Normally open July 4th only---the one day a year when partisan politics, religion, etc. are acceptable topics on this Board. (The 2012 window is now closed; thanks for playing.)
jazzcyclist wrote:What should we do, instigate a coup?
Is that really your first course of action?
No, the first course of action in a democratic country is to get involved in the democratic process by writing your Senators and Congressmen, donating money to candidates and causes you like, volunteering your time to causes and candidates that you like and voting. I've done all of these things.
Belief in democracy means respecting the system even when you don't get the outcome you like. I believe in democracy, unlike Bush who refers to Hugo Chavez, who is a buffoon, as a dictator, despite the fact that he came to power in an election that even his opponents called free and fair. Bush also boycotted and refused to recognize the Palestinians' Hamas government, despite the fact they also won a free and fair election. To his credit, Paul Wolfowitz is the only notable neocon who immediately called for the U.S. to recognize Hamas, and said that it was mistake to punish the Palestinians for how they voted.
So that's how I feel about democracy. What would be your first course of action?
jazzcyclist wrote:No, the first course of action in a democratic country is to get involved in the democratic process by writing your Senators and Congressmen, donating money to candidates and causes you like, volunteering your time to causes and candidates that you like and voting. I've done all of these things So that's how I feel about democracy. What would be your first course of action?
Exactly what you said! Anyone that does as you have is NOT complicit (IF crimes were committed) .
Vince wrote:Congress has the Constitutional duty to declare war and initiate funding laws. The President has the Constitutional duty of Commander in Chief of the U.S. military. The U.S. has a global military presence and repositioning of military assets, whether Congress agrees or not, is not a "cut and dried' high crime or misdemeanor.
The US was not in a time of war in the mid-eighties.
Sending ships to an area (to politically pressure a country) CAN be considered an act of war, which is why Congress enacted an order for Reagan to not do so.
Defying a direct order of Congress is an impeachable offense, period.
Vince wrote: You are ill informed and might try to get to know more about the U.S. from places other than media sources. Most people in the U.S. aren't deferential to any politician or political office. Name one crime Bush was convicted of while serving as President. I'd defend my neighbor as well as a politician if some idiot called him "one of the biggest puppet criminals in the last 100 years" even if convicted of no crimes. Marlow, if I remember correctly, also served as a USN Officer. He quite understandably would hold the office in higher esteem.
Er, you seem to have completely misunderstood my whole post and in doing so made my point for me
Vince wrote: You are ill informed and might try to get to know more about the U.S. from places other than media sources. Most people in the U.S. aren't deferential to any politician or political office. Name one crime Bush was convicted of while serving as President. I'd defend my neighbor as well as a politician if some idiot called him "one of the biggest puppet criminals in the last 100 years" even if convicted of no crimes. Marlow, if I remember correctly, also served as a USN Officer. He quite understandably would hold the office in higher esteem.
Er, you seem to have completely misunderstood my whole post and in doing so made my point for me
Vince wrote:Congress has the Constitutional duty to declare war and initiate funding laws. The President has the Constitutional duty of Commander in Chief of the U.S. military. The U.S. has a global military presence and repositioning of military assets, whether Congress agrees or not, is not a "cut and dried' high crime or misdemeanor.
The US was not in a time of war in the mid-eighties.
Sending ships to an area (to politically pressure a country) CAN be considered an act of war, which is why Congress enacted an order for Reagan to not do so.
Defying a direct order of Congress is an impeachable offense, period.
Congress has no authority over the military, or the President, period.
Vince wrote:Congress has no authority over the military, or the President, period.
??!!
You obviously have never been in the military!
Money talks and Congress holds the purse strings.
and Congress has stymied a President many a time.
Vince wrote: You are ill informed and might try to get to know more about the U.S. from places other than media sources. Most people in the U.S. aren't deferential to any politician or political office. Name one crime Bush was convicted of while serving as President. I'd defend my neighbor as well as a politician if some idiot called him "one of the biggest puppet criminals in the last 100 years" even if convicted of no crimes. Marlow, if I remember correctly, also served as a USN Officer. He quite understandably would hold the office in higher esteem.
Er, you seem to have completely misunderstood my whole post and in doing so made my point for me
Great observation!
Not really...see the words, "deferential to any politician or political office"...which you explicitly accuse Americans of being deferential to.
Vince wrote:Congress has no authority over the military, or the President, period.
??!! You obviously have never been in the military! Money talks and Congress holds the purse strings. and Congress has stymied a President many a time.
Vince wrote: You are ill informed and might try to get to know more about the U.S. from places other than media sources. Most people in the U.S. aren't deferential to any politician or political office. Name one crime Bush was convicted of while serving as President. I'd defend my neighbor as well as a politician if some idiot called him "one of the biggest puppet criminals in the last 100 years" even if convicted of no crimes. Marlow, if I remember correctly, also served as a USN Officer. He quite understandably would hold the office in higher esteem.
Er, you seem to have completely misunderstood my whole post and in doing so made my point for me
Great observation!
Not really...see the words, "deferential to any politician or political office"...which you explicitly accuse Americans of being deferential to.
I say that Americans can be too deferential to politicians. You say no they aren't and then go on to give me reasons why both you and Marlow are just that.
You are, what is know in my house sir, as a 'Constant Clean'!!!
Vince wrote: You are ill informed and might try to get to know more about the U.S. from places other than media sources. Most people in the U.S. aren't deferential to any politician or political office. Name one crime Bush was convicted of while serving as President. I'd defend my neighbor as well as a politician if some idiot called him "one of the biggest puppet criminals in the last 100 years" even if convicted of no crimes. Marlow, if I remember correctly, also served as a USN Officer. He quite understandably would hold the office in higher esteem.
Er, you seem to have completely misunderstood my whole post and in doing so made my point for me
Great observation!
Not really...see the words, "deferential to any politician or political office"...which you explicitly accuse Americans of being deferential to.
I say that Americans can be too deferential to politicians. You say no they aren't and then go on to give me reasons why both you and Marlow are just that.
You are, what is know in my house sir, as a 'Constant Clean'!!!
You obviously don't know the difference between man and office, and free speech and bullshit.
