I'm going to simply skip all the explanantions, excuses, and interludes about why it's been so long since I've posted. It's sad, pitiful...blah blah blah.

Instead, I'm going to just dive right in. Two "news" items in particular caught my eye this week.

First...

My/your president stumbled over his tongue...again. This time, however, something even more disturbing occurred. I've posted the entire article courtesy of USA Today (a.k.a. "McNewspaper") [please note that this is not from a "liberal" paper or (ahem!) radio station]:

New 'Bushism' born at bill signing
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush offered up a new entry for his catalog of "Bushisms" on Thursday, declaring that his administration will "never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people."

By Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP

Bush misspoke as he delivered a speech at the signing ceremony for a $417 billion defense spending bill.

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we," Bush said. "They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

No one in Bush's audience of military brass or Pentagon chiefs reacted.

Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Find this article here.

The most disturbing aspect of this article is not the fact that Bush made a mistake (glaring, yes) but rather can be found in the last line of the article: "No one in Bush's audience of military brass or Pentagon chiefs reacted."

My friends, without passing into the hyperbole stratosphere, I argue that this is a great moment for the American public. We are able to look back in time, behind the curtain and the closed doors. We have now seen what has happened inside the Administration for the past 3.5 years. For all those who think that I (and many others) are simply "Bush-haters" you are flat wrong. For those who think that my concern and frustration-bred anger is with George W. himself, you are flat wrong. My (and I believe I am not alone) concern is what this says about the current state of American government and -- per "We the People" -- our republic as a whole. Because, my friends, our Fathers constructed a SYSTEM replete with checks and balances to counteract misguided leaders and/or tyranny. This system of government, novel at its birth, was meant to solve the problem of the King's Court, a collection of "yes-men" who simply follow(ed).

This term of the American Presidency has raised two issues to new heights of visibility and solemnity: (1) the role of dissent in our nation and (2) the solemn decisions surrounding military action. The value (yes, value) of dissent could not have been more important to our nation's Founders; dissent within and without the government. This Administration has made it very clear what is tolerated and what is not when it comes to dissent, protest, and suggestions of alternatives (see The PATRIOT ACT, Richard Clarke, Imperial Hubris). At a time when dissent and a frank discussion of options has never been more needed, more valuable, and [sigh] more Missing In Action, it is cause for frustration, concern, and even more dissent even if the dissent is limited to circles outside the King's Court (see above).

The issue of military action has plagued this administration since the days of the 2000 campaign. One glimmer of hope has always been the hope that those with military experience (ouch!) would prevail in these discussions. [NOTE: yes, I do understand the primacy of "chain of command" in the Armed Forces (see Pfc. Lynndie England) and, yes, I understand the Code et al.; but, at some point, the military advisors must become ADVISORS and not military listeners, especially when they are the (only?) experts on the matter of military action in the room.]

I will close with simply stating that I think I now know what happened in the days, weeks, months, and now years of the planning (or lack thereof) of military action in Iraq and Afghanistan. I thank the reporters -- the bureaucrats of the Fourth Branch of Government -- for at least mentioning the following fact no matter how disturbing its implications may be:

No one in Bush's audience of military brass or Pentagon chiefs reacted.
- posted by C @ 9:25:00 AM