Here's a few items just sent to me by a (admittedly radical) friend.
1. an article that, while liberal, analyses this administration in conservative terms. Alas, the author ignores an additional fact... that Al Gore reduced the actual number of pages and words of federal law for the 1st time in US history.
http://www.tnr.com/docprint.mhtml?i=20050516&s=chait051605
EXCERPT: "None of these accounts, though, goes very far toward explaining what Bush has done and why he has done it. If government has expanded under Bush because of hostile currents of public opinion, then it should have expanded even faster under President Clinton, who was less conservative than the current president. But, in fact, non-defense spending as a percentage of the economy actually declined under Clinton, from 17 percent of gross domestic product to 15.5 percent, before rising smartly under the present administration from 15.5 to 16.5 percent. (Did homeland security contribute to the rise in spending under Bush? Just a bit: It accounts for about one-seventh of the domestic spending hikes.) Conservatives haven't explained why a moderate liberal like Clinton had an easier time than Bush in resisting popular demand to spend.
For a more lengthy, empirical analysis of Borrow and Spend Big Government Republican policies, be sure to check out this Cato study: http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa543.pdf
And when the Cato Institute goes against the GOP, you know that something has gone so rotten that it makes even THEIR heads turn.
2/ Oh, for the good old days. Could you imagine comments like these coming from a Republican politician in 2005?
"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are [a] few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."
- President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 11/8/54
"However, on religious issues there can be little or no compromise. There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God's name on one's behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both. I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in 'A,' 'B,' 'C,' and 'D.' Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of 'conservatism.'"
Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-AZ), 9/16/81
Well, I admit that Ike and Goldwater are two of my conservative heroes. Real intellects and patriots.
Eisenhower also warned against "the acquisition of unwarranted influence... by the military industrial complex." remember? He went on to say this - a pro-transparency statement if there ever was one.
"Only an alert and knowledgable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together."
THIS is why I am so steamed at the ACLU for the WAY that they oppose the #$#@@$# Patriot Act. They oppose the small, incremental ways that the FBI can now surveil a little better... chickenfeed! Meanwhile they ignore (almost) the really scary parts of that law. The parts letting our paid protector caste operate in the dark, without supervision or oversight. eeek.
3/ Finally Breaking News (lightening up) RUMSFELD UPGRADES IRAQ FROM QUAGMIRE TO MORASS Situation Disastrous But Not Catastrophic, Defense Sec'y Says
"After taking a look at what is going on there on the ground, it is my judgment that it is time to upgrade Iraq from quagmire to morass," Mr. Rumsfeld said, adding that he was "very confident" in making the new assessment.
4/ Speaking of lightening up, be sure to check out the Al Franken show on Air America Radio. You can listen to it online here: http://www.airamericaradio.com/listen.asp (For those of you in Seattle it is on AM 1090 from 9 to noon weekdays.) He just gets better and better. Yesterday he had John Cleese as a BBC reporter covering a three-hour drum solo by the Queen (that would be the Queen of England, not Freddy Mercury and co.).
5/ Is Bush serious about fighting terrorism? What about a guy who was responsible for the bombing of a commercial airliner that killed 73 people, along with other acts of terrorism? What if I told you he was residing in the US? So how come he hasn't been arrested? The problem is that he is a foe of Castro
6/ Did I mention that the energy bill working its way through Congress would provide over $3 billion in new tax breaks for the oil and gas industry? http://www.taxpayer.net/energy/pdf/worstintheirclass.pdf _______________________________________________
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