Does Bush's religious faith inappropriately dictatate policy

And of course, their personal opinions on such matters were always right, and anyone who disagreed with them was always wrong.

That's a good point, Frank Apisa. But in effect the Congress gave Bush carte blanche.

I am a strict constructionist, and see no evidence of this. Bush went to the legislature and got their go-ahead. That is what is required. Did they not put it on the correct parchment or something?

The Constitutionalists in my area (and they are rife) are out to get Bush, bigtime. I'm listening right now to a talkshow which has been local but which has gone national, is supporting the peace activists, believes Bush is an imperialist, are against "new world order" and the UN, have had Chomsky on -- and Mike Ruppert. It take an enormous amount of concentration on my part to separate wheat from chaff while listening to the diatribes, but they represent an increasingly number of people -- not nutcases, "ordinary Americans."

[quote="trespassers will ...I am a strict constructionist, and see no evidence of this. Bush went to the legislature and got their go-ahead. That is what is required. Did they not put it on the correct parchment or something?[/quote]

COMMENT:

He went to the legislature and got their go-ahead!!!!!

Since you claim to be a strict constructionist -- try reading the Constitution a little more closely.

It does not give the legislature the right to give the president "the go-ahead" -- not that I think they have done that in any case.

It explicitly says that the legislature shall have the power "to declare war." And it doesn't say anything about assigning that right to anyone else.

So I ask you: Has the legislature declared war on Iraq?

NO

No. They have (probably illegally) shifted the responsibility to the Executive. Byrd got it right.

Yes. In fact, they declared it back under Bush 41. We are currently in a state of ceasefire; that war is still ongoing. Bush 43's trip to the legislature this time was a simple formality designed to please people like you whom I wish he would learn will never be pleased by anything a conservative does.

That's right. Forgot about that ceasefire dodge!! When we hang the executive high, we're going to have to construct a lot more gibbets for Congress!

Here are the UN Resolutions on Iraq. I don't see anything on the continuation of the Gulf War since the ceasefire.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2246037.stm

c.i.

COMMENT:

1) Have more respect for your conservatism. George Dubya is not a conservative -- he is a pawn of conservatives. He also is a rather unintelligent fellow who has managed to get himself into a position way, way over his head.

2) The legislature NEVER declared war against Iraq -- not back in Bush 41 and not now in Bush 43.

3) So...my question remains. Why do you, as a strict constructionist, not demand that a formal declaration of war by the legislature be obtained before starting this adventure?????

1) I never claimed to be a conservative. I agree that GWB is not behaving as a conservative, and am disappointed in many of his decisions.

2) Wrong.

3) Asked and answered.

Another link on the subject. http://www.aclu.org/NationalSecurity/NationalSecuritylist.cfm?c=112

c.i.

Thanks, ci.

Here's an idea that will definitely work to discourage war - for the time being. c.i.
***********************************************

Subject: pope's peace
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003 17:45:27 -0800
From: "Beth Taylor"
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>


Dear Friends,In case you don't know of James Twyman, he's called "The Peace Troubador." For many years he's travelled around the world, sometimes at the invitation of goverments and sometimes on his own, bringing the message of peace to troubled regions. I received the attached email and wanted to pass it on. The first paragraph refers to his support of the Helen Coldicott petition to the pope. Now Twyman is creating a further petition which he'll deliver to the pope in person, asking for the papal presence in Baghdad. The same request will be made via an emmissary to the Dalai Lama. If these two spiritual icons traveled to Iraq, the US would not attack. See what you think. Love - and Peace!!!! Beth A few days ago I asked you to send an email to His Holiness Pope John Paul II, asking him to personally intervene in the conflict with Iraq by traveling to Baghdad, and to invite other religious and spiritual leaders to join him. I believe that this would immediately halt plans by the US government to begin bombing the Iraqi people, giving the UN inspectors and world politicians more time to find a peaceful solution.

We are now going to take this a step further. I am asking for at least a million people to add their names to a petition that I can present to His Holiness as quickly as possible, imploring him to help save the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent people in Iraq. We will also present the same petition to His Holiness the Dalai Lama through an emissary, asking him to join the Pope. (They have been partners in peace before, most notably at the historic peace gathering that took place in Assisi in 1986.)

A MILLION NAMES FOR PEACE IN ONE WEEK!

We do not have much time, and so I am asking that you add your name today, and pass this email to as many people as you can. I am personally sending it to 100,000 people, so the goal is well within our reach. If the Pope and the Dalai Lama hear the voices of so many dedicated Spiritual Peacemakers calling for their presence, they may actually respond.

Simply go to http://www.emissaryoflight.com and click on the link at the top of the page. You will then be asked to read the following
statement, and if you agree, add your name:

"We believe that a spiritual solution is required to peacefully resolve the current political situation in Iraq, and we believe that the presence in Iraq of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and other spiritual leaders from around the world, would shift the current tide toward lasting peace. We humbly ask you to please consider this heartfelt request from a million Spiritual Peacemakers to take time from your schedule and travel to Baghdad. The lives of hundreds of thousands of people, and the hope of world peace, may lie in your hands."

There is no time to waste. The war could begin almost any day, and so we hope to have all million names by March 18. Help us reach our goal in one week!!!

In the event that the war breaks out before I am able to personally
deliver this petition, we have two contingency plans:

1. Each day we will forward the names that are posted on the site to the Pope, the Dalai Lama, and GEORGE BUSH himself. We don't want these men to become aware of this important campaign after it happens, but while it's in full force. Imagine them getting 200,000 names a day, or more, on a file. We will also post the name count we have collected and sent each day at www.emissaryoflight.com so you can check in and monitor our progress.

2. We will immediately forward all million names (via Internet) to an emissary in Rome who will copy and deliver the document to the Pope. We will do the same for the Dalai Lama.

Please hold the success of peace and this mission of peace in your
hearts. But most of all, please add your name today, and pass this email to everyone you know.

Peace Prevails on Earth NOW!
James Twyman
**************************
Can we do it? c.i.

And thanks again c.i.

c.i. done

Part I of "Bombing His Way Into the Jaws of Armageddon"

http://www.buzzflash.com/editorial/03/03/11.html

Be forwarned, this is a BuzzFlash editorial, so it is not - I repeat - not complimentary to Bush and is an editorial. It is full of thought and proper debate, IMHO!

"George Dubya is not a conservative -- he is a pawn of conservatives. He also is a rather unintelligent fellow who has managed to get himself into a position way, way over his head. ..."

Frank Apisa -- I have to disagree with that while continuing to agree with you wholeheartedly in spirit! GWB is a (excuse me please) wh*re who belongs not to conservatives but to neo-cons (soon to be cons, I hope!) who have virtually no relationship to conservatism but who use its adherents mercilessly. GWB is also not stupid -- meaning he CAN find his way out of a paper bag!... most days... He would have a hard time conversing on A2K, that's true, but he has street smarts and an ability to charm people face to face. If you want to see how conservatives are beginning to feel about GWB, check out Senator Lugar's (and Dodd and cohorts') comments on Bush today about the AID choice of Bush/Cheney corporations. They are horrified at the fact that six large American corporations (Parsons, Bechtel, Berger, et al.) know more about the administration's Iraq policy than the Senate does... (I heard Lugar on NPR -- mainstream media don't seem to have posted this news yet... Hmmm)