ABC News has a piece that reminds me of the members of this board who say that we should not accuse W of lying because he has not been convicted by a jury of his peers. Ignoring for the moment that the reason W hasn't been convicted might be because lying is not a crime, I still find that "defense" of W odd. It sets such a low bar, as if being a non-criminal was all you needed to meet the supposedly high standards of this administration.

Well, the Inspector General at Interior seems to have similar reservations:Full story: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=2427096&page=1

Reminds me a bit of the opinion on torture put out by the admin. about if it doesn't rise to death or organ failure, it's not torture. You could shove bamboo up someones fingernails for 5 years and not meet that definition.

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Listening to Alberto Gonzales reminds me of being back in law school where people would muse about just how far legal arguments could be stretched to cover various scenarios. It can be an interesting thought experiment while in an academic setting, but it's not necessarily such a great way to set national policy in the real world. Gonzales is a smart guy, but he seems to have no moral compass. He thinks it's OK for the US to do bad things so long as he can come up with some sort of legal argument that could conceivably justify them. I hate it that he is representing our great country.

And people thought Clinton was twisting words to suit his purpose...

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

He was twisting something else...

__________________
"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

Agreed. Its a kind of cunning without wisdom. I hate listening to not only Gonzales but the Homeland Security guy. Its like, well, we have certain information from certain sources.

Q.) What kind of info, what kind of sources?

A.) Well, I can't answer that without compromising national security.

Q.) Well, what are you doing about it?

A.) Again I can't tell you that without compromising national security...

On and on. Secrecy and democracy are not mutually exclusive, but when these guys are interviewed on news programs it just irks me a bit. Its just a bit too easy for them to say these things, as if there was no debate on fundamental issues, its just the way it is and we're at war and thats that. These guys may be smart, but there is no real intellect operating there that I can percieve. They're tools.

__________________
1984 300D turbo, 250K
1971 MGBGT, 101K
2007 VW Jetta, 4K

And while we're about it,me buckos.Neither John Gotti,Gaspipe Casso,Ducks Corallo,Sonny Franzese,"Doves"Aiuppa nor "Snake "Persico were ever convicted by a jury of their "peers".

__________________

he fits right in with the neos.

any argument no matter how flimsy will be repeated ad nauseum because so many folks who support them will buy it.

and they dont care what the rest of us think.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I'm looking forward to November and the results of the mid-term elections.

To date, all the BS reagarding the public's view of the administration is simply that. We don't know if the general population has been demonstrably swayed against W and terrorist propaganda campaign.

Note that the campaign started in full swing, yet again, on September 11 where W tied the war into his "terrorism" yet again. It's done very effectively..............I'll be awaiting the outcome with anticipation.

That's a double edged sword, because neither were Byron De La Beckwith or Edgar Ray Killen.

I disagree after hearing Colin Powell's letter to John McCain read on the news this morning.

It disgusts me that the Federal Government is such a bloated, unethical bottom dweller and as the ABC article stated, it is on both sides of the aisle. I would love to see the results of a true federal tax revolt. Take all their money away and they can't sqander it like they are doing now.

Where are the ethics? They are gone. We are supposed to be the good guys, but more and more we are the arrogant bullys of the world. I am not ashamed to be a citizen of the United States, but I am ashamed and mad at our piss poor federal government.

__________________
Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI

What I'm wondering is how will America at large respond if results differ starkly from exit polling numbers in such a way as to benefit Diebold's side?

Statisticians have said that the chances of as many exit polls being off in the same direction as they were in Kerry v. Bush are very slim. And yet the American public stewed briefly, then went back to the latest Netflix offerings.

If some of these characters actually have hijacked democracy, is anyone going to get seriously animated about it?

Stay tuned...

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Takes too long the conventional way, that's why they invented cement slippers....

__________________
"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

__________________
Question Authority before it Questions you.