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?

[Texasforever]

The completley unexpected is always funny.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

That isn't funny. I don't think that most teens are ready for sexual intercourse. That is why God has commanded us to wait until marriage.

[terilyn]

You bad FOFLOL!

[MJY1288]

I said the same thing earlier, just not as well as you did. I do feel sorry for her kids, They're being homeschooled by an ignorant, blame America firster who will poison the minds of her kids with her Bill Clinton style revisionism

[Howlin]

Well, let me be the first to tell you that we're NOT; we all have families of our own; and if they talked about the personal things like you do online, we'd all ground them. Your parents must be so proud.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

What is so unexpected?

[Crazymonarch]

The only decision to make re a Politician is whether they exceed the bounds of reasonable dishonesty...a 3 billion dollar election campaign figure would probably give an answer in the affirmative

[woofie]

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

I feel like I am stuck to the Tar Baby....

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Thanks for the personal advice, HOWLIN.

[terilyn]

You been violated, (insert South Park dialect here)!

[max61]

You have no "right" to wave bye-bye.

I don't?. Why not?. My tax dollars paid for the airport and airports are public facilities.

You have the "right" not to be searched but you do not have a "right" to board an aircraft when you have refused.

Maybe you should try re-reading the statement. I did not state that I was boarding an aircraft. You are now subject to search by simply entering an airport.

You have NO expectation of privacy on an open source communication device especially cell and cordless phones.

Did I state cell phone?, no. Hardwired landlines are not open source communications are they?.

Is your whole life governed by assumption?.

---max

[Mo1]

My point is that while there may be good reasons to go after Iraq, how that is done is also vital. We have many internal weaknesses and vulnerabilities, and a difficult judgement as to what and when sufficient purging and rearming has taken place. Too many things can spin out of control, there are so many variables, and a Pandora's Box of negatives IS quite possible. Unlike many here, I do not salivate for war, but rather am very concerned. I think few understand what hardships we will ultimately face, and the very real risks

I understand the risks and that is what I meant when I said I am glad Bush is not surrounded by "yes men" ..

This war is very serious and we all need to be prepared of any and all possibilities and I mean all of us .. not just the military

BTW .. good post you made

[rintense]

Oh of course. That's their fall back. We see it already on college campuses, the breeding ground for liberals. That same crap happened back in 1992 when I was at Michigan State. These same liberal 'no blood for oil' freaks physically attacked the ROTC members and called them war mongers. The ROTC folks had to walk in groups to maintain safety. My roomie and her boyfriend were in ROTC. And when they were walking home one night, she witness him getting the sh!t kicked out of him by six guys. He was in the hospital for three days.

[ChadGore]

Re: "We should NOT have been involved in WWII and most . . .

With due respect, your rant is virtually indistinguishable from our enemy ranting. Where do you live ?

[nunya bidness]

This is why the oil agreement with Russia signed earlier this year is so important.

If only it were that simple. Oil will always find a market.

Trading With the Enemy: U.S. Refiners Reportedly Buying Most of Iraq's Oil

Pooty-poot's got over $40 billion reasons to keep us from invading Iraq.

[justshe]

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You have to look at this sideways to appreciate my sentiment.

[MJY1288]

"Put out? :-)"

ROFLMAO, I wouldn't of believe you said this unless I saw it myself....ROFLMAO

[Howlin]

You weren't expecting that?

[FreedominJesusChrist]

"But there is no choice. We must intervene proactively, and I am thankful that Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfield understand that. The fact that Bush hasn't attacked yet strengthens my belief in his judgement, patience, and ability to find a successful strategy. How lucky we are to have the calibre of leaders and counselors at this point in time. We have been forced into taking action, and the only debate is to how. There is no alternative. Let the other nations cry about how we cannot take Canaan, I will side with our own Moses, Joshua, and Caleb."

It is nice to hear your commentary on this subject. We may not agree on JW, but I certainly do agree with you here.

We have no alternative, but to take military action against Iraq. They have denied UN weapon inspectors for the past 4 years now and we also know that Hussein is acquiring biological weapons, and perhaps in the near future, nuclear capabilities.

We must act.

[Texasforever]

Hardwired landlines are not open source communications are they?.

And wire taps have been legal for most of the telephones history of general use. You really are a piece of work.