I find this editorial by the NY Times to be just a bit hypocritical.  I don’t necessarily disagree with what they say, but they’ve been as guilty as most of the American press in giving President Bush carte blance, so to suddenly come out and start poiting fingers is bit too little, too late.  They say the next president will need to right the wrongs done by this one, but will that really happen?  President Bush has created a situation in which the Executive Branch has more power than ever, what president will want to so easily give that up?  This president has set horrible precedents that may take decades to correct, not just 4 or 8 years.

We haven’t heared much from dear Peggy Noonan in some time, which is a wonderful thing, but now she’s out spouting her usual inanities.  How a woman who wrote some of Ronald Reagan’s best speeches can say this type of crap and still be considered an intellectual voice in political opinion is beyond me.  Of course, I guess we should all remember she’s also the person who wrote the speech in which then candidate George H. W. Bush said, “Read my lips:  no new taxes.” 

Stories like this are hard to take.  Our government wastes so much money fighting this unnecessary war yet the families of the wounded are barely acknowledged by this President or his administration.

Well, it had to happen sooner or later.  “America’s mayor,” Rudy Giuliani, has released a campaign ad invoking September 11, 2001, and a few of the survivor families are not happy with it. Of course, other survivor families see no problem with this man using one of the most horrific days in modern American history as a tool to get elected.  It’s sad really.  I don’t care what your political beliefs are, but using that day as a campaign tool is just wrong.  Of course, what else does Mr. Giuliani have to offer voters?  He’s changed his position on a number of issues just so he could be more palatable to the far right, his final years in office were less than spectacular, and he was very unpopular until that horrific day.  I don’t know what’s more sad, Giuliani’s attempt to use September 11 to get elected or the survivor families who see no problem with that.

You know, when I read an article like this, an article that disccusses how the Bush administrations would like to exert control over the promotion process of JAG attorneys, I ask myself why the military is such a great supporter of Republicans.  Since the day President Bush walked into the White House he and his ilk have tried to exert greater and greater control over what are supposed to be independent branches of government.  The president and his ilk dragged us into war in Iraq and look at our military.  Why is there such support for Republicans?  Because Republicans are willing to pad the Defense Department budget?  Why?

Now, the president would like to exert control over the promotion process for JAG attorneys.  The only reason they would ever want to do something like, why any administration would want to do something like that, is to control this group, too silence dissent.  That is just bad for our country and bad for military justice in general.

The Justice Department is attempting to block both Congress and a Federal Judge from conducting an investigation into the allegations the CIA destroyed tapes of intense interrogation techniques.  Is anyone really surprised here.  As usual, the DOJ wants to have their cake and eat it, too.  Considering events of the last 7 year, does anyone really believe this administration’s Justice Department could conduct any investigation of itself?  Moreover, the fact the DOJ is fighting so hard to prevent an open investigation only makes it more suspicious. 

Let me be clear, I think our intelligence agencies should use whatever measures necessary within the law to help prevent another attack on our country.  However, I do not support torture; I do not support rendition.  This makes us no better than the evil sons of bitches we’re fighting.  When we use torture we stoop to the level of terrorists.  We will outlive and eventually defeat the likes of Osama bin Laden by being a beacon of freedom and democracy to the world, not by sending people to countries who have no problem hooking electrodes up to your balls, not by engaging in techniques even hardline Republicans find querstionable.

My only worry with this investigation is CIA agents who were only following orders will become scapegoats.  Congress was briefed on these techniques, they knew what was going on, and their silence was tacit approval.  Now, to come along and call foul isn’t right.  The people who should be held accountable are those who approved these techniques, those who say it’s legal, not the grunts.

It what must be a slap in the face to Hugo Chavez, 51% of voters in Venezuela said no to constitutional changes that would have made him, for all intents and purposes, dictator for life.  Considering the massive ego of this crazy bastard you know it must be pissing him off.  Good for you, people of Venzuela.  Now if you can only hold on to 2013 with this monster will have to leave office; that is, if he actually does leave office.