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?

[Mo1]

I think he has already read threads like this before

[Howlin]

Are you by any chance under the impression that we're INTERESTED in the personal details of your life?

[MJY1288]

"Actually, the US funded the Taliban of which Osama was part of at that time"

WRONG... We supported the Mojahadeen (sp?) The Taliban didn't exist when Afghanistan was fighting the Soviets. I believe the Taliban was formed in the mid 90's with the backing of the Pakistani's

[lonestar]

Americans are stupid. For a large part, they are.

"They?" You've more than held up your part.

[Texasforever]

We have all lost the right to walk into an airport and wave good-bye to our loved ones as they leave out on an aircraft. We have all lost the right to walk into an airport and not be searched without probable cause. We have all lost the right to have a simple private telephone conversation. Would this suffice?.

You have no "right" to wave bye-bye. You have the "right" not to be searched but you do not have a "right" to board an aircraft when you have refused. You have NO expectation of privacy on an open source communication device especially cell and cordless phones. In other words you wouldn't know a "right" if you lost it.

[woofie]

See #680...I addresed it to you also but your name disappeared

[Howlin]

How do you make sure you have a date to the prom?

Put out? :-)

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Because I find this forum to be very interesting and when I got into college, I decided it was time to be more academically minded, and less social.

I certainly do not have the hoards of friends that I did in high school, but the friends that I do have now are good people and I am a lot closer with them, than I ever was with my high school friends.

[Mo1]

I am going to be 21 soon, Yayyyy!!! I am actually excited for that birthday.

Are ya gonna get drunk??

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Of course :)~

[lonestar]

BOO!

That is the most profound statement you've made tonight!

[VaBthang4]

YOU ARE A LIBERAL.

Oh I have read your profile but it doesnt flow with some of the things you have written here.

You are a dangerous bi-polar schizophrenic contrarian and I wouldnt trust you with a stick of gum much less my own children.

Your incompetence is bone chilling. Your absolute lack of humility is even more frightening considering that you are imparting it to your children.

I can tolerate people passionate about defending the Constitution but you have made too many statements that go out into things that dont even concern that.

Far and away you are the craziest poster I have ever encountered on this website.

All those who agree....please bump.

[justshe]

I have not read ONE word from "Papa Bush" against attacking Iraq. Did I miss something?

[FreedominJesusChrist]

No, but I will have a few drinks.

[Texasforever]

Put out? :-)

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!

[rintense]

We have all lost the right to walk into an airport and wave good-bye to our loved ones as they leave out on an aircraft. We have all lost the right to walk into an airport and not be searched without probable cause. We have all lost the right to have a simple private telephone conversation. Would this suffice?.

No, because not every airport allowed families and friends to the gates to begin with. It isn't your right at all- it's the right of the airport to set forth rules that are in the interest of public safety. Do I have a right to park in front of the airport? As for the searching, I don't know about you, but random searches happened (albeit less frequently) before 9-11. Everytime I have flown since 9-11, I have been asked if I would mind being searched. No one has been thrown down and forced to submit to a search, though it would be interesting to see what would happen if someone said no. But you do have the choice to refuse. You also have the choice to drive. Or take a train.

And for the phone calls, a bit paranoid, don't ya think? Last time I checked, the patriot act allowed listening in on terrorist suspects. If you are not plotting to kill Americans then you have nothing to worry about.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

I did all that stuff in highschool and it didn't make me a happier person. I am much more contented with my small group of friends now. You forget that at school, every night is a hang-out night. Last year, I was with my friends until 3 in the morning almost every night.

[woofie]

Put out? :-)

Yep,Hilarious

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Well at Christian schools, that isn't the norm!

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

We have all lost the right to walk into an airport and wave good-bye to our loved ones as they leave out on an aircraft. We have all lost the right to walk into an airport and not be searched without probable cause.

You mean, all this time when I've been going to NFL games and concerts, I should have raised a stink and ranted about my civil rights when they tried to check my bag at the turnstile? [Hits self in head.] That darn Bush!