-Caveat Lector-
From
http://www.thenation.com/thebeat/
}}}>Begin
Memo to George W. Bush from James Madison: "No nation can preserve
its freedom in the midst of continual warfare."
November 27 @ 6:54pm
It is always a tad troubling to reflect upon questions of George W.
Bush's familiarity with the Constitution and the original intents of
its authors. Unlike Bill Clinton, whose obsession with Thomas
Jefferson caused him to assert the precepts of the founders to a
greater extent than any president since Franklin Roosevelt, Bush the
Junior rarely references Jefferson, James Madison or other members of
the revolutionary cabal that got this American experiment started.
There is little evidence to suggest that the current President Bush
was ever particularly drawn to American history as a source of
inspiration or insight. He tended, as a student, more toward
cheerleader duties and fraternity pranks.
If the president is unfamiliar with the founders, however, they were
not unfamiliar with him -- or, at least, with his ilk.
Indeed, the Americans who thought longest and hardest about the role
of the executive in a system of shared governance, spent much energy
on consideration of the dangers of a president who imagined himself
all powerful --
especially in times of war.
Such, now, are the times, and such is the executive.
This week, Bush has put himself in the interesting position of refusing to use the
positive news out of Afghanistan to declare a sort of victory in the struggle between
the world's greatest superpower and the "army" of fo
rmer divinity students and freelance holy warriors who make up the Taliban. Instead of
gloating, the president has gone to great lengths to declare that "Afghanistan is
still just the beginning" and to suggest that the na
tion's current military commitments entail a "long, long struggle."
The Bush administration's ever-expanding "war on terrorism" could, the president
hinted, soon expand to involve direct conflict with Iraq. And Bush's self-proclaimed
"mighty struggle" will not stop there. The extent of th
e president's designs may seem ill defined -- as he has never really explained them to
the Congress or the American people. But he seems quite certain of himself. Asked
whether he might be evolving the current engagement'
s scope a good deal beyond the parameters of the writ Congress gave him to respond to
the September 11 terrorist attacks, Bush replied, "Have I expanded the definition?
I've always had that definition, as far as I'm conce
rned."
So we find ourselves in a state of sort-of war -- by any reasonable reading of the
Constitution, this remains an undeclared mission -- that we are told will be of a
continual nature.
Which brings us back to the founders.
James Madison, who poured more energy than any of the other drafters of the
Constitution into consideration of the appropriate extent of presidential powers, had
a good deal to say about presidents engaging in "long, long
struggles."
Warning that war is "the true nurse of executive aggrandizement," the
nation's fourth president argued:
"Of all the enemies of true liberty, war is, perhaps, the most to be
dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other.
War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and
armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing
the many under the domination of the few. In war, too, the
discretionary power of the Executive is extended; its influence in
dealing out offices, honors and emoluments is multiplied; and all
the means of seducing the minds, are added to those of subduing the
force, of the people. The same malignant aspect in republicanism may
be traced in the inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of
fraud, growing out of a state of war, and in the degeneracy of manner
and of morals, engendered in both. No nation can preserve its freedom
in the midst of continual warfare."
End<{{{
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Forwarded as information only; no endorsement to be presumed
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material
is distributed without charge or profit to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information
for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking
new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe
simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not
believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do
not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not
believe in anything merely on the authority of Teachers, elders or wise men.
Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it
agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all.
Then accept it and live up to it."
The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutta
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
A merely fallen enemy may rise again, but the reconciled
one is truly vanquished. -Johann Christoph Schiller,
German Writer (1759-1805)
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that
prevents us from living freely and nobly. -Bertrand Russell
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Everyone has the right...to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless
of frontiers."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will
teach you to keep your mouth shut."
--- Ernest Hemingway
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
<A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
<A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
