Happy New Year

Atrios sums up 2005 very well..

2005 was the year that the president of the United States declared proudly that he had broken the law repeatedly and with full intention, that he had the power to do so whenever he wanted to, and that he would continue to do so whenever he determined it to be desirable. This declaration was met with basic approval from much of the beltway chattering classes, prominent libertarian bloggers, and just about every small government conservative.

The issue is simple: Bush has declared that one man has the right to make the law whenever, in his determination, national security warrants it. While even I can understand the necessity of broad executive powers in emergency situations, we aren't anywhere close to being in one of those. If Bush decides that personally shooting dissident bloggers or pesky journalists in the head is in fact necessary for national security, then no one can object. The fact that he has not, as far as we know, done any such thing does not matter in the slightest. By conferring dictatorial authority on himself Bush has declared that this is, in fact, a dictatorship even if he hasn't (yet) bothered using such authorities to the fullest of his claimed ability.

It's a mystery why Russert and the gang can giggle over their little roundtables, essentially ignoring what amounts to a military coup by our own president. He's asserted the authority of commander in chief over the entire country, and not just the military to which the constitution grants him such authority. Yes, we hope and generally assume that this temper tantrum by our boy king will pass in 3 years, that the his overreach will not have long lasting effects, that the crisis will pass.

2005 was the year the president declared he was the law, and few of our elite opinion makers and shapers bothered to notice, or care.

So does everyone understand that? Does everyone understand that Bush launched a war, for which every supporting reason was a lie? Does everyone know that he has decided that he can break any law he wants to by merely claiming "national security"?

If you are the type that wants to vest in the president of the United States, dictatorial power because you are afraid that some Islamic terrorist is going to blow you up, you are a huge fucking retard, and you have absolutely no right to have an opinion because you are too fucking stupid.

I simply do not understand why this not crystal clear for everyone. We got a war, and thousands of dead Americans, and a crushing defeat to the concept of Democracy, due to the Republican scum that you voted for.

And if you think the Democrats are just as bad, see that part I wrote about being too stupid to have a vote.

I do not understand the lack of outrage that the president has declared himself a dictator. You go to your job.. or you do your housework.. and you drive your SUV.. and you simply do not give a flying fuck what has happened.

Cheers! You're an American.