“For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.” Luke 12:2
The past six months have been an amazing time for those who have suffered over the past six years. I’m not a fan of gotcha politics, but the shear volume of diverse revelations is really impressive. It seems that every time someone turns over a rock, another ugly administration secret comes crawling out.
We’ve got the FBI issuing so many letters authorizing domestic spying that it has lost track of them. As far as the legally mandated follow-up to confirm that the search was warranted, they forgot.
We’ve got the Attorney General’s office firing eight Federal Prosecutors for political purposes, which in itself isn’t unusual. What is unusual is rather than admit that, the AG went before congress and testified that it was for performance reasons. Now it turns out that all of them were doing a great job and had the formal reviews to prove it. They got fired for purely political reasons and the AG knew it when he testified. For example, one was fired because Karl Rove had a buddy that he wanted to give the job to.
We’ve got Scooter Libbey being convicted of lying to cover up the fact that his boss, the Vice President, instructed him to intentionally compromise the identity of a CIA agent in order to undermine the credibility of her war-critic husband.
We’ve got wounded soldiers living in slum conditions at what is supposed to be the Army’s best facility. It appears to be the result of funding cuts and planned base consolidation. The real culprit, however, was an inadequate military infrastructure overwhelmed by a poorly planned war.
We’ve got the previous speaker of the house covering up the fact a congressman was propositioning pages for two years. This same congressman headed a subcommittee to keep the Internet safe from sexual predators.
We’ve got a previous speaker of the House admitting that he lied about having an affair with a White House staffer at the same time that he was managing impeachment proceedings against the President because of lies about having an affair.
We’ve got a President promoting ethanol and trade with ethanol-rich Brazil, while enforcing tariffs that keep cheap Brazilian ethanol out of the country.
We’ve got a President visiting the still struggling gulf coast and New Orleans when the bulk of federal recovery funds haven’t been released because the states can’t come up with the required local match. In addition we have now learned that the emergency pumps that the Corps of Engineers purchased to protect New Orleans from the next flood are not only defective, but the Corps knew they were defective when they installed them. Those pumps were purchased from a big contributor to the Republican party who has a history of failure to perform on government contracts.
If I’ve missed any of your favorites, please feel free to add them.
I’m sure all of these things sounded good when someone first proposed them. The problem is that once people lose their moral compass, the ends always justify the means. Then when judgment comes, and it always does, the clever ethical shortcuts look stupid and self-indulgent. This particular torrent of revelations is all the more satisfying because of the self righteous morality Republicans used to gain support of those who really do try to live principled lives.
I’m not sure that it is particularly good government to spend the next two years turning over every rock that you can find, because it will likely take focus away from the problems that need attention. But I am sure that as long as those turning over the rocks are rewarded with discoveries, the investigations will continue.
Of course I have to add to the list “Curveball” who is hiding out in Germany. This smells of scapegoating and the first attempt to do preventative damage control regarding the war. They are hunting around for someone to blame for the bad call on supposed WMD’s and the whole war. Never mind that Cheney along with Rumsfeld spent more time at the Pentagon his first year in office than any vice president in history. What were they doing there? One retired Lt. Colonel’s at the time stated in an interview “They weren’t interested in the truth. They had their own agenda.” And it certainly wasn’t anti-terrorism efforts because we were delivered 9/11 shortly thereafter. Curious isn’t it?
I’ve been following these rats from the beginning. “You’ll know them by their deeds” is imperative if we’re ever going to see through the spin in the media and flowing out of their mouths or not. Notice whenever asked a question they don’t want to broach, it’s simply “I’m not going to answer that.” I remember that statement starting with Reagan. He would get all indignant as if it was beneath him to answer in the context of the whole Noreaga and Iran contra debacle that surfaced during his administration. They got their scapegoat then. Whatever happened to Ollie?
I don’t know about anyone else but as figureheads that represent the American people every elected official has the obligation to answer our questions about our country. If not, they are acting unethically. If we want to be fundamental about something, let’s start with government and return it to it’s roots.
Ria,
I like your new definition of fundamentalism – integrity and honesty.
What a concept!
Jeff
I have to disagree, as an Evangelist I would rather the Government and our Schools be ran by Secularist.
Imagine a public school in Dearborn where kids would be punished for not bowing to Mecca or reading the Quran? Government and schools Secular.
As for The Morals of our leaders in Government, It seems a pervert like Clinton and LBJ ran the country far better than that Traitor Carter.
Rick,
Not sure what you mean regarding who should run the schools. It is an interesting topic, but I don’t quite see how it fits the context of this discussion unless it is an extension of the discussion on governing.
As far as governing, there is certainly the argument that good politicians aren’t particularly good people, but I think that is overly simplistic. I think what we have proven is that the best government is one that represents the interests of the most people. Both LBJ and Clinton were skillful politicians and successfully created broad coalitions early in their terms. Both were/are also very complicated and deeply flawed people.
You clearly don’t share the same view of Carter as I do, but you have to admit that they don’t hand out Nobel Peace Prizes to just anybody. I think he is probably one of the more principled people to have held office in recent memory, but his personal values did not translate into an ability to build consensus. That same strong character, however, made him far more successful after he left office. Though his accomplishments as president will, on balance, be modest compared to to others, he used his international standing to accomplish significantly more than any other ex-president in history. So when his time comes, I think that God will recognize that Jimmy Carter has been a good and faithful servant.
Jeff
Rick,
Spoken like a true Republican – to date, Bush has spent $400 billion dollars on the war and it has lasted longer than WWII. Imagine what that money could have done for Michigan’s economy. Unfortunately, we are all sinners and to some degree, we all have flawed characters – God forgives us if we ask for His forgiveness. What’s disturbing is that Bush acts as if he is God and he appears to be arrogant enough to believe that he is justified in his actions. There were no WMDs and we invaded another country without provocation, yet we let millions be murdered by militia in Africa because Africa doesn’t have any resources that we need or want.
2 more years of Bush might be enough to completely divide the US and bankrupt our economy. In the global arena, we are small potatoes – we can’t even compete and as our money is depleted by this show of domination, so is our moral fiber. Just wait for another year in Michigan when the unemployment has run out and families struggle to feed their children. The war will still be going on and by then, another 80 billion will have gone for nothing. Thank God when the reign is over, there won’t be a Republican standing – those who survive the fallout will label themselves as “non-partisan” – I say wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Gee Mary, I am not a Republican, Though I have to say the best Presidents that have done well for this country were the toughest’s SOB’s in government. As for Carter I would like him in a Bible Study, but as a President he was a failure. and this last 12 months he is an Embarrassment, I think he is becoming senile.
But here is the deal, The way of the cross is not the way of man. Do not put your faith in government, Put you faith In Jesus. This country will probably not last another 20 years as we know it,
So what do we do? do we let the Chinese destroy our economy in ten years? do we let Mexicans change the way of life as we know it with Multi-Culturalism and Bilingualism?
Or do we go the way of the cross?
For me it is the cross,
Love your brother, No and If or buts, (Even Jimmy Carter:)
Rick
Keryx
Rick,
You’re an interesting guy.
You appear to be very angry about a lot of things, and at the same time you understand that loving even your enemies is one of the duties of Christians.
I’m curious how you define love. This isn’t a trap. I really am curious.
Jeff
Jeff
Certain thing tick me off, So Yeah I walk in this skin of sin.
Then The Spirit comes and says Peace be upon you.
And I realize What is my price to pay, and then the Love comes
The Love that sends me to Prison
The Love that sends me to Long Term Care
The Love that all people, even Osama Bin Ladin are my people
That holding hands with a baby raper in prayer, Love is there
He sent his son
Who Suffered
I cause some of that suffering
He died for me
I nailed his hand to the cross
He lives
that I may live
I cannot do enough for him
Loveing those who hate you is hard but Love breaks down all defenses, but Forgiveness is harder
Love, It comes from God, everything else is Glamour.
My conclusion is that our nation will not solve its spiritual problems with physical solutions.
Ann Arbor, MI Albert Howard 4 1st Afr Amer U.S. Prez ‘08
Contribute Now Fufill Prophecy
1st Place Apollo Theater Winner, Harlem, NY
http://www.AlbertHoward.org
Albert,
Thanks for your stopping by.
You’re the first presidential candidate that I’ve had comment. Hopefully you won’t be the last.
I agree with you that it is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing.
Jeff
Hey Rick. I remember you from the Freep blogs. It does take awhile to understand you. You have to admit you are a bit cynical but mean well. You simply find something wrong with everybody and many times are right on the money.
What I want to know is who in the Republican party do you find to be perverted? Looks like there might be a little deeper perversion over there.
What do you think?
RIA
ROLF
LETS see I think most of the Republican Party is perverted, It is all about them. But I think the Democrats are Satans spawn.
I admire Brownback and Huckabee, McCain and Romney, But you get guys like Delay What a dork and why wasent that pervert from Flordia arrested? and did Hasert know he was propositioning pages?
The World is not ours JOHN 15:18-19
18″If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
P.S. Ria if I offended you I am sorry, I get nuts at Fuzzy Kittin Theoligy that a lot of Chruches are pushing to fill the pews.
You do have a point about it. They are fillin those pews. Huge arenas of people waving their arms is better than armed with guns but it’s kinda frightening how easily people can be hurded, lead or mislead.
Ria,
The mega churches are putting people in the seats because it gives them a community, a purpose, and a direction that isn’t all that challenging. I knew someone who was very involved in one of these fast growing congregations and participated in a bible group, but they never read the bible. Instead they worked on concepts that were distilled from the bible by their pastor. That bothered me because, for example, you lose the whole interaction between the father and the first son when you only talk about the concept of the parable of the prodigal son.
If you are going to use the Bible as a guide to your life, I really think that you should read it for yourself.
Jeff
Jeff Your a hoot, Are you sure were are not siamese twins?
Rick,
Last time I checked, I have no twin (evil or otherwise). Though to be sure, you’d best ask my mom.
Jeff