Thursday, March 27, 2003

Why do we even have a Constitution if we're going to ignore it?

I've been wondering, somewhat idly, when Congress abdicated the authority it was instilled with under Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, the article that specifically grants Congress (not the President) the power to declare war? Was it back in 1964 with the passage of the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, I mused? Nope, a quick google search reminded me, it was formally accomplished by the War Powers Act of 1973. Under the War Powers Act, the President can use the military for whatever purpose without Congressional approval for something like 80 days. Clearly, this is one of the worst and most abused pieces of legislation ... ever. Obviously un-Constitutional, it never should've passed, and when passed should've been immediately struck down by the Supreme Court. But there you have it.

Whereas Congress doesn't seem to have much interest in even enforcing the rules it set forth under the act, we the people are at the mercy of the whims of Supreme Court's appointee to the Presidency. Before anyone accuses anyone else of being un-patriotic, I hope they consider that the invasion of Iraq, like Vietnam before it, is the farthest thing from the type of war this country is supposed to be involved as envisioned by the rules of the Republic set down by writers of the Constitution. This war is irredeemably un-American. Even if it is revealed that Saddam has 'weapons of mass destruction' with ability to strike at the U.S., and should it be revealed he planned to use them, post facto proof (which I feel fairly certain will be fabricated like the flimsy 'evidence' presented as justification for the invasion) doesn't retroactively make this war right.

Wednesday, March 26, 2003

They Get Letters, They Get Lots and Lots of Letters

For what it's worth, I just wrote Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D), RI to express my disgust for his failure to vehemently oppose the invasion of Iraq and the current administration's reckless fiscal policy. Write your Rep. here.

Mega Always Seems to Have the Tip on the Good Ones

I've been listening to the Postal Service CD and single for the last couple days and I gots to drop a reco' for 'em. If, like all other sentient beings, you grooved on the first two Looper albums, then banged your head against a doorjam in frustration while trying to listen to their third, you'll definitely get the feeling the guy from Death Cab for Cutie picked up the flag they dropped, then pooped on, got it to a dry cleaner, and raised it on high. Scoreboard: Stuart David 2, Ben Gibbard 4.

Saturday, March 22, 2003

Shingles

I'm just glad my bout hasn't gone as bad as Letterman's. I've missed a week of work and can attest to craptacular nature of the symptoms. It's really just since yesterday that I've been able to say I've gone more than 5 minutes without vividly, pleasurably imagining ripping the skin off my face.

Friday, March 21, 2003

Martial And Fiscal Insanity

Material Breach: Against an Absurd War. Cheeky commentary at Popmatters.
For the first time in American history, the federal government is cutting taxes at the same time as it prepares to wage an expensive war. Not only is Bush doing something unprecedented in storming ahead with "preemptive warfare", but he's casting fiscal sanity to the winds at the same time. He prefers the idea of extending America's dubious hegemony in the Middle East to the ethos of making America a strong and principled nation. Popular protests in hundreds of cities throughout the world have been screaming constantly in Bush's ear that this war is a dangerous lunacy with grave consequences. And these aren't just gentle beer-bong peaceniks placing daisies in gun barrels: the protesters include blue-collar workers, investors, grandmothers, Gulf War veterans, farmers, priests, peasants, and politicians. President Bush is not eyeball-to-eyeball with Saddam Hussein. He is eyeball-to-eyeball with the rest of the world, and I fear that his administration's arrogance will reap some tragic and embarrassing results.

Wednesday, March 12, 2003

Call Me Patches

I had an echocardiogram and stress test yesterday (all appears fine) for which they had to shave parts of my chest. I look like freakin' Patches the Radioactive Test Monkey. And, my t-shirt is kinda uncomfortable where it's rubbing against bare skin for the first time since high school. If I'm irritable today, you'll know why. I'm also still reeling from the Huskies' defeat last night. It's a world gone mad!

Friday, March 7, 2003

I'm Glad *He's* At Peace About It

I think Fineman, in describing W.'s morning in rapturous detail, left out the part where he gets down on his knees and shines the Presidential knob. How about this spiritual Christian guy's tendency to war monger? The journalism is deep and illuminating here as he writes:
He knew that many people—including some at the table—saw the conflict as pre-emptive and unjust. (“I couldn’t imagine Jesus delivering a message of war to a cheering crowd, as I just heard the president do,” one participant, Charles Strobel, said later.) But, the president said, America had to see that it is “encountering evil” in the form of Saddam Hussein. The country had no choice but to confront it, by war if necessary. “If anyone can be at peace,” Bush said, “I am at peace about this.”
How you can twist Christianity into a religion that supports waging a 'pre-emptive' war is beyond me. If that's your religion, you're welcome to it, but fer cryin' out loud, couldn't you just stick to speaking in tongues and snake handling at church and find a better way to handle this issue?

Thursday, March 6, 2003

Money Down the Drain

I noticed in passing at ThisModernWorld that Ann Coulter cashes in to the tune of something like twenty large for a speaking appearance. After putting aside the suicidal impulse this discovery brought on I wondered, "what kind of moron would pay that kind of money for that spectacle?" These idiots, and the 'Cuse, and some non-collegian wingnuts.

Someone's Gonna Break A Tooth

"Giant" Fried Cheesy Snack Causes Internet To Buzz With Excitement

We are easily amused.

[thanks to Fut-Weaz for the link]
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