Archive for August, 2005

The more I think about this Pat Robertson situation, the more I realize things aren’t quite right. Now, don’t get me wrong, Pat Robertson is still an idiot, but let’s think about a few things.

Why didn’t he mention about Fidel Castro? After all Cuba is only few breast strokes off the coast of Miami. Is it because everyday Castro gets closer to death, or is it because Castro is really nothing more than a nuisance; after all there are over 9,000 sailors and marines just 700 miles from Havana. Maybe it’s because there is no oil in Cuba. Or how about Kim Jung Il? North Korea has arguably the most oppressive regime on the planet. And talk about national security; they have nuclear weapons for Pete’s sake. Is it because North Korea is so far away? Or maybe it’s because North Korea is really China and Japan’s problem? Either way, it is ironic that no one has talked about “taking these guys out.” No, I am not advocating the murder of anyone; I am just wondering why Robertson singled out Hugo Chavez.

When Saddam Hussein was still in power, I often said the Navy should send in a team of SEALs and put an American flag on his forehead while he was asleep. Somehow just rattle his cage and make him straighten up.

Speaking of Saddam Hussein, that is probably the most questionable aspect of this whole situation. I remember a few years ago, the CIA uncovered an Iraqi plot to kill Bush-41, and President Clinton lobbed a few misguided patriot missiles into Iraq; after that everyone with a microphone started talking about assassinating Saddam. In November 1997, Newsweek published an article entitled “Take Him Down” which included a picture of Saddam Hussein. That same week on ABC’s “This Week,” former Clinton advisor, George Stephanopoulos said, “This is probably one of those rare cases where assassination is the more moral course…we should kill him.” Also during that week, Thomas Friedman published this comment in the New York Times, “Saddam Hussein is the reason God created cruise missiles. …So if and when Saddam pushes beyond the brink, and we get that one good shot, let’s make sure it’s a head shot.” On another episode of ABC’s “The Week,” Sam Donaldson said, “We should kill Saddam,” and Newsweek published yet another article entitled “Why We Should Kill Saddam.”

Why didn’t the media make a big deal about those comments? Why is this such a big deal now? Is it because back then Saddam started it? No! It’s because Pat Robertson said it; that’s why! He is conservative, he’s a Christian, and he’s a Bush supporter.

By now, everyone has heard what Pat Robertson said on Monday, and the media continues to tell how outrageous his comments were. So I thought I would add my two cents; after all, that’s what I do.

For those of you who keep your head in the sand, or for those who could really care less about what goes on in the world of politics, I’ll give you a synopsis of Robertson’s comments. Basically he said that Hugo Chavez, the current leader of Venezuela, is paranoid, is becoming a threat to national security, and is suggesting that the US plans to assassinate him. Robertson said that if the Bush administration has a plan to assassinate him, they should go ahead and do it. [700Club: Pat Robertson]

Now, for the record, what Robertson said about the concerns surrounding Chavez is true. Venezuela is the fourth largest supplier of oil to the US, and Chavez is a Castroesque dictator who has plunged Venezuela into economic and political turmoil. He has no control over his borders, and is very likely to turn that country into a breeding ground for communism and terrorism that is entirely too close to home.

HOWEVER, there are entirely too many problems with what Pat Robertson said. First of all, Robertson is a conservative, and he had to have known that regardless of the context of what he said, his comments would be replayed over and over again. Robertson’s comments have become a moniker for the conservative movement; painting it as warmongering and extremist. Another problem with this whole scenario is just last week Donald Rumsfield finished a Latin American tour to shore up support for antiterrorism efforts, and some have suggested Robertson’s comments were terroristic in nature. Regardless of how you categorize the comments, they were certainly inciting and dangerous. The third and most poignant problem with Robertson’s comments is the Sixth Commandment. Robertson professes to be an Evangelical Christian; he founded the Christian Coalition, the 700 Club, and Christian Bible Network, and Christian World News. Robertson has campaigned for Godly principles in government, business, and all aspects of life for over 40 years, and yet in one broad statement advocating the murder of another person, Robertson painted the whole Christian right as tyrannical, jagged, and intolerant.

Although Pat Robertson has apologized, if that’s what you want to call it, it’s going to take some time to repair the damage that has been done to the Christian witness. This is the proverbial feather pillow syndrome. If you hit someone with a feather pillow, splitting the seam, you can apologize for hitting that person, but all the feathers remain.

After reading, researching, and listening to Michael Moore, Howard Dean, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Richard Dreyfuss, Madonna, and Cindy Sheehan, that poor woman; I have determined that this war is most definitely about oil. What else could it be? Gas in my town is over $2.50 a gallon. Why wouldn’t this war be about oil? I have even read about a secret plan to attack other countries when gas gets to $3.00. We already have troops in Qatar, so we are going to take over there. We have troops in Kuwait, so we are going to take over there, and then we are going to attack Iran. After all, that whole thing about their nuclear program is just another lie by the Bush administration, another lie to cover the attack for OIL. Then after gas reaches $3.50 a gallon, we are going to use the troops we have in Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar to attack Saudi Arabia- that’s right, the mother load of oil. Bush’s secret plan is to control the entire world’s oil supply, making us pay $5.00 a gallon so his buddies at Halliburton can get even wealthier; all while increasing the number of people poor and homeless in America. OIL! It’s all about OIL!

YEAH RIGHT! I just wanted to know what it was like to be a babbling idiot. Why would anyone in their right mind believe such absurdity.

For those who think this war is about oil (and for those who have forgotten), I’ll show you what this war is really about: Danny Pearl, Jack Hensley, Nick Berg. We are in a struggle for our way of life, against an enemy with seventh century savagery using twenty-first century technology; an enemy who does not give a rip if you are Eight or 80; Christian, Jew, or Buddhist; Civilian or Soldier; Male or Female. If you are American, they want to kill you. It gets no more simpler than that!

America was founded so people were free to spew nonsense about oil and Halliburton, conspiracies about the Bush administration and September 11th, or the lack of WMDs, but that same freedom has created jealously around the world. Jealously so hateful, so extreme, and so insidious, they only care about one thing- the total destruction of America.

Why must we all bicker about the truth? We all know the truth- 3000 people died, that’s the truth. We all should focus our efforts on doing those things necessary to protect our homeland, secure our borders, equip our military, and support our troops. We ALL need to do the things to protect our way of life- our America. Forget the candlelight vigil, forget the anti-war rally, forget the conspiracies, forget all those things that incite more hatred and violence. Do those things that spur patriatism and pride; write a thank you to a soldier, send a letter to your Congressman, support the Minutemen, start a neighorhood watch. Become part of America. Our America!

Being born and raised in the south, I eat my share of barbecue, tenderloin, sausage, and bacon, but I am not a big fan of pork. At least not the pork that has defined the Bush administration and it’s cohorts in Congress.

I have said before, I am basically a Bush supporter, but I am beginning to wonder. No, I am not hanging a Clinton in 2008 sign, but I do agree with John McCain, and that worries me- well one issue isn’t too bad. The highway bill, or the highway ROBBERY bill as some pundits are calling it, comes up every six years, and this year’s is, according to McCain, “egregious and remarkable.” [CNN:John McCain]

It’s not the $286.4 billion that the bill spends; it’s the $24 billion in handouts and pet projects. $24 billion of pork! Here are some examples of the “special projects” that you and I are funding: $2.5 million to bury the phone lines in India Point, RI. Do you know anyone in India Point, RI? Neither do I. $1.12 million to install stair lighting, and improve the visitors’ center at the Blue Ridge Music Center; have you been to the Blue Ridge Music Center? Did you know there was a Blue Ridge Music Center? Neither did I. $471,000 for the Edge of Wilderness Discovery Center in Marcell, MN; why not just go to the edge of the wilderness. There is even $100,000 for a city in California to put up a traffic light. Why is that MY responsibility? The bill also includes $230 million for a bridge connecting Gravina Island with the Alaskan mainland. That’s not all that bad, except there are only 50 PEOPLE on Gravina Island. These are federal funds, which means mine, yours, OUR money. [CAGW:Highway Bill]

I don’t know what is worse, the 412-8 vote that passed this bill, or Bush actually calling this “fiscally responsible.” But, then again, what else should I expect from the most fiscally liberal president in American history; Medicare reform, the drug benefit, the ridiculous energy bill, and now this monstrosity; a president who apparently cannot spell V-E-T-O. Reagan, who Bush suggested he emulated, vetoed the highway bill in 1982 with only ten projects; this bill has over 6,000!

Congratulations to the delegation from Arizona- home to three of the eight members of Congress who voted against this bloat.