A nation of laws or men?
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Mike Gaskey wrote:
it is his decision
I agree. Anyone who thinks that the AG is now, or ever has been in the history of the US, operating in political isolation should share whatever it is that they are smoking. The present AG is the same guy who carried water for Clinton by recommending a highly questionable pardon for a Clinton Library donor's husband.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Both democrats and republicans are playing for the same team and it's not us. - Chris Austin
Oakman wrote:
I agree. Anyone who thinks that the AG is now, or ever has been in the history of the US, operating in political isolation should share whatever it is that they are smoking.
Of course they don't operate in political isolation. They are, however, obliged to act independently and, over the years, have fulfilled this requirement to varying degrees. As Greenwald points out, Nixon Attorney General Eliot Richardson resigned rather than follow Nixon's orders. Even a bed-ridden John Ashcroft showed some independence on one occasion.
Oakman wrote:
The present AG is the same guy who carried water for Clinton by recommending a highly questionable pardon for a Clinton Library donor's husband.
Let's hope he has matured.
John Carson
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Oakman wrote:
I agree. Anyone who thinks that the AG is now, or ever has been in the history of the US, operating in political isolation should share whatever it is that they are smoking.
Of course they don't operate in political isolation. They are, however, obliged to act independently and, over the years, have fulfilled this requirement to varying degrees. As Greenwald points out, Nixon Attorney General Eliot Richardson resigned rather than follow Nixon's orders. Even a bed-ridden John Ashcroft showed some independence on one occasion.
Oakman wrote:
The present AG is the same guy who carried water for Clinton by recommending a highly questionable pardon for a Clinton Library donor's husband.
Let's hope he has matured.
John Carson
John Carson wrote:
As Greenwald points out, Nixon Attorney General Eliot Richardson resigned rather than follow Nixon's orders
To defy Nixon at that point in time took neither courage, nor a desire for independence. Instead it showed a fine appreciation for the political realities and a determination to join the rats leaving the sinking ship.
John Carson wrote:
Even a bed-ridden John Ashcroft showed some independence on one occasion.
Which is probably why he was encouraged to resign so that he could be replaced by a ventriloquist's dummy.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Both democrats and republicans are playing for the same team and it's not us. - Chris Austin
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Hey, I just hope that after they are finished with president Bush, they go after Adams, Lincoln, Wilson, Roosevelt, Kennedy and airbrush them all out of American history. Nation of laws indeed. Heck, since Lincoln obviously broke the law to win the American Civil War, I want my family's slaves back with full restitution for all lost revenue for being denied their use for over a century and a half. Now that would be proof of a nation of laws and not of men!!!!
Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.
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John Carson wrote:
As Greenwald points out, Nixon Attorney General Eliot Richardson resigned rather than follow Nixon's orders
To defy Nixon at that point in time took neither courage, nor a desire for independence. Instead it showed a fine appreciation for the political realities and a determination to join the rats leaving the sinking ship.
John Carson wrote:
Even a bed-ridden John Ashcroft showed some independence on one occasion.
Which is probably why he was encouraged to resign so that he could be replaced by a ventriloquist's dummy.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Both democrats and republicans are playing for the same team and it's not us. - Chris Austin
Oakman wrote:
To defy Nixon at that point in time took neither courage, nor a desire for independence.
Actually, it took both, which is why others didn't take the same course.
Oakman wrote:
Which is probably why he was encouraged to resign so that he could be replaced by a ventriloquist's dummy.
Presidents rarely regard independent Attorney Generals with unqualified delight. The temptation to appoint a "ventriloquist's dummy" is always present.
John Carson
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Oakman wrote:
To defy Nixon at that point in time took neither courage, nor a desire for independence.
Actually, it took both, which is why others didn't take the same course.
Oakman wrote:
Which is probably why he was encouraged to resign so that he could be replaced by a ventriloquist's dummy.
Presidents rarely regard independent Attorney Generals with unqualified delight. The temptation to appoint a "ventriloquist's dummy" is always present.
John Carson
John Carson wrote:
Actually, it took both, which is why others didn't take the same course.
Had Richardson believed that his position was independent of the Presidency, or that he had a legal leg to stand on, he would have refused the order and stayed in office, forcing Nixon to fire him. That would have showed him to have the courage of his convictions. By resigning, he implictly recognized the legality of Nixon's order to fire the special prosecutor. Others did take the same course. Ruckelshaus imitated his ex-boss to a "T."
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Both democrats and republicans are playing for the same team and it's not us. - Chris Austin
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Hey, I just hope that after they are finished with president Bush, they go after Adams, Lincoln, Wilson, Roosevelt, Kennedy and airbrush them all out of American history. Nation of laws indeed. Heck, since Lincoln obviously broke the law to win the American Civil War, I want my family's slaves back with full restitution for all lost revenue for being denied their use for over a century and a half. Now that would be proof of a nation of laws and not of men!!!!
Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.
Stan Shannon wrote:
I want my family's slaves back
Why don't you just head over to Indianapolis and pick out a half-dozen young bucks and tell 'em you're their new master; they should climb into the back of your truck.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Both democrats and republicans are playing for the same team and it's not us. - Chris Austin
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Stan Shannon wrote:
I want my family's slaves back
Why don't you just head over to Indianapolis and pick out a half-dozen young bucks and tell 'em you're their new master; they should climb into the back of your truck.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Both democrats and republicans are playing for the same team and it's not us. - Chris Austin
Oakman wrote:
Why don't you just head over to Indianapolis and pick out a half-dozen young bucks and tell 'em you're their new master; they should climb into the back of your truck.
Well, obviously picking them out at random would not be sufficient, there would have to be a Y chromosome check and all...
Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.
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John Carson wrote:
Actually, it took both, which is why others didn't take the same course.
Had Richardson believed that his position was independent of the Presidency, or that he had a legal leg to stand on, he would have refused the order and stayed in office, forcing Nixon to fire him. That would have showed him to have the courage of his convictions. By resigning, he implictly recognized the legality of Nixon's order to fire the special prosecutor. Others did take the same course. Ruckelshaus imitated his ex-boss to a "T."
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Both democrats and republicans are playing for the same team and it's not us. - Chris Austin
Oakman wrote:
Had Richardson believed that his position was independent of the Presidency, or that he had a legal leg to stand on, he would have refused the order and stayed in office, forcing Nixon to fire him. That would have showed him to have the courage of his convictions. By resigning, he implictly recognized the legality of Nixon's order to fire the special prosecutor.
Nonsense. He did no such thing. He could have played it tougher, but resignation is a standard form of protest against illegality.
Oakman wrote:
Others did take the same course. Ruckelshaus imitated his ex-boss to a "T."
And Bork too the opposite course.
John Carson
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Stan Shannon wrote:
I want my family's slaves back
Why don't you just head over to Indianapolis and pick out a half-dozen young bucks and tell 'em you're their new master; they should climb into the back of your truck.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Both democrats and republicans are playing for the same team and it's not us. - Chris Austin
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Oakman wrote:
Had Richardson believed that his position was independent of the Presidency, or that he had a legal leg to stand on, he would have refused the order and stayed in office, forcing Nixon to fire him. That would have showed him to have the courage of his convictions. By resigning, he implictly recognized the legality of Nixon's order to fire the special prosecutor.
Nonsense. He did no such thing. He could have played it tougher, but resignation is a standard form of protest against illegality.
Oakman wrote:
Others did take the same course. Ruckelshaus imitated his ex-boss to a "T."
And Bork too the opposite course.
John Carson
John Carson wrote:
but resignation is a standard form of protest against illegality.
Really? I did not know that. Is it written down somewhere? But did anyone tell all the governmental and corporate whistle-blowers who fought to keep or regain their jobs?
John Carson wrote:
And Bork too the opposite course
Which took great courage.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Both democrats and republicans are playing for the same team and it's not us. - Chris Austin
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kmg365 wrote:
Out in front of the 7-11 early in the morning?
Oh yeah. With a bullwhip and a straw hat, wearing a jacket with the Stars and Bars on the back.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Both democrats and republicans are playing for the same team and it's not us. - Chris Austin
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John Carson wrote:
but resignation is a standard form of protest against illegality.
Really? I did not know that. Is it written down somewhere? But did anyone tell all the governmental and corporate whistle-blowers who fought to keep or regain their jobs?
John Carson wrote:
And Bork too the opposite course
Which took great courage.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Both democrats and republicans are playing for the same team and it's not us. - Chris Austin
Oakman wrote:
Really? I did not know that.
More insincerity.
Oakman wrote:
But did anyone tell all the governmental and corporate whistle-blowers who fought to keep or regain their jobs?
"a standard form of protest" is not synonymous with "the mandatory form of protest".
John Carson
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Oakman wrote:
Really? I did not know that.
More insincerity.
Oakman wrote:
But did anyone tell all the governmental and corporate whistle-blowers who fought to keep or regain their jobs?
"a standard form of protest" is not synonymous with "the mandatory form of protest".
John Carson
John Carson wrote:
More insincerity.
Nope, irony. Sometimes I can't help myself.
John Carson wrote:
a standard form of protest" is not synonymous with "the mandatory form of protest".
But aren't you concerned that the majority of whistleblowers aren't living up to your standards?
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Both democrats and republicans are playing for the same team and it's not us. - Chris Austin
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kmg365 wrote:
Out in front of the 7-11 early in the morning?
Oh yeah. With a bullwhip and a straw hat, wearing a jacket with the Stars and Bars on the back.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Both democrats and republicans are playing for the same team and it's not us. - Chris Austin
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John Carson wrote:
More insincerity.
Nope, irony. Sometimes I can't help myself.
John Carson wrote:
a standard form of protest" is not synonymous with "the mandatory form of protest".
But aren't you concerned that the majority of whistleblowers aren't living up to your standards?
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Both democrats and republicans are playing for the same team and it's not us. - Chris Austin
Oakman wrote:
But aren't you concerned that the majority of whistleblowers aren't living up to your standards?
Neither is "a standard form of protest" synonymous with "the best form of protest".
John Carson
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kmg365 wrote:
Out in front of the 7-11 early in the morning?
Oh yeah. With a bullwhip and a straw hat, wearing a jacket with the Stars and Bars on the back.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Both democrats and republicans are playing for the same team and it's not us. - Chris Austin
The laws the law, dude. Thats all that matters. I learned that from you,oily, and Carson.
Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.
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The laws the law, dude. Thats all that matters. I learned that from you,oily, and Carson.
Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.
Stan Shannon wrote:
I learned that from you
You have learned little if anything in all the time I have been reading your posts, not even how to spell. It would appear to me that you have a commitment to ignoring any truth, no matter how well proved, if it would suggest that your paranoid view of society would be brought into question.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Both democrats and republicans are playing for the same team and it's not us. - Chris Austin
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Stan Shannon wrote:
I learned that from you
You have learned little if anything in all the time I have been reading your posts, not even how to spell. It would appear to me that you have a commitment to ignoring any truth, no matter how well proved, if it would suggest that your paranoid view of society would be brought into question.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Both democrats and republicans are playing for the same team and it's not us. - Chris Austin
Oakman wrote:
You have learned little if anything in all the time I have been reading your posts, not even how to spell. It would appear to me that you have a commitment to ignoring any truth, no matter how well proved, if it would suggest that your paranoid view of society would be brought into question.
Just like oily said, Jon. Every point I just made was absolutely valid. You simply have no intellectual response so you come back spewing something about my paranoia. I'm pretty sure the mensa folks would be greatly disappointed in their star member. If we maintained a greater commitment to the law than to men, my family would probably still own slaves. It was a perfectly legal, constitutionally sanctioned institution. Lincoln did the things necessary to change that. I support his leadership in doing what was necessary to resolve that, just as I support Bush's leadership to deal with terrorism. We live in an imperfect world which simply does not suffer absolutes.
Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.