Say No to Torture and Yes to the Constitution

Recently I've written to Senator Bill Nelson and Senator Barbara Boxer regarding voting against Alberto Gonzales for Attorney General. My objections are in two areas; first, that torture is illegal, and second, that the Geneva Conventions protect American soldiers as well as the enemy. In addition to these two reasons, Mr. Gonzales has shown a disregard for the Constitutional roles of the Executive branch, writing that Mr. Bush can define the law in time of war, which is certainly not intended by the framers.

Adolf, Josef and George

Veiled reference to Abraham, Martin and John...
Victims of the Hitler and Stalin purges often said, before being shot/garroted/burned/buried alive, that "Adolf/Josef didn't know the evils being done by their underlings." Today, reporters on WMNF interviewed Republicans at the inauguration, and were told that "George Bush didn't know about the torture at Abu Ghraib/wasn't told the truth about Weapons of Mass Destruction/didn't agree with voter suppression in Ohio." Where's Santayana when we need him?

Weimar Democrats

After listening to the Gonzales confirmation hearing and the congressional certification of the electoral vote yesterday, I believe we've had it as a nation. The best analogy is the Weimar Republic (Germany, early 1920's for you nonhistorians), where earnest social democrats were trying to govern a nation with the Nazis on the rise. The SD didn't recognize the 'revolutionary power' of the nazis, and tried to fight their brutality with appeals to reason. Didn't work then, won't work now The only thing to do is hunker down and wait for the collapse of this once great nation. Only if our emasculated Democratic Party wakes up will we have any chance (and it's a slim one) of getting through this alive. Look for squads of NRA members hunting tutsi liberals in a decade.

Thoughts after returning from Arkansas

Howdy foax -- back again from Arkansas. Highlights were the weather and the Bill Clinton Library visit. Mom (91 YO) is well. she forgot the word 'labryinth' and was upset, and I suggested that forgetting labryinth wasn't as serious as, say forgetting 'chocolate.'

The Clinton Library is a joy -- and the crowds were massive on the first day open after Christmas. Sorta reminded me of the eight years of peace and prosperity from which GWB has rescued us.

We did the first bike ride of the New Year, and it was good. More anon.