Third Party & Independents: Archives

Let me also add that I don’t want to hear any accusations of the independents always defending the Democrats, blah blah blah… This abuse of power FAR outstretches any party loyalties we should have.

But the good news is that even if you do, I won’t delete your posts, have your home searched by the FBI under suspicions of terrorist activities, or have you deported and tortured for it, which is more than can be said for some in Washington.

All I can offer is a platitude: Absolute power corrupts absolutely. The American people were warned, and should have known by Bushes insistence on a pledge of allegiance to him during the last campaign that this would only get worse. I find the whole Republican leadership(?) lacking in even a fundamental understanding of principles of our Republican form of government, and their behavior(s) shameful…

Apparently the Bush Administration is holding an Elementary School grudge (I’d expect nothing less from the arrogant, self-righteous, addlebrained fool) and we are not all Americans in their eyes. If we supported Kerry—and I did, proudly—we are the enemy just as sure as Osama and Saddam are the enemy. Our loyalty to our country notwithstanding, we are not true Americans. Like I said, shameful, sad, disheartening, and further evidence that America is in political, social, and moral decline.

VEM-

Let me say that I rather disagree with your assessment of of the administration being foolish, instead I would put forth that they have an agenda and are efficiently moving toward the advancement of their ideals.

They are arrogant, and thus we see their offensive intrusions if we look, but they are still not a matter of common public knowledge. Their arrogance is also illustrated in their disregard for public opinion on matters, and blindly pushing forward their ideals through propaganda. We can see their disdain for common thought, and the elevation of their own elite agenda. All of this points to their perceived superiority over the masses, from which they derive their duty to conform the world to their ideals, regardless of whether its wanted or not.

But they are also surprisingly successful, seeing as how they haven’t been run out of the country by a revolting populace. Given all of their ‘miscalculations’ and discovered involvements in scandal, I think we can find a distinct lack of stupidity or foolishness, and an amazing knack for public control. Underestimation has been the downfall of many, and in large part led to Bush’s second term.

I am not at all surprised, since I’ve been reading about this kind of thing coming from the Bush administration for years. At the union of concerned scientists you can find many, many examples of how the bush administration has politicized science. A Nobel laureate in Medicine was denied a post on an advisory committee because he had signed too many ads in the NY Times. Multiple scientists up for scientific advisory positions were asked if they had voted for Bush as part of their interview process. Don’t even get me started on the censoring of reports and information dispersal, including the CDC and national cancer institute. It’s just continuing a pattern that was evident in the runup to the Iraq war: decide what is “true”, then get people to back up what you already think.

So now, the administration is going beyond government jobs to the private sector. I’m not surprised. I am waiting, however, to see the defense of this from those who have asserted that Republicans are better at leaving business alone and keeping the government small and out of your life.

many examples of how the bush administration has politicized science.

Ok, I was right with everyone up to this point.

I disagree with the Bush administration on this one, at least on the surface, but to make a statement like this without even realizing the hypocrisy you are putting forth just hurts your side of the argument.

Focus on the issue and the facts at hand and you might get somewhere. Venturing the issue into areas where other parties have camped out for decades dimishines your voice.

AP,

It would appear from that “time is running out” article, its based on a bunch of un-named sorces.

Its kinda like asking; “who was deepthroat?, woodward or burnstien?”

Rhinehold,
Could you perhaps make your point a little clearer, please? I think that asking who someone voted for when interviewing for a scientific job is way over the line. Why am I wrong? Where is the hypocrisy?

Beagle-

I’m not sure of your implications. If you are claiming that this story is fabricated, the White House gave the comment which I quoted above, seeming to give legitimacy to the accusation from un-named sources. Also, what do you mean by a “time is running out” article?

Some links for Rhinehold, and anyone else who hasn’t been following the Republican war on science:

“The Politicization Of Science in the Bush Administration: Science-As-Public Relations”
http://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic10-08-04.html

“Bush Administration Manipulates Science and Censors Scientists”
http://www.projectcensored.org/publications/2005/3.html

“Scientists say they’ve been told to withhold species findings” http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/211626_wildlife11.html

“New EPA Mercury Rule Omits Conflicting Data
Study Called Stricter Limits Cost-Effective”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55268-2005Mar21.html

Andrew,

The “time is running out” thing was only a hidden comment about left wing mag.’s and news.

The only named sorce I saw was a Rep., that they were wishing to bash, along with the party.

I’m quite sure you personally wouldn’t base an article on something deceptive, I just have doubts about the views/opinions of persons expressing them that wont admit what they say or put their own name on it.

I take a right-wing article with the same grain of salt if there is little to fact-check with names.

A Parker,

Good article — thanks for calling my attention to this story.

“These individuals have been prevented from attending a non-political event for their crime of donating as little as $250 to the Democratic Party.”

The question I have is: HOW WOULD THEY KNOW these people donated money to the Dems?

“What’s next? Banning all travel abroad unless you donate to the Republican Party, or maybe pledge your allegiance to His Highness, G. W. Bush?”

Scary!!! They’re not even trying to hide the partisan motives behind every bloody thing they do. You know what else I was gobsmacked by? That two who were barred from the trip were “employees of Qualcomm and Nokia, two of the largest telecom firms operating in the U.S”!!!

What?! Political parties trying to eliminate the opposition?!? Couldn’t happen!

Yes, good article, thanks for calling attention to this.

I, myself, am sort of gleefull that BushCo is acting this way.

I met an old woman during a Bush Rally and I asked, “Why are you supporting Bush? Don’t you know he will end Social Security?”. She answered, “No, that’s just Liberal Propaganda. Social Security is in a Locked Box. Bush can’t touch it.”

Now Bush is dismantling Social Security.

Now the Military, who supported Bush by 60%, finds extended deployments and cut Veteran’s Benefits.

Now I here BushCo will even raise TAXES.

All I can say is this to those who voted for him:

SUCKERS!!!!!!!!!!

Aldous,

“She answered, ‘No, that’s just Liberal Propaganda. Social Security is in a Locked Box. Bush can’t touch it.’”

Hahahaha! Are you people beginning to see why I say we should just screw Social Security? Serves those bastards right… Goddamned group thinkers deserve to be burried in the mass-grave they dug for themselves…

“Now I here [sic] BushCo will even raise TAXES.”

Perhaps, but definitely not on the top 1/2 of one percent of Americans. My guess, it will be the lower 95% that picks up the extra slack.

The question I have is: HOW WOULD THEY KNOW these people donated money to the Dems?

The internet, of course. I checked out all the donations my friends & neighbors made because I’m nosy. :)

Excellent article Andrew. Why anyone would support an administration that is stripping them of their rights and their privacy is beyond me.

Beagle-

There were two named sources, the other was Nokia vice president Bill Plummer:

We do not view sending experts to international meetings on telecom issues to be a partisan matter. We would welcome clarification from the White House.

The combination of the two quotes seems to lend sufficient credibility to the story. One from the White House, the other from the offended group.