He's Not Even Bothering To Pretend Anymore

[filkertom]

I think the headline says it all, really: Bush challenges hundreds of laws

Read it and tell me he's not fuckin' evil. TELL ME THAT WITH A STRAIGHT FACE. Defend this. Anybody. Come on, bring it.

Comments

[emiofbrie.livejournal.com]

I really hope we're getting to the point where the right people say that "enough is enough".

As someone else once said: "Can someone please give Bush a blow job so we can impeach him??"

[drzarron.livejournal.com]

*headdesk* *Headdesk* *HEADDESK*

[valkyrwench.livejournal.com]

Yanno, I lost a good friend over the last election, because he voted for that asshole. I wonder if he still thinks the shrubbery is doing such a great job?

[palenoue.livejournal.com]

We should offer a voter amnesty. If someone voted for Bush (or any current leader of the republican party) they can promise not to vote for the next four years, which should clear out the evil ones, and in return we promise never to bug them about their bad choices.

[archanglrobriel.livejournal.com]

I keep asking myself "Have we hit the bottom yet? Have we hit the bottom yet?" Where the hell is the turning point? When are people going to wake up and demand his head (figuratively) on a platter?

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

It won't be for warrantless searches and arrests. They're already doing that. They haven't gone to mass arrests and internment camps yet, but if they did and said they were all suspected terrorists, or illegal immigrants, his base would defend him. And if large numbers of "detainees" were never seen again, do you think the media would mention it? Do you think if they did, people would pay attention? I'm not betting.

I'm not betting that invading Iran without Congressional approval would do it either. Not while it's still "open to debate" whether Saddam had nukes, or whether Bush even really claimed he did.

Maybe dropping a nuclear bomb would wake people up. Maybe. Then again, it might make his numbers go up. Upswing in us-against them patriotism, and you can't be too critical of Dear Leader when so many in that hostile world out there are condemning America so vehemently. Again.

Nope. they'll only respond to personal scandal. And only then if they can be dragged kicking and screaming into believing it. Perhaps if he raped and killed a Republican Senator's son during a press conference.

More likely, he'll go his merry way and people will wake up gradually, years later. Ten years after his Administration ends naturally, no one will admit to having voted for him. By which time, there will be no accountability, only consequences for us all.

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

Interestingly, Margie Schoedinger, a Texas woman did accuse him of rape in two lawsuits filed in December 2000 and December 2002. The liberal mainstream media never covered it and eventually she was found dead of a suicidal gunshot to the face.

[divalea.livejournal.com]

Errr, where did she accuse him of rape? I don't see Bush's name in those documents at all.

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I repeated the first link. The second link should have pointed here, where on page 1 it says: "Defendant is George W. Bush, Former Governor of Texas and current President of the United States and can be served with process at: Office of the President of the United States, Executive Office Building, The Executive Office of the President, Washington, D.C. 20501."

[divalea.livejournal.com]

Alas, the pserson in question (I found upon research) seemed to have been seriously mentally disturbed.

This poor woman's claims seem to have no basis in reality whatsoever.

And this is coming from someone who drew cartoons like this

http://www.webcomicsnation.com/divalea/nlexd/series.php

right after Katrina.

[hughcasey.livejournal.com]

I will be honest... I do NOT think that he's evil.

Evil, for me, is a pretty high bar to reach. Not that people don't make it up to that bar... they do all the time. But MOST of what we call evil tends to be either ignorance or incompetence.

So, no, I don't think that the President reaches that bar (the only U.S. President I think came close was Nixon".

However, I DO believe that Mr. Bush is WRONG in his political philosophy and that his administration has been INCOMPETENT in the carrying out of policy.

I strongly believe in the theory best expressed by "Hanlon's Razor": "Never ascribe to malice that which can be adequately explained by incompetence."

Just my not-so-humble opinion, of course. YMMV.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I disagree, and for one very explicit reason: Incompetence implies nondeliberation. In other words, he's doing this stuff on purpose. He doesn't have to be a constitutional scholar; he's supposed to have staff to help him with that. All he has are enablers.

He is violating the law, and the spirit of the law, almost constantly. You simply can't do it as often and as consistently as this without it being a deliberate act.

[mathmuffin.livejournal.com]

I, on the other hand, agree with hughcasey. Evil is a relative term, and I don't think Bush is evil in the sense of planning a grand conspiracy to undermine the Constitution of the United States. I think he is overwhelmed by the job of President and sticking idiotically to some basic principles he learned at his father's knee. Such as rewarding people who did him political favors, even if they are incompetent for the jobs he gives them. And since the job of President is too complicated for him, he is looking for little ways to simply it. Such as ignoring pesky little laws about how he can use his power. He can't foresee the long-term consequences of his actions, so he cannot see the damage he is doing.


Erin Schram

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Again, sorry, I disagree. Oh, I agree with all your basic points, but not as absolving him from being equal. Because I believe some things are, in fact, evil, and it's impossible to be relativistic about them. Torture, for instance, which this administration has been trying to redefine for its own purposes for years.

And, on some levels, he knows exactly what he's doing. We could get into his many, many sins, but for the sake of this particular thread and argument, I point out one of his most famous quotes, not too long after the 2000 election: "If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier - just so long I'm the dictator (http://www.newsgateway.ca/bush_dictator.htm)."

[nomaddervish.livejournal.com]

Funny you should mention Nixon... I've been listening to the Democracy Now! podcast for a while. They've had a few interviews lately with people who worked in the Nixon administration and these interviewees have all made statements to the effect that Bush has taken the Nixon playbook and run with it. Most have also said that he's taken it further than Nixon did.

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

Evil isn't quite right. I prefer Megalomaniac.

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

If he can ignore laws he doesn't like, so can I. Specifically TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 84 > § 1751

[morpheus0013.livejournal.com]

Problem is, I don't actually believe in evil. So I'd have to tell you he isn't.

I will, however, say that he has created in me more doubt in the non-existence of evil than any other one person on the planet.

[omimouse.livejournal.com]

-whimper-

Can we please get rid of him now? Look, Republicans, he is not doing you guys any favours here. Get rid of him.

Or let him drag your whole bloody party down into a fiery death. Up to you. I just don't want to see the country go down with him.

[salkryn.livejournal.com]

I started reading that article, and then I said "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH SHIT!" George Bush is consolidating the power of all three branches of government into his own hands. If that happens, we'll have a dictatorship, not a democracy. He's essentially rewriting all of the laws that are sent to him, and he's reserving the right to interpret the constitution; powers which belong to the Congress and the Supreme Court respectively. The man may actually succeed in toppling our whole political system if he isn't stopped.

[darthparadox.livejournal.com]

Time to impeach. I'd like to see an impeachment measure on the House floor, and get it on record which of the Republicans still support his corrupt, criminal administration. And then I'd like to see the Democrats slam them with that information in November.

It won't happen, because the Democrat party leadership still has its head up its ass, but I can dream.

But if the American people lets this go by unchallenged, we've lost our democracy. And most people won't realize it immediately, as they put on sham elections and modify the results with the help of their corporate stooges, but we're in grave danger of losing our democracy completely.

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

The Illinois General Assembly has a bill to send an impeachment measure to the U.S. House of Representatives, which is, apparently, legal and a way of starting impeachment proceedings.

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

So, too, does California (lost my reference). And apparently theirs also names Biggus Dickus.

Let's hope at least one of the bills passes its combined legislature before Congress changes the rule.

[adammaker.livejournal.com]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nehemiah_Scudder

[mouser.livejournal.com]

Waiting for the argument against the 22nd amendment.

[orawnzva.livejournal.com]

"I've just received word the the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently."

This "signing statement" business sounds a lot like making a promise you intend to break with your fingers crossed behind your back. Well, it won't work — I mean, he may get away with it politically, for a while, but his word is now dust, and that always catches up with one eventually.

[druidsfire.livejournal.com]

I heard that California, Illinois, and Vermont have impeachment somethings or other floating through their respective legislative bodies? I forget who told me, and I've been too busy to do any fact-checking...

Can anyone corroborate?

[palenoue.livejournal.com]

Here's a few articles on that:

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_allen_l__060427_it_s_spring__2f_impeac.htm

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_steven_l_060429_bush_impeachment_fir.htm

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/35423/

I think these three cover everything.

[dr-zrfq.livejournal.com]

Illinois HJR0125 (http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=125&GAID=8&DocTypeID=HJR&LegId=25794&SessionID=50&GA=94)...

[lothie.livejournal.com]

I'm beginning to wonder if we're going to have elections in 2008.

[wormquartet.livejournal.com]

I had the same thought...who knows what might happen if there just "happens" to be a terrorist attack just before he's supposed to leave office? If Bush's interpretation of the constitution suggests to him that he might be better off staying in such circumstances, what then?

Incidentally, all you people who stop short of calling Bush "evil" have seen too many damned movies - this IS what evil looks like in the real world.

-=ShoEboX=-

[liddle-oldman.livejournal.com]

It would certainly be easier if he were to wear a black cape and use his Villan Laugh more.

But, yeah, evil in all respects.

[magicaltrevor.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know the feeling. I've been wondering the same thing. We've been feeling like surely this can't go on forever, but somehow I can't imagine them leaving so easily.

Sometimes I think Jeb Bush is next in line, and the whole shebang can just continue for another eight years. But yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a last-ditch grab for power.

[the-s-guy.livejournal.com]

Surely ignoring laws would merely make him Chaotic...?

Not really

[capplor.livejournal.com]

Chaotic Evil is defined (AD&D) as trying to destroy the concept of laws. Bush wants very definite and rigidly obeyed laws, that are whatever he says they are.

[elektria.livejournal.com]

Ugh and for all you out there who want to show your lack of support for the bush regime Spencers now carries anit bush buttons that say things like "got oil?" and "No one asks Is our kids getting a good education

[sylverwolfe.livejournal.com]

so chimpy's pulling stunts like this, and we impeached clinton for fibbing about an extramarital affair?
PRIORITIES, people. geez!

[liddle-oldman.livejournal.com]

Turns out his father and Clinton did the same thing.

It still doesn't make it right.

My standard question is, why has this man not been impreached? He's demonstrably violated his oath to support the Constitution and the laws of the country, time and time again.

Sheesh already!

[wormquartet.livejournal.com]

Surely you've noticed by now that any serious allegations about a President's behavior, particularly any conspiracy theories, are automatically dismissed as absurd. We've been programmed this way for years.

-=ShoEboX=-

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Truly frightening... the man really seems to believe he's been elected king instead of president. We can only hope that shining light on the truth will stir people to action. Go, Boston Globe! :-)

[sdavido.livejournal.com]

I'd ask him what color the sky is in his world, but I've read over his environmental policies . . .

As for Impeachment, while I have found this:

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/ccr/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2702

I picked one up at a local independant bookstore, as a Political Science class resource, officer, really, it's likely not to happen anytime soon. The sad truth is, for impeachment to occur the Democrats need more seats, and then they're likely to wait a bit, to avoid a charge of "You're just impeaching him for revenge!"

And, I have to comment to those who have asked why the Republican Administration hasn't done anything . . . they won't. EVERYTHING he does makes their next nominee look that much more removed from him, and therefore better . . . .

[hitchkitty.livejournal.com]

"You're just impeaching him for revenge!"

To which the response can only be:
"No, Clinton was impeached for revenge. He committed the unpardonable sin of getting elected, and you people could never forgive him for that."

I have to snicker at right-wing shock jocks who snark at Democrats for Trying to Undermine Bush for Political Purposes. Erm...guys? Name me one politician, at any time in history, who did anything for any OTHER reason?

[sdavido.livejournal.com]

*Huge Grin*

Very Good Point . . . although there ARE other reasons at this stage . . .

[deadpool247.livejournal.com]

The second he is bald, speaking with a Belgian accent, and puts his upturned pinky into his mouth, THEN I'll call him evil. Until then, he's just very bad.

That's why I like 24; they're basically making a caricature of Bush in the form of President Logan (looking and acting inept, but secretly dastardly and disturbing)