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]

We were talking about my 21st birthday.

[Howlin]

You just admitted you're not 21 and you ARE drinking. You're, quite simply, a hypocrite.

[Torie]

No, they got in trouble because they were Bushbots as it were. The thought that a mean spirited Democrat barhop with a grudge would call the police over a phony ID is otherwise science fiction.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Honey, it's all most of us can do to stay with a thread when your name keeps popping up. But........sometimes we have to find amusement and you make it simple.

[MJY1288]

BRWAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAA ....... BRWAAAAAHAAAAAHAAAAAA

[oldvike]

You should expect the venom and hatred from college campuses to be worse this time around during the Gulf War. I am witnessing this firsthand in my hometown where I am currently taking a Post 1865 History class (don't ask why I'm taking this class...very long story). For the past 3 weeks our professor has made every effort to rile the masses by calling the Founders and Framers racists and has gone on to talk about current world issues, all the while he's been blaming America for being an Imperialistic, powerhungry empire who's sole purpose is to rule the world. I'm not exagerating here.

Last night I finally blew up when the bastard talked about the Spanish American War and how we had unjustly taken the Philippines from the Spanish. Whatever. I challenged him to look at the the map and tell me if any one of those South Pacific countries was NOT a colony of a major world power (of course he couldn't seeing as how they were all either occupied by the British, Spanish or German). He said it didn't matter...all that mattered was that bigger countries were picking on smaller countries. Blah, blah, blah....trying to equate events of 100+ years ago with events of today really burns me. I f&&&ing despise our college campuses. They're comprised of a bunch of idealistic asses.

On a related note, during one of our many useless political conversations last night, the professor asked the class if we knew who Colin Powell was and this one dimb bulb of a girl said that he was a motivational speaker. Of course, I laughed out loud in a sarcastic tone. I don't think the girl even realized how stupid she sounded. And for the record, I really wish that dumb girl were right...I'd much rather Powell be a motivational speaker than Sec State. :-)

[Torie]

I only broke the law on weekends. All things in moderation.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Something fruity, like a Margarita.

[Mo1]

Well, I suppose it did happen, but not a lot, I can assure you that.

Don't be so sure ..

[justshe]

I agree re: the need for input. But I am STILL betting that if Dad wanted to talk to son he would pick up the phone and call him. He would NOT send forth his advisors to backstab his son at every turn. Look at the TIMING. It was almost daily.

I still think GHB is IRATE about the interference being directed at his son.

[Alabama_Wild_Man]

"...They threw the first swing..."

Okay - your Turn....

You "Prove" to me, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that "...They..." did everything - and not one $ingle US Dollor was used, or no American was involved, in that "...first swing..." against US ??

...doubt it.....

But if you do accomplish that feat - I'll sing the praises of King George until Hitlery takes that office in 2008....or sooner....but I'll vote for Alan Keys, again, then.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

I am not drinking, we were talking about my 21st birthday.

[Howlin]

Can we PLEASE just ignore her? I'm sick of reading about her thongs and her hair and her drinking habits.

[Fred Mertz]

We have no alternative, but to take military action against Iraq.

I have a slight feeling that it will happen the weekend after Labor Day weekend. If it doesn't happen then, it won't happen for a while.

[woofie]

Good idea ....I thought she left a few weeks ago...Why cant they just stay away?

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Yes, PLEASE IGNORE ME!
LOL! Howlin, you are SO FUNNY!

[max61]

So how about it? Did you ever get searched at a pro football game? Did it freak you out? After all, your tax dollars probably helped pay for the stadium.

Don't waste my time with football games, and those which I have attended did not get my person searched.

Is the following familiar?.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

---max

[MJY1288]

Crack Pot

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Someone told me it's like the mob, they just keep pulling you in! LOL!

[Howlin]

I, unlike many here, broke the law and NEVER denied it! :-)