New citizens and prez celebrate 4th
Hugs, flag waving, and shouts of "fascist": it was the Fourth of July at Monticello.
Three thousand people showed up at Mr. Jefferson's house today to watch 72 new citizens be sworn in–- and six citizens escorted out. When the first shouts of "Defend the Constitution," "Impeach Bush," and "War criminal" rang out from protesters in the audience and pink-clad Desiree Fairooz ran toward the stage, President George Bush laughed and acknowledged, "To my fellow citizens-to-be, we believe in free speech in the United States."
As the shouts continued during Bush's speech, one angry woman told Code Pinker Gael Murphy, "You need to shut up and sit down."
If someone was blocking the view or if people couldn't hear, a Monticello staff member asked the disruptor to stop, according to Monticello director of communications Wayne Mogielnicki. If the disturbance continued, the protester was escorted out, with the help of Albemarle County police. At one point, Chief John Miller leaned in to quiet a man yelling "Fascist." Mogielnicki did not anticipate charges being pressed. "The county said everyone left voluntarily," he said.
"We wanted to allow people to exercise their First Amendment rights," said county spokeswoman Lee Catlin. "Monticello asked them to leave because that's private property."
Anyone speaking at Monticello inevitably invokes Thomas Jefferson, and Bush was no exception. He noted that the third president made only two public speeches, and he also cited the principles of Jefferson: "All men are created equal with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
"What about the Iraqis?" yelled Murphy, earning another rebuke from a polite Monticello staffer: "Ma'am, if you can't be quiet, you have to leave."
Bush joined Judge James P. Jones in welcoming the new citizens, shaking hands with everyone–- unless they got a hug or a pat on the back or a kiss. Young Julia White Freeman was picked up by the president when she went to receive her certificate of citizenship.
The day was particularly poignant for Thomas Jefferson Foundation president Dan Jordan, for whom it was the last Fourth of July after 23 years of leading Monticello. His son, Daniel Porter Jordan III, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District, was on the platform with the other judges.
Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson of the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals mentioned that he'd been to college with Bush–- both attended Yale–- and that the future president was "widely liked and widely admired," but Wilkinson did not mention that his classmate didn't nominate him for the Supreme Court in 2005.
Wilkinson also told the new Americans that his favorite part of the Fourth of July is hearing their stories, and encouraged them not to be embarrassed because the president was there, and to "speak from your heart."
They did. Mary McFadyen came from Scotland 30 years ago and thanked Bush for "giving me the inspiration" to go through the naturalization process." Another said, "Good morning. No demonstrations, please. I am proud to be an American."
– PHOTOS BY RYAN HOOVER
~
3:21pm update: Some protest video.
61 comments
I am struck by the balance in this report. Ms. Provence has written probably the best account of this event to appear in the news media today. Too bad the Monticello and Albemarle County authorities could not have been equally balanced and let either everyone, including the president, or no one, including the president, speak.
The hecklers who attempted to ruin this event don't realize they would be dead if they had done this in Iraq during a speech by Saddam Hussein.
These freakin' idiots that showed up to protest possibly ruined the experience of becoming Americans to these new citizens. Wrong time, wrong place. I am so disgusted that this BS happened in Charlottesville that I want to vomit. Then again, I shouldn't be surprised. Center of the universe......
"The hecklers who attempted to ruin this event don't realize they would be dead if they had done this in Iraq during a speech by Saddam Hussein."
Whew! It's a good thing Bush and his minions have murdered hundreds of thousands of innocents in Iraq so that they'll never get killed for interrupting someone.
"These freakin' idiots that showed up to protest possibly ruined the experience of becoming Americans to these new citizens."
Awwww, poor widdle them. As Bush (and the Federal govt. in general) has ruined the experience of being an American for everyone, these new citizens can join the club.
Bush will never be able to go out in public without being reminded of the fact that he has wrecked our country.I hope he one day travels to a democracy like Belgium and is arrested for war crimes.
Such bravery. Such boldness. So admirable. The guy in Tiananmen Square who faced down that tank squad surely doth tremble with admiration had he been witness to this! That mean ol' president is surely reflecting even now on his mistakes due to the brilliant and erudite outburst spoken out by our brave Cville few.
So now, if all the conspiracy kooks on the left are correct, I expect to see news of at least six Charlottesville citizens mysteriously disappearing without a trace. Living under a tyranny with no freedom of speech one should expect such things to happen. No doubt the Secret Service right now is organizing a squad to steal away into the night down to Club Gitmo those who had the courage and foresight to speak boldly under the dire consequences of living in a totalitarian regime. The forces of Bush even now are trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are sown.
My fellow lefty Amerikans, you have my deep pity oh yea of brave and noble ambitions! Good luck to you. Surely, this brave act of civil disobedience/disruption of the heinous event of becoming a US citizen legally will ignite the masses and you will be hailed as unsung heroes in folks songs written 50 years from now.
Yes, for those of you in Charlottesville City, I'm being sarcastic¢Ã¢â??¬Š.
Those of you on the "so-called" right (otherwise known as "fascists" in other parts of the world) should open your eyes and take a look around you. You don't seem to realize that we (used to) live in a country where free speech was valued. Those Americans who expressed themselves have a right to be angry with Bush and his administration. He has lied to us and the world, and his lies have cost hundreds of thousands of people their lives (or maybe you live on a different planet than the rest of us?)! Maybe you should stop watching so much Fox tv news and read a real book -- may I suggest Wallerstein's "European Universalism" for a start?!?!?
You are the people that embarrass this country -- you make me want to vomit!
The security is not just for the Prez. He may be the target but an attack could harm everyone around.
The protesters are true Patriots, and my hat is off to them all.
God bless everyone who stood up to protest the president today. He will obviously go down as the worst in our history.
The people yelling "fascist" were probably liberals aka Democrats. City council and Dems in general are Fascist. Fascism is where enterprise is privately owned yet controlled by government. Lately council has gone really Fascist on downtown mall businesses regardind sidewalk signs.
JULY 4TH. ¢Ã¢â??‰â?¬Å? A COMMEMORATION OF ENLIGHTENMENT
http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/07/july-4th-celebration-of-grea...
Everyone knows that Republicans are wannabe fascists and Democrats are wannabe communists; they are remarkably similar ideologies in alot of ways. Most would agree President Bush was not a great President, but he was not the very worst, and in 20 years when there are other Presidents to complain about I'm sure more people will discuss some of his more redeeming qualities, sparse as they may be. We, as Americans, are so incredibly selfish at times. We live in America. Take 10 minutes out of the day to stop complaining about how crappy our government is and be grateful that we live in a country where you have more freedom to buy, sell, work, play, learn and protest than anywhere else. Roll with the punches people, and be happy.
NOT THE WORST????
David,
Bush has been the worst president in a long time but history goes back a little further than our own lifetimes. Read up on Buchanan, Pierce, Jackson and Grant. The civil war and the collapse of reconstruction resulted in massive suffering and death and almost destroyed this country.
Bush has been a poor president but he's a weak contender for worst.
Cordially,
Kevin Cox
I agree with all who have said the protests were inappropriate. Wrong place, wrong time. This was not a political event, it was a naturalization ceremony. The ceremony is supposed to be about the new citizens, instead the protesters succeeded in making it about them and Bush. What's more, their behavior surely made people who would otherwise agree with them applaud their removal. Sounds like the Bush Protester Playbook needs a re-write.
The thing not mentioned is the general cowardice these "patriot protesters" showed. Kind of went like this, didn't it: stand up, scream as loud as you can, and politely leave when "the authorities" ask you to. It's a good thing that Ghandi, Parks, and King had the courage of their convictions - otherwise India would be Britain's largest colonial outpost, African-Americans would still be sitting in the back of the bus (and they almost certainly wouldn't be referred to as African-Americans), and the Democratic candidate for President would be Trent Lott.
How things have changed. In the 60s and 70s we protested to affect change, and were wholly committed to it. We showed up and stayed for days. Hell - the annual NORML smoke-ins in front of the White House were more effective than what we saw yesterday. Now when people protest they are relatively meek about it. And no, it's not because they get sent to Gitmo - that's merely given as an excuse for not going all-in.
Bush is leaving office on January 20. Nothing anybody without evil intent can do will accelerate that process. Impeachment ain't happening, and even if Congress started today he'd be gone before they could agree on anything. If you really want things to change, hang campaign posters or knock on doors. Donate to the candidate you think can most affect change. Volunteer. Contribute to the benefit of the Greater Good. Heck, run for office yourself if you think you can really make a difference. Be creative.
David Swanson says on his website that people were giving him thumbs up as we was escorted out. People that weren't at the ceremony will believe him. He makes it out to sound like most people were 'with' him. This was not the case for any of the protestors. The only people giving thumbs up were the protestors to each other. My daughter and I were privileged to attend the Naturalization ceremony at Monticello yesterday and also to hear the President of the United States speak. It unfortunately was disrupted by very angry extremists, and is hard to tell on the TV news how very anxiety and fear producing their behaviors were - they had children crying out of fear. I am grateful to the ordinary citizen that tried to quiet the protestors (including one very young man who was in his Civil air Patrol uniform) until the Secret Service got to them and Albemarle County Police. I am grateful that we have free speech in this country, otherwise when the one protestor was being dragged out calling our country a police state, he would have been shot dead right there had we really been a police state, or actually we would never have been at a public ceremony to begin with. I am also grateful that the protestors stopped once the President stopped speaking, this was a day about our Nation's Independence and the 72 people who were becoming citizens. It was a beautiful ceremony to behold at Thomas Jefferson's home, the author of the Declaration of Independence. Also what was not shown on TV (not that i have seen yet) were the citizens that had just been naturalized, coming up to the microphone to speak about their feelings of becoming citizens - they were from Burma, United Kingdom, Canada, Iraq, China, India, Brazil, Korea, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Laos, Netherlands, Haiti and many more. It was very moving. Of course David Swanson or other protestors don't mention any of that.
Oh, how I wait for the whining and wailing from the right when Senator Obama becomes president. Every little boo-hoo will be sweet euphony as we dismantle the reasonless war in Iraq, no child left behind, government spying on American citizens, institutionalized Halliburton corruption/no-bid contracts, the criminal neglect of our veterans and elderly and poor, and a supreme court marked by extremist, anti-populist zealots.
Children and the poor will become insured and entitled to health care befitting first-world American citizens. The rich will once again pay their fair share of taxes, as will the oil corporations gouging us at the pumps with the wink-wink of the "free-market" republicans. Regular hard-working Americans are sick of seeing the mega-rich send our jobs overseas and give themselves tax breaks to do it. It's all coming, folks. Get ready, and may God bless the America we can become-- strong, fair, and free of right-wing lunacy.
Zydeco, you're setting yourself up for one hell of a disappointment when Obama's elected.
Real protesters facing true threats: Lech Walesa, the Tiananmen Square students, MLK Jr., Iranian student protestors, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, etc.
Whiny brats looking for 5 minutes of fame so they could wax eloquent at their next commie meeting of like minded useful idiots facing no threat whatsoever: the Monticello crew.
An embarrassment to the United States of America. I'm sure Al Qaeda's getting a good laugh. But you like it that way, don't ya? Anything to throw egg on the face of the country. Congrats: mission accomplished. It's a sad day to claim to be a C'villian.
Underminer-in-Chief
Bush's record has shown him to be flagrant in his disregard for the most cherished rights and laws of our land. Each of his elections was deeply stained with criminal voter fraud; he has led us into an unprovoked and unnecessary war by assembling a collection of lies; he has ignored the Geneva Convention banning the use of torture; he has approved the use of illegal spying on American citizens; he has politicized the Judicial branch of government, and more. Any one of these offenses is a serious breach of the oath of office¢Ã¢â??‰â?¬Å? but taken together they argue for the most comprehensive violation of the office of president ever witnessed in U.S. history. At the very least this president and his vice-president should be subject to the process of impeachment.
In Jefferson's own words, referring to the abuses of our rights by the former King George,
¢Ã¢â??¬Ã?â??The history of the Present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States¢Ã¢â??¬Š.
He has refused to Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.¢Ã¢â??¬
The parallels are remarkable. We seem to have come full circle, but where are the men of courage now? Who has the heart to stand up for the principles of justice, truth, and the rights of the people? All that is left, it seems, is the grotesque mockery of a country that once stood for something. What have we come to when our president is the underminer-in-chief of our Declaration, Constitution, and Bill of Rights? And is then allowed to parade himself, publicly unclothed, as its proponent?
Peter Allen and Jane Skafte, Charlottesville, VA
Has there or has there not been another September 11th? No? 'nuff said.
Go Bush. Kill all them protesters. Those lefties don't deserve to live. Cheney will deal with them in a "private" room. And be sure they all enjoy that lovely Virginia product - cigs. Puff puff. Hack hack.
And if this fine southern state ever lets a Democrat win in the presidential election I sense a bit of an uprising will hasten the departure of them liberals...if you know what I mean.
McCain MMVIII!
Okay, you know what really irritates me, RtofCville? The right wing's pointing to the lack of another terrorist attack as a defense of Bush. Hey, listen up, 9/11 HAPPENED ON BUSH'S WATCH!!!! Except for the homegrown Oklahoma City bombing and Pearl Harbor back in the day, no other president has had a major terrorist attack happen on domestic soil during his term. I give Bush zero credit for "preventing" another terrorist attack. He didn't prevent 9/11, and then he led the country into an illegal war in its aftermath. That's what matters (along with countless other wrongheaded and illegal things his administration has foisted on this country).
I love music too but...
You wanted us to do nothing AND to do more (go limp? punch cops?) - which is it?
MOST people were NOT giving anyone thumbs up signs, but some people were, and that's ALL they did - but I guess that's more than some people did.
9-11 didn't JUST happen on Bush's watch, but Bush also...
Article XXXIII
Repeatedly Ignored and Failed to Respond to High Level Intelligence Warnings of Planned Terrorist Attacks in the US, Prior to 911.
Article XXXIV
Obstruction of the Investigation into the Attacks of September 11, 2001.
Article XXXV
Endangering the Health of 911 First Responders.
Okay, you know what really irritates me, Devil's Advocate? The left's pointing to the lack of enforcement a mere 7 months into Bush's watch which allowed September 11th to happen in the first place. Why not take to protesting your hero President Clinton for not getting bin Laden when Sudan was going to give him to us on a silver platter, but didn't? He hold's public appearances from time to time. Don't recall Mr. Swanson taking Hillary to task for her husband's failure when she was in town.
But hey, aside from that, yeah, I'd really love to have seen the sincere and heartfelt "encouragement" from the left side of the aisle had President Bush properly understood the pending threat and taken the necessary steps in the first place to prevent 9/11. Ya know, things like tap phone lines of terrorist suspects, direct the FBI to round up persons of interest, have Immigration enforcement strictly enforced, and immediately take a hard-line stance against countries who give those SOBs some prime training real estate. Yeah, uh huh, I'm quite sure there'd have been no problem with that. But then, hindsight reflections on what might've been have always been a waste of time.
As for the war, better the streets of Baghdad then the streets of Belmont. Jefferson took it to the Barbary Pirates, Bush (or Clinton for that matter, I'd have supported it) could take it to that dictator's bedroom and all the Jihad nut jobs in the middle east in Iraq where the front lines are. And now, what do we have? The streets in Baghdad are safer in some parts than all of Southeast DC and no other 9/11. Perhaps that'll change with the recent Supreme Court ruling¢Ã¢â??¬Š.but that's for another post¢Ã¢â??¬Š
David, FYI, your links are hosed.
Eighty percent of us know Bush committed 9-11.
One need only read Emeritus Professor David Ray Griffin's scholarship to know this with absolute moral clarity and civic judgment.
Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day. Although I do not, with some enthusiasts, believe that the human condition will ever advance to such a state of perfection as that there shall no longer be pain or vice in the world, yet I believe it susceptible of much improvement, and most of all, in matters of government and religion; and that the diffusion of knowledge among the people is to be the instrument by which it is to be effected. Th. Jefferson April 24, 1816
You don't "recall" me protesting Hillary. Were you there with us outside the Paramount flyering and talking to all the Hillaryites in line? Did you carry one of our posters or shout into one of our bullhorns? And somehow the fact that I was there just slipped your mind? Or were you just talking out your cheney?
Sorry about the bad links. Here, fixed:
Article XXXIII
Repeatedly Ignored and Failed to Respond to High Level Intelligence Warnings of Planned Terrorist Attacks in the US, Prior to 911.
Article XXXIV
Obstruction of the Investigation into the Attacks of September 11, 2001.
Article XXXV
Endangering the Health of 911 First Responders.
Pearl Harbor was not a terrorist attack. That was, for what it's worth, a bona fide military attack upon one sovereign nation by uniformed national soldiers of another.
"You wanted us to do nothing AND to do more (go limp? punch cops?) - which is it?"
Might want to engage in protest activities that, throughout history have been proven to be effective. Wouldn't expect you to take up arms against the country (if you did I'd be there with "the country" to make sure you didn't get very far in spite of the fact that I approve of the current administration no more than you do), and since your activities were that of ineffective anger and not a real attempt to change anything at all, I guess you did what you could so that you could tell everyone that you protested.
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee! That was funnnnnnnnn!
To change things in America, you either need a mass movement backed by a unmistakably moral ethic (which, sorry to say, you really don't have because most people just don't care), or you need to win at the ballot box (which the "good guys" were unable to do 4 years ago). Yelling at a naturalization ceremony and being asked to leave does neither.
Blah blah. Here is what is really going on.
Cheney is still at on Iran. I was surprised to see some of this, especially in the middle paragraphs of the article:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/07/080707fa_fact_hersh?curren...
In addition, the material about our gov't massively funding Iranian AL QAEDA groups is astounding. Or, funding them out of a massive pool of $ money disclosed to bipartisan committee heads in Congress, to be precise.
Cheney's faction took what happened after the Iranian small boat incident in January as encouraging. Immediate American public opinion was to punish Iran. By Hersh's account, the story of the boats was ginned up. He's been pretty reliable, not entirely. Story seems to be based on Adm. Fallon's b*tching after being fired as U.S. commander for the region, as well as Hersh's usual sources in the realist camps in the CIA, Pentagon and other agencies, including this time special forces groups in the military.
I still love music, but...
Why does it have to be the fault of the few who do care that so many do not care?
Why might part of the blame for that not be shifted to the few who spend their time tryign to dissuade the few who do care from setting any sort of example?
The fact is that most people want this president impeached, that most people want out of Iraq, etc., and standing up and making that point in a way that forces it into the international media is usually very easy and - yes - fun. And I think more people should be made aware of that fact.
So, everybody, put aside your fears that they'll ship you to Gitmo. And prepare to ignore the chatter of naysayers. And stand up for this republic while we still can.
Actions speak louder than words. My fellow Cville, gain respect by going outside and making it happen.
The only real mistake George Bush made was not realizing that the tide has turned and that most Americans have it so easy they think that if we just disarm flowers will grow and peace will blossum around the world.
Keep kidding yourselves. Visit Europe and look at the damage Hitler and Mussolini did while the Europeans chose appeasement.
If it were not for a president with a decent set of balls we would all be speaking German.
commentary on local media coverage of this:
http://afterdowningstreet.org/node/34570
Enjoy you fame Mr. Swanson, You have pissed off democrats, republicans, liberals, and independents. You were dragged away and Bush remains. You feel better? You will never impeach bush and this action only makes the right hate the left more and cville dems hate you. Yep you. But you will tell you young child how brave you were one July 4th how- you single handedly made the President spend a moment pausing so you could be removed like a unruly teenager being kicked out of a movie for talking.
Protesters can be noble and make a stand- change the world. You are nothing more than a public political masturbater. You get off on making your voice heard but afterward the only that's satisfied is you. Do something in this town besides giving yourself a hand.
BTW your chance of getting shipped off to gitmo is ZERO. But hey keep saying it and maybe it will come true. *fingers crossed*
I am a local Democrat and don't hate Swanson. But I am irritated and intrigued by all this abusive rhetoric. Ask yourself -- in what ways are you being used? What's really important and what's just noise? Standing up for what's good, right, and true does mean something, even if a few people are a little uncomfortable. Does people standing up remind you of your own lack of courage? Why so enraged? -- "public political masturbater"? Come on. How much does this really matter after a country has been decimated, a million people killed for nothing, millions more who lost homes, cars, jobs, futures for egos and lies, vets killing themselves every day for what they were manipulated into doing, and we are all less safe from terrorism according to National Intelligence Estimates. Come on. So, a couple of people stood up and spoke angrily and in protest. How "appropriate" was it for Bush to come here or for Monticello Foundation to invite him? Where is the responsibility? Why not stand up, and who are you to say that it meant nothing? Do people who stand up remind you of your own lack of courage? We will all be dead soon enough. The time to tell the truth and act on it is now.
How many of you blowhearts have actually spent any time in the service of your country? Remember, ask not what your country can do for you- ask what you can do for your country. Though Bush has made mistakes(like all presidents before him- Monica Lewinsky, Bay of Pigs to name a few); he at least has served his country. More than most of you can say. Would you stand up in a college classroom and yell insults to your professor because you disagree with his philosophy or actions? Shame on you for being so self centered and unconcerned for your fellow Americans. I wonder if Swanson would have stood up and made a scene if he really thought there would be a price to pay for his actions?
The crit of Swanson is way overblown. As for Bushes serving their country it does appear that way. His father is a decorated fighter pilot, who like most of them, never seemed to talk about it. George McGovern too! GW Bush's military service was desultory at best.
Yet the Bushes also seem to specialize in making fortunes with government contracts and oil leases, as opposed to more traditional free market enterprises. And you will find very few if any who are lawyers and doctors, the usual professions you would expect. They may be one class above that, I don't know. They make their money almost like feudal lords, by taxing their lieges! Well, that's an extrapolation, but the main source is here: Kevin Phillips (former Republican strategist of the "Southern Strategy"): "American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush", Viking, 2004. Remaindered at $8 on Amazon!
I recommend Randy Shaw's excellent book, now reprinted and revised, http://www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/6737001.php _The Activist's Handbook_ for excellent description and advice on what has worked and has not worked in direct actions and on how to plan an effective protest or direct action that actually results in change.
Right on, Alison!
Everyone should read "The Activist's Handbook" by Randy Shaw. Even if you're not an activist and don't want to be, as long as you have any sort of interest in social change, this book will be well worth reading. Packed with examples of how movements have succeeded and failed, this extremely readable handbook will inspire through its analysis of strategies and tactics that can be used to accomplish what many of us desperately want. Most of us understand already that simply arguing for social justice will fail to achieve it, but -- as Shaw demonstrates -- Herculean efforts, if miscalculated, will just as surely fail. In this book, Shaw describes successful strategies for community organizers, effective relationships with elected officials, the use of coalitions, ballot initiatives, the media, lawyers, and direct action strategies. The most persuasive theme tying each of these discussions together is that the best defense is an effective offense, that a failure to aggressively pursue positive change is a strategy for worsening the status quo.
(From The Best Books Out There).
"How many of you blowhearts have actually spent any time in the service of your country?"
Wow - I didn't know that was a prerequisite for engaging in political criticism and discourse. Thanks for clearing that up. Since the vast majority of Americans have not served in the military, I guess we should just go with the flow and not question authority. Gee thanks - that makes everything so much easier. Will somebody please pass the Soma?
FYI, it's "blow hards," not "blowhearts."
Author: G. Patton
Comment:
The only real mistake George Bush made was not realizing that the tide has turned and that most Americans have it so easy they think that if we just disarm flowers will grow and peace will blossum around the world.
---
The "only mistake?"
You do not consider it a "mistake" for Bush to have committed 9-11, or to have lied us into a false war for private and criminal profit?
Treason...not merely a "mistake."
Viz. Griffin, "The New Pearl Harbor";
Bugliosi, "The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder."
Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day. Although I do not, with some enthusiasts, believe that the human condition will ever advance to such a state of perfection as that there shall no longer be pain or vice in the world, yet I believe it susceptible of much improvement, and most of all, in matters of government and religion; and that the diffusion of knowledge among the people is to be the instrument by which it is to be effected. Th. Jefferson April 24, 1816
I don't think it's quite the same as disagreeing with one of my professors. None of my teachers began an illegal war and killed over a million people, displaced millions more. I also wouldn't categorize it as mildly as "some mistakes." People have died and are dying horrible deaths because of our country's actions -- I heard on NPR a week or so ago that one third of children in Iraq still do not have clean water. Can we imagine what that would be like to be helpless to provide for our children? helpless to protect them? These are not abstractions but examples of real suffering. The administration's attitudes and actions are inappropriate in the face such realities.
The Democrat whiners elected a Democratic Senate, and what has changed? Nothing. Except gas prices have skyrocketed and we're in a recession. Maybe there's more going on than we're being informed of.
Gas prices have skyrocketed because trillions of dollars have been "freshly printed" by the Fed to pay for Bush's 9-11 and false war treason. That and the ballooning debt bondage and fiscal irresponsibility have devalued the dollar...hence the rise in consumer prices, set by the economic elite - which knows what inflation is all about - to compensate for the devalued currency.
Non-Econ majors can catch a copy of "Fiat Money Inflation in France," by A.D. White, to get "up to speed" on just what's "going down": The eighty percent working class, which doesn't have the pricing power, on margin, to raise their wages or prices to get even.
---
Article II. Section. 10.
Clause 1: No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
---
This is why fractional banking fiat-money is unconstitutional...and Mr. Jefferson enunciated the principle in his letter, discussing his differences with Treasury Secretary Hamilton, to President Washington.
Jefferson, Our Founder, has been forsaken. The bankruptcy we approach, due to the spiraling concentration of wealth, facilitated by the government and Congress they have bought and paid for, by our false-elite fascist plutocracy is a manifestation of the Hamilitonian inheritance that is false and corrupt and anti-America.
Democrats, who have failed to impeach the obviously treasonous Bush, as well as Republicans, are complicit: agents of the Fed/Rockefeller/Roman Fifth Column "Pyramid."
Obama is only a small step in a better direction.
Music Lover obviously has repressed feelings for not having served his/her country. A blowhard is loudly boastful whereas a blowheart believes they are entitled to something for nothing much like Ted Kennedy wanting his wife to succeed him.
How do you think the Romans would have handled the situation? After using deadly force to subdue the inhabitants they would be metaphorically pumping all the oil to Rome and would use the locals to build Roman cities in Iraq much like Thomas Jefferson used unpaid subjects to build Monticello.
Unfortunately for some of us this country is governed by political correctness which means it is doomed to collapse in the long run.
Bullcrap on The Activist's Handbook by Shaw. Read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand if you want a glimpse at the future.
"County Farmer" (LOL) would do well to pick up a copy of "The Radical Politics of Thomas Jefferson," by Richard K. Matthews, should "he" ever wish to speak of America's Founder, Author, and Prophet through a more appropriate orifice.
One can always learn to become an American by studying the truth of the Mottoes, even if raised by agents of the Roman Anti-Christ, like those who brought slavery to Virginia's shores, and continue to distort and lie about Mr. Jefferson...for good reason:
To Samuel Kercheval
Monticello, January 19, 1810
SIR, -- Yours of the 7th instant has been duly received, with the pamphlet inclosed, for which I return you my thanks. Nothing can be more exactly and seriously true than what is there stated; that but a short time elapsed after the death of the great reformer of the Jewish religion, before his principles were departed from by those who professed to be his special servants, and perverted into an engine for enslaving mankind, and aggrandising their oppressors in Church and State; that the purest system of morals ever before preached to man, has been adulterated and sophisticated by artificial constructions, into a mere contrivance to filch wealth and power to themselves; that rational men not being able to swallow their impious heresies, in order to force them down their throats, they raise the hue and cry of infidelity, while themselves are the greatest obstacles to the advancement of the real doctrines of Jesus, and do in fact constitute the real Anti-Christ.
When you protested in Jefferson's day there were cost to that protest. Today Swanson and his ilk might get his clothes wrinkled and that's it. The man can't even get arrested. To compare rebellion in Jefferson day and now is the difference between running with the bulls and ordering a steak. They both involve a beef but that's about it.
was it Thomas Jefferson that stated:
"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty
than to those attending too small a degree of it."
Thank you President Bush for a wonderful speech on the 4th of July at the home of
Thomas Jefferson at the Naturalization Ceremony for 72 new citizens of the USA.
I am very grateful to you and this great country. what a wonderful way to celebrate
Independence Day! inconveniences were present but so was Liberty!
Thank You , President Bush and Thank you Thomas Jefferson!
God Bless America!
Homosexual draft-dodger Bush, cheated into the White House by only the Roman Catholic votes on the Supreme, to commmit 9-11 and false war treason, is Anti-Christ.
Any failing to see this truth offers only empty praise of America's Founder, for he or she is devoid of knowledge of Mr. Jefferson's prophetic wisdom...or "Annuit Coeptis"...and is a false American.
See what happens when Bush can't screen his audience. Bush & Co need to do a better job of hiding the fact that only sheep should be in attendance.
"is hard to tell on the TV news how very anxiety and fear producing their behaviors were - they had children crying out of fear"
OH PULEEEEZ
CRYING OUT IN FEAR. This no doubt is the stupidest comment on this blog. And this:
"As for the war, better the streets of Baghdad then the streets of Belmont". Is Belmont in danger of being invaded??
I suggest all you scaredy cats go and hide under the bed so the TERRORISTS don't get you, especially those of you in Belmont.
God forbid anyone actually stand up for our rights.
County Farmer seems to be getting his vocabulary list from here. http://tinyurl.com/6zmq64
The illiterate leading the illiterate. What a wonderful thing we have in the internet.
The audio is posted at the Charlottesville Podcasting Network if anyone would like to take a listen.
Thanks, Sean!