In my own perspective,
Wynter
Congress Takes a Break... or will they?
Given the recent Gonzales hearings and the Larry King Lovefest with Dick Cheney this week, I thought I had heard all the garbage that was going to be thrown out at the public. Well I was wrong!
George Bush is whining and stomping his feet in front of the podium like a little boy that just can't take No for an answer. He is all upset about his illegal eavesdropping program being held up by Congress. He claims that it's vital we get this passed to protect the United States from imminent attack. Whereas the Congress is trying to balance what is legal under the Constitution and what is totally whacked! I mean, give me a break, good ole boy Alberto is going to be put in charge of determining what is legal to eavesdrop on? Come on George! The man is under investigation for lying to Congress at the moment and will likely come under impeachment hearings any week now. Do you really expect Congress to let him manage anything more than validating White House parking vouchers? The man should have been taken out and shot back when he tried to make torture a legal method of interrogation. Good Lord!
So instead of trying to obtain some respectable agreement with those people in Congress, George starts taking the hardball route and complaining to the public that we are left unprotected. Nice way to play nice in the sand pile, George. Seems like someone needs a timeout or at least a lesson in negotiating. I guess I shouldn't expect much since he doesn't understand our form of government since he lost his vice president to the Legislative branch. Seems they are paying him anyways. Shouldn't they be able to fire him? Wishful thinking....
Well since George can't Veto legislation that hasn't reached an agreement yet, he is threatening to call Congress back into session if they adjorn for the summer month long break. Okay George, that will REALLY get them to agree with anything you ask... right. You will be lucky to get enough funds from Congress to pay off your White House gardener. Better get used to watering those roses out back yourself!
If you look at the situation at this moment. We have been breaking the law since 2002 on the eavesdropping program. That is approximately five years of improper use of our communications systems by the NSA and the White House. Have they really stopped anything during those five years? Hmmm... nothing groundbreaking. I don't think we should be so quick to rubber stamp another six months or more of this Bush league wiretapping until we determine what is legal and what isn't. Also, we should have ALL the checks and balances in place. I mean, five years is enough time to be able to determine the value of a program and to have at least an IDEA of what is needed and what is just too damn sensitive to listen in on. So Mr. Bush, take a valium and wait for the Congress to come up with a policy to cover this program. It's called Democracy, George. Get used to it.
Telling it from my persepective,
Wynter Dragon
If you have a point of your own, please feel free to comment. But please let's keep this to the point and without a lot of rhetoric. Thanks!
Article: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/03/fisa.upgrade.ap/index.html
George Bush is whining and stomping his feet in front of the podium like a little boy that just can't take No for an answer. He is all upset about his illegal eavesdropping program being held up by Congress. He claims that it's vital we get this passed to protect the United States from imminent attack. Whereas the Congress is trying to balance what is legal under the Constitution and what is totally whacked! I mean, give me a break, good ole boy Alberto is going to be put in charge of determining what is legal to eavesdrop on? Come on George! The man is under investigation for lying to Congress at the moment and will likely come under impeachment hearings any week now. Do you really expect Congress to let him manage anything more than validating White House parking vouchers? The man should have been taken out and shot back when he tried to make torture a legal method of interrogation. Good Lord!
So instead of trying to obtain some respectable agreement with those people in Congress, George starts taking the hardball route and complaining to the public that we are left unprotected. Nice way to play nice in the sand pile, George. Seems like someone needs a timeout or at least a lesson in negotiating. I guess I shouldn't expect much since he doesn't understand our form of government since he lost his vice president to the Legislative branch. Seems they are paying him anyways. Shouldn't they be able to fire him? Wishful thinking....
Well since George can't Veto legislation that hasn't reached an agreement yet, he is threatening to call Congress back into session if they adjorn for the summer month long break. Okay George, that will REALLY get them to agree with anything you ask... right. You will be lucky to get enough funds from Congress to pay off your White House gardener. Better get used to watering those roses out back yourself!
If you look at the situation at this moment. We have been breaking the law since 2002 on the eavesdropping program. That is approximately five years of improper use of our communications systems by the NSA and the White House. Have they really stopped anything during those five years? Hmmm... nothing groundbreaking. I don't think we should be so quick to rubber stamp another six months or more of this Bush league wiretapping until we determine what is legal and what isn't. Also, we should have ALL the checks and balances in place. I mean, five years is enough time to be able to determine the value of a program and to have at least an IDEA of what is needed and what is just too damn sensitive to listen in on. So Mr. Bush, take a valium and wait for the Congress to come up with a policy to cover this program. It's called Democracy, George. Get used to it.
Telling it from my persepective,
Wynter Dragon
If you have a point of your own, please feel free to comment. But please let's keep this to the point and without a lot of rhetoric. Thanks!
Article: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/03/fisa.upgrade.ap/index.html
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