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I never thought I would see the day come when our country would go so far off the path of decency that we would not only allow torture by turning our backs on the Geneva Convention, but we would allow criminals the latitude to break more laws. However, it seems this week, I have witnessed one of these legal travesties, and I am about to witness another.It seems that DUBYA's torture bill has now passed the Senate. This means that soon, the Chimp in Chief will be able to detain people at his discretion without cause, without a fair and speedy trial, and with the threat of legalized torture as long as it doesn't kill an organ, or the person in question. This will all happen in the so-called name of national security.
And now, there was a story in the news that the House has passed a bill that will allow the illegal wiretapping of American citizens to continue unchecked. Not only that, if it passes, DUBYA will not have to face charges of doing it illegally.
This is outrageous nonsense! I used to think that only the Republicans were in the rubber stamping business. However, it seems that any Democratic resistance was more or less for show, at least in the case of the torture bill. While I would expect the house to let that one slide, to know that not one Democrat in the Senate even attempted to filibuster this bill fills me with revulsion.
Where were you, Ted Kennedy? Where were you, Hillary Clinton? Where were you, Harry Reid? Were you out napping? Were you busy picking your noses? Yes, you may be in the minority, but for god's sake, you are Senators. Even minority Senators can filibuster.
But no, instead of standing up for what's good and right, you caved into the fear that the Republicans would say you were being soft on terrorists, or coming to their aid. It just proves something I have always known about every one of you worms: you care more about your position of power than you do about doing the right thing for the right reasons. I am disgusted with every one of you, especially you, Harry Reid!
Every week or so, I get a message from your email list telling me to sign this petition, or contribute to this or that campaign. You talk in these letters like you have the best interests of the common man at heart.
You liar! You Judas! Here you had a chance to practice what you preach, and what did you do? You caved into the Republicans. Like a sycophant, you bent low to lick the heels of the President once again. You talk of courage, and when you had a chance to show it, you cowered!
Now, America has a new and more vibrant target painted on it. It's not bad enough that the Iraq war has rallied the jihadists and given them a reason for being, now the men and women fighting over there are in even more danger from those who would torture them.
Why did you do this? Are you afraid of the Republicans calling you soft on terrorists? Are you afraid you won't get to sit in that nice cushy chair in the Senate because you might not get re-elected? Charade you are!
It would serve you right, Senator Reid, if your constituents sent your ass packing the next time around because you betrayed America.
The same goes for the rest of you dogs! How dare you?
I wrote an article about the courage of the dying. It's obvious to me that no one in congress has it. None of the Republicans who supposedly were fighting DUBYA on this issue had it. None of the Democrats have it either. And now, America will have to pay for this.
I would hope that at least someone in the Senate shows at least a token amount of testicular fortitude with the upcoming get out of jail free card for DUBYA on the wiretapping issue. Of course, I am not even going to fool myself that such will be the case. If you can't find the moral fiber necessary to block obviously treacherous legislation, what makes me think you are going to find it to quell something without the serious sting of allowing institutionalized torture to be the law of the land?
In the words of Benjamin Franklin, "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Yet, here we are, selling our liberties to the highest bidder in the name of safety, and in the process, we have compromised our safety. Here congress is, selling out our country so they can keep their phony baloney jobs.
Shame on every one of you! You are not acting in the interests of your constituents. You are not acting in the best interests of this once great country. You are acting in your own selfish interests. That is not your jobs!
I think that Neil Peart said it all really well in the song A Farewell To Kings from their 1977 album, A Farewell To Kings, "The hypocrites are slandering the sacred halls of truth, ancient nobles showering their bitterness on youth. Can we find the minds that made us strong? Can we learn to feel what's right, and what's wrong?" And further on in the song, "Can we raise our eyes and make a start? Can we find the minds to lead us closer to the heart?"
I would submit, if those minds exist, they don't exist in this congress. I am so tired of being ashamed of my government, but it never ends. We need another American Revolution. This time, let's try to get it right!
Blessed be!
Pappy
