Bush Finally Articulates USSA Politicians' Long-Held Belief
December 9, 2005
2:21 p.m., MT

From Doug Thompson's rant on Capitol Hill Blue today:

Last month, Republican Congressional leaders filed into the Oval Office to meet with President George W. Bush and talk about renewing the controversial USA Patriot Act. ....

"Mr. President," one aide in the meeting said. "There is a valid case that the provisions in this law undermine the Constitution."

"Stop throwing the Constitution in my face," Bush screamed back. "It's just a goddamned piece of paper!"

I've talked to three people present for the meeting that day and they all confirm that the President of the United States called the Constitution "a goddamned piece of paper."

Much of the rest of Thompson's rant is devoted to how awful this is. Compared to other rants I've read, though, he just doesn't seem to get all that exercised. And, really, why should he? The only difference between this president and numerous others before him is that his power grabs have been more brazen, and his handlers better at distracting U.S. citizens from what's going on behind the scenes.

Probably, to many individuals and for many differing reasons, the Constitution is just a piece of paper (whether it's been damned by any god or not I leave to those who believe in such entities and, further, care to ponder such imponderables). However, to many who think that some form of nation-state is necessary for individuals to coexist peaceably, the Constitution lays out a set of ideas and rules that are tough to improve upon in toto. Arguably, anyone who runs for office at the federal level accepts both of those ideas. Whether such a person actually does accept them or not, to assume the elected office he or she swears (or affirms) to uphold the Constitution. So it should be shocking to learn that the president holds those ideas in such low regard as to utter what Bush has been claimed to have said.

Except for the fact that presidents and other federal officials have been ignoring it, at best, for ... oh, centuries now.

But moaning about the rain still being wet isn't quite as dramatic.

Sunni

Comments: 4 people have spoken!

On Saturday, December 10th, at approximately 6:10 a.m. Mountain time, Wolf DeVoon said:

Sunni, to the best of my knowledge, this is the first time in history any sitting president has said "It's just a goddamned piece of paper!"

The thing to watch out for is suspension of elections and imposition of martial law. Billy expects it. I don't know what to expect, but I'm not coming back.

On Saturday, December 10th, at approximately 11:58 a.m. Mountain time, Sunni said:

It may very well be, Wolf, but uttering the words is less important, in my opinion, than one's willingness to uphold the ideas represented by that "social contract". And many presidents have treated it as just a piece of paper.

Martial law hasn't been explicitly declared, but in practicality, how far away is it, really?

On Sunday, December 11th, at approximately 2:35 p.m. Mountain time, Lisa said:

"I, _________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, so help me God." This is the oath my 18-year-old son swore with a signature when he joined the United States Army. Notice that the Constitution comes BEFORE obey the orders of the President. Did not Bush swear an oath similar to this in his "supposed military service" to our country? Is he not, Commander-in-Chief of our Army? What a perfect examples of the integrity of this criminal that has stolen our country and is selling it out from under us.....

On Sunday, December 11th, at approximately 6:47 p.m. Mountain time, William's Dad said:

My dream is for a Grand Jury inquiry into this crime... a clear violation of law. A rare opportunity, this megalomaniac has crossed the line.

"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

January 20, 2001
George W. Bush
West Front, U.S. Capitol
Administered by William Rehnquist, Chief Justice

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