Why is this in Insurance Journal? By the time Obama gets done there won’t be an insurance industry for IJ to write about. This is regurgutation of the same garbage we’ve been hearing for the past 7 years.
“It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth-and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts.” Patrick Henry
I disagree as to What?’s opinion as to the new President as I voted for him but I also agree as to this not being something that belongs in the Insurance Journal.
tackling a growing economic crisis by making your first presidential action spending $50 million dollars on security so you can parade yourself in front of a cheering crowd of millions
Why is this in IJ?? Especially given how wrong it is. This guy is so far in tht he can see what Obama just had for lunch. It’s not even worth responding each silly point in this hit piece. But what does this have to do with insurance?
I am glad that we have a new president. Bush’s shoulders were so full from carrying the responsibility for the weather, our economy and the fact that terrorists hate us. We need somebody new to blame!
2nd hand morality lectures from the rest of the world is both offensive and intellectually bankrupt. In the same time span as the U.S., ALL of the places & peoples cited have visited upon their own people and/or the rest of the world a level of oppression & brutality that exceeds anything they can indict us for.
Historically, the rest of the world offers tepid support at best unless their own butts are on the line. If we have had to take on the lion’s share of the war on terror, it is because the others are cutting backroom deals, or are happy for us to take the heat.
One last question before this turns into a book; If Pres Obama continues a principle, procedure, or doctrine maintained by former Pres Bush, does that mean Bush was right or is Obama now wrong too?
“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”
– Abraham Lincoln
Last Sunday President-elect Barack Obama was asked whether he would seek an investigation of possible crimes by the Bush administration. “I don’t believe that anybody is above the law,” he responded, but “we need to look forward as opposed to looking backwards.”
I’m sorry, but if we don’t have an inquest into what happened during the Bush years — and nearly everyone has taken Mr. Obama’s remarks to mean that we won’t — this means that those who hold power are indeed above the law because they don’t face any consequences if they abuse their power.
Let’s be clear what we’re talking about here. It’s not just torture and illegal wiretapping, whose perpetrators claim, however implausibly, that they were patriots acting to defend the nation’s security. The fact is that the Bush administration’s abuses extended from environmental policy to voting rights. And most of the abuses involved using the power of government to reward political friends and punish political enemies.
At the Justice Department, for example, political appointees illegally reserved nonpolitical positions for “right-thinking Americans” — their term, not mine — and there’s strong evidence that officials used their positions both to undermine the protection of minority voting rights and to persecute Democratic politicians.
The hiring process at Justice echoed the hiring process during the occupation of Iraq — an occupation whose success was supposedly essential to national security — in which applicants were judged by their politics, their personal loyalty to President Bush and, according to some reports, by their views on Roe v. Wade, rather than by their ability to do the job.
Speaking of Iraq, let’s also not forget that country’s failed reconstruction: the Bush administration handed billions of dollars in no-bid contracts to politically connected companies, companies that then failed to deliver. And why should they have bothered to do their jobs? Any government official who tried to enforce accountability on, say, Halliburton quickly found his or her career derailed.
There’s much, much more. By my count, at least six important government agencies experienced major scandals over the past eight years — in most cases, scandals that were never properly investigated. And then there was the biggest scandal of all: Does anyone seriously doubt that the Bush administration deliberately misled the nation into invading Iraq?
Why, then, shouldn’t we have an official inquiry into abuses during the Bush years?
One answer you hear is that pursuing the truth would be divisive, that it would exacerbate partisanship. But if partisanship is so terrible, shouldn’t there be some penalty for the Bush administration’s politicization of every aspect of government?
Alternatively, we’re told that we don’t have to dwell on past abuses, because we won’t repeat them. But no important figure in the Bush administration, or among that administration’s political allies, has expressed remorse for breaking the law. What makes anyone think that they or their political heirs won’t do it all over again, given the chance?
In fact, we’ve already seen this movie. During the Reagan years, the Iran-contra conspirators violated the Constitution in the name of national security. But the first President Bush pardoned the major malefactors, and when the White House finally changed hands the political and media establishment gave Bill Clinton the same advice it’s giving Mr. Obama: let sleeping scandals lie. Sure enough, the second Bush administration picked up right where the Iran-contra conspirators left off — which isn’t too surprising when you bear in mind that Mr. Bush actually hired some of those conspirators.
Now, it’s true that a serious investigation of Bush-era abuses would make Washington an uncomfortable place, both for those who abused power and those who acted as their enablers or apologists. And these people have a lot of friends. But the price of protecting their comfort would be high: If we whitewash the abuses of the past eight years, we’ll guarantee that they will happen again.
Meanwhile, about Mr. Obama: while it’s probably in his short-term political interests to forgive and forget, next week he’s going to swear to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” That’s not a conditional oath to be honored only when it’s convenient.
And to protect and defend the Constitution, a president must do more than obey the Constitution himself; he must hold those who violate the Constitution accountable. So Mr. Obama should reconsider his apparent decision to let the previous administration get away with crime. Consequences aside, that’s not a decision he has the right to make
Let’s all hope Senators Kennedy and Byrd are ok after they left the Obamanation Celebration today on stretchers.
Concerning the two sick ones in the Senate.
You know that they will blame theses two getting sick on President Bush and Vice President Cheney. OOPS! They are no longer available to blame. They likely already blamed the “OAF” of Office gaffe on Bush. They can blame Obama screwing up the Oath of Office on Cheney. Everybody watch Dave Letterman tonight to see him lampoon Obama with his famous “Great Moments in Presidential Speeches” skit. Letterman will never insult the messiah.
How’s the stock market doing today?
You must have mistyped something in your web browser. This is the Insurance Journal, not the Daily Kos. Please take your fairy-tale rants there. Creatures that foam at the mouth are not welcome here – insurance risk, you know.
If the basis of that bet is: # of American Citizens killed by Jihadist Te**orists after 9/11; I’ll take that bet.
And again, the question: If President Obama continues a policy / procedure / doctrine maintained by former President Bush; was Bush right or is Obama now wrong also?
“A time when blacks are not in the back, when brown can stick around, when yellow is mellow, when the red man can get ahead man, when white does what is right.”
Sounds like you white folks are to be blamed for all the problems. Did anyone else hear this B.S. during the Obamanation festivities? If we can’t blame Bush we can blame whitey for the next 4 years for everything.
Be honest: After 9/11, didn’t you think that we’d be attacked again? We haven’t been, though…could it be because we ARE taking “extreme” measures and ARE afraid of the widdle terrorists?
Maybe you’ve forgotten: over 3,000 innocent civilians DIED on 9/11. I personally knew someone that didn’t make it out of one of the towers. I realize it was a long time ago and you were probably still in elementary school, but it happened.
We can only pray that it never happens again, and that President Obama does everything in his power to make sure of it. If Bush did nothing else right, at least he kept us safe.
… and still no answer to the question;
If President Obama continues a policy / procedure / doctrine maintained by former President Bush; was Bush right or is Obama now wrong also?
These are the people who inspired the joke; If George Bush wrote a $10,000 check to the Democrat Party, they’d criticise his handwriting!
YESTERDAY WAS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR’S BIRTHDAY. TODAY IS THE DAY BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA TOOK OVER THE PRESIDENCY. IN CELEBRATION WE COULD RENAME ALL THE ROADS THAT ALREADY ARE CALLED MLK OR MARTIN LUTHER BLVD TO ALSO MENTION OUR NEW PRESIDENT. IF YOU TAKE MLK’S LAST NAME AND OBAMA’S LAST NAME YOU GET KING OBAMA. WE NEED TO INCLUDE EVERYTHING FROM INTERSTATES TO GRAVEL ROADS. SO INSTEAD OF CALLING THEM KING OBAMA BLVD WHICH SOUNDS STUPID FOR SIDE STREETS LET’S CALL ON THE NEW ROADS THE FOLLOWING;
KING OBAMA’S WAY
Thank you for the article, I enjoyed it, which can not be said about many “Insurance Articles.” Many of the replies to this article sound like ANGRY BOYS that did not get their way. I try my best to be an informed agent, to help my insureds and to be an asset to my employer. Reading these replies have waisted my time and not benefited my knowledge.
Hey Working Agent, you must be a product of our great liberal minded education system as you have not learned how to spell yet. Glad you are not my agent.
If President Obama continues a policy / procedure / doctrine maintained by former President Bush; was Bush right or is Obama now wrong also?
_________________________
My answer: Who cares? Obama is not going to continue Guantanamo Bay, will not continue torture, and will not continue the attack on Iraq.
Hopefully he can re-write the patriot act as well.
Did you know congress was not even given an opportunity to read the patriot act?
Have any of YOU READ THE PATRIOT ACT? I thought not.
Did you know that just after 911 we found one of the passports of one of the hijackers in the rubble? Imagine that, just slipped out of his pocket while he was in a burning plane and it was found the next day.
Did you know, that Mexico is wide open to middle eastern terrorists? Did you know that the USA is wide open to Mexico?
Did you know that no terrorist has ever come to the US through the open Mexican border even though thousands of illegal imigrants with the same coulor skin pass through undetected each year to help with our food supply? No rogue terrorist from Iraq or Iran, no suicide bombers, no nothing.
George Bush didnt stop them either. The border is wide open, they could come in and blow them selves up in Walmart tomorrow if they wanted.
But they just dont ever even try it. They are sucide bombers, and if they have sleeper cells and are truely highly organized then what do they fear? They could slip in easily!
If you were a suicide bomber, would you go to Iraq to fight the strongest most technologically advanced army in the world?
Or would you slip into the US through Mexico and blow your self up in line at Walmart the day after Thanksgiving with 1,000 other people?
Which would have a larger effect?
Hmmm…….
So thats why Im not afraid. And thats why I dont think Bush did anything to help me.
And the rest of the World agrees with me.
Through out the whole world of 6.7 billion people, only a select 50 million or so affluent white people or religious zealots support the policies of Bush/McCain/Palin.
Sorry WA, but you can’t blame Dyslexia for just stupid spelling mistakes. Typical liberal, always trying to blame someone or something else instead of taking personal responsibility. Try re-reading your original post and see if you can even find your mistakes. No shame felt on my end for coming down on people who refuse to accept personal responsibility.
At least 200 passengers have been convicted of felonies under the Patriot Act, often for behavior involving raised voices and profanity. Some experts say airlines are misusing the law.
I am 100% AGAINST any bailouts. The only thing the bailout does is increase our debt to China and it is another way for our stupid senators and congressmen to give away our money to their cronies. Did you know that the new $850 stimulus package that they say needs to be done right now to help the economy will only spend about 40 billion of that in 2009 while the most will be spent in 2011 & 2012, when Obama is running for re-election. So much for them telling us we have to have the money right away.
So now Obama can get to work pulling us out of Iraq (which will then be taken over by Iran), closing Gitmo (thereby returning terrorists back to the battlefield, where maybe at least maybe we’ll get to kill instead of recapture them), and spending our way out of this economic mess.
I do wish him the best, though. To root against him is to root against America, and I’m not about to do that. At times like this, we need to support the President (which is more than we ever did for Bush).
Sorry Ralph, that is a wimpy cop out. I do not want him to succeed in any of his socialistic ideas. I don’t want universal health care like Canada or the UK. I don’t want my taxes increased so lazy imcompetent people don’t have to work. I don’t want our military gutted and I don’t want another 20 million illegal immigrants in my country. I do want him to protect our nation, cut the deficit and help steer the economy in a better direction that will benefit everybody.
His first mistake was to not have the oath of office on a teleprompter like the rest of his speeches. This after that dumb broad called it the oaf of office. This guy is a hell of a lot dumber than Bush. We are ao screwed because not only is he dumb he is also far left whacko.
In an attempt to deliver on pledges of a transparent government, Obama said he would change the way the federal government interprets the Freedom of Information Act. He said he was directing agencies that vet requests for information to err on the side of making information public _ not to look for reasons to legally withhold it _ an alteration to the traditional standard of evaluation.
Just because a government agency has the legal power to keep information private does not mean that it should, Obama said. Reporters and public-interest groups often make use of the law to explore how and why government decisions were made; they are often stymied as agencies claim legal exemptions to the law.
“For a long time now, there’s been too much secrecy in this city,” Obama said.
He said the orders he was issuing Wednesday will not “make government as honest and transparent as it needs to be” nor go as far as he would like.
“But these historic measures do mark the beginning of a new era of openness in our country,” Obama said. “And I will, I hope, do something to make government trustworthy in the eyes of the American people, in the days and weeks, months and years to come.”
Are they guilty of terrorism? Charge them then. Let them start serving their sentences.
Right now a lot of people are in there with no charges against them, or in reality they are being held illegally.
Its unfortunate. Based on the patriot act they could even send American citizens there for making terroristic threats against the govt. You know, just like China and Russia. No lawyer, no charges…just lock them up.
But I know you guys dont like to read, so nevermind.
The Marines, Airmen, Soldiers, and Sailors that built Club Gitmo for captured war criminals that included suicide bombers, airplane hijackers, mass murderers, had it much worse than the criminals they detained and protected at Club Gitmo. Last time I looked the Radical Muslim Terrorists the Libs feel so sorry go and want to relocate to the mainland U.S.A. qualify as war criminals more than Bush/Cheney or Obama/Biden. Why do some people that live in an attacked country like the U.S.A. worry more about the slime that attacked us than the survivors of the dead murdered in NY, PA, and DC?
Did you know, that Mexico is wide open to middle eastern terrorists? Did you know that the USA is wide open to Mexico?
Did you know that no terrorist has ever come to the US through the open Mexican border even though thousands of illegal imigrants with the same coulor skin pass through undetected each year to help with our food supply? No rogue terrorist from Iraq or Iran, no suicide bombers, no nothing.
George Bush didnt stop them either. The border is wide open, they could come in and blow them selves up in Walmart tomorrow if they wanted.
But they just dont ever even try it. They are sucide bombers, and if they have sleeper cells and are truely highly organized then what do they fear? They could slip in easily!
If you were a suicide bomber, would you go to Iraq to fight the strongest most technologically advanced army in the world?
Or would you slip into the US through Mexico and blow your self up in line at Walmart the day after Thanksgiving with 1,000 other people?
Which would have a larger effect?
Hmmm…….
So thats why Im not afraid. And thats why I dont think Bush did anything to help me.
And the rest of the World agrees with me.
Through out the whole world of 6.7 billion people, only a select 50 million or so affluent white people or religious zealots support the policies of Bush/McCain/Palin.
We’re not sure what universe the judge has been inhabiting, but when she wrote that she expects that executive branch leaders “will, in good faith, comply with the representations that their officials have made,” it’s clear that it’s not the same one former Vice President Dick Cheney has occupied for the past eight years.
Indeed, U. S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly went so far as to acknowledge the “constantly shifting arguments” made by the Justice Department in Cheney’s behalf. Despite that, and Cheney’s own history of evading accountability, she left the former vice president broad discretion to determine which official documents he is legally required to provide to the National Archives and which he can keep or destroy, according to his own interpretation of the law.
I thought he was going to pay my car note, my house note, fill my car with gas, and his new government would mail everybody a carton of smokes and a case of beer every week. Have not seen anything he promised.
Ah,my little Obama fan, you make too many assumptions. First, I am not a racist and second I am not a man.
As for the “ghey” comment, what? Are you homophobic? I’ll be sure to foward the balls to you once I receive them so you can glue them onto your chia pet.
c/mon balls, you should know the drill. Anytime someone critisizes Dear Leader, they are going to throw out the race card. Get used to it over the next 4 years.
How about this one from International Herald Tribune. (FYI owned by NYT)
“The emergence of a former Guantánamo Bay detainee as the deputy leader of Al Qaeda’s Yemeni branch has underscored the potential complications in carrying out the executive order that President Barack Obama signed that the detention center be shut down within a year.
The militant, Said Ali al-Shihri, is suspected of involvement in a deadly bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Yemen’s capital, Sana, in September. He was released to Saudi Arabia in 2007 and passed through a Saudi rehabilitation program for former jihadists before resurfacing with Al Qaeda in Yemen.
U.S. officials say they suspect that Shihri may have been involved in the double car bombings outside the U.S. Embassy in Sana on Sept. 16 that killed 16 people, including six of the attackers.”
Again, Matt, would you like to take him (them)? Ten innocent lives lost because he was released.
Matt, I only ask you questions so others can see the absurdity of your posts. In no way do I ever expect you to answer with logic or intelligence, only name calling and “Bush’s fault”. I never respond to your absurd answers or questions, but this time I will make an exception. The terrorist attack happened in Yemeni outside a US Embassy, not Iraq. To the others watching, “Don’t get into a battle of wits with an unarmed man.”
Vlad, tell me then, what do I have to be worried about living in the US? – and why is virtually the whole world against the war in Iraq?
Did you know, that Mexico is wide open to middle eastern terrorists? Did you know that the USA is wide open to Mexico?
Did you know that no terrorist has ever come to the US through the open Mexican border even though thousands of illegal imigrants with the same coulor skin pass through undetected each year to help with our food supply? No rogue terrorist from Iraq or Iran, no suicide bombers, no nothing.
George Bush didnt stop them either. The border is wide open, they could come in and blow them selves up in Walmart tomorrow if they wanted.
But they just dont ever even try it. They are sucide bombers, and if they have sleeper cells and are truely highly organized then what do they fear? They could slip in easily!
If you were a suicide bomber, would you go to Iraq to fight the strongest most technologically advanced army in the world?
Or would you slip into the US through Mexico and blow your self up in line at Walmart the day after Thanksgiving with 1,000 other people?
Which would have a larger effect?
Hmmm…….
So thats why Im not afraid. And thats why I dont think Bush did anything to help me.
And the rest of the World agrees with me.
Through out the whole world of 6.7 billion people, only a select 50 million or so affluent white people or religious zealots support the policies of Bush/McCain/Palin.
Matt,
You said, “Did you know that no terrorist has ever come to the US through the open Mexican border even though thousands of illegal imigrants with the same coulor skin pass through undetected each year to help with our food supply? No rogue terrorist from Iraq or Iran, no suicide bombers, no nothing.”
You need to go to the Texas/Mexico border and you will hear a different story than what you are spewing. Talk to federal or state law enforcement one on one or to some of the area ranchers. Matt,
just because you spew it does not make it true.
Matt,
Here is another good talking point you need to use on those Republicans.
“The war in Iraq is illegal because the Iraqis never attacked us like the Nazis did at Pearl Harbor.”
Watch some stupid Republican try to tell you the Nazis didn’t attack Pearl Harbor.
All praise the Osamba!
Interesting Statistics
Professor Joseph Olson of Hemline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, points out facts of 2008 Presidential election:
Number of States won by:
Democrats: 19
Republicans: 29
Square miles of land won by:
Democrats: 580,000
Republicans: 2,427,000
Population of counties won by:
Democrats: 127 million
Republicans: 143 million
Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by:
Democrats: 13.2
Republicans: 2.1
Professor Olson adds:
“In aggregate, the map of the territory Republican won by Republicans was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of the country.
Democrat territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government welfare.
Professor Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the “complacency and apathy” phase of Professor Tyler’s definition of democracy, with some forty percent of the nation’s population already having reached the “governmental dependency” phase.
If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal invaders called illegal’s and they vote, then we can say goodbye to the USA in fewer than five years knowing that apathy is the greatest danger to our freedom.
Matt,
So the ones that die of dehydration or get caught don’t mean a thing do they? Of course even when those darn terrorists fly airplanes into building it is really the Republicans faking it on a sound stage like ol tricky Dick did the 1969 lunar landing. Bubba sometimes you just have to wonder if some folks are sitting on a douche bag and adjusting their tin foil hat don’t you? Good luck Matt in whatever you do. You better go make sure Bush & Cheney are not planning anything with the levees.
Why is this in Insurance Journal? By the time Obama gets done there won’t be an insurance industry for IJ to write about. This is regurgutation of the same garbage we’ve been hearing for the past 7 years.
“It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth-and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts.” Patrick Henry
“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”
– Abraham Lincoln
I disagree as to What?’s opinion as to the new President as I voted for him but I also agree as to this not being something that belongs in the Insurance Journal.
“I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit” – Compman
“Change” as defined by the Obama dictionary:
tackling a growing economic crisis by making your first presidential action spending $50 million dollars on security so you can parade yourself in front of a cheering crowd of millions
Why is this in IJ?? Especially given how wrong it is. This guy is so far in tht he can see what Obama just had for lunch. It’s not even worth responding each silly point in this hit piece. But what does this have to do with insurance?
I agree, what does this have to do with INSURANCE?? Not to mention wasting subscribers time reading useless information.
I am glad that we have a new president. Bush’s shoulders were so full from carrying the responsibility for the weather, our economy and the fact that terrorists hate us. We need somebody new to blame!
2nd hand morality lectures from the rest of the world is both offensive and intellectually bankrupt. In the same time span as the U.S., ALL of the places & peoples cited have visited upon their own people and/or the rest of the world a level of oppression & brutality that exceeds anything they can indict us for.
Historically, the rest of the world offers tepid support at best unless their own butts are on the line. If we have had to take on the lion’s share of the war on terror, it is because the others are cutting backroom deals, or are happy for us to take the heat.
One last question before this turns into a book; If Pres Obama continues a principle, procedure, or doctrine maintained by former Pres Bush, does that mean Bush was right or is Obama now wrong too?
I think we might have to get used to the taste for a little while.
“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”
– Abraham Lincoln
Last Sunday President-elect Barack Obama was asked whether he would seek an investigation of possible crimes by the Bush administration. “I don’t believe that anybody is above the law,” he responded, but “we need to look forward as opposed to looking backwards.”
I’m sorry, but if we don’t have an inquest into what happened during the Bush years — and nearly everyone has taken Mr. Obama’s remarks to mean that we won’t — this means that those who hold power are indeed above the law because they don’t face any consequences if they abuse their power.
Let’s be clear what we’re talking about here. It’s not just torture and illegal wiretapping, whose perpetrators claim, however implausibly, that they were patriots acting to defend the nation’s security. The fact is that the Bush administration’s abuses extended from environmental policy to voting rights. And most of the abuses involved using the power of government to reward political friends and punish political enemies.
At the Justice Department, for example, political appointees illegally reserved nonpolitical positions for “right-thinking Americans” — their term, not mine — and there’s strong evidence that officials used their positions both to undermine the protection of minority voting rights and to persecute Democratic politicians.
The hiring process at Justice echoed the hiring process during the occupation of Iraq — an occupation whose success was supposedly essential to national security — in which applicants were judged by their politics, their personal loyalty to President Bush and, according to some reports, by their views on Roe v. Wade, rather than by their ability to do the job.
Speaking of Iraq, let’s also not forget that country’s failed reconstruction: the Bush administration handed billions of dollars in no-bid contracts to politically connected companies, companies that then failed to deliver. And why should they have bothered to do their jobs? Any government official who tried to enforce accountability on, say, Halliburton quickly found his or her career derailed.
There’s much, much more. By my count, at least six important government agencies experienced major scandals over the past eight years — in most cases, scandals that were never properly investigated. And then there was the biggest scandal of all: Does anyone seriously doubt that the Bush administration deliberately misled the nation into invading Iraq?
Why, then, shouldn’t we have an official inquiry into abuses during the Bush years?
One answer you hear is that pursuing the truth would be divisive, that it would exacerbate partisanship. But if partisanship is so terrible, shouldn’t there be some penalty for the Bush administration’s politicization of every aspect of government?
Alternatively, we’re told that we don’t have to dwell on past abuses, because we won’t repeat them. But no important figure in the Bush administration, or among that administration’s political allies, has expressed remorse for breaking the law. What makes anyone think that they or their political heirs won’t do it all over again, given the chance?
In fact, we’ve already seen this movie. During the Reagan years, the Iran-contra conspirators violated the Constitution in the name of national security. But the first President Bush pardoned the major malefactors, and when the White House finally changed hands the political and media establishment gave Bill Clinton the same advice it’s giving Mr. Obama: let sleeping scandals lie. Sure enough, the second Bush administration picked up right where the Iran-contra conspirators left off — which isn’t too surprising when you bear in mind that Mr. Bush actually hired some of those conspirators.
Now, it’s true that a serious investigation of Bush-era abuses would make Washington an uncomfortable place, both for those who abused power and those who acted as their enablers or apologists. And these people have a lot of friends. But the price of protecting their comfort would be high: If we whitewash the abuses of the past eight years, we’ll guarantee that they will happen again.
Meanwhile, about Mr. Obama: while it’s probably in his short-term political interests to forgive and forget, next week he’s going to swear to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” That’s not a conditional oath to be honored only when it’s convenient.
And to protect and defend the Constitution, a president must do more than obey the Constitution himself; he must hold those who violate the Constitution accountable. So Mr. Obama should reconsider his apparent decision to let the previous administration get away with crime. Consequences aside, that’s not a decision he has the right to make
Let’s all hope Senators Kennedy and Byrd are ok after they left the Obamanation Celebration today on stretchers.
Concerning the two sick ones in the Senate.
You know that they will blame theses two getting sick on President Bush and Vice President Cheney. OOPS! They are no longer available to blame. They likely already blamed the “OAF” of Office gaffe on Bush. They can blame Obama screwing up the Oath of Office on Cheney. Everybody watch Dave Letterman tonight to see him lampoon Obama with his famous “Great Moments in Presidential Speeches” skit. Letterman will never insult the messiah.
How’s the stock market doing today?
You must have mistyped something in your web browser. This is the Insurance Journal, not the Daily Kos. Please take your fairy-tale rants there. Creatures that foam at the mouth are not welcome here – insurance risk, you know.
First of all Mr. Ins tax man, you need to get a job, and don’t be deceived into thinking it should be as a writer.
Second, this is quite possibly the worst editorial I have read in my entire life. Obviously the writer is a far left wacko.
Third, I too am with compman – this article made me want to puke.
Look people this article was a lot better than Osamba’s acceptance speech.
Hope and Change
is now
Doom & Gloom!
I bet Barack has a better 8 years than George. Anybody want to bet me? Ill bet $1,000 that Obama will do a better job than Bush on all accounts.
If the basis of that bet is: # of American Citizens killed by Jihadist Te**orists after 9/11; I’ll take that bet.
And again, the question: If President Obama continues a policy / procedure / doctrine maintained by former President Bush; was Bush right or is Obama now wrong also?
A turd by any color is still a turd.
Iran still hates us…
“A time when blacks are not in the back, when brown can stick around, when yellow is mellow, when the red man can get ahead man, when white does what is right.”
Sounds like you white folks are to be blamed for all the problems. Did anyone else hear this B.S. during the Obamanation festivities? If we can’t blame Bush we can blame whitey for the next 4 years for everything.
Do you want me to send someone to check under your bed and in the closet for “terrorists” every night?
How bout we just put govt security cameras in everyone’s house, would that make you happy?
Since when did the IJ become a liberal rag?
Matt:
Be honest: After 9/11, didn’t you think that we’d be attacked again? We haven’t been, though…could it be because we ARE taking “extreme” measures and ARE afraid of the widdle terrorists?
Maybe you’ve forgotten: over 3,000 innocent civilians DIED on 9/11. I personally knew someone that didn’t make it out of one of the towers. I realize it was a long time ago and you were probably still in elementary school, but it happened.
We can only pray that it never happens again, and that President Obama does everything in his power to make sure of it. If Bush did nothing else right, at least he kept us safe.
The terrorists and the American left both hated President Bush.
The terrorists learned to respect him. The left never did.
The terrorists and the left both love President Obama.
The left already respects him. The terrorists do not.
… and still no answer to the question;
If President Obama continues a policy / procedure / doctrine maintained by former President Bush; was Bush right or is Obama now wrong also?
These are the people who inspired the joke; If George Bush wrote a $10,000 check to the Democrat Party, they’d criticise his handwriting!
…little frog could take you, Matt.
Whitey is the new Bush.
YESTERDAY WAS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR’S BIRTHDAY. TODAY IS THE DAY BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA TOOK OVER THE PRESIDENCY. IN CELEBRATION WE COULD RENAME ALL THE ROADS THAT ALREADY ARE CALLED MLK OR MARTIN LUTHER BLVD TO ALSO MENTION OUR NEW PRESIDENT. IF YOU TAKE MLK’S LAST NAME AND OBAMA’S LAST NAME YOU GET KING OBAMA. WE NEED TO INCLUDE EVERYTHING FROM INTERSTATES TO GRAVEL ROADS. SO INSTEAD OF CALLING THEM KING OBAMA BLVD WHICH SOUNDS STUPID FOR SIDE STREETS LET’S CALL ON THE NEW ROADS THE FOLLOWING;
KING OBAMA’S WAY
That almost seems sarcastic – So tell me, hes been on the job one day, what is it you hate about him already?
Why so negetive? Sorry your guy didnt win, but wasnt 8 years enough?
Yea, Ill reply frog breath, when I get a chance –
Seemingly, unlike most of you, im still involved in a little something called “the insurance business”
Ill get back to shaming you punks later…..
little frog could take you, Matt.
_________
take me where Vlad, into the closet to hide?
Thank you for the article, I enjoyed it, which can not be said about many “Insurance Articles.” Many of the replies to this article sound like ANGRY BOYS that did not get their way. I try my best to be an informed agent, to help my insureds and to be an asset to my employer. Reading these replies have waisted my time and not benefited my knowledge.
Hey Working Agent, you must be a product of our great liberal minded education system as you have not learned how to spell yet. Glad you are not my agent.
Little Frog and Vlad Posed a question:
If President Obama continues a policy / procedure / doctrine maintained by former President Bush; was Bush right or is Obama now wrong also?
_________________________
My answer: Who cares? Obama is not going to continue Guantanamo Bay, will not continue torture, and will not continue the attack on Iraq.
Hopefully he can re-write the patriot act as well.
Did you know congress was not even given an opportunity to read the patriot act?
Have any of YOU READ THE PATRIOT ACT? I thought not.
Did you know that just after 911 we found one of the passports of one of the hijackers in the rubble? Imagine that, just slipped out of his pocket while he was in a burning plane and it was found the next day.
Did you know, that Mexico is wide open to middle eastern terrorists? Did you know that the USA is wide open to Mexico?
Did you know that no terrorist has ever come to the US through the open Mexican border even though thousands of illegal imigrants with the same coulor skin pass through undetected each year to help with our food supply? No rogue terrorist from Iraq or Iran, no suicide bombers, no nothing.
George Bush didnt stop them either. The border is wide open, they could come in and blow them selves up in Walmart tomorrow if they wanted.
But they just dont ever even try it. They are sucide bombers, and if they have sleeper cells and are truely highly organized then what do they fear? They could slip in easily!
If you were a suicide bomber, would you go to Iraq to fight the strongest most technologically advanced army in the world?
Or would you slip into the US through Mexico and blow your self up in line at Walmart the day after Thanksgiving with 1,000 other people?
Which would have a larger effect?
Hmmm…….
So thats why Im not afraid. And thats why I dont think Bush did anything to help me.
And the rest of the World agrees with me.
Through out the whole world of 6.7 billion people, only a select 50 million or so affluent white people or religious zealots support the policies of Bush/McCain/Palin.
I would not wish Dyslexia on even you!! With spell check I am not longer JUDGED the way you have just judged me. Shame on you.
Sorry WA, but you can’t blame Dyslexia for just stupid spelling mistakes. Typical liberal, always trying to blame someone or something else instead of taking personal responsibility. Try re-reading your original post and see if you can even find your mistakes. No shame felt on my end for coming down on people who refuse to accept personal responsibility.
Compman, you are a mindless sheep for falling for this whole Liberals vs Conservatives crap! Are you that stupid?
Did you hear of a little thing called the bailout?????
Trust me, the libs and the conservatives have the pie pretty well carved out.
And they dont give a crap about you, as long as you stay uninformed and keep drinking their kool aid, which apparently you are!
Personal responsibility! Ha….funny.
Conservatives helped to create the bailout as well you fool!
At least 200 passengers have been convicted of felonies under the Patriot Act, often for behavior involving raised voices and profanity. Some experts say airlines are misusing the law.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-airline-felonies20-2009jan20,0,5468299.story
Matt,
I am 100% AGAINST any bailouts. The only thing the bailout does is increase our debt to China and it is another way for our stupid senators and congressmen to give away our money to their cronies. Did you know that the new $850 stimulus package that they say needs to be done right now to help the economy will only spend about 40 billion of that in 2009 while the most will be spent in 2011 & 2012, when Obama is running for re-election. So much for them telling us we have to have the money right away.
So now Obama can get to work pulling us out of Iraq (which will then be taken over by Iran), closing Gitmo (thereby returning terrorists back to the battlefield, where maybe at least maybe we’ll get to kill instead of recapture them), and spending our way out of this economic mess.
I do wish him the best, though. To root against him is to root against America, and I’m not about to do that. At times like this, we need to support the President (which is more than we ever did for Bush).
Sorry Ralph, that is a wimpy cop out. I do not want him to succeed in any of his socialistic ideas. I don’t want universal health care like Canada or the UK. I don’t want my taxes increased so lazy imcompetent people don’t have to work. I don’t want our military gutted and I don’t want another 20 million illegal immigrants in my country. I do want him to protect our nation, cut the deficit and help steer the economy in a better direction that will benefit everybody.
His first mistake was to not have the oath of office on a teleprompter like the rest of his speeches. This after that dumb broad called it the oaf of office. This guy is a hell of a lot dumber than Bush. We are ao screwed because not only is he dumb he is also far left whacko.
In an attempt to deliver on pledges of a transparent government, Obama said he would change the way the federal government interprets the Freedom of Information Act. He said he was directing agencies that vet requests for information to err on the side of making information public _ not to look for reasons to legally withhold it _ an alteration to the traditional standard of evaluation.
Just because a government agency has the legal power to keep information private does not mean that it should, Obama said. Reporters and public-interest groups often make use of the law to explore how and why government decisions were made; they are often stymied as agencies claim legal exemptions to the law.
“For a long time now, there’s been too much secrecy in this city,” Obama said.
He said the orders he was issuing Wednesday will not “make government as honest and transparent as it needs to be” nor go as far as he would like.
“But these historic measures do mark the beginning of a new era of openness in our country,” Obama said. “And I will, I hope, do something to make government trustworthy in the eyes of the American people, in the days and weeks, months and years to come.”
Why would he want to close Club Gitmo?
Guess all of the detainees can each stay with the lib family of their choice.
Send them to Matt, he isn’t afraid.
Are they guilty of terrorism? Charge them then. Let them start serving their sentences.
Right now a lot of people are in there with no charges against them, or in reality they are being held illegally.
Its unfortunate. Based on the patriot act they could even send American citizens there for making terroristic threats against the govt. You know, just like China and Russia. No lawyer, no charges…just lock them up.
But I know you guys dont like to read, so nevermind.
I like the idea of sending them to Alcatraz. Just think of the extra tourism dollars they could get. People could visit and see them in their cages.
Alcatraz! Ok finally a good idea! That would be pretty cool, I have to admit.
The most dangerous Club Gitmo guests could maybe go live with the first family at the White House.
Im not sure I understand your logic. You mean Cheney and Bush right?
No, Obama is the one setting them free, so it is only right that he offer them free room & board at his new home.
Right, you mean for the war criminals, Bush and Cheney? Scooter Libbey, Jack Abromoff? Shall I go on?
You mean war hero’s right? We haven’t been attacked again last I heard.
What war did Bush and Cheney fight in? The both skirted their way out of the military with their money and power, did they not?
And yes, our men are attacked daily in Iraq, many are killed. So, thats blood on Bushs hands.
Go ahead, join up tough guy/
No need to. Obama is going to pull all the troups out so we can all join hands and sing Kumbaya.
The Marines, Airmen, Soldiers, and Sailors that built Club Gitmo for captured war criminals that included suicide bombers, airplane hijackers, mass murderers, had it much worse than the criminals they detained and protected at Club Gitmo. Last time I looked the Radical Muslim Terrorists the Libs feel so sorry go and want to relocate to the mainland U.S.A. qualify as war criminals more than Bush/Cheney or Obama/Biden. Why do some people that live in an attacked country like the U.S.A. worry more about the slime that attacked us than the survivors of the dead murdered in NY, PA, and DC?
Did you know, that Mexico is wide open to middle eastern terrorists? Did you know that the USA is wide open to Mexico?
Did you know that no terrorist has ever come to the US through the open Mexican border even though thousands of illegal imigrants with the same coulor skin pass through undetected each year to help with our food supply? No rogue terrorist from Iraq or Iran, no suicide bombers, no nothing.
George Bush didnt stop them either. The border is wide open, they could come in and blow them selves up in Walmart tomorrow if they wanted.
But they just dont ever even try it. They are sucide bombers, and if they have sleeper cells and are truely highly organized then what do they fear? They could slip in easily!
If you were a suicide bomber, would you go to Iraq to fight the strongest most technologically advanced army in the world?
Or would you slip into the US through Mexico and blow your self up in line at Walmart the day after Thanksgiving with 1,000 other people?
Which would have a larger effect?
Hmmm…….
So thats why Im not afraid. And thats why I dont think Bush did anything to help me.
And the rest of the World agrees with me.
Through out the whole world of 6.7 billion people, only a select 50 million or so affluent white people or religious zealots support the policies of Bush/McCain/Palin.
Matt,
Have you ordered your Obama Chia head.
It is one more way we can show support of the party’s leader.
We’re not sure what universe the judge has been inhabiting, but when she wrote that she expects that executive branch leaders “will, in good faith, comply with the representations that their officials have made,” it’s clear that it’s not the same one former Vice President Dick Cheney has occupied for the past eight years.
Indeed, U. S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly went so far as to acknowledge the “constantly shifting arguments” made by the Justice Department in Cheney’s behalf. Despite that, and Cheney’s own history of evading accountability, she left the former vice president broad discretion to determine which official documents he is legally required to provide to the National Archives and which he can keep or destroy, according to his own interpretation of the law.
I thought he was going to pay my car note, my house note, fill my car with gas, and his new government would mail everybody a carton of smokes and a case of beer every week. Have not seen anything he promised.
I haven’t seen my bailout yet either. What’s up wit dat?
Matt, have you ordered your Obama Chia Pet yet?
Ah,my little Obama fan, you make too many assumptions. First, I am not a racist and second I am not a man.
As for the “ghey” comment, what? Are you homophobic? I’ll be sure to foward the balls to you once I receive them so you can glue them onto your chia pet.
c/mon balls, you should know the drill. Anytime someone critisizes Dear Leader, they are going to throw out the race card. Get used to it over the next 4 years.
How about this one from International Herald Tribune. (FYI owned by NYT)
“The emergence of a former Guantánamo Bay detainee as the deputy leader of Al Qaeda’s Yemeni branch has underscored the potential complications in carrying out the executive order that President Barack Obama signed that the detention center be shut down within a year.
The militant, Said Ali al-Shihri, is suspected of involvement in a deadly bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Yemen’s capital, Sana, in September. He was released to Saudi Arabia in 2007 and passed through a Saudi rehabilitation program for former jihadists before resurfacing with Al Qaeda in Yemen.
U.S. officials say they suspect that Shihri may have been involved in the double car bombings outside the U.S. Embassy in Sana on Sept. 16 that killed 16 people, including six of the attackers.”
Again, Matt, would you like to take him (them)? Ten innocent lives lost because he was released.
Wait, so it was Bush that let him out?? Hmm……
And who would he have killed if we didnt have soldiers over there for him to fight?
And if he is killing soldier, then he is not a terrorist, that would be gorilla warfare.
I would do the same thing if Iraqis came into my back yard, then Id be the “terrorist”
Matt, I only ask you questions so others can see the absurdity of your posts. In no way do I ever expect you to answer with logic or intelligence, only name calling and “Bush’s fault”. I never respond to your absurd answers or questions, but this time I will make an exception. The terrorist attack happened in Yemeni outside a US Embassy, not Iraq. To the others watching, “Don’t get into a battle of wits with an unarmed man.”
Vlad, tell me then, what do I have to be worried about living in the US? – and why is virtually the whole world against the war in Iraq?
Did you know, that Mexico is wide open to middle eastern terrorists? Did you know that the USA is wide open to Mexico?
Did you know that no terrorist has ever come to the US through the open Mexican border even though thousands of illegal imigrants with the same coulor skin pass through undetected each year to help with our food supply? No rogue terrorist from Iraq or Iran, no suicide bombers, no nothing.
George Bush didnt stop them either. The border is wide open, they could come in and blow them selves up in Walmart tomorrow if they wanted.
But they just dont ever even try it. They are sucide bombers, and if they have sleeper cells and are truely highly organized then what do they fear? They could slip in easily!
If you were a suicide bomber, would you go to Iraq to fight the strongest most technologically advanced army in the world?
Or would you slip into the US through Mexico and blow your self up in line at Walmart the day after Thanksgiving with 1,000 other people?
Which would have a larger effect?
Hmmm…….
So thats why Im not afraid. And thats why I dont think Bush did anything to help me.
And the rest of the World agrees with me.
Through out the whole world of 6.7 billion people, only a select 50 million or so affluent white people or religious zealots support the policies of Bush/McCain/Palin.
Matt, either you are repeating yourself again (hmmm, sounds like Obama)or you just got lazy and began to cut & paste.
Hey I have a great idea. Let’s send the Gitmo guys to your house!
Yea, god forbid we actually give them a fair trial and let the innocent ones go home to thier families.
It shows your lack of humanity how you view these human beings.
You are a sociopath.
Thats enough, lets agree to needle each other over some other article….LOL
I like the home depo one where the guy got hurt –
See you there!
Cheerio Matt. Have a great weekend. Bet you can’t figure out how many of the posts were from me :)
Matt,
You said, “Did you know that no terrorist has ever come to the US through the open Mexican border even though thousands of illegal imigrants with the same coulor skin pass through undetected each year to help with our food supply? No rogue terrorist from Iraq or Iran, no suicide bombers, no nothing.”
You need to go to the Texas/Mexico border and you will hear a different story than what you are spewing. Talk to federal or state law enforcement one on one or to some of the area ranchers. Matt,
just because you spew it does not make it true.
Matt,
Here is another good talking point you need to use on those Republicans.
“The war in Iraq is illegal because the Iraqis never attacked us like the Nazis did at Pearl Harbor.”
Watch some stupid Republican try to tell you the Nazis didn’t attack Pearl Harbor.
All praise the Osamba!
Interesting Statistics
Professor Joseph Olson of Hemline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, points out facts of 2008 Presidential election:
Number of States won by:
Democrats: 19
Republicans: 29
Square miles of land won by:
Democrats: 580,000
Republicans: 2,427,000
Population of counties won by:
Democrats: 127 million
Republicans: 143 million
Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by:
Democrats: 13.2
Republicans: 2.1
Professor Olson adds:
“In aggregate, the map of the territory Republican won by Republicans was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of the country.
Democrat territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government welfare.
Professor Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the “complacency and apathy” phase of Professor Tyler’s definition of democracy, with some forty percent of the nation’s population already having reached the “governmental dependency” phase.
If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal invaders called illegal’s and they vote, then we can say goodbye to the USA in fewer than five years knowing that apathy is the greatest danger to our freedom.
This should make you think
Matt,
More terrorists come from N.E. Libby states and Hollywood than the Mid East.
THANK YOU GOD!
Really, when was this sucide bomber attack? I would think this would make the news!
Instead just more BS conjecture about sleeper cells and all kinds of terrorists who just sleep all day. Wow im scared!!!
Matt,
So the ones that die of dehydration or get caught don’t mean a thing do they? Of course even when those darn terrorists fly airplanes into building it is really the Republicans faking it on a sound stage like ol tricky Dick did the 1969 lunar landing. Bubba sometimes you just have to wonder if some folks are sitting on a douche bag and adjusting their tin foil hat don’t you? Good luck Matt in whatever you do. You better go make sure Bush & Cheney are not planning anything with the levees.
cut and paste to browser window
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/4347819/Republicans-suggest-Alcatraz-for-Guantanamo-prisoners.html