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Senator Coburn Remarks on Honduras
Congressional Record ^ | July 6, 2009 | Senator Coburn

Posted on 07/08/2009 4:38:49 AM PDT by Cboldt

As you read the press clips, what we have heard is there was a coup. That, in fact, is not true. The Supreme Court of Honduras, under the direction of the Congress, asked the military to intercede because the President of Honduras had violated their own laws. Yet our State Department and our foreign policy sided with Hugo Chavez, Raoul Castro, and the former President.

There is no question that improvements have been made in the past in Central and South America, but tonight we find ourselves supporting an anticonstitutional President of Honduras when, in fact, the Congress of Honduras and the Supreme Court of Honduras have said he is violating their laws. ...

... No illegal acts took place under the orders of the supreme court by the military--no illegal acts. Yet we didn't look at it close enough, and we have made now foreign policy decisions I fear are going to be irreversible.

There is no question things could be done better in Honduras, but there is also no question things could be done better here. For us to decide to side with the factors that are going to force Honduras into a situation similar to Cuba and Venezuela makes my blood boil, because not only are we going to eliminate and limit the freedom of those great people, we are going to help perpetuate the loss of freedom in that hemisphere.

... You can stimulate chaos if you pay enough money and bring enough people in to do that, which was the intent of President Zelaya.

(Excerpt) Read more at thomas.loc.gov ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: coburn; honduras
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I have seen statements by Senators DeMint and Coburn, and a brief "twitter" by McCain. So far, no coordinated objection from the Republicans, no calling out of the press, OAS, UN, etc.
1 posted on 07/08/2009 4:38:49 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: Cboldt
So far, no coordinated objection from the Republicans, no calling out of the press, OAS, UN...

Grow nads bitches!

2 posted on 07/08/2009 4:41:57 AM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (RATs...nothing more than Bald Haired Hippies!)
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To: Cboldt

Agreed. The GOP needs to stand as one and make it clear that they oppose any attempt to impose a dictator anywhere in the world.


3 posted on 07/08/2009 4:43:26 AM PDT by cripplecreek (The poor bastards have us surrounded.)
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To: Cboldt

Yeah, it makes his blood boil but what’s he going to do? He keeps saying the administration didn’t look at the facts close enough. It’s more likely they coordinated that commies rise to power. It’s time these Rebubs start calling the 0 admin what they are.


4 posted on 07/08/2009 4:46:00 AM PDT by demshateGod (The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.)
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To: Cboldt

The Obama/U.S. retaliation against the legitimate actions by the legitimate Democratic Honduran Congress, Supreme Court, and military if not cowardly appeasement of the multiple Socialist Governments comprising much of the OAS, is then a declaration of the reinvented Socialist United States of America.

This is most frightening.


5 posted on 07/08/2009 4:52:35 AM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists...Call 'em What you Will, They ALL have Fairies Living In Their Trees.)
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More from the Congressional Record. No peep from the House side in the July 1, July 7 interim.

Remarks of Senator DeMint - July 7, 2009 [Congressional Record starting at at Page S7170]

... For their courage, President Obama has condemned them. He has called the constitutional ouster of President Zelaya not legal, claiming an expertise in Honduran law over and above that of a unanimous Honduran Supreme Court and a nearly unanimous Honduran Congress.

Secretary of State Clinton lazily joined the international media in calling the removal of President Zelaya "a coup," a term fraught with dark memories of military juntas and banana republic. Of course, this is the same administration that insists on calling the recent fraud in Iran an election.

The Obama administration joined Chavez's preposterous Soviet-style propaganda resolution in the Organization of American States condemning Honduran democracy. Hondurans I have spoken with--I have spoken with a number of folks who have missionary groups there, medical groups. I have talked to Miguel Estrada who was born and raised in Honduras and is now a constitutional expert in this country. This morning I talked to former Honduran President Ricardo Maduro. They are all totally befuddled at the strange response they are getting from the supposedly free world, including our own administration. Why are we siding with Hugo Chavez? ...

... Zelaya was not ousted by political enemies; he was ousted by a government controlled by his own party. He was ousted by a unanimous supreme court operating in accordance with the Honduran Constitution and in conjunction with the nation's attorney general and Supreme Electoral Tribunal. These folks followed the rule of law. ...

Given those still undisputed and documented facts, on what basis does the administration demand Zelaya's reinstatement? His removal from office was no more a coup than was Gerald Ford's ascendance to the Oval Office or the election to the Senate of our newest colleague, Al Franken. It is bad enough that the President's ad hoc and highly personalized foreign policy seems to be less about supporting the rule of law than it is about supporting particular rulers. But the last 4 weeks suggest that the President cannot even be counted upon to support our legitimate allies.

What happened in Honduras last week was not a tragedy, it was a triumph of democratic courage and the unyielding determination of a free people to stand up to despotism. The tragedy has been the failure of the West and of our own government in Washington to stand up for justice and freedom in Latin America.


6 posted on 07/08/2009 4:53:26 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: Cboldt
The SecState of the US met yesterday with this ousted president. However, it does not seem to be worth discussing on any news program. I found a report on the Fox website:

Zelaya said he hopes to win greater U.S. support for efforts to regain power. He was in Washington, D.C., Tuesday -- accompanied by the Venezuelan embassy's second in command -- to meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to discuss intensified efforts to restore himself to power.

The White House has said it supports Zelaya's return to power out of respect for a democratically elected government.

"We do so not because we agree with him," Obama said of Zelaya during a speech Monday in Moscow. "We do so because we respect the universal principle that people should choose their own leaders, whether they are leaders we agree with or not."
-------
Obama lies again. The Supreme Court spoke for the people in Honduras.

7 posted on 07/08/2009 5:10:00 AM PDT by maica (Politics is not about facts. it is about what politicians can get people to believe. - Thomas Sowell)
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To: maica

I saw a clip of hellary and the ousted pres on Fox - Special Report????


8 posted on 07/08/2009 5:14:12 AM PDT by mathluv ( Conservative first and foremost, republican second - GO SARAHCUDA!!!!)
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To: mathluv

with Shep Smith? I have not watched him since he reported on Katrina from New Orleans.


9 posted on 07/08/2009 5:16:58 AM PDT by maica (Politics is not about facts. it is about what politicians can get people to believe. - Thomas Sowell)
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To: maica

No! I never watch Shep. I do watch Special Report with Bret Baier - so that is probably where I saw it.


10 posted on 07/08/2009 5:19:39 AM PDT by mathluv ( Conservative first and foremost, republican second - GO SARAHCUDA!!!!)
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To: maica
-- The SecState of the US met yesterday with this ousted president. However, it does not seem to be worth discussing on any news program. --

There are many important and influential world events over which organized media maintain deliberate silence (or render to obscure reportage).

-- Obama lies again. --

He's a politician, what do you expect? What I find amazing is that the majority of the public will accept what it is told, and will see no disconnect between "We support the operation of the people's will through operation of democratically elected, constitutional government" and "We support the return of Zelaya to his rightful position of power." And this, even though the public is generally distrustful of the media. The simple weight of reporting and "world opinion" operates in place of review of the facts. If the opinion is popular, it is correct. Dangerous stuff, this "human nature."

11 posted on 07/08/2009 5:26:11 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: Cboldt

The simple weight of reporting and "world opinion" operates in place of review of the facts. If the opinion is popular, it is correct. Dangerous stuff, this "human nature."

Thank you for stating clearly what is going on. On FR there are many abrupt, cynical, often accurate comments, but conservative thought needs to be explicitly and clearly expressed. As a teacher I see over and over confused and emotional mindsets, and they need to be countered.

This was one of GWB's tragedies, the abysmal inability to state conservative ideals (honesty and responsibility). That, either by design or incompetence. And he was the last chance at the bully pulpit.

One root of Leftism is mass intellectual indolence, the sheeple.

12 posted on 07/08/2009 5:47:09 AM PDT by jnsun (The LEFT: The need to manipulate others because of nothing productive to offer)
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To: demshateGod

You’re castigating one of the very few Republicans to speak out against the Obamites? What’s your underlying purpose in that?

And what are you doing? Are you protesting, picketing, writing letters to the editor? Gearing up a campaign to run for office so you can do things right by your opinion? What are you doing?


13 posted on 07/08/2009 5:54:38 AM PDT by savedbygrace (You are only leading if someone follows. Otherwise, you just wandered off... [Smokin' Joe])
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To: Cboldt

The reason Barry supports Zz whatever his name is he thinks he’ll be in the same position in 7 years.


14 posted on 07/08/2009 6:46:38 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: jnsun
-- One root of Leftism is mass intellectual indolence ... --

Not just leftism. Social stratification by all stripe of political label is assisted by easy manipulation of public thought and opinion. Elites WANT an uneducated, non-critical, DEPENDENT public. I think the erosion of critical thought is a natural byproduct of the ascension of passive mass-media -- radio and television. Western civ reached a pinnacle around 1920, about the time radio was making widespread penetration of households.

I don't think GWB is necessarily the "last chance at the bully pulpit," but I also think the people should put exactly as much trust in what they hear from "the bully pulpit" as what they hear from reporters. It's just another form of information delivery and persuasion.

-- On FR there are many abrupt, cynical, often accurate comments --

I find there are many "inaccurate" comments as well. All of that is the nature of the modern public chat board. Applying the principle of "self responsibility is for others too," I am circumspect about providing fact, background, or analysis correction. I don't care how wrong any given commenter at FR happens to be, or even if the majority is off the tracks. I used to care, and used to try to influence direction - it took a few years for me to figure out that public persuasion does not occur via chat board.

Thank you for your kind and generous compliment. I wish you and your students every success and joy that life has to offer.

15 posted on 07/08/2009 6:56:03 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: savedbygrace

I’m praying and trying to lead people to Jesus. My calling isn’t D.C.

I know who Coburn is, he’s my senator and one of the better ones if not the best, but anything short of calling for secession is a waste of time. The Rats have no reason to listen to Coburn, he’s the minority in his own beleaguered party.

Also, his vote for the bailout aided our lurch toward socialism. I wont forgive him for that until he puts action to his words. I’ve wrote him to tell him the same.

He, being one of maybe 5 senators who cares what’s good for America can no longer try to legislate a return to the constitution. He can stand up there talking about his boiling blood or try to expose wasted stimulus all day long but the State Run Media will never allow enough people to here it and the monolithic government will not have accountability. Is that not evident to you?

His talk is great, but it’s nothing without radical action and if he thinks 0 or the media will listen to him, he doesn’t get the situation we’re in yet.


16 posted on 07/08/2009 6:59:43 AM PDT by demshateGod (The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.)
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To: Cboldt
Vox populi,Vox Dei

Except experience has shown the "mob" most often lynches the wrong person,etc. There was a reason the founders of the U.S. chose a republic so that important decisions could be made after some time for reflection and debate.

Nothing is more dangerous than pure democracy,i.e. rule by emotional mobs stirred up by demagogues with good voice coaches!

17 posted on 07/08/2009 6:59:46 AM PDT by hoosierham (Waddaya mean Freedom isn't free ?;will you take a credit card?)
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To: demshateGod
-- Also, [Coburn's] vote for the bailout aided our lurch toward socialism. I wont forgive him for that until he puts action to his words. --

I think the country would be better off if the few principled senators resigned, and expressed that they do not want to be associated with the damage being perpetrated by the US federal government. DeMint, Coburn and Sessions are too honest and too good. They deserve better. And while they are in the Senate, they are pariahs even to members of their own party.

At the same time, I agree with you that Coburn has made some substantial errors. His support of McCain bothered me too. I used to think Senator Gregg was a good guy, until he did a 180 degree turn on fiscal responsibility, and shilled for GWB's TARP program.

18 posted on 07/08/2009 7:07:56 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: hoosierham
-- There was a reason the founders of the U.S. chose a republic so that important decisions could be made after some time for reflection and debate. --

Yes. That's part of the recipe they provided for durable self-government. Another part was "limited" government. Both notions have been eroded to near extinction.

Another angle that the people haven't figured out has been corrupted is the so-called "checks and balances." That's fine as the branches battle for turf between themselves, but all three branches are taking turf that isn't theirs to begin with. That is, the three branches of government are in cahoots AGAINST the public.

19 posted on 07/08/2009 7:11:32 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: Cboldt

I agree on every point. It seems to me that even though he does hold sincere conservative convictions, overall D.C. is still as much a game to him as it is to Lindsey Graham.


20 posted on 07/08/2009 7:14:59 AM PDT by demshateGod (The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.)
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