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?

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Whatever, why don't you ping the rest of your friends and then dramatically scream for me to get a new screename?

Afterall, your righteous indignation is so much more entertaining to view.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

You were banned on Friday for a day.

It's called a "suspension". And he got it for doing the very same thing someone got away with doing to me last weekend.

But then, I didn't hit abuse on it.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

And neither did I.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

"It's called a "suspension". And he got it for doing the very same thing someone got away with doing to me last weekend."

That's it, keep on making your indignant refutations.

[justshe]

You have to give the 'source' credibility in order to let it affect you. Would suggest you don't give power to that which does not warrant it, no? Most of us are pretty perceptive and can accurately assess the aroma of B.S. regardless of the fluffy, air-head, cutesy, faux-coconut air freshner sprayed.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Whatever, why don't you ping the rest of your friends and then dramatically scream for me to get a new screename?

Yeah, you do need a new screen name. You're a liar. I usually lay off of you, but you're pushing me now, Beckie.

Pinging some people who will recognize your current lie. Hope that's okay with you!

[FreedominJesusChrist]

My current lie? I don't have one. I never hit the abuse button on RBA, call Jim or an Admin Moderator in here. I don't care.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

That's it, keep on making your indignant refutations.

Thanks, I will. Bad news for you, I guess.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

"Yeah, you do need a new screen name."

You need to stop pretending to be the Emily Post and Holy nun of FR.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Well, I don't like liars, and I wanted my own words to be here (where the implication was raised) for the sake of accuracy. I didn't figure anyone took her seriously, but I don't mind taking the time to let people know what kind of tactics she'll use.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

I would like for you to point out to everyone where I lied.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

My current lie? I don't have one.

Indeed you do, Beckie. You implied that I screamed at you. I did not scream at you, and you know that.

You're not really a very good person, are you?

[FreedominJesusChrist]

"Indeed you do, Beckie. You implied that I screamed at you. I did not scream at you, and you know that."

Fortunately, the writing words on the forum do not come in audio. Nonetheless, your posts have nothing less than an extremely shrill tone.

"You're not really a very good person, are you?"

That is not up to you to ultimately decide.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Right here, pumpkin:

Whatever, why don't you ping the rest of your friends and then dramatically scream for me to get a new screename?

Shall I go retrieve the post where you suggest I screamed at you to get a new screen name? Don't embarrass yourself.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

"Indeed you do, Beckie. You implied that I screamed at you. I did not scream at you, and you know that."

Oooooh, so that is my great BIG lie! LOL, you are such a joke.

[Mo1]

I think Beckie woke up on the wrong side of the bed today

Boy is she cranky or what

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

That is not up to you to ultimately decide.

Sure it is, and I don't think you are. Look at your behavior right here on this thread. Look at what you've tried to do to me alone with your sleazy little innendos.

I'm starting to wonder if you're who you claim to be at all.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Just as accurate, truthful and intelligent as everything else you cough up onto FR.

Public opinion is still that you are a DU troll aimed at making supporters of Klayman and Keyes look stupid by posting as you do. Wait, let me think about that one for a bit. Maybe they don't need your help. Hmmm.

You still hold the record for the most asinine comment ever on FR, and still are ranked immature. Are you sure mommy knows you are sitting at the computer? Thia is my last comment to you; I think that this describes you:

"Bad attention is better than no attention".

So I won't fit your (demented) ego.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

"Shall I go retrieve the post where you suggest I screamed at you to get a new screen name? Don't embarrass yourself."

Many of your posts on this thread are a screaming shrill, as is every one of your indignant comments commanding to me get a new screename.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Boy is she cranky or what

Stop screaming at her!!!!!!!!! LOL