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?

[Alabama_Wild_Man]

Ya had one whole day to think of something really smart and biting.....

...and THAT is your best offering ??

Now I'm beginning to understand why GW wanted out of Texas .... 'cause, if you won 'Best In Show' the species is in dire straits....

[Alabama_Wild_Man]

Coming from you, Sir, I'll take that as a compliment !!

Thanks !! !!

[Alabama_Wild_Man]

If you think that he caused this nation any grief - you're more ignorant about all things UN than I thought humanly possible.

The Untied Nations' main point-of-attack has been US since it's conception. Kofi wants to derail anything and every thing that gives US any credit for anything happening around God's little half acre - but then bills US for every thing that he can imagine, and expects US to pay for all of his Terrorist Activities.....

[Gunrunner2]

Hi VaBthang4,
That guy is ignorant, an obvious baiter, bravely thumping away on a keyboard.
Anyone who alleges the Gulf War was no war has no clue and clearly takes his (her?) lead from CNN.
I suggest you give him (her?) no more thought. Engage "ignore."

[TLBSHOW]

oh here is where that thread went to? LOL

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Thank you for saying it so well in post 1062!!!!

We agree with you 100 percent. In fact, my fingers are bloody from screaming it across the keyboards of late. :o)

[Kevin Curry]

Nice freudian slip, Bub. That's PRECISELY what we've lost - rights that we already had before this administration took office. You obviously don't know much about the so-called "Patriot Act," which was passed without even being read by the congressslime in DC and signed by Junior.

Whine, whine, whine. Why don't you put your money where your fecklessly flapping jaws are and run for Congress? You know, try to make a difference instead of sucking your thumb and engaging in the typical libertarian b*tch session?

You insufferable Harry Browne cassandras are all alike. You throw your tantrums and hold your breath until your faces turn purple, call everyone who disagrees with you a "statist", but you never do anything meaningful.

Is it because you realize you could never actually get elected?

[Jefferson Adams]

WHOA NELLIE!!!!!! I just saved your UN Helmet phot - VERY well done, AWM :)

Here's how things like that happen -

[Jefferson Adams]

BTW, I have the "Got Ammo?" thing on a coupla T-shirts :)

[Jefferson Adams]

Oh Kevin, I feel so - so - put in my place. *Snicker*.

Most people that are still on FR have essentially the same mindset that the Germans did right before WWII. Go Fatherland! USA uber alles!

Unfortunately, it's even infected our military, as evidenced by several gung-ho mindless frothings on this thread by what passes for soldiers these days.

I imagine those Wehrmacht youngsters had the same emotional responses as they fought for the Fatherland. Sad.

[carenot]

You insufferable Harry Browne cassandras are all alike.

Cassandra was always right but she was cursed so that no one would believe her.

[Commander8]

"The President is merely the most important in a large number of public servants. He should be supported to the degree which is warranted by good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or his inefficiency in rendering, loyal, able and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but it is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him, or anyone else. But it is more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant about him than about anyone else."
Theodore Roosevelt May 7, 1918.
I believed it when Clinton was in office and I belive it to this day.

[tpaine]

You hype an "ultimate threat" to this country as a reason to "evaluate priorities", which, in your opinion means:

"all else is subordinate to that defense, including your opinions, feelings and if needs be your unhindered rights.

You then rub salt in the constitutions wounds by claiming:

"If you do not agree then I find difficulty in you identifying yourself as either Conservative or American."

You are advocating 'subordinating' rights in order to save them.
- This is not rational american conservatism on your part. - Be ashamed of your own "adolescent, knee-jerk outburst". ________________________________

Curry, your own jingoistic type bull gets the same evaluation. Stuff it.

[Jefferson Adams]

Cassandra was always right but she was cursed so that no one would believe her.

That's what's the most amusing, paerhaps, about these types - they like to try to use big words and references, but not only do they screw them up, they frequently accomplish the opposite of what they're intending.

The government schools have done their job well.

[Jefferson Adams]

"The President is merely the most important in a large number of public servants. He should be supported to the degree which is warranted by good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or his inefficiency in rendering, loyal, able and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but it is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him, or anyone else. But it is more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant about him than about anyone else."
Theodore Roosevelt May 7, 1918.

I believed it when Clinton was in office and I belive it to this day.

Excellent post, Commander. It's a pity that it goes right over the heads of the uneducated masses in What's Left of America.

[Jefferson Adams]

You are advocating 'subordinating' rights in order to save them.

And they don't even see it. They're so puffed up in mindless "patriotism" and Republican flag waving they've forgotten what freedom and rights really are.

Hence my references to '30s Germany - the same thing happened there, except that the Germans of that time were much better schooled and cultured than Americans are now.

[rintense]

Wow, Va. Impressive credentials. Thank you once again for your service to our country.

[Kevin Curry]

Quick. Hide under the bed. The statists are coming.

*Yawn*

[Kevin Curry]

they've forgotten what freedom and rights really are.

Nonsense. I exult in my freedom everyday. I am exulting in it now. Festooned with liberals and feckless scared-of-their-own-shadow wussie libertarians this nation may be, but it is still the grandest, most glorious, most free nation on earth!

Watching you and tpaine as you roll on the floor in wretched agony and claw at your illusory chains is like watching a particularly campy Star Trek episode. The overacting makes comedy of the most dour drama.

[Kevin Curry]

Yeah, FIJC, you'd better do that. I think North Buttocks is still available

I saw a post by the redoubtable priss-ant OWK somewhere--maybe it was while lurking at an anti-FReeper site--where he harrumphed about having to "rebutt" his critics. I didn't even know anyone's butt was missing.