Peretzline
Marty Peretz is talking again. This time the solon of the liberal New Republic has some advice about John ‘Disco Biscuits’ Bolton, and how he’s pretty much just like Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a Democratic UN Ambassador — and therefore everyone should agree that Bolton should be confirmed. The fun starts in this fashion:
After serving (quite magnificently) for two years as ambassador to India (in the tradition of John Kenneth Galbraith), Moynihan was named to the U.N. post by President Ford. Again, the Times found fault with the designee: “[T]he prospect of Mr. Moynihan at Turtle Bay has aroused among some friends of the United Nations genuine doubts about United States policy toward the world organization, and especially toward third world countries.” The Times was carrying on what one could only call a vendetta against Moynihan for what were then surprising insights on race but are now–forgive the metaphor–white bread.
Moynihan, the Joe Lieberman of his day, was (however) smart and genuinely intellectually engaged; and was famously called a man who had written more books than most people had read. Peretz certainly seems to be counting on the fact that most haven’t read Moynihan’s book on his tenure as UN Ambassador, A Dangerous Place. Peretz refers to it in the column without a hint toward the book’s most famous passage, regarding the 1975 genocide in East Timor. Moynihan:
“The United States wished things to turn out as they did, and worked to bring this about. The Department of State desired that the United Nations prove utterly ineffective in whatever measures it undertook. This task was given to me, and I carried it forward with no inconsiderable success.”
If intentionally enabling the massacre of 102,000 civilians can be considered a noteworthy detail, as it was to Moynihan during his life, as well as to many others, then Peretz is at best just gassing off as usual, using a superficial erudition to do a fan dance on some unstated private agenda or another. (Peretz is, in the last analysis, a rigid and reactionary character who constructs arguments on a just-in-time basis.)
But, you know, Moynihan was a Democrat, so Democrats take note. And you can almost see Peretz grinning and clapping his notedly meaty, short-fingered hands together with the conclusion. Check this:
It is really quite unseemly for the Democratic minority to be stalking Bolton’s nomination. It isn’t as if the U.N. post is a judicial appointment, where the separation of powers implies greater senatorial prerogatives in exercising “advice and consent.” The U.N. ambassador is really a representative of the president in international affairs. Of course, most Democratic senators oppose the president’s foreign policy. But they are in the minority. And do they have the right to sabotage a nomination that expresses–for better and for worse–the president’s views?
It’s ‘really quite unseemly,’ etc.
Intelligent readers might be forgiven for suspecting that Marty’s views on Bolton might somehow have something or another to do with…you know, Israel, as opposed to the best interests of the United States of America.
Update: Also this:
Maura Moynihan, daughter of Senator Daniel Moynihan wrote an op-ed for Newsday (New York) in which she argued that John Bolton is no Moynihan.
In comparing Bolton to Senator Moynihan, conservatives have “distorted our New York senator’s views on diplomacy and international law.”
Maura Moynihan details her father’s record as both a fierce defender of American interests and a pragmatic internationalist. “When right-wing commentators claim that Bolton ‘s outspokenness makes him ‘the next Pat Moynihan,’ let us remember that Moynihan often said that in Washington toughness and ignorance are frequently confused.”
“Bolton has said that if the UN building in Manhattan ‘lost 10 stories it wouldn’t make a bit of difference,’ and Robert Novak recently said, ‘No one had more contempt for the UN than Pat Moynihan.’ Nonsense. Moynihan said: ‘The UN was created by our country, and embodies our conception of international law … these are the proclaimed standards of the nations of the world, to which they are bound by solemn covenant.'”
“Moynihan sought to restore integrity to the UN, not to dismantle the institution created by the Allies after the defeat of Hitler and the Axis powers.”
Retardo-san adds: The following passage is from Moynihan’s book Loyalties:
An attempt was made to justify [The United States’ invasion of Grenada] in terms of a treaty of mutual assistance entered into by a number of Windward Islands, including Grenada. Of this the director of the International Law Institute at Georgetown Law School, who thought the invasion justifiable, even so said the legal defenses offered “embarass people who believe in law.” But most striking was how few such defenses were offered. On the contrary, there was almost a preemptive strike by [President Reagan’s] supporters against any who would raise such irrelevancies. George Will…noted, correctly, that on the day of the invasion I “dropped into the Senate press gallery to charge that we may have violated the UN Charter.” (In point of fact I said we had violated that of the OAS as well.) Will continued: “But it is bad enough we pay for the United Nations; surely we do not have to pay attention to it.” That is not a satisfactory retort. Paying attention to the UN Charter is paying attention to our understanding of the law of nations. This is what we are presumed to believe. Or formerly to have believed.
We seem to have come to regard international law as a self-imposed restraint that puts us at disadvantage in a lawless world. A Wall Street Journal editorial at this time began by recounting a dinner table conversation in which a guest declared, “We are only going to be able to tlak sense about Grenada if anyone here who is an international lawyer agrees to keep his mouth shut.” What is missing from this is the sense we once had that it is in our interest to advance the cause of law in world affairs. Certainly we continue to understand this with respect to our internal affairs. One can be worldly about this. It is obviously in the interest of the “satisfied powers,” as the term once was, to see that others abide by the law, especially when the particular law has been devised by those particular powers. But this is not truly the case with the United Nations Charter. Its essential provisions were accepted as law long before the Charter was drafted. Besides, we are better than this. What does it mean to be an American if not to know that law in fact protects the weak. Above an enterance tot he Department of Justice Building on Pennsylvania Avenue (dating from the era of the Republican administrations of the 1920s when the Federal triangle was built) will be found inscribed the plain injunction WHERE LAW ENDS, TYRRANY BEGINS. Each of those Presidents would have had us a member of the World Court. They thought it mattered. Seemingly, presidents no longer do. When the United Nations General Assembly voted massively to “deplore” our invasion — every NATO ally either voting against us or abstaining, and only eight nations in all voting with us — President Reagan was at lengths to have it understood that he could not care less. So much for world opinion which American presidents once thought would be the natural ally of American purposes.
Moynihan then notes that diplomacy might have worked better, especially since the Cubans were the “cause of our problems” in the Carribbean, where the Grenadan government was only a “symptom”. This nicely sets up Moynihan’s point of international law’s utility in saving nations from themselves:
A decent respect for international law, inter alia, as international lawyers will say, might have occasioned a weekend’s pause in which we could have considered our interests rather than merely giving in to our impulses. That, largely, is what law is all about.
Remember Richard Perle’s gleeful admission that the invasion of Iraq was illegal? Perle’s attitude is very much John Bolton’s (and, for that matter, George Bush’s; the infamous Powell presentation at the UN was only done to get Tony Blair on board): international law is only for thee and not for me, or for Israel. These people are basically international gangsters, and hacks like Marty are basically their street urchin fellow-travelers, cheering their neighborhood gang which has made the big time.
Moynihan was one of those rare birds who started Right but was pushed Left by close and prolonged observation of his former friends’ depravity. Moynihan was one of the original neocons, intially reacting against LBJ’s Great Society programs, but then after enabling Nixon and Ford (to his eventual discontent if not disgust) he wound up in the Reagan era basically an appalled bystander, his general attitude being expressed in the stately, patrician euphemisms for “wtf is with these people?” Put another way, Moynihan did have a conscience and some universal standards, which means he’s no John Bolton.
It’s really quite unseemly for me to pay attention to Marty or any other lackwit.
Of course, most Democratic senators oppose the president’s foreign policy. But they are in the minority. And do they have the right to sabotage a nomination that expresses–for better and for worse–the president’s views?
Why, yes! It’s right there in the Constitution, in that pesky and oft-neglected Article II. Next question?
Irony of ironies as Bush and Bolton (both less than fans of the UN) call for it to come to Israel’s rescue and disarm Hezbollah.
Why not send in a contingent of U.S. marines to help out with the mission? Oops, sorry, it’s been tried.
Liberal????
with enemies like this who needs friends.
I’m probably not the first to come up with that but it seems appropriate.
“And do they have the right to sabotage a nomination that expresses–for better and for worse–the president’s views?”
Why does this remind me of any Focus on the Family press release from 2005 regarding Supreme Court nominees? And, by extension, “Justice Sunday?”
Also, I love how he leaves the question unanswered so that the reader gets to figure it out. “Well, according to everything Martin Peretz just said, I guess they don’t…” It’s much easier to leave the desired-yet-absurd answer unspoken than to write a sentence like, “These senators don’t have the right to vote no on a presidential nominee.”
It is really quite unseemly for the Democratic minority to be stalking Bolton’s nomination. It isn’t as if the U.N. post is a judicial appointment, where the separation of powers implies greater senatorial prerogatives in exercising “advice and consent.�
Adrift as I am in the land of “liberal media,” let me see if I correctly understand Mr. Peretz’s argument:
We can afford to blow off Bolton’s nomination because it’s not like he’s being considered for anything important like a judicial appointment. And besides, we need someone in the U.N. who will “suck-up” to AIPAC.
The U.N. ambassador is really a representative of the president in international affairs. Of course, most Democratic senators oppose the president’s foreign policy. But they are in the minority. And do they have the right to sabotage a nomination that expresses–for better and for worse–the president’s views?
Well…yeah–DOH! The Senate has a duty to oppose unsuitable nominees. Particularly if said nominee may not be in the best interests of OUR country, or if they endanger the safety of its citizens.
The Times was carrying on what one could only call a vendetta against Moynihan for what were then surprising insights on race but are now–forgive the metaphor–white bread.
I could be wrong, but wasn’t Moynihan the one who also wrote a paper in the 1960s about how blacks are inferior because they’re a matriarchal (that is, raised primarily by women) culture?
Maybe that’s what Peretz is referencing?
Peretz makes me want to renew my TNR subscription just so I can cancel it again.
Centuries ago, I did a few public readings (as a writer for Spy) in clubs or other venues where Maura Moynihan and Adam Green (son of Phyllis Newman and Adolph Green) did a two-person comedy act. V. smart and funny. And now look. Good for her.
Poor Danny Pat! He was a prime example of the Royal Irish Mucker in action, with all the excitement and all the infamy that role implies. Unlike the soft-handed, hard-hearted neocons now vainly attempting to turn him into a marble statue, Moynihan knew what life looked like outside the gated community of modern Republican philosophy. He didn’t always enjoy or approve of the lives of those who read the Daily News or the Post instead of the NYTimes, but he never forgot Those People were also his constituents and deserving of attention. His most infamous comment during his active career, the memo suggesting that Nixon treat the victims of the War on Poverty with “benign neglect”, was a broad example of what his fellow Irish-Americans then called “the gift-wrapped horse turd” — a rhetorical device taking its recipient’s ill-thought-out proposals the one step further that would show them up for the pious sham they were. (The archetype, and unmatched epitome, of this literary art is of course Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal.”) Nixon and his thugs had no intention of spending any more attention, much less money, on the bottom 40% of the American population than the current crop of White House thugs have — but in Moynihan’s era, the Republi-Thugs were at least susceptible to public shame. Where another heated assault on the political standards that allowed so many of America’s most vulnerable to suffer unnoticed would have been dismissed as “just another left-wing Commie hippie screed”, Moynihan’s grandiose exposure of just how wide-spread and complicated the “poverty problem” was (and just how much the top 2% of the American Ruling Class benefited from the suffering of the bottom quintiles) was enough of a public embarrassment to help spark Nixon’s guaranteed annual income proposal.
Unfortunately, like all radicals who don’t die young & glamorously, Moynihan lived to see his most progressive proposals derided as mere window-dressing of the conservative center. (Always a political front-runner, he may have been the first Democratic progressive of his WWII generation to be co-opted by the early-boomer backlash Republicans.) By the time he was appointed to the U.N., his best years were behind him, and nobody was more aware of that fact than poor Danny Pat. Dismissed by the rising generation as a Nixon frontman, he chose to retaliate by becoming “more conservative than Bill Buckley” (as in the taunt ‘more Catholic than the Pope’). When he believed that his actions in the UN helped lead to 102,000 deaths, he fully expected to be called to account by his God for every one of those souls — he never tried to pretend that those deaths hadn’t happened, or that the phrase “collateral damage” could sanction murder into a variety of garden-tidying. And Moynihan, raised in the traditional Irish-American culture of his generation, always feared and sometimes revered women, but he never understood how much women & men had in common. His last last thirty years were a sad and inexorable descent into the darkness, and I doubt we’ll be able to appreciate his legacy for another generation.
BUT… Moynihan never did have much respect for Marty Peretz. Irish-Americans, particularly in New York City, have a bone-deep identification with Israel as another scrappy, religious, hyperliterate nation forever besieged by its larger, more powerful, less moral neighbors. Danny Pat wasted far too much of his geriatric energies on the upcoming crop of Neoconservative hustlers, but he dismissed Peretz as second- or third-rate well before the rest of us had much reason to sort the Newt Gingriches (actively dangerous) from the William Kristols (dangerous only insofar as they can manipulate others more gifted). Moynihan never pandered to Peretz’s man-crush on Al Gore, for instance. And when, in his dying days, he finally broke under the combined pressure of the entire Democratic establishment to endorse Hillary as his successor in the Senate, his irritation at Peretz’s crows of triumph were just about his last public comments.
John Bolton is to Daniel Patrick Moynihan as George W. Bush is to Winston Churchill. And if Moynihan were still alive, Peretz wouldn’t have the stones to even suggest that Bolton could achieve Moynihan’s stature if he worked hard through his next six lifetimes — because Moynihan would certainly sue him for libel, and the wording of his suit would be too dire a punishment for Marty the Makher to risk.
Moynihan never pandered to Peretz’s man-crush on Al Gore, for instance.
Well neither does Al Gore himself. After the 2000 fiasco, Gore realized he should have never listened to Crazy Marty’s advice on picking Lieberman. Gore also came to believe that the New Republic as a bad influence on the Democratic party, basically serving to undermine its core values. Gore along with his business partner Joel Hyatt offered to buy TNR from Peretz.
http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewPrint&articleId=11299
Clearly other than a lingering homoerotic attraction for a college aged Al Gore, after opposing the Iraq War and endorsing TNR’s despised Howard Dean in 2004 I seriously bet Peretz feels nothing but a deep burning betrayal.
Did Pat Moynihan actively shill for wars on behalf the Nixon administration?? Because the only use Bushco has for a UN ambassador is to provide cover for its military adventures. Powell pretends he was lied to as well. Bolton can’t wait to help peddle the lies.
Crazy Marty can not talk about Bolton without having one hand down his pants. TNR has already written done so many puff pieces endorsing Bolton, Bolton’s dick is getting chapped.
Like I said here before, the minute Bolton is confirmed , the Iranian bombing targets are going to be finalized in the White House basement. Peretz knows that. Worse Hillary and Chuck Schummer know it too.
“It isn’t as if the U.N. post is a judicial appointment, where the separation of powers implies greater senatorial prerogatives in exercising “advice and consent.â€?”
Um…what the hell does this mean? I don’t rember the part of Con Law where the checks and balances only applies to the judiciary and not the executive.
This post isn’t funny at all. Not one bit. I thought you were going to be funny. Come on. Be funny.
Did Pat Moynihan ever give exclusive interviews to a screaming harpy? One reason why he should never have been confirmed, and Bolton should. Um.
I’m not a great fan of Moynihan, but Peretz is just abusing his memory for partisan gain. (And MP quotes Ikle, too? Oy.) For example, read Moynihan’s diplomatic telegrams during his tenure as AMB to India — especially when India tested its first nuclear device. Moynihan’s exceptional call for restraint (“Take [India] seriously, giving a good dose of thought to how its interests and ours may be accommodated, and takeing [sic] emphatic steps to bring about such accomodation … India is not about to bomb Omaha, nor Leningrad. And probably not Shanghai.”) and his nuanced appreciation as to why India sought such a weapon (“If there were no other reason for India getting itself a bomb, the contrast with the way it has been dealt with by the major powers and the way China is dealt with would have been sufficient to arouse by [sic] the most wilfully virtuous regime to action”) is about as far from Peretz, Bolton and the Bush administration’s theory of international order as can be imagined.
What, Daniel Patrick Moynihan felt-up Atlas’ Juggs, too? I’m so confused.
Ann Laurie,
Thank you! I’d ever really understood my parents’ persistant fondness for Moynihan.
Moynihan said: ‘The UN was created by our country
It’s about time somebody acknowledged this basic truth – the UN was our baby, right from the start. It’s only after we lost control of our creation that we decided to take our bat and ball and go home. Once our “world council” began to actually represent other countries instead of being a rubberstamp for American interests, we wanted nothing to do with it.
Of course not! That’d be silly.
Bush said-“I’m a Recovering Drunk”
My interpretation of his comment to a group of recovering addicts in Iowa.
‘I’m on a Walk just like you and it is a never ending Walk as far as I’m concerned”. Per Judy Keen-USA Today.
Needed a wireless transmitter during debates. Undeniable.
His interpreter in Indonesia said he was using one in meeting with Prime Minister.
No Sane or Sober person would make so many inane remarks.BUSH WAFFLE HOUSE
“I say what I mean and mean what I say�
“ Promises made-Promises kept�
“When I make up my mind it stays made up�
“I do not take cues from anyone�
“You can’t say one thing and do another�
“Trust me I’m a straight shooter�
“I’m the commander, I don’t need to explain, I do not need to explain why I do things�
“I need a WAR to be a successful president�
�I’m the War President�
“I’m the Peace President�
“A Leader never admits mistakes�
“I’m the Decider and I decide what is best�. God Bless the King!
“Lucky Me, I hit the Trifecta�
“God told me to attack the terrorists in Iraq to keep them from attacking us�.
Exact words of Hitler except he said Poland not Iraq.
“I’m a Recovering Drunk� said Bush. Judy Keen USA Today12-29-05
‘There is no point in discussing the pros and cons of the war�
IS THIS MAN SANE?
————————————————
1.Osama Bin Laden is my number one priority. (at least this week)
2. We need an Office of Strategic Influence (Next decade maybe)
3. I will follow the UN Resolution as long as it takes-10-27-02
10-31-02—The UN needs to act now
2-13-03—The UN needs to show courage (like I did during Vietnam.)
4. I am a strong believer in Fair Trade—(except steel and softwood lumber) (votes first)
Ed Crane—Co-Founder and President of The Cato Institute-“Everything this
Administration does is political�
5. We do not need for the Homeland Security Department to be a Cabinet position.
I made up my mind on it. Boston Globe—6-9-02 “Bush Flip Flop�
6. I will get Osama Bin Laden “Dead or Alive�—(go get em cowboy)—5-13-02-(“I don’t know where he is, I have no idea and I really don’t care.) (It’s not that important. It’s not out first priority�) (“I say what I mean�). (“When I make up my mind it stays made up�).
7. I will use the bully pulpit with OPEC. (Sic em bulldog my gas now 1.65 per gallon)
Supply went down and Prices went up and (“This is just the Free Market at Work�)
8. I will never apologize to the Chinese for “stealing our plane�. Please guys! Be nice.
Return our plane. “I regret it� was later comment.
9. I mean what I say—“We can expect an attack�. Each month warning. When BOY?
10. Wash. Post-2-8-03—Bush seeking a promise from IRAN (Evil) for humanitarian help
in event a slaughter is done in Afghan. (Sounds like Reagan?)
11. NYT-1-23-03—Bush (Man of steel will) “rescinding� old policy and implementing a new policy that allows managed care organizations to limit and restrict coverage of emergency services for poor people on Medicaid. This was after criticizing HMOs for refusal to allow treatment. If this is a Devout Christian I am Jesus Christ.
12. We will not negotiate with North Korea. Wash Post 1-16-03—Bush is now willing to consider agricultural and energy aid. (Hold on! This is EVIL of axis)
13.Individual investors who borrow money to buy dividend-paying stocks should be penalized. (Gosh! What did I say—I did not mean it) NYT 2-5-03
14. I mean what I say until yelling starts. Military pay increase of 2% then 4%.
Stars & Stripes-12-30-02—Bush asked Defense Dept. to lower the announced pay raise for the military from 3.7% to 2%. Congress finally got 4 in 2004 budget.
“I am tired of all the Lying and Deception�—Amen! Halleluiah! Then stop it Boy.
15.I mean what I say—I am the education president. Please. First budget increased by 1.5% which had averaged 5% increase per year over five years. (Sounds like Clinton was the educated educator to me.)
16.Wash Post-12-2-02—In June 2002 Bush promised 500 Million to fight mother-child transmission of Aids . In Aug he vetoed the first transfer of the 500 million. In 111 days since his promise 222,000 babies have been infected with Aids. (I wonder if Jesus Christ is tossing in his bed)
17.“Secretary O’Neill is doing a good job. The economy is improving. I have faith in him�. (Your faith lasts two weeks boy)
18.The Homeland Security Bio-Terrorism Bill is too expensive. I will veto it. An Ok is not a veto boy.
(I mean what I say� but maybe I will not this time.)
19. I do not approve of an Independent Investigation of 9-11. (“I mean what I say� but—yelling is too loud).
20.I am against international money laundering controls. (9-11—“I changed my steel mind�) They may catch daddy.
21.We will have major social security changes. Wash Post. 11-11-01—Andrew Card on Meet the Press on 11-10-02 “I am not sure we will reform it� This was a Centerpiece of his campaign..
22.-12-30-02—We will not tolerate a North Korean nuclear arsenal. (Act nice guys if you want our $$$)
23.We do not hit civilian targets(in Afghan). There is no evidence. (Red Cross building not civilian—Veterans Hospital is military—Warlord Party heading to Kabul to celebrate was armed with .22 rifles—Wedding Party was violent and firing in the air at our planes 20,000 feet above them)
24.Wash Posr-11-15-02—“If you are not happy with the administration’s policy toward Iraq at any given moment just wait a week or two. A new policy, more to your liking, is bound to appear�.
A. Go it alone week
B. Let us wait for UN week
C. “Regime change� is goal
D. remove wmd is goal
E. Secretary of State is nor speaking for the president
F. Attorney General is not speaking for the administration.
G. I am sick and tired of this waffling and waiting.
25.Steel Tariff—I really did not mean that much. I angered some people. Reduce it.
(When I make up my mind it stays made up)
26.Carbon Dioxide is a power plant pollutant I will control.. (Oh! It will be too costly to my energy contributors so forget it suckers—cough cough)
27.Reuters-6-26-02—‘I have confidence in the Palestinians when they understand we are saying they must make the right decisions�—“I can assure you we will not be putting money into a society which is not transparent and which is corrupt�.
(Was he referring to his administration? Sounds like it—transparent—corrupt)
28.I am against human cloning in any form. (well, not quite “any�)
29.“I knew nothing about dangers of 9-11�. Eight months later. “I knew a damn bunch (but I was too busy on Vacation and looking for more to blame on that President who stomped my dad. Darn it is tough being dumb, inarticulate and following such a brain and great success)
30.“I am in excellent physical condition.� (Darn, staying up till midnight in Paris zapped all my energy—Boy—try conditioning your mind))
31.I am on top of everything. (Why did you say twice on TV—“I am not in control the Pentagon is running the War (Afghan)—You have a White House base—same as Al Qaeda. Only more secretive)
32.I will veto bill increasing benefits for disabled military retirees (Yep! He was war hero.. 6-20-02 in Wash Post. I do not change my mind. Until 2004 Budget).
33.-6-14-02—released 23,653 of �cherry picked� Reagan papers after refusing to do it. “When I make up my mind it stays made up� Is this BOY real ?�
34.I mean what I say—‘I will provide 100 million to help preserve the Rain Forest� 12M is not 100. And he has MBA.
35.Budgeted funds for his dad’s Crusader cannon then demanded that Congress kill the big sucker.
36. Airline Security is very important to me. Then, why did you fight so hard to keep guns out of cockpits?
37.Barred part-time Mexican and Canadian students from U.S. schools after 9-11. Then, after howls reversed his decision. “When I make up my mind�
38.Simon (candidate for Gov. of California). “He is a breath of fresh air.�
Bush sho hated that California Smog for he avoided Simon while in his presence.
39.“I will not engage in bailing out countries.� 30 billion to Brazil just a tip?
40.NY Times-Richard Stevenson-2-14-03—“Bush eases Ban on AIDS money to pro-abortion groups abroad.What will he tell Falwell?
41.-March 6—“We will call for a UN Security Council vote.� Geo. Bush
March 13—“There may be no vote� Colin Powell
NY TIMES-“Bush promises to adopt peace plan�. The Guardian-“Bush reversed his previous insistence that the Middle East Peace effort must wait till after Iraq SLAUGHTERAMA
42.NY TIMES–Edmund L. Andrwews-2-26-03—Less than a month after President Bush proposed a radical overhaul and expansion of individual retirement and savings account the White House has abandoned their idea. (“When I make up my mind it stays made upâ€?) (“Promises made promises keptâ€?) (“I say what I mean and mean what I sayâ€?)
————-WHO IN HECK IS IN CHARGE IN THIS WAFFLE HOUSE?————
43. NY Times-Patrick e. Tyler-5-17-03—“In reversal, plan for Iraqi self rule by June 1 put off indefinitely. “When I make up my mind(scorched?) it stays made up�? Sho!
44.BIG WAFFLE—Washington Post-8-19-03-Dana Milbank & Bradley Graham—
“Bush revises view on combat in Iraqâ€?.—May I on USS Desertion he said– “Combat Operations are overâ€?.. Now—“Actually, Major military operations continue because we still have combat operations going onâ€?. Is this boy of scorched brain or what?
45. TEACH FOR AMERICA PROGRAM ZAPPED BY BUSH. I am pissed off. Big time. In 2000 campaign Bush promised President Wendy Koop to expand it. His aides asked President Wendy Koop to quadruple it. . On July 11,2003 she got a letter “We regret to inform you your application was not selected for funding�. Gone. Zapped totally. Bush is one of sorriest not just worst in history. Read TIME—8-17-03. Joe Klein article headed “WHO KILLED TEACH FOR AMERICA�? Sorry, but I am so furious I have difficulty writing. I do not like to curse but xxxxxxx.
45.OBL not priority or is he?
A 9-13-01—“The most important thing is for us to find Osama Bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him�.
B. 9-17-01—I want justice. Wanted :Dead or alive.�
C 12-28-01—“Listen awhile ago I said to the American people our objective is more than Bin Laden—Press pool in chapel on ranch
D. 3-13-02 “I am truly not that concerned about him. �The New American 4-8-02
E. 3-13-02—“I don’t know where Bin Laden is. I have no idea and I really don’t care. It’s not that important. It’s not our priority.� Wow!
46. Bush told bob Woodward in his book “Bush War� that “he didn’t feel that sense of urgency� about Al Qaeda prior to 9-11�. Now claims had great sense of urgency.
47.Nov 2003 Bush made highly touted speech about spreading democracy in the entire Middle East. NYT reported he backed away after it was denounced by Egypt Mubarak and Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
48. 2-2-04 Budget Director Bolton-“we will not need additional funds for 04.�
5-5-04 Bush “I am requesting that Congress establish a 25 Billion contingency reserve �
49. 3-9-04 Press Secretary McClellan-“Condoleeza Rice will not testify before 9-11 commission it is matter of principle.� President Bush on 3-30-94 “Dr. Rice will testify.�
50. 3-19-02 Ari Fleischer-“Creating a Cabinet Office will not solve the problem.�
6-6-02 President Bush “Tonight I ask the Congress to join me in creating a single permanent department securing the homeland of America.�
51. NYT 1-29-04 “Bush resists outside investigation on WMD intelligence failure.�
2-6-04 Bush “Today, by executive order, I am creating an independent commission, to look at American intelligence capabilities.�
52. Wash Post-1-19-04-“Bush opposes extension of time for 9-11 commission.�
CNN-2-4-04—“Bush supports time extension for 9-11 commission.â€?
53.NYTimes 2-26-04-Bush limits testimony to one hour.�
Spokesman McClellan-3-10-04 “Bush sets no time limit for testimony.�
54.Larry King Live 2-15-00 Bush says Gay Marriage is a state issue.
2-24-04-Bush “Today I call upon the Congress to promptly pass, an amendment to our constitution defining andprot4cting marriage as a union of a man and woman as husband and wife.�
55. 3-6-03 Bush vows to have a UN vote no matter what 3-18-03-Wash Post-“Bush withdraws request for UN vote.�
56. Columbia Journalism Review—Bush vetoed Patients Bill Of Rights as Governor but boasted how he got it passed. Now, flip flop to double straddle. He touted the Texas law as super duper.
When a challenge to the Texas Law went before Supreme Court Bush joined with two HMO’s in opposing the law. Could it be because the HMO’s are Pioneers in his campaign. Doesn’t this man have any honor or integrity?
57.Remove troops from Korea. A proposal by Cheney. Bush on 3-13-02 “There is no question we have obligations around the world, which we will keep. There is a major obligation for the 37,000 troops in South Korea. It is an obligation that is an important obligation. I know it is important and we will keep that obligation.
US Newswire-8-19-04.
58. Speech in Michigan 8-16-04—“We have got to use our resources wisely, like water
It starts with keeping the Great Lakes water in the Great Lakes Basin.. My position is clear : we are never going to allow diversion of Great Lakes water.�
Per Associated Press in July 2001 Bush said “I want to talk to Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien about piping Great Lakes water to the west and southwest. A lot of people don’t need the water, but when you head South and West, we do need it.�
AP 7-19-01—White House release 7-17-01 “remarks by the President in Roundtable interview with Foreign Press.
59. Cheney in Elko, Nevada 8-14-04 “Kerry recommended sensitivity for terrorists. No war was ever won by sensitivity�. Interview with Hugh Hewitt—8-12-04—“From the standpoint of the shrine (Najah), obviously it is a sensitive area, and we are very much aware of it’s sensitivity.� The Daily Howler-8-17-04
60. NYTimes-8-31-04—
April 13,2004—“Can you ever win the war on terror? Of course you can.�
July 19,2004—-“I have a clear vision and a strategy to win the war on terror.â€?
August 30,2004—“I don’t think you can win the war on terror�
“I say what I Mean and Mean what I say�
“When I make up my mind it stays made up.�
IS THIS PERSON SANE?
61. March 5,2000—on CBS Face the Nation—Independent group attacking his opponent John McCain—Bush said: ‘That is what freedom of speech is all about. People have the right to do what they want to do, under the-under the First Amendment in America.
August 23,2004 Bush said: “the practice of independent groups to run smear ads is bad for the system. They should be banned. �Never heard of Swift Boat?
62. Bush said over and over in late 2005—“I will veto the McCain Bill on Torture�
The Bill passed overwhelmingly in Congress and old –“When I make up my Mind it stays made upâ€? –said “This is a great bill and I will sign itâ€?.
63. Many times Bush stated “I will not negotiate with terrorists�. Many times he called Iraq insurgents “terrorists�. Newsweek-2-6-06—Military leaders admit they are in negotiations with “Insurgents�.
Ho! Hum! Just another day in Bush Waffle House.
64. Speech in LA—Belliaco—Peter Fredson—4-24-06
Bush—“I know peoplehere are suffering at the gas pump. I feel your pain. I Pledge to the people here f I find any price gouging it will be dealt with firmly
He did not note the simple obvious. Exxon demand is down but PROFITS are at all time high for any corporation.
65. National Anthem in Spanish—Bush says it is wrong. In 2001 Campaign he had singers sing it in Spanish and applauded them.
“When I make up my mind it stays made up.�
66. “A leader never Admits mistakes�
Press conference with Blair in 6-06 Is he normal?
“I regret saying “Bring Em On� and “Get OBL Dead Or Alive�
67. 4-9-99-Bush said-“Victory means exit strategy and it’s important for the president to tell us what the strategy is�
6-5-99—Bush said—“I think it’s also important to lay out a timetable as to how long they will be involved and when they will be withdrawn�
6-24-95—Bush said—“It doesn’t make any sense to have a timetable. You know, if you give a timetable you’re-you’re conceding too much to the enemy�.
“I say what I Mean and Mean what I say�. Moogumboo.
68. Bush at Twin Towers—“I take a sacred vow that we will never stop looking for Osama Bin Laden�
7-5-06—Osama Bin Laden Search Group disbanded by Bush.
(I say what I Mean and Mean what I say
69.Bush Press Conference on Lebanon crisis—8-06-Chris Elliott seaboard on line
�I’m not prejudiced. As a matter of fact Dick Cheney’s daughter is Lebanese. I think a marriage should be between a man and a woman not a woman and a man.� So clear George! Snort! Snort!
EXCELLENT LIST OF 172 WAFFLES AT http://WWW.FLIPFLOPS.COMPASSIONGATE.COM
clarence swinney
political historian
lifeaholics of america
burlington nc
These inane comments explain this comment Bush made in 2000 campaign to a group of recovering addicts in Iowa:
“I’m on a Walk just like you. It is a never ending Walk as far as I’m concerned.
Is anyone treating him?
Hillary Two for One-Wow! What a Bargain.
CLINTON PRAISE–WITH PLEASURE
GDP–rose from 6300 to11,600
NATIONAL INCOME-5,000 to 8,000 Billion–
JOBS CREATED—237,00 per month to replace Jimmy Carter record of 218,000.
AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS–$360 to $478
AVERAGE WEEKLY HOURS WORKED–never hit 35.0–hit that mark 4 times in 80’s
UNEMPLOYMENT–from 7.2% down down down to as low as 3.9%
MINIMUM WAGE–$4.25 to $5.15
MINORITIES–did exceedingly well
HOME OWNERSHIP–hit all time high (no big deal most can say this-except Reagan)
DEFICIT–290 Billion to whoopee a SURPLUS
DEBT—-+28%—300% increase over prior 12 years by Conservatives.
FEDERAL SPENDING–+28%—+80% under Reagan- who is da true conservative?
DOW JONES AVERAGE—3,500 to 11,800 all it’s history to get to 3500 and Clinton zooms it
NASDAQ–700 to 5,000—all of it’s history to get to 700 and Clinton zooms it
VALUES INDEXES– almost all bad went down–good went up in zoom zoom zoom
FOREIGN AFFAIRS–Peace on Earth good will toward each other—Mark of a true Christian–what has Bush done to Peace on Earth?
POPULARITY—highest poll ratings in history during peacetime in AFRICA, ASIA AND EUROPE . Even 98.5% in Moscow–left office with Highest Gallup rating since it was started in 1920’s.
STAND UP FOR JUSTICE–evil conservatives spent $110,000,000 on hearings and investigations and caught one very evil man who took a few plane rides to events.
BOW YOUR HEADS—“Thank you God for sending us a man of Bill Clinton’s character, intelligence, knowledge of governance, ability to face up to crises without whimpering and a great leader of the world. Amenâ€?.
THANK YOU GOD FOR THE GOOD TIMES THE CLINTON YEARS.
clarence swinney-political historian-Lifeaholics of America- burlington nc
Democrats afraid to boast of successes?
——————– SHOCK & AWE————————
———-DEMOCRATS CREATE WEALTH AND JOBS———–
1.From Harding In 1921 to Bush in 2003
2.Democrats held White House for 40 years and Republicans for 42.5 years.
3.Democrats created 75,820,000 net new jobs — Republicans 36,440,000.
4.Per Year Average—Democrats 1,825,200—Republicans 856,400.
5.Republicans had 9 presidents during the period and 6 had depression or recession.
6.Republicans had a recession/depression in 177 months and Democrats in 32 months.
7.DOW—1928 to 2003—Stock market gained 11% average per year under D presidents versus 2% under R presidents. Small Cap stocks gained 18% as yearly average under D and minus 3% under R.
8.GDP—grew by 43% more under Democrats.
————————————————————————————————————
Comparing Democrat’s hero-CLINTON—versus Republican’s hero–REAGAN
———————————————————————————————————–
1.JOBS—grew by 43% more under Clinton.
2.GDP—grew by 57% more under Clinton.
3.DOW—grew by 700% more under Clinton..
4.NASDAQ-grew by 18 times as much under Clinton.
4.SPENDING–grew by 28% under Clinton—80% under Reagan.
5.DEBT—grew by 43% under Clinton—187% under Reagan.
6. DEFICITS—Clinton got a large surplus–grew by 112% under Reagan.
7.NATIONAL INCOME—grew by100% more under Clinton.
8.PERSONAL INCOME—Grew by 110% more under Clinton.
SOURCES—Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.BLS.Gov)–Economic Policy Institute (EPI.org)—Global & World Almanacs from 1980 to 2003 (annual issues)
http://www.the-hamster.com (chart taken from NY Times)
National Archives History on Presidents. http://www.nara.gov
LA Times 10-11-00 on Market–www.Find articles.com
A vote for a Republican is a vote for Less Success.
A vote to reduce the Standard of Living for all Americans.
Clarence Swinney-Political Historian-Lifeaholics of America-Retired
Please call me a Tax & Spend Liberal a label of which I am very proud-I died when Kerry sat Mute as Bush called him a Kennedy Tax & Spend Liberal.
Kerry had this info. So did Edwards and DNC.
Who trains the candidates?Morons?
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Kerry should have replied–“Yes! I am a Proud Tax & Spend Liberal Very proud of it.
I do it the good old American way.I PAY MY WAY. I raise revenue to pay my bills.
YOU SPEND AND BORROW CONSERVATIVES SPEND LIKE CRAZY PEOPLE BUT ALWAYS BORROW TO LEAVE BILLS FOR OUR KIDS TO PAY.
IT TOOK OVER 200 YEARS TO GET A DEBT OF LESS THAN 1,000 BILLION. THEN, REAGAN AND YOUR DAD ADDED ON 3,000 BILLION IN JUST 12 SHORT YEARS OF BIG TIME SPEND AND BORROW.
NOW, YOU ARE HEADING TO ADD ON FROM 4 TO 5000 BILLION.
Please, Mr. President ,continue to call me a Tax & Spend Liberal who pays his way the good old American way.”
————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
TAX & SPEND LIBERAL WHO PAYS HIS WAY
From G. Washington to Reagan we ended with less than 1,000 Billion in Debt.
The next 12 years of Spend & Borrow Conservatism added on over 3,000 Billion.
Bush 2006 Budget—Five Year Forecast—Historical Tables—Pages 116-117 reveals that he will add on 3759 Billion.
This does not include costs of two occupations (not wars)
This is Gang who screamed—
CUT GOVERNMENT–BALANCE THE BUDGET—TAX CUTS PAY THEIR WAY
Swinney Fact Check—–
CUT GOVERNMENT—
Reagan yelled this more than any President.—His record—He INCREASED the size of government more than any predecessor.
He INCREASED spending by 80%
p.s. He increased California spending by 112%. This is a Conservative? He taxed everything but Sex in Hollywood.
TAX CUTS PAY THEIRWAY.—-
Reagan cut Income taxes by 750 Billion. He borrowed 1700 Billion to pay for it.
He increased Income Tax Revenues by 140 Billion. Wee bit short of 750 Billion.
Bush cut income taxes by 1700 Billion and will borrow 3759 Billion top pay for it.
Anyone care to wager it will not be 5,000 Billion?
Democrats use sensible fiscal polices which SPEND but TAX to Pay Their Way.
Republicans use selfish fiscal policies which SPEND but BORROW to let the kids pay tomorrow.
Which party do you want handling your money?
Clarence swinney-political historian-reagan-clinton-bush II administrations-burlington nc-
Please spread this information to get Democrats using it.
He could have destroyed Bush in a few minutes.
Who will tell the people? DNC will not. Will you?
Give me a platform and I will.
I spoke four straight hours in speech and Q & A on Clinton vs Reagan. Without notes.
P.S. How hypocritical but No D will say it.
Bush supporters are BRAGGING on big increase in revenues.
I thought they wanted to cut government. They are taking more of our money. Who will tell the people?
Proud of Increasing the Size of Government!
PRESIDENT REAGAN SCANDALS
INVESTIGATIONS OF IMPORTANT OFFICIALS
Attorney General—Cabinet–two OIC investigations-no charge
Asst. Attorney General—No Charge
Secretary of Defense—Cabinet—Pardoned
Asst. Sec. Of Defense—Guilty–to Prison
Secretary of Labor—Cabinet—Not Guilty
Secretary of Interior—Cabinet—Guilty—fined
National Security Agency–Director—-Cabinet—Guilty
National Security Agency–Director—-Cabinet—Guilty—Pardoned
National Security Agency—Director—Cabinet—Resigned
Asst. Secretary of Navy—–Guilty—Fined
Dep. Secretary of Air Force-Guilty—Fined
Director of CIA—Cabinet—Died during investigation
Asst. Director of CIA—Guilty—Fined
Director of HUD—Cabinet–Pled Fifth
Asst. Director of HUD—Guilty
Director of Superfund—Guilty—to Prison
Director of FAA—Guilty-Fined
Director of NASA-Guilty—Fined
Special Asst to President—Guilty
Communications Director for President—Guilty
EPA Administrator—Resigned
Asst. Secretary of State—Guilty
9 Cabinet Members—
REAGANGATES (32)
Illwind-gate
Superfund-gate
Hud
Wed-Tech
Interior
Labor
Oval Office
Lt Colonel
Iran-Contra
Basement
Faa
Nasa
Pentagon
Korea
S & L
Epa
Postal
Agriculture
Hhs
Home loan
Veterans
Fema
Legal Services
Civil Rights
Transportation
Product Safety
Economic Development
Synthetic Fuels
Social Security
Land Management
Osha
Cia
Sources—
Haynes Johnson book “Sleepwalking�
“When The Pentagon Was For Sale�—Andy Pasztor—(awesome list of criminals)
2 books titled “Scandals�
“The Clothes Lost The Emperor�-Paul Slansky (day by day chronology of 1980’s)
“Stealing From America�—
“Landslide�-Jane Mayer & Doyle McManus
Nathan Miller book states 233 were investigated
Haynes Johnson states 138 were –charged–indicted–found guilty — investigated
p.s.—Newt and Gang spent $110,000,000-(GAO number) on Hearings and Investigations on Clinton
and one—(yes 1) person working for President Clinton was Found Guilty of a Felony. Evil man took few trips to ball games , etc. No quid pro quo per OIC –Pals doing what they had done for years—take pal to events. Pled guilty for did not have finances to fight the government and Smaltzsmear. His boss fought 37 such charges and was found not guilty on each charge.
I would appreciate anyone correcting what I write. I try to be honest but do make errors.
Clarence Swinney
Political Historian
Lifeaholics of America—retired
Burlington nc
YOU ARE A REPUGLINUT IF YOU CLAIM TO BE NUMBER ONE AS
#1-in Debt Creation— equivalent of 600 years worth in only 12 years.
#1-In Deficit Creation-
#1-In lowest GDP growth over a 12 year period since WWII.
#1-In number of times (256) a President and Admiral stated under oath “I do not remember�
#1-In Bank Failures-with a president smiling and saying �no pain no gain�.
#1-In Personal Bankruptcies- “No pain no gain�
#1-In Business Bankruptcies-“No pain no gain�
#1-In Farm Foreclosures-“No pain no gain�
#1-In Looting S&L’s – “folks. I think we hit the jackpotâ€?
Come and get it the vaults are unguarded.
#1-In stagnating median incomes
#1-In 60% Tax Cut for Top 1%
#1-In having a President with Alzhimers during “most� of his eight years.-“no pain no gain�
#1-In having a Grade-B actor play a role As president
#1-In having a president who lied, over and over, about his wife’s age
#1-In having a president who had a “shotgun� wedding
#1-In having president who lied about having a �close-knit� family.
#1-In having a president who made decisions from alignment of the stars-not God
#1-In having a president who spouted religious values yet never belonged to a church, rarely attended church services, and was never known, by his family, to pray.
#1-In having a president who called a lying, stealing, convicted criminal Lt. Colonel a HERO then a :LIAR
#1-In having a president who never once used the word ethics in referring to his administration employees.
#1-In having a president who l ost 241 marines from a bad decision. Rambo talk “we will not cut and run� yet ordered removal of troops only 3.5 months later.
#1-In having a president who claimed “A GREAT VICTORY� after whipping a small island with 88,000 inhabitants and 10,000 BB guns. “We whipped the Vietnam Syndrome.� “America stands tall again� I wants to puke.
#1-In pushing a “disinformation� program against a small nation to have an excuse to bomb it.
#1-In bombing a small nation and causing the loss of 270 civilians from a bombed plane.
#1-In shooting down a civilian airliner and killing 290.
#1-In having a 20% prime interest rate and smiling to say “no pain no gain�
#1-In having 12-16% home loan interest rates. “No pain no gain�
#1-In killing the home construction industry by allowing raids on S &L’s which were designed for home loans.
#1-In having 10.8% unemployment while saying “no pain no gain�.
#1-In averaging 167,000 jobs per month over 12 years compared to Carter’s 219,000 per month.
#1-In having a recession in one third of twelve years.
#1-In having every major scandal during 20ttth century.
Plenty More.
Clarence Swinney
Burlington nc