Should we trust George W. Bush?

World Net Daily ^ | 8/29/02 | Harry Browne

[feelin_poorly]

Shortly after 9-11, TV talk-show host Sean Hannity said, "Thank God, we have an honest man in the White House!"

And when you think about it, a great deal of what you might believe about the so-called War on Terrorism is based on statements from George W. Bush. You have only his word, or that of someone in his administration:

• that Iraq, which George Bush is dying to invade, still has "weapons of mass destruction" that threaten Americans directly;

• that Osama bin Laden masterminded the 9-11 attacks (the infamous videotape demonstrated his joy at the success of the attacks, not his participation);

• that the people being imprisoned as terrorists really are terrorists – even though they've received no public trial (whether you believe terrorists deserve to be protected by the Bill of Rights is irrelevant. You don't even know that they are terrorists until they receive a fair trial under the Bill of Rights);

• that the Bush administration won't misuse the private information it's acquiring through its massive violations of civil liberties.

Since America is endangered by the "you're either with me or against me" tactics of the Bush administration, it becomes vital to know whether we can trust the man in charge of our government.

The record

So does George Bush's record inspire confidence in his honesty?

Unfortunately, this is the same man who has referred to trillions of dollars in budget surpluses – even though the federal government hasn't had a budget surplus since 1956. (The appearance of any "surpluses" was created by taking excess receipts from Social Security and applying them to the general budget, even as the politicians swore they were protecting Social Security.)

Mr. Bush even has the chutzpah to refer with a straight face (well not exactly a straight face, he loves to smirk) to corporate executives "cooking the books." He neglects to mention that many of the corporate bookkeeping methods the politicians are so incensed about today were motivated by rules imposed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

And George Bush is the same man who in 2000 said he believed in "limited government." Most people assumed he meant a government limited by the Constitution. In fact, he took an oath in which he swore to uphold the Constitution.

But he's violated virtually every one of the first 10 Amendments – especially the Ninth and 10th Amendments, which are meant to impose precise limits on his power.

• He's willing to give your tax money to foreign dictators who claim they "need" it (meaning they've gone too deeply in debt by spending money on palaces and other forms of self-aggrandizement);

• He wants to escalate the spending of your tax money on farm subsidies, health care, welfare, government schools, the War on Drugs, propaganda and other programs – none of which are authorized in the Constitution;

• He believes we should trust him and his minions when they tell us the unnamed people they've locked up are not entitled to the protections of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.

• He claims he can attack Iraq without a congressional declaration of war – even though the Constitution clearly gives such authority exclusively to Congress.

So his belief in "limited government" apparently means government limited to what he wants to do.

George Bush is the same man who in one breath tries to ingratiate himself with you by saying, "It's your money, not the politicians' money" – but in the next breath, he says he's entitled to one third of "your money."

George Bush is the same man who said he has learned more about political philosophy from Jesus of Nazareth than from anyone else. But he's proven by his actions that he doesn't really believe such things as "Blessed are the peacemakers." And "the meek" who Jesus said would inherit the earth are in Mr. Bush's eyes really just "collateral damage" in his plans to tell the world how it must live.

Is honesty important?

In these and in so many other ways, George Bush has proven that he's not an honest man – and that we shouldn't trust him with the safety of America.

In fact, Thomas Jefferson understood that we shouldn't put our trust in any politician. He said we should bind them down from mischief "by the chains of the Constitution." And a truly honest man wouldn't even ask you to trust him.

Contrary to what you might have thought, this isn't an article about George Bush. It's an article about you. Are you going to demean yourself by putting your faith in a man who has done so much to demonstrate the folly of such faith?

Are you going to let politicians stampede you into throwing away the Bill of Rights, based on "evidence" you never see, reassured by politicians who have proven that the truth is secondary to their own ambitions?

Don't you have enough respect for your own mind to make your own decisions, refuse to accept conclusions without evidence, and be something better than a cheerleader for a politician or a political party?

[Amelia]

By the way, you've handled yourself pretty well in response to some petty personal attacks here :-)

You don't understand. She seeks us out so that we'll attack her. She really likes us.

[max61]

And just how did you serve your country, maxi?

Six years. Separated as an E-5 in 1985. And you?.

---max

[Jefferson Adams]

You are probably one of the most immature people regarding Scriptural knowledge that I've run across in a long time.

Now THAT is funny < g > Thanks for the chuckle.

[Jefferson Adams]

You have mail.

Yikes. Just had a picture come into my mind of a justshe / SouthParts girl-to-girl chat. Aargh.

LOL

[Jefferson Adams]

Like I said...Unapproachable.

LOL - right. Unfortunately, while the USMC is still the best What's Left of America has, it's only a shadow of its former self. You call "the Gulf War" a WAR??? LOL. More like picking low hanging fruit.

You're in the Army of One generation, Bub. No two ways about it.

[MadIvan]

We have to call in MadIvan; he's the closer. :-)

Are you suggesting I'm the "relief pitcher" of Free Republic? :)

Best Regards, Ivan

[Amelia]

And what did you say YOUR military credentials were?

[max61]

It's impressive to me.

I don't give crap what you think. Get back in the kitchen if you can't hack it. Once again since you appear to have missed it the first time, Why?. Why are/were you impressed?.

Respect and admiration for those who have sacrificed is commendable.

Or is it simply a poor choice of words, if that's the case, buy a dictionary and a thesaurus. Next time you talk to a WWII or Korean War vet, ask them if it would be appropriate for you to be impressed.

---max

[max61]

You aren't very old, are you?

Inane.

---max

[Jefferson Adams]

Please, please, please change your screenname. Please !!!!!

Yeah, FIJC, you'd better do that. I think North Buttocks is still available, (South Buttocks being obviously taken), but I'm afraid it wouldn't suit you like it does her.

Actually, more I think about it - keep your screen name :) I like it.

[rintense]

And if I, as a 33 year old want to marry an 18 year old stud to keep me happy in, *ahem*, all aspects of married life... forget about love. As long as he dedicates his life to being a good slave, um, I mean husband and father, love shouldn't matter. After all, God can't see what's in my heart, can he? What is so wrong with that? /sarcasm

[Amelia]

Have you looked at her screen name, little boy? I think she knows whether or not she should be impressed.

If you aren't impressed, fine, but your ranting and nitpicking makes you look like a hippie nutcase from the 1960s.

Not that you'd be old enough to know that.

[Jefferson Adams]

And what did you say YOUR military credentials were?

Snicker - I don't need to show credentials to anyone, sis. Mine are considerably higher than any listed so far. In fact, you could say they're not of this world :)

[Jefferson Adams]

Conservatives need to wake up before it's (too) late for our Republic.

I think it's already too late. We're well into the late 30's in Germany, on steroids. If you know what I mean, and I'm sure you do.

[Amelia]

Inane. ---max

Yes, I think you are too.

[Mo1]

Snicker - I don't need to show credentials to anyone

So I guess that means you never served for you country huh??

[Jefferson Adams]

Wow. I'm surrounded by a gaggle of middle aged shrews without a clue.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I love it < g >

[Jefferson Adams]

I didn't say I never served my country :) You assume a lot from little.

[Jefferson Adams]

Well, I gotta go take my incredibly beautiful and sweet wife and our delightfully cute and intelligent daughter to the sporting goods store. Y'all have a good evening, ya hear?

Chuckle.

[Mo1]

Well I know of a young thang looking for a sugar daddy .. maybe she can help you