Free Republic

Since NAFTA was implemented the economy has never been better.

If I'm not mistaken, NAFTA has been implemented, and we are in recession. Are you saying that the economy has never been better than it is now?

Re: your #21, very interesting, thank you.

It's a great sadness when the "conservatives" support spending more $billions on a failed education system controlled by socialists than the Clinton Administration ever had the guts to ask for. Such is the "conservative" movement in America. And, before 911, this was Bush's highest priority. Yep, it's looking good.

'We've Got A Dictatorial President'

By Glen Johnson

The Boston Globe

12-16-1

WASHINGTON - President Bush yesterday invoked executive privilege to block a congressional subpoena exploring abuses in the Boston FBI office, prompting the chairman of a House committee to lambaste his fellow Republicans and triggering what one congressman said is the start of "a constitutional confrontation."

"You tell the president there's going to be war between the president and this committee," Dan Burton, the Indiana Republican who heads the House Government Reform Committee, told a Justice Department official during what was supposed to be a routine pre hearing handshake.

"His dad was at a 90 percent approval rating and he lost, and the same thing can happen to him," Burton added, jabbing his finger and glaring at Carl Thorsen, a deputy assistant attorney general who was attempting to introduce a superior who was testifying.

"We've got a dictatorial president and a Justice Department that does not want Congress involved. ... Your guy's acting like he's king."

The searing tone continued for more than four hours from Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives. All objected to the order Bush signed Wednesday and made public yesterday. It claimed executive privilege in refusing to hand over prosecutors' memos in criminal cases, including an investigation of campaign finance abuses, saying doing so "would be contrary to the national interest."

Committee members said the order's sweeping language created a shift in presidential policy and practices dating back to the Harding administration. They complained also that it followed a pattern in which the Bush administration has limited access to presidential historical records, refused to give Congress documents about the vice president's energy task force, and unilaterally announced plans for military commissions that would try suspected terrorists in secret.

Representative William Delahunt, a Democrat and former district attorney, said: "This is the beginning of a constitutional confrontation. In a short period of time, this Department of Justice has manifested tendencies that were of concern to Senate members during the confirmation hearings for John Ashcroft as attorney general."

The Government Reform Committee is investigating the FBI's use of confidential informants while the bureau investigated New England organized crime activities.

The committee is seeking information on deals Boston FBI officials struck with suspected murderers Stephen "the Rifleman" Flemmi and James "Whitey" Bulger. It is also exploring what FBI officials, including former Director J. Edgar Hoover, may have known about the innocence of Joseph Salvati of Massachusetts.

Salvati spent 30 years in prison for the 1965 murder of Edward "Teddy" Deegan in Chelsea, but the Governor's Council commuted his sentence in 1997. His conviction was overturned in January after a judge concluded that FBI agents hid testimony that would have cleared Salvati because they wanted to protect an informant.

"It would be easier if I was a dictator." -George W. Bush, shortly after his inauguration, 2001

LSJohn, you should see this. How many corrupt FBI agents did you tell me Bush has had arrested since he came in office? I was trying to remember, but the number escapes me for some reason.

they now have live ammo in those magazines.

Unlike Reagan's Marines in Beirut?

Thankfully, George W. is president. He will do something about this - probably increase the trade deficit so they can more rapidly expand and modernize the Red Army. At least they had to pay Clinton to support the Red dictators.

What Republican would oppose 12 cents an hour for a 100 hour work week - with no overtime, no pension, no social security, no medical, and no future? Instead of calling it "free trade," they should call it "free labor," - or more appropriately, "slavery."

Merry Christmas to the Chinese workers and their future lives as whores. And, to hell with the Americans being thrown out of work because of the unfair trade agreements. Who could possibly care about the million American manufacturing jobs lost during the past year? Certainly not Americans.

What do you think happened to Kennedy's brain, do you think it was just accidentally misplaced?

Do you have any idea why the Government refuses to declassify vast amounts of information on American POWs from WWII who were "liberated" by the Red Army from German POW camps? During the '90's, I and others had many FOIA requests concerning sightings of Americans in the Soviet GULAG turned down on National Security Grounds. We got a few reports released, but many, many thousands of pages of information remains classified. These were all specific documents we requested. It is said that many documents in the Eisenhower Library, concerning the POWs, will not be declassified during the life-time of anyone now alive. Is this the kind of thing you support?

Why do we think the government can do a better job of protecting us than we can ourselves?

Well, remember the guy who cut a shotgun barrel off 1/4" too much - at the Government's request? Shot his wife's head off while she was holding a baby. What more could we ask?

How about the kids they saved at Waco? And people say they're not competent. Ha!

Remember the FBI having a woman arrested for calling a whorehouse "a whorehouse?" Surely there's nothing wrong with that - at least not in America.

On the other hand, maybe we're not supposed to remember these things anymore. I think they're supposed to be sent down the "memory hole." It's a brave new world we live in. Just trust Big Brother.

Looks like if we didn't belive in the Constitution and were atheists, we'd be considered gut Americans by the Republicans. And these are the "conservatives?" Man, what would we have to do to please the Democrats?

Thanks for your confirmation of the evil of this action. And, thanks for fighting the criminals. Our country will be safe and secure when people are not only willing to die for it; but more importantly, are willing to live for it.

Amen.

Thanks for your informed reply.

I'm sure Mr. Reeves rebuked Paul Begala for the "stroke of the pen, law of the land" quote, as well.

Good point. If he didn't, he's a scum sucker.

perhaps trying to keep the press from noseing into his business in this war on terrorism?

First, what do you think Bush would want to hide about the war on terrorism - twelve years after he has left office? Sources and methods are protected indefinitely as things stood before Bush decided to make America a more secret country. [I agree with keeping sources and methods classified. I don't agree with keeping classified great mistakes, cowardly mistakes, outright treachery, blatant criminality, etc. But I guess the point can be debated.]

Can you name anything which has been released from any Presidential Library which caused great harm to our country?[I and close friends have done considerable research in a couple of Presidential Libraries. The secrecy was already stifling. Much WWII information will not be made public while anyone alive still lives. I don't like that kind of America, but I guess you and most Americans do.]

I believe he is afraid of many things from the Reagan years, things his father had a big hand in. But, as long as America remains ignorant of great mistakes and crimes, I guess it's ok, it's the kind of people we are.

It's things like this that make me glad I voted for Browne

Good vote, at least you didn't waste your vote supporting $billions more for the socialist Education Departmen, supporting the Bush/Clinton immigration policies, supporting Communist Vietnman and China, supporting the Islamic terrorists and drug-runners in Kosovo, etc. etc. etc.

It appears to me that the man [the sheriff in question] may be a compassionate leftist. There is no sign of medieval torture before the decapitation. I'm getting sick of these weak "law enforcement" types.

best not to hold your breath waiting for this video.

I learned to not hold my breath nine years ago when the president and Congress promised to declassify the POW information. Watch their lips to see if they're lying.

convince me why it wasn't a bomb! Anyone! I see nothing strange about turbulence ripping off the tail and both enjines of the aircraft. I think the pilot who is quoted should quit flying. Doesn't appear he knows much about his job.