| It is clear that the President misunderstands the meaning of the Advice and Consent Clause. The word "Advice" means "Advice." President Clinton, consulted extensively with then-Judiciary Committee Chairman Hatch. Senator Hatch boasts in his autobiography that he personally convinced President Clinton to nominate Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer to the Supreme Court instead of more controversial choices.
In contrast, this President has never ever sought or heeded the advice of the Senate. But now he demands our consent. That's not how America works. The Senate is not a rubber stamp for the Executive branch. Rather, we're the one institution where the Minority has a voice and the ability to check the power of the Majority. Today, in the face of President Bush's power grab, that's more important than ever. Republicans want one-party rule. The Senate is the last place where the President and his Republican colleagues can't have it all. And, now President Bush wants to destroy our checks and balances to ensure that he does get it all. That check on his power is the right to extended debate. Every Senator can stand up on behalf of the people who have sent them here and say their piece. In the Senate's 200 plus years of history, this has been done hundreds and hundreds of times...to stand up to popular presidents arrogant with power...to block legislation harmful to America's workers...and yes - even to reject the President's judicial nominations. |
It's been a few days now since classes ended, but for some reason I haven't been able to post much to my blog. I've been trying to figure out why, and this morning it hit me. I'm just worn down. Worn down from months and months of bullshit. There's a war in Irag, an unnecessary war that has cost us thousands of lives and hundreds of billions of dollars and that, sadly, looks more and more like Vietnam every day. North Korea and Iran are building out their nuclear capacity day by day. The federal deficit is exploding, and the economy is limping along at best. And what have we spent the last 6 months talking about?
Terry Schiavo.
Filibusters.
And the end of Social Security.
You win reelection and this - this - is what you choose to focus on? This is your agenda? This is what you think the nation needs most?
As sad as that agenda is, if it were being presented honestly I'd probably be able to handle it. But the lies... they're just endless. One day after the next the bullshit gets shoveled. In my 33 years on this planet I don't think I've ever seen such widespread and thoroughgoing deliberate campaign of deception. Granted, I don't remember Nixon, but good god... if that doesn't make my point I don't know what does! Except, of course, that we've already had our impeachment, and it was over a lies. About a blowjob.
Just how bad have things become? Consider this:
In the 1970's, when George Lucas released his original Start Wars trilogy, it was clear to everyone - and I do mean everyone - that the Empire was a reference to Nazi Germany. He called them Stormtroopers for god's sake. But today? Today the web is full of stories questioning if the film is an attack on Bush.
Now I'm the last person to make comparisons between Nazi Germany and this nation. The last. And that's not what I'm trying to do here. But think about this. 25 years ago the Empire and its minions were seen as a reference to Nazi Germany. Today people are up in arms - particularly the whiners on the right - complaining that Lucas is bashing Bush. Bashing Bush? People - the outline of this story has existed for over 25 years. 25 years!
What's scary isn't that Lucas is making a political point with his movie. He's been doing that since this thing began. What's scary is that the movies, even to those on the right, now seem in some way to reflect the current state of things.
So yeah... posting has been slow. I'm just sick of the bullshit. Sick of the lies. Everything this nation stands for seems to have been forgotten. It will pass, I hope. It will - if we stay at it and fight back. Nothing is guaranteed. The Founding Fathers knew that this nation was an experiment, one that in truth would never be completed. Could man create society and rule over himself? Was it possible? They believed so. But they were realistic. They understood it would not be easy. They understood that protecting and preserving freedom would be difficult. They left us the best system they could, one that was far from perfect, but its the best we've got.
Minority rights. Are they inconvenient? Of course they are. But the Founders knew first hand what happens when the rights of the people - all of the people - are forgotten. This nation was founded in blood spilt over that very idea. And today? Today there's another war going on, one we're told is over freedom and liberty. The men and women of our armed forces are serving with courage, honor, and dignity. But here at home... here at home the majority is trying to strip the rights of the minority in the name of complete and total control.
This isn't the American my Greatest Generation grandparents taught me to love. This isn't the America my father showed me to respect as I grew up in the shadow of the White House. And no, this isn't even the America his hero Ronald Reagan wanted to see.
But no. I will not give up. We cannot give up. There's too much at stake. Within days the battle on the floor of the Senate will reach its eventual end. Have you called your Senators? Have you? This is your government, dammit. Your government. It belongs as much to you as to anyone else in this nation. And if you don't do your part to stand up for it, who will. 2 minutes. Take 2 minutes and call. Let them know what you think.
And in the meantime...
"When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on."
--Thomas Jefferson
--------
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: SICK OF IT ALL.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.alexwhalen.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/2011
Subscribe to this blog's feed
Leave a comment