June 7, 2002
Bush: To Hate or Not to Hate
Does despising Bush's sniveling, lying face as he purses his lips, speaks in that piercing nasal tone and tries to appear "presidential" only aid the terrorists? And if one has that emotion boiling up within, is it better to keep it to yourself? Is it even legal anymore to say it? Well, these are good questions and ones that all thinking Americans are going to have to deal with. For a serious (?) discussion of an important philosophical issue, see "Is it okay to hate Bush?" at SFGate.com
If you are in the military, you'd better keep any negative ideas about Bush to yourself or you may end up like Lt. Col. Steve Butler, who was recently suspended pending a hearing for a letter he wrote that was published in the Monterey Herald. (See SFGate.com)
Butler said Bush allowed the Sept. 11 attacks to happen because "his presidency was going nowhere." Bush "did nothing to warn the American people because he needed this war on terrorism," Butler said. "His daddy had Saddam and he needed Osama. His presidency was going nowhere. ... This guy is a joke." Butler called Bush's silence after hearing warnings "sleazy and contemptible."
You can't blame Butler for having a little resentment. Butler served in Desert Storm under Bush senior. The current commander in chief Bush, on the other hand, was moved to the front of a waiting list of thousands as a favor to his father so he could qualify for a cushy job in the Texas Air National Guard that enabled him to stay stateside while the war in Vietnam was raging. During his term of service he was grounded for not completing his physical, then neglected to show up for his last year of duty. (see Democrats.com for Bush's military record.)
If Ashcroft, Rumsfeld et.al. have their way, we may all soon be subject to the speech restrictions of the military. Perhaps, then, it is better for us all to bear the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and keep our mouths shut.
Oh that this too too solid flesh would melt!
Comment from John Judge
It may well melt the way they are headed. This is what world war looks like. If bin Laden hates us and attacked us because of our freedom, then Bush and Ashcroft are going to end that freedom to make us safe. Finally, some logic! Now I get it...JJ
June 8, 2002