Dennis Kucinich is truly living in Wonderland. Sadly, as I read the comments on CNN regarding the Congressman's latest attempt to introduce articles of impeachment against George Bush, it seems that many Americans have joined him. Repeated cries of "Impeach Bush" smack of everything from ignorance to revenge to desperation. Fortunately, they have little connection to reality and at least the majority of the Congress understands that. But, as I said, one of the things this call smacks of is ignorance and sadly, many Americans have not even read the Constitution - the very document they claim the President has violated. I know this because if they had read it, not only would they know that the President hasn't violated the Constitution, but they would also know that things like healthcare, abortion, gay marriage and education are not within the authority of the federal government to regulate - instead they are the responsibilities of the states.
Next, I mention revenge - specifically for the impeachment of President Clinton. Well, as I have said many times, President Clinton was not, I repeat, WAS NOT impeached for having an affair. He was also not impeached for lying about the affair in his famous "I did not have sexual relations" speech. President Clinton was impeached for the crime of perjury. If you consult a dictionary, perjury is defined as "the willful giving of false testimony under oath or affirmation, before a competent tribunal, upon a point material to a legal inquiry." The fact that he gave false testimony about the affair is irrelevant. He could have lied about what he had for breakfast that morning. It doesn't matter. The point is he lied, under oath. That is a felony. As a lawyer, he should be well aware of the definition of perjury...even if he doesn't know the exact definition of the word "is." He also willingly obstructed the investigation. Another impeachable offense.
Lastly, I mention desperation. People are so emotional about Bush that they will do anything to see him out of office - even make up claims. But, President Bush has committed no crimes against US laws or the Constitution. All his actions have been taken with the full advice and consent of the Congress - per the requirements of the Constitution. If they hadn't been, he WOULD have been impeached long ago. There is no evidence he knowingly used false reasons for invading Iraq. All the intelligence we had from our own sources as well as those of other countries pointed to Saddam Hussein working hard to develop chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. In fact, Hussein admitted as much in his ~12,000 page report to the UN - he said he destroyed the programs. So, if he destroyed them, he must have had them in the first place. The problem is that his say-so that he destroyed them wasn't enough. The UN resolutions required verification and Hussein didn't cooperate fully - in some cases, barely at all.
It's ironic, actually. We went into Iraq in the first place to support 14 UN resolutions calling for Iraq to disarm. The UN is the Demo-libs' baby and we're supposed to kowtow to it's alleged wisdom and authority. So why do people get all in a tizzy when we decide to put teeth behind the UN's resolutions? The resolutions did say (to paraphrase) destroy and verify or else. Well, we finally provided the or else. We weren't alone, either, you know. Is the UN calling for war-crimes trials against the US or any of its leaders? Not that I've heard. After all, only they can truly try someone for global issues and general crimes against humanity...not us. I mean, we don't run the world. We may fund, feed, clothe, medicate, rescue, rebuild and defend much of the world, acts for which we get little or no credit or praise whatsoever, but we don't run it. However, the Demo-libs think we are trying to. And because of their anger that their golden boy fell from grace, they will continue to cry impeachment anytime a Republican President says "boo."
Personally, I think the "party of the people" should stick to what it has historically been best at:
* raising taxes
* increasing spending
* raising the rate of inflation
* chasing businesses and jobs overseas with over-regulation
* limiting the free speech of its opponents
* keeping minorities down and buying votes with impotent social programs
* usurping the rights of the states to govern themselves
* allowing run-away public excesses of otherwise private behavior
* limiting citizen's rights to protect themselves
* stealing citizens' homes in the name of eminent domain
* protecting murderers from execution while allowing late term abortions
Surely, with all these things on their agenda, they should have little time to add the folly of inappropriate impeachment proceedings.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Thoughts on Nancy Pelosi
If you go to the Department of Energy website, you can download US Government data on gas price averages. Just looking at the data every year from Bush's first inauguration to today (ignoring intermittent ups and downs), you will see the following:
22 Jan 2001 $1.51
21 Jan 2002 $1.15
20 Jan 2003 $1.50
19 Jan 2004 $1.64
24 Jan 2005 $1.90
23 Jan 2006 $2.38
22 Jan 2007 $2.22
21 Jan 2008 $3.07
14 Jul 2008 $4.08
So, what does this show? It shows that during the first 6 years of Bush's presidency, gas prices rose only $0.71 total, or an average of about $0.12 per year. Since January 2007 when the Democrat led 110th Congress took over with Nancy Pelosi as Speaker, gas prices have risen $1.86 in 1-1/2 years, or an average of 1.24 per year...10 times Bush's 6 year average and over 2.5 times Bush's worst yearly average of $0.48 (2005-06).
Similarly, unemployment took a precipitous rise following Ms. Pelosi assuming the leadership of the House. This after President Bush and the three previous congresses had fought the number back down following 9/11. Additionally, although the Consumer Price Index has experienced discrete ups and downs every 4-6 months over the last 16 years, there was no discernable trend other than increasing magnitude of fluctuations. However, since June 2007, the graph shows a definite increasing trend.
Prices and indicators fluctuate and things could change dramatically for the better in the next 6 months, but the data doesn't trend that way. Are these the result of Bush's bad policies finally taking effect or is the fact that they happened immediately or shortly after Ms. Pelosi became Speaker an indication of a national lack of confidence with congress - as is indicated by the lowest ever approval rating?
I think before Ms. Pelosi calls the President a total failure, she should see to her own record of leadership. If President Bush is a total failure as the leader of our republic, then the data shows that Ms. Pelosi is an utter abomination as the leader of our democracy.
22 Jan 2001 $1.51
21 Jan 2002 $1.15
20 Jan 2003 $1.50
19 Jan 2004 $1.64
24 Jan 2005 $1.90
23 Jan 2006 $2.38
22 Jan 2007 $2.22
21 Jan 2008 $3.07
14 Jul 2008 $4.08
So, what does this show? It shows that during the first 6 years of Bush's presidency, gas prices rose only $0.71 total, or an average of about $0.12 per year. Since January 2007 when the Democrat led 110th Congress took over with Nancy Pelosi as Speaker, gas prices have risen $1.86 in 1-1/2 years, or an average of 1.24 per year...10 times Bush's 6 year average and over 2.5 times Bush's worst yearly average of $0.48 (2005-06).
Similarly, unemployment took a precipitous rise following Ms. Pelosi assuming the leadership of the House. This after President Bush and the three previous congresses had fought the number back down following 9/11. Additionally, although the Consumer Price Index has experienced discrete ups and downs every 4-6 months over the last 16 years, there was no discernable trend other than increasing magnitude of fluctuations. However, since June 2007, the graph shows a definite increasing trend.
Prices and indicators fluctuate and things could change dramatically for the better in the next 6 months, but the data doesn't trend that way. Are these the result of Bush's bad policies finally taking effect or is the fact that they happened immediately or shortly after Ms. Pelosi became Speaker an indication of a national lack of confidence with congress - as is indicated by the lowest ever approval rating?
I think before Ms. Pelosi calls the President a total failure, she should see to her own record of leadership. If President Bush is a total failure as the leader of our republic, then the data shows that Ms. Pelosi is an utter abomination as the leader of our democracy.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
A Question for Mr. Gore
I have some questions for Mr. Gore.
What if, even if everyone follows all of your suggestions to the letter, we can't stop global warming?
I ask because in spite of our best efforts and intentions, it is entirely possible that we may not be able to stop the environment from changing. In that event, shouldn't we have a back-up plan? Something like, I don't know, how to live on a warmer planet? Take energy, for example. We know how bad things are now with everyone worried about heating oil prices. What will happen when the problem of staying warm in the winter becomes dwarfed by how to stay cool in the summer? What about mass migration of termites North into warmer climes where wood framed houses are the norm? How about mosquitoes? You think they're bad now?
I think I know why Mr. Gore, the great humanitarian, isn't bothering to tell us what to do in case the worst happens. Because he doesn't believe the worst will happen. Mr. Gore is a con artist. He is also a the worst nightmare of all of us who work in scientific fields. He's a layman with an agenda trying to explain scientific principles to other laymen. He is dangerous.
See my previous posting A Perspective on Global Warming.
What about this scenario, instead?
What if Mr. Gore knows the worst really won't happen. But, if he tells us it will, and scares us enough into actions (regardless that they may have no real effect on the climate), when nothing does happen, he's a hero. And he'll ride that wave into the White House, or at least the history books. It's fool proof. The problem is that most people (laymen or not) are not fools.
A conspiracy theory? Maybe. But I could swear I've heard this before. Oh yeah, now I remember. It's the same thing liberals have been saying about President Bush and the possibility of another terrorist attack. They say it's all hype and he uses scare tactics to maintain his power base.
There is one difference, however. The planet doesn't hate us and hasn't specifically said that it wants us dead.
What if, even if everyone follows all of your suggestions to the letter, we can't stop global warming?
I ask because in spite of our best efforts and intentions, it is entirely possible that we may not be able to stop the environment from changing. In that event, shouldn't we have a back-up plan? Something like, I don't know, how to live on a warmer planet? Take energy, for example. We know how bad things are now with everyone worried about heating oil prices. What will happen when the problem of staying warm in the winter becomes dwarfed by how to stay cool in the summer? What about mass migration of termites North into warmer climes where wood framed houses are the norm? How about mosquitoes? You think they're bad now?
I think I know why Mr. Gore, the great humanitarian, isn't bothering to tell us what to do in case the worst happens. Because he doesn't believe the worst will happen. Mr. Gore is a con artist. He is also a the worst nightmare of all of us who work in scientific fields. He's a layman with an agenda trying to explain scientific principles to other laymen. He is dangerous.
See my previous posting A Perspective on Global Warming.
What about this scenario, instead?
What if Mr. Gore knows the worst really won't happen. But, if he tells us it will, and scares us enough into actions (regardless that they may have no real effect on the climate), when nothing does happen, he's a hero. And he'll ride that wave into the White House, or at least the history books. It's fool proof. The problem is that most people (laymen or not) are not fools.
A conspiracy theory? Maybe. But I could swear I've heard this before. Oh yeah, now I remember. It's the same thing liberals have been saying about President Bush and the possibility of another terrorist attack. They say it's all hype and he uses scare tactics to maintain his power base.
There is one difference, however. The planet doesn't hate us and hasn't specifically said that it wants us dead.
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