Congressional Oversight of Executive Disappears (or almost)

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That said - there are also government officials working to rid the nation of those that would legislate Americas rights away.

I know, doll. I do believe, perhaps naively but I think not, that most folks anywhere are sincerely motivated to see the world a better place.

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This of course is your right, but it would be nice if you would spare us the tiresome pretense of moral superiority.

But georgie, that's the elevated position you continually suggest that YOUR country uniquely deserves credit for.

How many swedes, germans, french, australian, british or canadian members of a2k claim their country to be the 'greatest nation on earth'?

How many others suggest that their nation can be trusted, on the basis of special internal goodness, to unilaterally dominate all other nations and international bodies?

And you are surprised when the rest of the world says "Fukk you" to those instances where America engages in this masturbatory self-delight and delusional narcissim while self-interestedly tromping about the globe?

The charge of 'moral superiority' is one you ought to deliver first to a mirror before delivering it elsewhere. You're the worst.

Your sense of outrageous offense arises not because others think themselves better than America but because you think America is better than all others and thus others must not presume to criticize.

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Stradee wrote:

Bernie, animal rights activists are called terrorists - so are enviornmentalists.

And, apparently, librarians who don't wish to reveal their records to the government are "radical militants".

http://www.ala.org/al_onlineTemplate.cfm?Section=alonline&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=111469

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One e-mail from October 2003 criticized the Department of Justice's Office of Intelligence Policy and Review for blocking requests to use Section 215, which gives the authority to demand business records from institutions such as libraries and bookstores. "While radical militant librarians kick us around, true terrorists benefit from OIPR's failure to let us use the tools given to us," the message by an unnamed FBI official read. "This should be an OIPR priority!"

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"Militant librarians"....now there is a phrase for our times.

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blatham wrote:

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That said - there are also government officials working to rid the nation of those that would legislate Americas rights away.

I know, doll. I do believe, perhaps naively but I think not, that most folks anywhere are sincerely motivated to see the world a better place.

Exception, the Republican House. Some low-life Alaskan Senator attached the Arctic Drilling Bill to the Defense Bill that can't be fillibustered. The Senate has the final say.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-congress19dec19,0,1759451.story?track=tothtml

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stradee

I know. The poor remain poor because government gives them too much help. And the energy companies are struggling under the burden of record profits because government oppresses them.

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Blatham,

I had to go a long way back to find the material to which yoiu were referring in your post above. I am inclined to reply but realize we have been through all of this before - in some areas many times. Here is an earlier, and entirely sufficent response.

georgeob1 wrote:

This is a very self-serving generalization, Blatham. There are many things about this country with which I find fault - I have occasionaly referred to some of them. The essential difference here is I don't buy the model you consistently put forward about the supposed evils of this government and the "dark forces" which you allege sustain it. In numerous discussions I have explained the elements of this disagreement. You now characterize those who disagree with you as blind to any criticism of this country whatever. That is pure bulls##t! I (and some others) just don't buy the particular criticisms and explanations that you repeatedly offer us. I hope you don't presume to have exhausted all the possibilities in your various arguments. You haven't even dented the great mass of them.

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George Ob1- Blatham is a Canadian. He apparently delights in preaching to Americans from his perch of moral superiority based on ?. He gives no evidence but merely bloviates--quote

"And you are surprised when the rest of the world says "Fukk You" to those instances where America engages in this masturbatory self-delight and delusional narcissism while self-interestedly tromping around the globe"

Some questions for Blatham( which I know he will not answer since he is evidently frightened and will not engage mano a mano).

l. The 'REST OF THE WORLD" says "fukk you"--really? Blatham means the rest of the world? The entire world? Really? He is obviously unware that generalizations like that are only made by dull normal high school sophomores.

2. "Masturbatory self-delight" How is this measured? How does a goverment "masturbate with delight"? What a puerile statement lacking in specificity.

3. "Self Interestedly" ( How is this measured?) tromping( what does this mean) around the globe(Even in Antarctica?)

When will Blatham learn that merely bombastically blasting the USA with meaningless verbiage means nothing.

I would advise Blatham that he should hurry forthwith to give his excellent advice to his own country- Canada. Not only are the Canadians mired in their own Economic miasma(Their GDP per capita is a stunning $9,000 lower than the USA as of three years ago) they are suffering from CORRUPTION.

Unlike Blatham, I will give specifics instead of sophomoric meaningless bromides.

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A corruption scandal forced a vote of no confidence Monday that toppled Prime Minister Paul Martin's minority government( Source- Chicago Sun Times--November 29th)

I await( but do not expect to receive) specific instances concerning the "toppling" of the US government due to Corruption.

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blatham wrote:

How many swedes, germans, french, australian, british or canadian members of a2k claim their country to be the 'greatest nation on earth'?

You forgot Poland.

http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/2/-/bush_debate_poland.jpg

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One thing is sure. The Canadians who can't find their rears with both hands can only evoke about $31,500 per person GDP through their economy. The US, on the other hand, produces at least $40,500 per person.
Would Blotham like more data?

I'll give him some although I am sure he knows little or nothing about Higher Education.

The Top World Universities

source

http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/rank/2005 /ARWU2005_Top100.htm

The Top Twenty Five Universities in the World list twenty two from the USA, Two from the UK( Cambridge and Oxford) and one from Asia(Tokyo).

The next twenty five Universities in the World include 20 from the USA. This means that the USA includes 42 of the 50 top rated Universities in the world in its territory.

Blatham apparently is ignorant of this. What measures does he refer to showing that the USA is not among the pre-eminent powers in the world.

I am very much afraid that the Canadian is suffering from a bad case of one of the most distressing of vices--ENVY.

I am sure that if he is very good he may apply for US citizenship.

If the link will not work, and you wish to view the list, go to google to enter--Top 500 World Universities- You will get a list made by the 2005 Institute of Higher Education, Shangain Jiao Tong University.

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When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross. (Sinclair Lewis)

Mission Accomplished !
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blatham wrote:

How many swedes, germans, french, australian, british or canadian members of a2k claim their country to be the 'greatest nation on earth'?

I have no idea. I'm sure there exist all the typical expressions of patriotism in each of these countries. I don't think that anyone here has made such a claim about the United States. I have asserted that in out cur Post World War dominance in world affairs, we have been marginally better than the British, French, Russian, German, and Spanish versions that preceeded us. To my recollection you have acknowledged the truth of that assertion. What is the point here?? Could this be a straw man?

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How many others suggest that their nation can be trusted, on the basis of special internal goodness, to unilaterally dominate all other nations and international bodies?

The fact is we don't "unilaterally dominate all other nations and international bodies - a fact which is reaffirmed in the world press every day. WE attempt to have our point of view accepted - just as do our opponents. Are our rights any less than theirs? This is hyperbole and fantasy: perhaps suitable for revving up the true believers, but not for thinking people - or even Hofstadterian intellectuals.

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And you are surprised when the rest of the world says "Fukk you" to those instances where America engages in this masturbatory self-delight and delusional narcissim while self-interestedly tromping about the globe?

Does the rest of the world say that? Is the opinion of those who do reliable? You have colorfully and engagingly characterized our behavior, but is that characterization accurate, or evern mneaningful at all? Is our tromping about the world in pursuit of self interest any different than the Canadian or French, etc. versions?

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The charge of 'moral superiority' is one you ought to deliver first to a mirror before delivering it elsewhere. You're the worst.

I'm not sure exactly what this means or whether the insult was personal or directed at the USA.

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Your sense of outrageous offense arises not because others think themselves better than America but because you think America is better than all others and thus others must not presume to criticize.

Well I don't have a "sense of outrageous offense". I think Ameriuca is somewhat better (or more accurately, less awful) as a world power than any of the modern or contemporary alternatives. That, however is very different from your characterization. I don't demand that criticisn cease. Rather I ask that it be realistically grounded in the context of human history.

A veritable straw army here Bernie.

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Stradee wrote:

When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross. (Sinclair Lewis)

Mission Accomplished !
================================================

That is from his rather pedestrian novel "It Can't Happen Here". Lewis was very likely the inspiration for Hofstadter's "Anti Intellectualism in American Life". However he was one of those inter War period observers who saw the socialist model as an improvement on the prevailing system in this country. History has proven him wrong.

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Look, we can argue all day regarding how others view America/Americans and frankly I don't care - way to busy attempting to stop destructive radical repubs from doing more damage via Defense spending bill.

What I am more concerned with at the moment is calling Washington, all who disagree with the newest version of the Patriot Act, or drilling the arctic, or the drug provision attached to the Defense spending bill, etc. wheather dem, repub, ind, green, or non-affiliated, YOU can alter the course. Take action!

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georgeob1 wrote:

Stradee wrote:
When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross. (Sinclair Lewis)

Mission Accomplished !
================================================

That is from his rather pedestrian novel "It Can't Happen Here". Lewis was very likely the inspiration for Hofstadter's "Anti Intellectualism in American Life". However he was one of those inter War period observers who saw the socialist model as an improvement on the prevailing system in this country. History has proven him wrong.

George, you must admit there are some lawmakers that fit the description. Thanks for the info.

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Stradee- You call them "destructive radical Republicans". Others call the Democrats Opportunistic obstructionist defeatists. The name calling is fruitless. Try writing a critique of the Patriot Act and see what responses you get.

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George OB1- Blatham does know how to "turn a phrase" but, as far as I am concerned( as I outlined in my last post) he has the most distressing habit of making charges and generalizations without offering even a scintilla of proof. I am sure you will admit that making absurd statements like those issued by Blatham--"masturbatory self-delight" "Self-interestedly" and "tromping about the world" are the products of an untrained mind which does not realize that such generalizations unattached to any references, demean the writer much more than the target.

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I do not know whether Stradee has ever read-"It Cant Happen Here". I have and have, as has been my custom, underlined parts which I thought were a manifestation of Lewis' eagerness to show how the "progressive socialists" were heroes and the corporate cheifs the villans.

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P. 183

"It was said that one of the least of these erring children was the firsdt patriot to name President Windrip "the Chief meaning Fuhrer, or Imperial Wizard of the K. K. K., or Il Duce, or Imperial Potentate of the Mystic Shrine...."

REALLY!!!!!!!! What self-serving garbage. Lewis appears to use BLACK AND WHITE in his portraits. There is no room for pastels.

But, those who have not read this novel and do not know how ridiculously one sided it is, will continue to post its title--IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE--as an ominous warning from those who know the TRUTH!!!

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Senator Buzz Windrip can be found nowadays quite often.

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Really? Where? I know of no Buzz Windrups in the US Congress. I would suggest that you read the book "It can't happen here" BEFORE you make comments like that or has the book been proscribed since 1934 in Germany?

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Congressional Oversight of Executive Disappears (or almost)

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