TPMDC reports that Ellen Sauerbrey, who served as President Bush’s Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, told a local Republican group in Maryland last week that President Obama was following in the footsteps of global dictators:
She said that the Obama administration advanced “fascist, socialist ideals.”
“I’m really afraid for the future of our country,” Sauerbrey told attendees at the annual Lincoln/Reagan Dinner of Sept. 12 in Callaway. “Our Constitution is indeed being dismantled.”
In an interview with TPMDC, Sauerbrey tried to back away from her comments, insisting that she “mentioned Hitler’s name other than when the reporter came up to me afterwards,” she said. “And I said, look, I am not making a direct comparison Obama and Hitler. I’m making a comparison between policies in countries, and that history has a way of repeating itself.” Bush’s appointment of Sauerbrey in 2005 was widely panned because she had “no experience responding to major crises calling for international relief” and was nothing more than a “patronage” appointment.
Anyone who describes their opponent as “fascist, socialist” in conjunction is clearly just name-calling; they may as well throw in “Satanic” to cover all their bases. If it were me, I’d also throw in “Disney-esque.”
September 18th, 2009 at 9:56 amHmmm… I’d bet good money that Ellen is from Oklahoma…
September 18th, 2009 at 9:57 am***
was she a bush czar
or czarina?
?
September 18th, 2009 at 9:58 amI’ve never heard of this stooge, what hole did she crawl out of?
September 18th, 2009 at 9:59 amWhen Repubs like Sauerbrey put “fascist, socialist” together like that, it proves they are either total liars or incredibly ignorant, or, in apparently most cases, both.
September 18th, 2009 at 9:59 amOK, so Obama’s a socialist, he’s Hitler (a Nazi), he’s a communist, he’s a Muslim! Each of these groups hated the others and have certainly gone to war over it. A whole slew of our Presidents weren’t born in states (or even in this country – they were Brits before becoming Americans!) or even territories. What’s with these Birther idiots anyway? Where are these brain-dead accusations coming from? No sense or understanding of history at all, or of what each of the political/religious groups are. They are being used as fear mongering labels and those using them don’t care, and the media is buying into it. Forrest Gump had it right – “Stupid is as stupid does!”
September 18th, 2009 at 10:01 amHmmm… I’d bet good money that Ellen is from Oklahoma…
Actually she ran for Governor of Maryland back in 1998?
September 18th, 2009 at 10:01 amWell at least she reads … her RNC talking points in the morning that is.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:03 amEllen Sauerbrey, who served as President Bush’s Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration…
__________
Hmmm… w/ a title like that, was Ellen one of George’s CZARS?
___________
Ellen would appear to suffer from an irony deficiency…
September 18th, 2009 at 10:06 amHasn’t she appeared before on the Wheaties Cereal Box?
September 18th, 2009 at 10:07 amSo she says “Our Constitution is indeed being dismantled.”
Damned right lady, and your former Boss is responsible.
STFU and go crawl under the rock Bush found you under.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:08 amWait. Rue McClanahan used to work for Bush?
September 18th, 2009 at 10:08 amI would expect nothing less from a “loyal Bushie”.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:08 amShe probably used the position to assert capitalistic values, so the non-senate confirmation thingie doesn’t count as irony. If she had been doing her job according to her title that would have been socialist.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:10 amMs, Sauerbrey, the cause of your fears is in your own mind. Try to understand that.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:10 amWhy didn’t she just use the N word.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:11 amYou ask how Ellen Sauerbrey is doing today? Well, she stepped down to spend more time in the 50s.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:11 am“Ellen Sauerbrey, who served as President Bush’s Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration…”
No disrespect to the Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, but call me when the actual Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration has something to say about fascism and socialism.
On second that, I’ll probably not take that call either. :)
September 18th, 2009 at 10:12 amThank you for being a friend, Ellen.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:13 amWhat is up with the words ‘Facist’ and ‘Socialist’. WTF? Young people don’t give a sh*t. And who is this woman anyway? Who gives a rats ass what SHE thinks? Apparently she was an underqualified hack. Which describes most of all Bush’s cronies. ‘Brownie’ comes to mind.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:14 amFascism (from Mirriam-Webster online dictionary)
Has Obama exalted the nation above the individual? Well, he has been criticized for pointing out that we need to look at America’s problems. Actually, it is the NeoCons who continue to harp ‘America is the best country in the world’ in everything, objective evidence notwithstanding (for example, finding fault in the UN study which shows America 37th in healthcare). So, on this point, Obama – 0, NeoCons – 1.
Does Obama exalt race? Has he touted the superiority of the African race? No. He chastized African-American fathers and encouraged them to become more involved with their offspring. On the other hand, conservative talking heads continue to tout the supremacy of the white race. So, on race superiority claims, Obama – 0, NeoCons – 1
Finally, centralized autocratic government. Obama continues to try to be bipartisan. Republicans continue to reflexively reject any proposal he makes. The most recent Republican administration continually pushed the idea of the Unitary Executive. So, on a centralized autocratic government, it is Obama – 0, NeoCons – 1.
Dictatorial leadership. It was Bush, not Obama, who said his job would be a lot easier if he were a dictator. Obama continues to try bipartisanship. Obama – 0, NeoCons 1.
Severe economic and socicial regimentation. Under Bush the disparity in income between the very rich and very poor reached the highest it’s been since feudal times. Bush’s economic bailout benefited the wealthy. Obama’s stimulus plan provided jobs for the working class. Again, Obama – 0, NeoCons – 1.
Forceable suppression of opposition. During the Bush regime, peaceful protesters were arrested en masse. During Obama’s Presidency, protestors shout down opposing points of view and openly carry loaded weapons yet are not arrested. Obama – 0, NeoCons – 1
Total fascism score: Obama – 0, NeoCons 6.
The NeoCons win the title: Fascists.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:15 amThe great thing is I didn’t even know these people were part of the previous administration. Bush’s time at yale clearly paid off as a history major as he left an easter egg hunt of historical pop-ups after leaving office.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:16 amAre these people allergic to “The Google”? I mean, seriously, it takes all of 5 seconds to locate dictionary defintions for each of these opposing words…
September 18th, 2009 at 10:18 amThese people literally make me sick to my stomach. They should all be forced to live in a government-free, fascist state — perhaps the Sudan or Somalia — or perhaps instead they should be sterilized so they cannot dilute the gene pool more than they already have (of course dried up hag Sauerbrey has already done her damage). phukc these nitwits; they make me sick.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:20 amI don’t know about a Wheaties box, RUC, but I’d love to see her picture on a milk carton…
September 18th, 2009 at 10:21 amWhy is it that those whose own policies inch towards true fascism have so little idea what fascism means?
“Islamofascism”
“Fascist-Socialsim”
These people have no business being in government if they can’t pass a damn civics course. I went to a high school where my graduating class was about 550. No civics classes were offered and it showed.
I brought up a point in my sociology class my sr year of high school (2004) about the Iraq War. Incredibly, some kid then said “It’s good we took out Saddam. He flew planes into 9/11″.
I guess it’s unconstitutional to mandate IQ tests before you can register to vote and to mandate civics tests before you can run for public office. That’s a damn shame.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:22 am:-D
#12 — Rue McClanahan IS from Oklahoma, and probably does know that George Washington was our first President.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:23 amI’m a big TP fan, but I do get weary of always reading about what the wackos are saying. Do they really deserve as much attention as you give them? Why do you only report what they say? I would sure like to hear more about what my heroes (Pelosi, Waxman, etc.) are saying and doing. I bet you report on that nut job Glen Beck 25 times for every report on Nancy Pelosi.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:24 amYanno, Hitler put the socialists in forced labor camps.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:24 amBriseadh na Faire says: @ 21, wish I could vote more than once.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:25 amThe right has been using terms like “fascist”, “socialist”, “communist”, “Marxist”, etc. as meaningless epithets — pretty much the way one would use the term “assh*le”.
But when they combine them, the results are truly hysterical — or at least they would be if we didn’t know they were being serious.
I realize Ellen Sauerbrey was just feeding red meat to a school of sharks, and therefore felt no obligation to define her terms or justify her accusations with any kind of evidence.
But wouldn’t it be refreshing to hear one of these wingnuts give an actual valid argument as to HOW President Obama is a dictator, HOW our constitution is being dismantled, and HOW President Obama compares to Adolf Hitler?
Since there is no valid argument for any of these concepts, it ain’t gonna happen.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:26 amAll these woman look the same don’t they? Kind of like the Barbara Bush, Harriet Myers mold. Weird. The young ones look a little pychotic (Ann Coulter, Michelle Bachman and Michelle Malkin) then slowly transform into school marms. If that is what Republicanism does to a woman, count me out.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:27 amAIO says:
“I’ve never heard of this stooge, what hole did she crawl out of?”
I believe she emerged from GWB’s bunghole some time in January of 2006 while Congress was on a recess. I had assumed that she crawled back in there this past January but I was apparently mistaken.
For what it’s worth, this uninformed @sshat was once a teacher. Praise the fairy in the clouds that she is no longer warping children’s minds and now spends her time preaching to the tinfoil hat choir.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:27 amAnd I said, look, I am not making a direct comparison Obama and Hitler. I’m making a comparison between policies in countries, and that history has a way of repeating itself.”
Show me where President Obama has:
1. Burned or banned books
2. Burned the Reichstag, I mean, White House…
3. Suspended Constitutional rights (e.g. habeus corpus)
4. Started a war, or two…
5. Sent Jews to concentration camps (or other people of middle-eastern descent)
6. Considered invoking martial law.
7. Said he was on a mission from his god.
Etc.
Sounds just like Bush, not Obama…
September 18th, 2009 at 10:28 amThe constitution is for by and of the people [majority] the people doing the dismantling are special interest [minority] groups.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:28 amIt’s obvious Republicans are still being led by Karl Rove. Accusing Dems of their abuses and take credit for Dem successes. He is an awful human and has done as much as anybody to try to destroy this country.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:28 amMethinks Ellen took too many drugs in college while listening to Donovan’s Universal Soldier,
He’s five foot-two, and he’s six feet-four,
He fights with missiles and with spears.
He’s all of thirty-one, and he’s only seventeen,
Been a soldier for a thousand years.
He’a a Catholic, a Hindu, an Atheist, a Jain,
A Buddhist and a Baptist and a Jew.
And he knows he shouldn’t kill,
And he knows he always will,
Kill you for me my friend and me for you.
And he’s fighting for Canada,
He’s fighting for France,
He’s fighting for the USA,
And he’s fighting for the Russians,
And he’s fighting for Japan,
And he thinks we’ll put an end to war this way.
And he’s fighting for Democracy,
He’s fighting for the Reds,
He says it’s for the peace of all.
He’s the one who must decide,
Who’s to live and who’s to die,
And he never sees the writing on the wall.
How would Hitler have condemned him at Dachau?
Without him Caesar would have stood alone,
He’s the one who gives his body
As a weapon of the war,
And without him all this killing can’t go on.
He’s the Universal Soldier and he really is to blame,
September 18th, 2009 at 10:30 amHis orders come from far away no more,
They come from here and there and you and me,
And brothers can’t you see,
This is not the way we put the end to war.
Huh. And how does saying people are like past historical figures keep us from repeating past history? Does she realize that demonizing others, which many past bad leaders did, actually helps, I say, to repeat that past history humanity has locked itself into?
September 18th, 2009 at 10:31 amShe was panned as a know-nothing, patronage appointment so who cares what she thinks?
September 18th, 2009 at 10:32 amGood grief! Ellen Sauergrapes lost the govenors race in 1994 by 6000 votes.She spent time and money trying to throw out the election results.She lost again in 1998 by 52%-48%.She is a nitwit who was appointed by Bush in a patronage position.Another Bush czar that we don’t talk about.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:32 amThe framers of our constitution were socialists, we fought for our independence to get away from the kings, queens, monarchs and lords, those special interests that controlled the populace by Gold. And this women is saying that we should return to that type of rule in a democratic republic?
September 18th, 2009 at 10:34 amLOL! I read a couple of posts about the Oklahoma’s students performance on citizenship. And even I was astonished how uninformed they are! Not knowing George Washington was the first Pres? They didn’t know about the Bill of Rights? I mean, my God! What are they teaching these kids. Oh, I know. OK is very Red State. They probably are teaching the Bible and how the Earth is only 6 million years old!
September 18th, 2009 at 10:37 amA Population, Refugees, and Migration Czar. What would Glenda Beck say about that.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:38 amSheesh! What a a troll! Talk about a scary image to start the day with!
September 18th, 2009 at 10:38 amWhat the GOP REALLY means … says:
Well, she stepped down to spend more time in the 50s.
__________
The 1850’s, to be more specific…
September 18th, 2009 at 10:39 amSounds more like she is describing the last administration but she forgot dictatorship.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:40 amP.D. says:
OK is very Red State. They probably are teaching the Bible and how the Earth is only 6 million years old!
__________
It’s 6 THOUSAND years old… 6,000.
(6 million is still WAY wrong, but even THAT would be preferable to 6,000)
September 18th, 2009 at 10:41 am@47, LOL! You’re right. Me bad. And we can’t forget that Noah brought the dinosaurs onto the Ark too!
September 18th, 2009 at 10:43 amWikipedia:
September 18th, 2009 at 10:45 amBush placed her in office by way of a recess appointment, bypassing the need for Senate confirmation. Her confirmation was unlikely, given strong objections by some senators. Sauerbrey’s lack of refugee and managerial experience caused some activists and numerous congressmen to liken her appointment to that of Michael D. Brown.[1]
And which of Bush’s appointments were not patronage? “You’re doin’ a heck of a job Brownie”.
The neo-McCarthyites just won’t go away. What they’ll do next is want to cut down all the trees in America because there’s a socialist behind every tree. My personal tree is a 55 year old silver maple.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:47 amSAUERBREY pronounced “sour bray” is a noise from an abused mule. She is apparently a Democrat trying to escape from her Republican trap. She’s welcome at the Party anytime. She can be re-educated, and quickly.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:53 amShorter Ms. Sauerbrey.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:56 amWhy couldn’t that old cow has voiced any concerns during the lies and arm-twisting leading up to the Iraq disaster?
Where was all her goddamned concern then?
That silly old gasbag should have scorn dumped on her constantly.
Moroni is baloney, and Beck is dreck.
Screw the repiggies, and screw the teabagger trash.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:59 amIn other news…..
Benito Mussolini calls kettle black
September 18th, 2009 at 11:00 amBriseadh na Faire says:
The NeoCons win the title: Fascists.
Game….Set….MATCH!!
Great Post :)
September 18th, 2009 at 11:00 amI dunno, but who else here thinks she looks like a good candidate for one of those “death panels” they accuse the healthcare reform of pushing?
Sorry, I had to go there, but it was the first thing that popped into my head after I realized she was actually alive in that photo.
September 18th, 2009 at 11:03 amEllen Sauerbrey ran twice (unsuccessfully) for governor in my home state of Maryland.
She is, most charitably, a whack job.
September 18th, 2009 at 11:04 amIt’s nice to see Rue McClanahan getting work these days…
September 18th, 2009 at 11:05 amP.D. says:
All these woman look the same don’t they? Kind of like the Barbara Bush, Harriet Myers mold. Weird. The young ones look a little pychotic (Ann Coulter, Michelle Bachman and Michelle Malkin) then slowly transform into school marms. If that is what Republicanism does to a woman, count me out.
It obviously is what happens when one is boffed and cheated on by tight-ass republic dudes over long periods of time. Frickin conservatives should come with a warning label on them :)~
September 18th, 2009 at 11:05 amBush and his corporate welfare was more fascist than anything Obama is trying to accomplish. Socialism in some controlled form will be better than the free market system the wingnuts have tried and failed with.
September 18th, 2009 at 11:06 amAt the very least, this Sourpuss needs to leave the Botox alone.
September 18th, 2009 at 11:09 amP.D. says:
I mean, my God! What are they teaching these kids. Oh, I know. OK is very Red State. They probably are teaching the Bible and how the Earth is only 6 million years old!
For show ‘n’ tell they’re encouraged to bring in photos of their great-great grandparents riding dinosaurs.
September 18th, 2009 at 11:10 amRepublicans don’t mind socialist health care when they’re in Congress. Double standards.
Republicans didn’t mind the ultra-fascist Bush Administration. Again, double standards.
I hope the Republicans continue their extremist agenda. It will spell the end of the Republican party, and then we can engage with rational humans rather than right-whining lemmings we’re currently faced with.
September 18th, 2009 at 11:12 amShe’s not making a direct comparison, but trying to make a more shadowy connection which most of her audience will be too poorly schooled in history to understand is completely inane. Bravo. Stay classy.
September 18th, 2009 at 11:14 amThey know what they are doing, they are punking us. They just want to get revenge for the left’s truthful views on Dumbya. They think it’s cute to mix up two very different ideologies to insult us for our concern during the dark ages of 2001 to 2008.
September 18th, 2009 at 11:22 amNoMoreBush says
September 18th, 2009 at 10:23 am
#12 — Rue McClanahan IS from Oklahoma, and probably does know that George Washington was our first President.
____________________________________________________________
She voted for Obama. I’m guessing she’s one of the sharper knives in the Oklahoma drawer.
September 18th, 2009 at 11:27 amunbelievable says:
Are these people allergic to “The Google”? I mean, seriously, it takes all of 5 seconds to locate dictionary defintions for each of these opposing words…
I’ve noticed a lot of wingnuts behaving this way. It’s like they don’t use words by definition, and just go by the positive or negative connotations involved. She doesn’t like Obama, and she doesn’t like fascism. Therefore in wingnut think, that means Obama is a fascist.
If one were to analyze it logically (which they are not capable of) it would require the assumption of the premises that anything you like is everything you like, and anything you dislike is everything you dislike.
.
DoingNuance says:
I’m a big TP fan, but I do get weary of always reading about what the wackos are saying. Do they really deserve as much attention as you give them?
Ask John Kerry about swift boats. “Ignoring the smears” didn’t work out so well for him.
September 18th, 2009 at 11:43 amShe’s another R who didn’t take the study of History very seriously. It’s epidemic with those people.
September 18th, 2009 at 11:47 amThis is another Republican who fails to appreciate the consequences of losing an election.
September 18th, 2009 at 11:49 am…she’s a has-been and a hack.
…she’s NON-credible and doesn’t even know that she was working for a DICTATORSHIP as it was.
…she’s one of the “…do as we say…and no one gets hurt” crowd.
…she makes me sick.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:07 pmYes…more “sour braying,” 2 cents worth. Next.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:07 pmI’m doing a term paper for school.
Since the Nazi-Fascist-Socialist-Communist party is in the news so much, I’d like to collect some information on them. I’ve tried to google them to find their headquarters (at least get a phone number and call them up).
Alternately, could someone point me to at least one govt official who is a member ? I’ve tried calling Obama but his assistant said he was too busy to talk.
Please help me. My grade is depending on this !!!!!
September 18th, 2009 at 12:11 pmHint to repubs.
Post at number 72 is a joke.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:12 pmTo quote the great Fred Sanford” there is nothing worse than any old,ugly white woman.”
September 18th, 2009 at 12:13 pmVan Jones!
ACORWN!
HEEK!
September 18th, 2009 at 12:24 pmSauerbrey – I’m really afraid for the future of our country,
Means – Republicans are not going to be in power for a very long time.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:25 pmThe terms “Nazi-Fascist-Socialist-Communist” or slogans about the Dems being soft on crime or defense are the same old memes that the Republicans have been using for decades with some success. Most of the public isn’t buying because people are more educated and have become tone deaf to this rhetoric. But since the Republicans lack any cogent ideas, they keep returning to these old tactics. They think the people are gullible. Republicans just don’t learn.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:28 pmSauerbrey must be old enough to know that her former boss’s grandfather, Prescott Bush, actually DID admire Hitler. His co-conspirators in a 1933 attempted coup by big business to remove FDR from office admired the way Hitler was creating an economy that was ordered and allowed for more corporate long-term planning. They felt democracy was very disorderly for business.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:40 pmWhen is borg ship Faux going to instruct these robots that socialism and facism are not interchangeable.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:44 pmtombaker says:
She’s another R who didn’t take the study of History very seriously.
… or civics, mathematics, law, economics… pretty much anything. They are quite simply, stupid ignorant fearful people.
.
MapleStreet says:
Please help me. My grade is depending on this !!!!!
I’m afraid that if your grade is dependent on finding fascists and communists ever getting along in the course of human history, you’re stuck with an F.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:51 pmPatronage appointment? How much did she pay for the office?
I hope it had a better vanity in it than the one she used the day that photo was taken; she’s, ah, a little on the garish side. But I digress…
If these arsewipes are going to continue to conflate Socialism on the one hand with Fascism on the other, I’m going to start conflating Republicanism on the one hand with Maoism on the other. There are some interesting parallels to explore, as well as certain contact points.
September 18th, 2009 at 1:24 pmSo that’s what a white token looks like. I must admit Republicans are really scared of Obama succeeding and it shows. History has shown after a Democrat President cleans up the mess of the former Republican President we will have another Republican back in Office. I know McCain’s timing was off and sister Sarah is hoping she’s the choice. Who knows if Rush Limbaugh doesn’t get fatter he might just get the top job and then he can invite GW over to the White House to smoke weed.
September 18th, 2009 at 1:24 pmDon’t foget that Mrs. Sauergrapes is probably collecting Social Secuity and she is old enough to be on Medicare.Also, she may be collecting a pension from the state because she was a member of the house of delegates.If I were feeding at the public trough I would not bite the hand that feeds me.
September 18th, 2009 at 1:43 pmYou know, instead of term limits, we need age limits in government. After 70, one cannot run for or be appointed to anything. Yeah, it’s unfair, but bite me. Even my own 73-year old parents, who I love dearly, just don’t get the current state of affairs. Age 30-70. 40 years seems plenty of time for someone to help/screw with our lives.
September 18th, 2009 at 2:02 pmIt’s odd. The Republicans represent the NAZI’s more then the Democrats do.
Perfect examples of the Right-Wing NAZI’s
Individualism over collectivism.
Racism or racial segregation over racial tolerance.
Eugenics over freedom of reproduction.
Merit over equality.
Competition over cooperation.
Power politics and militarism over pacifism.
One-person rule or self-rule over democracy.
Capitalism over Marxism.
Realism over idealism.
Nationalism over internationalism.
Exclusiveness over inclusiveness.
Meat-eating over vegetarianism.
Gun ownership over gun control
Common sense over theory or science.
Pragmatism over principle.
Religion over secularism.
Republicans try to say Hitler was left wing cause the word “socialist” was in the party name. Yet, Republicans like to call themselves “conservatives”. When they are anything but conservative. Notice 8.5 Trillion of our debt belongs to Republican presidents. Notice Republicans got the most pork for 2009.
Can a Republican even name 1 socialist policy the NAZI’s used? And for those who say I shouldn’t compare people to the NAZI’s, cause the NAZI’s killed alot of people. How many people have died from conservative military actions that had no merit?
September 18th, 2009 at 2:04 pm85. Daniels,
Let me add that in the 30’s, the conservative side / busnissmen side of politics admired the Nazis. Prescott Bush was part of a group wanting to make Americas a Nazi system (and was possibly involved with a plot to assasinate the president); Henry Ford was instrumental in distributing some rabidly anti-semitic texts; etc…..
September 18th, 2009 at 2:21 pm.
WARRANTLESS WIRETAPPING OF AMERICANS…
HABEAS CORPUS RIGHTS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED…
JUSTIFICATION OF TORTURE THROUGH TORTURED LOGIC…
DENIAL OF HUMAN RIGHTS THROUGH RENDITION AND DETENTION…
HOLDING PRISONERS WITHOUT CHARGE AND DUE PROCESS OR REPRESENTATION…
Yea, Ellen Sauerbrey helped take us there!
.
September 18th, 2009 at 2:51 pm“Our Constitution is indeed being dismantled.”
Well, she got that right, but it started in earnest with Reagan and really picked up steam during Bush the Lesser’s reign.
I think we are indeed moving toward fascism, if you accept Mussolini’s definition of fascism as Corporatism. Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Bush again actively accommodated and promoted Corporatism, and now we have Obama acquiescing in the same trend, either because he agrees with it or because he is too weak to resist.
It isn’t a matter of left/right or liberal/conservative any longer. We have a one party system now and that party answers only to its corporate masters.
September 18th, 2009 at 2:57 pm.
Let’s play, What’s My Line.
Who said:
.
September 18th, 2009 at 3:01 pmSo it really is true that the wackos have taken over the Republican Party!!
September 18th, 2009 at 3:03 pm@ 84. Crazy Cat Lady says: You know, instead of term limits, we need age limits in government. After 70, one cannot run for or be appointed to anything. Yeah, it’s unfair, but bite me. Even my own 73-year old parents, who I love dearly, just don’t get the current state of affairs. Age 30-70. 40 years seems plenty of time for someone to help/screw with our lives. September 18th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Well, crap. That’s just mean, CCL. No tolerance for senility, eh?
Actually, I’d set the bar lower, if there has to be a limit. Like 55 or 60. Don’t get me wrong; I’m in my mid-60s and have no particular peeve with my fellow seniors, but I’ve met enough doofae who’re younger than myself and I’d not trust them with animal tech at the local shelter, let alone dogcatcher.
I think the age restrictions for Congress and the Executive are fine as they are. I don’t really have a problem with that. What I’d like to see is a more-or-less politically neutral sanity test that politicians would have to pass before they can run for office; it’s the impossible dream, ya know.
September 18th, 2009 at 5:43 pmVP – we’re all just dreaming. I already stated it was unfair – so is most of the world. And if I’m mean setting it at 70, what are you, setting it at 55 or 60??
Do you seriously think it’s okay to have senile Senators/Reps/Members of SCOTUS?
September 18th, 2009 at 6:00 pmVirtual Pebble says:
I think the age restrictions for Congress and the Executive are fine as they are. I don’t really have a problem with that. What I’d like to see is a more-or-less politically neutral sanity test that politicians would have to pass before they can run for office; it’s the impossible dream, ya know.
Age limits would exclude a lot of very good people. Sen. Byrd is above that age limit and he stood against Bush and Iraq. I believe Byrd is the oldest Senator. I would remind you that two of the greatest Supreme Court Justices, Douglas and Black, were well advanced in age but wrote many decisions protecting the Bill of Rights. Age limits cut both ways.
September 18th, 2009 at 7:17 pm@ 92. Crazy Cat Lady says: VP – we’re all just dreaming. I already stated it was unfair – so is most of the world. And if I’m mean setting it at 70, what are you, setting it at 55 or 60??
Realistic? Trying to observe a long forgotten speed limit? I should have put a \snark in caps at that remark, but OTOH, I really don’t think chronological or calendrical age is the issue, which gets to your second question, or implicit point.
Do you seriously think it’s okay to have senile Senators/Reps/Members of SCOTUS? September 18th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Certainly not, and I’m not in favor of some of the crazies we have at the moment either. Actually, the first time I read that I saw ’servile’ rather than ’senile’ and that can be just as bad; witness the pandering and follow-through from some pols – Chuck Grassley has me particularly irritated in that regard at the moment.
The town hall business may be part of the problem. At one time, when we didn’t have electronic media and the town halls and political meetings ran to a somewhat different format, it may have been that both “the people” and party leadership could see who was senile, or servile, or just not up to snuff, and could weed the less distinguished performers out sooner; meetings served as a public reality or sanity check.
Now town halls seem to have degenerated. That may be more my impression than the reality, but even if they’re well run, the fact that only issues folks go to them skews the selection process toward incumbents, and the media methodology in campaigning and in getting info out, even in recess periods, can mask a lot of problems with an officeholder.
And alas, you’re spot on about our unfair world, but that shouldn’t stall trying to improve the situation.
September 18th, 2009 at 7:32 pm@ 93. pags2 sez:… I concure heartily, pags. That’s why I said that I think the current age restrictions are fine; those restrictions set a floor, on the assumption that someone under a particular age doesn’t have the depth of experience for an office. That may be for the best, although I’ve known some people who were under the qualification age who I would have supported for Representative or Senator – political people, in fact.
I don’t recall that there are any age constraints for SCOTUS and I don’t think there should be, although Justice Roberts may prove me wrong – some people are never old enough or young enough or otherwise qualified for the bench, no matter how smart they seem to be.
September 18th, 2009 at 7:42 pm“I’m really afraid for the future of our country,” Sauerbrey told attendees at the annual Lincoln/Reagan Dinner of Sept. 12 in Callaway. “Our Constitution is indeed being dismantled.”
Psst, Ms. Sauerbrey? I hate to tell you this, but your boss Mr. Bush already dismantle the Constitution with the Patriot Act.
September 18th, 2009 at 7:46 pmTwo words:
old
September 18th, 2009 at 7:51 pmbat
Virtual Pebble says:
Do you seriously think it’s okay to have senile Senators/Reps/Members of SCOTUS? September 18th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Certainly not, and I’m not in favor of some of the crazies we have at the moment either. Actually, the first time I read that I saw ’servile’ rather than ’senile’ and that can be just as bad; witness the pandering and follow-through from some pols – Chuck Grassley has me particularly irritated in that regard at the moment.
The problem with Grassley is not his age or intellect. He suffers from the same problem many senators have–they are incapable of being statesmen.
September 18th, 2009 at 7:52 pmWho has unearthed that mummy? Sounds like she has her rotten brain in a cookie jar lost long time ago.
September 18th, 2009 at 9:01 pmWhat happened, did her Botox shots fail her again?
September 19th, 2009 at 10:45 amCould you imagine the therapy one would have to go through if you woke up next to her, with the full morning sun in her face?
She probably used the position to assert capitalistic values, so the non-senate confirmation thingie doesn’t count as irony. If she had been doing her job according to her title that would have been socialist.
hp,toshiba battery
September 19th, 2009 at 11:58 am@ 98. pags2 says:
Virtual Pebble says:
Do you seriously think it’s okay to have senile Senators/Reps/Members of SCOTUS? September 18th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Certainly not, and I’m not in favor of some of the crazies we have at the moment either. Actually, the first time I read that I saw ’servile’ rather than ’senile’ and that can be just as bad; witness the pandering and follow-through from some pols – Chuck Grassley has me particularly irritated in that regard at the moment.
The problem with Grassley is not his age or intellect. He suffers from the same problem many senators have–they are incapable of being statesmen.
September 18th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
It’s not just a problem with being statesmen, they have a problem with leadership, too. Very few of them have that capacity, hence the overreliance on polls and other methods of being led by the nose, when they’re not doing the bidding of some special interest or other.
Laurence O’Donnell on KO made a cogent point about Grassley last Thursday (9/17); essentially said that Grassley was out of his depth in all the media exposure of the August recess; he’s from a relatively small state and has been relatively obscure as a Senator, so he hasn’t learned to self-censor. That may be true, but I don’t think he’s been as obscure as O’Donnell thinks. He was sitting in Baucus’s chair, as I recall, up until the Senate changed hands in 2006; of course, under Shrub’s policy initiatives, nobody was going to be asking Grassley about tossing gramma under the gurney; he hasn’t had a health care initiative to worry about in Finance since Medicare D. (Jeez, is Grassley the creator of the Medicare D “donut hole”? Did he push the compromise that created that abomination?)
September 19th, 2009 at 1:54 pmIn a fascist state, attempting to shout down a government official would earn you a quick trip to the concentration camp, from which you would most likely never return. And the concept of these half-baked yahoos arming themselves against the government is wholly laughable. Their pop-guns would buy them little in the way of personal defense against the weapons our military has at its disposal. Come to think of it, their guns would have been taken away on day 1.
How could Obama have made such a huge strategic mistake as to begin pushing his fascist agenda without disarming the public first? What does he pay those czars for? Anyway?
September 19th, 2009 at 6:01 pmtest.
September 20th, 2009 at 1:53 amI dated this girl in high school.
September 20th, 2009 at 2:11 amShe hasn’t changed a bit.
September 20th, 2009 at 2:12 amThank you for your sharing.!
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:37 amThere are all kinds of anecdotal ties between Barack Obama and socialism, and some are fairly compelling.lazer epilasyon
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:20 am