Comments on: The Washington Post Makes Dictatorial Powers Mundane http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/ Author James Bovard Thu, 17 May 2012 04:11:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-6175 Jim Wed, 25 Oct 2006 03:59:21 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-6175 Adam- Richard III is great reading for times like this. I recently reread a few of Shakespeare's historical plays - it left me confounded how the Brits could keep on curtsying to monarchs for so long. The succession of the crown seemed almost always to be immersed in knavery or blood or both - and yet - once that crown settled - it was God's will for people to grovel. Or so they were told. On the war on terror - I have wondered if the fight against torture & other atrocities may have been lost back in Sept. 2001, when Bush succeeded in labeling the conflict with Al Qaeda as a war of good versus evil. Adam- Richard III is great reading for times like this. I recently reread a few of Shakespeare’s historical plays - it left me confounded how the Brits could keep on curtsying to monarchs for so long. The succession of the crown seemed almost always to be immersed in knavery or blood or both - and yet - once that crown settled - it was God’s will for people to grovel. Or so they were told.

On the war on terror - I have wondered if the fight against torture & other atrocities may have been lost back in Sept. 2001, when Bush succeeded in labeling the conflict with Al Qaeda as a war of good versus evil.

]]> By: Adam S. http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-6155 Adam S. Tue, 24 Oct 2006 21:29:08 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-6155 This is a new low for even Bush's own administration. The only way that I can explain it is from Shakespeare's Richard III, where Richard murders his nephews and says: "Who is so gross/That cannot see this palpable device?/Yet who so bold but says he sees it not?" A man once told me that if the end of the world was to come in a week the Washington Post's headline the next day would be: "END OF THE WORLD IN ONE WEEK MAY EFFECT ELECTION RESULTS" I guess then that "afraid" is the new "normal" Every imposition by Bush seems to be de rigueur.So the lackadaisical response is just another sign of the intellectual ALS of the Post. The whole trouble with the issue is that the War on Terror is an intellectually irrefutable case. Opposing the war means you are automatically a terrorist sympathizer or that you have a guilty conscience to hide. The other fallacy that they employ is the "Precautionary Principle". The lack of evidence is proof of even greater dangers that are escaping notice. Opponents must offer infinite evidence against this risk. But I don't think this can last; an observant Brit pointed out:"This fear, too, will pass and then politicians will have to face the fact that they have no visions, good or bad, to offer us any longer" This is a new low for even Bush’s own administration. The only way that I can explain it is from Shakespeare’s Richard III, where Richard murders his nephews and says: “Who is so gross/That cannot see this palpable device?/Yet who so bold but says he sees it not?”
A man once told me that if the end of the world was to come in a week the Washington Post’s headline the next day would be: “END OF THE WORLD IN ONE WEEK MAY EFFECT ELECTION RESULTS” I guess then that “afraid” is the new “normal” Every imposition by Bush seems to be de rigueur.So the lackadaisical response is just another sign of the intellectual ALS of the Post.
The whole trouble with the issue is that the War on Terror is an intellectually irrefutable case. Opposing the war means you are automatically a terrorist sympathizer or that you have a guilty conscience to hide. The other fallacy that they employ is the “Precautionary Principle”. The lack of evidence is proof of even greater dangers that are escaping notice. Opponents must offer infinite evidence against this risk.
But I don’t think this can last; an observant Brit pointed out:”This fear, too, will pass and then politicians will have to face the fact that they have no visions, good or bad, to offer us any longer”

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-5997 Jim Thu, 19 Oct 2006 20:43:44 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-5997 Charlie - it is surprising the media have not better highlighted the perils in this new law. It is almost enough to make me lose faith in America's journalism schools. Your grandmother's saying is very apt these days. Charlie - it is surprising the media have not better highlighted the perils in this new law.

It is almost enough to make me lose faith in America’s journalism schools.

Your grandmother’s saying is very apt these days.

]]> By: charlie ehlen http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-5990 charlie ehlen Thu, 19 Oct 2006 16:05:28 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-5990 Mr. Bovard, Sir, EXCELLENT article!! As one person has already said, I WISH like hell it would be read by more people. The American sheeple need to wake up and soon, or they will finally awaken to a totalitarian dictatorship. It should not be that much of a surprise though. W. Gump DID say that his job would be easier if it were a dictatorship, as long as he was the dictator. Looks like the lame brained morons we call our Congress have given him his wish. Those of us who took the oath the defend the Constitution against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic may not just sit and watch this happen. Why did we ever join the military, just to see some ass become an American dictator? I doubt many veteran will sit still for this outcome. This former Marine surely will NOT stand nor sit for it. If the NSA, or some other alaphbet soup gang wants to cart me off to some secret prison, well, this disabled old fart is here at home. As W. Gump said, bring 'em on. What a truly sad day for America that a national "news" paper can just report such a crime against America with such utter disregard for the consequences. As my German born grandmother would say "For shame, America, for shame". Mr. Bovard,
Sir, EXCELLENT article!!
As one person has already said, I WISH like hell it would be read by more people. The American sheeple need to wake up and soon, or they will finally awaken to a totalitarian dictatorship.
It should not be that much of a surprise though. W. Gump DID say that his job would be easier if it were a dictatorship, as long as he was the dictator. Looks like the lame brained morons we call our Congress have given him his wish.
Those of us who took the oath the defend the Constitution against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic may not just sit and watch this happen. Why did we ever join the military, just to see some ass become an American dictator? I doubt many veteran will sit still for this outcome. This former Marine surely will NOT stand nor sit for it. If the NSA, or some other alaphbet soup gang wants to cart me off to some secret prison, well, this disabled old fart is here at home.
As W. Gump said, bring ‘em on.
What a truly sad day for America that a national “news” paper can just report such a crime against America with such utter disregard for the consequences.
As my German born grandmother would say “For shame, America, for shame”.

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-5965 Jim Thu, 19 Oct 2006 01:48:46 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-5965 Tom - did you buy the $500 ticket or the $5000 ticket? If the latter, I hope you put the photos online. It is a helluva thing for a state that once rallied around Jefferson and Washington - and a state that provided role models like Lee and Mosby - even in a state with a proud history, there are folks who will bow and scrape to get close a president who epitomizes what the Founding Fathers warned against. Maybe Mencken was right and that Virginia never recovered from 1865. Tom - did you buy the $500 ticket or the $5000 ticket? If the latter, I hope you put the photos online.

It is a helluva thing for a state that once rallied around Jefferson and Washington - and a state that provided role models like Lee and Mosby - even in a state with a proud history, there are folks who will bow and scrape to get close a president who epitomizes what the Founding Fathers warned against.

Maybe Mencken was right and that Virginia never recovered from 1865.

]]> By: Tom Blanton http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-5964 Tom Blanton Thu, 19 Oct 2006 01:44:22 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-5964 Bush is coming here to Richmond tomorrow to raise money for George "Macaca" Allen. Tickets are only $500 - $5,000 for a "photo-op". The idea that elite Republicrat swine will pay five grand to pose with a fascist dictator/Andover cheer leader is beyond my comprehension. When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro, so like a fly is attracted to cow dung, I will scope this thing out from a safe distance and see how many of the pro-torture GOP "freedom" lovers show up to this satanic ritual. The event will be at the Science Museum from 3 to 6. I'm hoping nobody will attend, but sometimes I misunderestimate the madness of crowds. Bush is coming here to Richmond tomorrow to raise money for George “Macaca” Allen. Tickets are only $500 - $5,000 for a “photo-op”.

The idea that elite Republicrat swine will pay five grand to pose with a fascist dictator/Andover cheer leader is beyond my comprehension. When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro, so like a fly is attracted to cow dung, I will scope this thing out from a safe distance and see how many of the pro-torture GOP “freedom” lovers show up to this satanic ritual.

The event will be at the Science Museum from 3 to 6. I’m hoping nobody will attend, but sometimes I misunderestimate the madness of crowds.

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-5963 Jim Thu, 19 Oct 2006 00:53:48 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-5963 George - this is already the standard that book publishers use for the contracts they sign. Yes, it is confounding that so many people roll over for Leviathan. As long as they are promised treats, they keep 'assuming the position' - regardless of whether the treats ever arrive. George - this is already the standard that book publishers use for the contracts they sign.

Yes, it is confounding that so many people roll over for Leviathan. As long as they are promised treats, they keep ‘assuming the position’ - regardless of whether the treats ever arrive.

]]> By: George http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-5953 George Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:38:36 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-5953 After reading your first (I believe it was) article on President Bush's dictatorial use of signing statements in the best political magazine, The American Conservative, it does amaze me how something so blockbuster goes ho-hum with the mainstream media and the public. I forwarded that article to a few people, but no one seemed to care! Either they think it is no big deal or (to give some these individuals credit) they think "What else is new? What can I do about Leviathan, anyhow?" But then again, other issues seemed to get their goats...why not this one? Imagine if a private citizen in the market place used President Bush's use of signing statements (a.k.a. sticky notes, as Charles Goyette calls them) in the signing of a contract. Such thought is absurd. A contract is a contract between individuals who voluntarily agreed to certain (mutually advantageous --- otherwise one or both of the parties would not have agreed) terms. I told Charles next time you have to get your contract renewed (or get a new one from *another* station!), just add a sticky note to it, to get a nice increase in salary and vacation time. Tell them if the President thinks this is the law of the land, he can do it too! ;) (Mr. Bovard, you might want to use this next time you sign a contract concerning a new book... ;) ) After reading your first (I believe it was) article on President Bush’s dictatorial use of signing statements in the best political magazine, The American Conservative, it does amaze me how something so blockbuster goes ho-hum with the mainstream media and the public. I forwarded that article to a few people, but no one seemed to care! Either they think it is no big deal or (to give some these individuals credit) they think “What else is new? What can I do about Leviathan, anyhow?” But then again, other issues seemed to get their goats…why not this one?

Imagine if a private citizen in the market place used President Bush’s use of signing statements (a.k.a. sticky notes, as Charles Goyette calls them) in the signing of a contract. Such thought is absurd.

A contract is a contract between individuals who voluntarily agreed to certain (mutually advantageous — otherwise one or both of the parties would not have agreed) terms. I told Charles next time you have to get your contract renewed (or get a new one from *another* station!), just add a sticky note to it, to get a nice increase in salary and vacation time. Tell them if the President thinks this is the law of the land, he can do it too! ;) (Mr. Bovard, you might want to use this next time you sign a contract concerning a new book… ;) )

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-5951 Jim Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:26:44 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-5951 Sunni - you don't think the Washingotn Post will realize the error of its ways and become constitutionally scrupulous in its future reporting??!!?? Sunni - you don’t think the Washingotn Post will realize the error of its ways and become constitutionally scrupulous in its future reporting??!!??

]]> By: Sunn http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-5950 Sunn Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:05:09 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2006/10/18/the-washington-post-makes-dictatorial-powers-mundane/#comment-5950 Excellent piece, Jim! I wish I could say I think it'll make a difference ... Excellent piece, Jim! I wish I could say I think it’ll make a difference …

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