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	<title>Comments on: NYT Op-Eds (3)</title>
	<link>http://www.michaelbutler.com/blog/civic/2008/06/30/nyt-op-eds-3-15/</link>
	<description>Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.- George Orwell</description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:41:21 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>by: Ian Alterman</title>
		<link>http://www.michaelbutler.com/blog/civic/2008/06/30/nyt-op-eds-3-15/#comment-3987</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:00:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.michaelbutler.com/blog/civic/2008/06/30/nyt-op-eds-3-15/#comment-3987</guid>
					<description>Re Stone's piece, while the thought is noble, little would actually change, since even the word of a Cabinet Secretary can be overridden (or simply ignored) by a president.  Ultimately, such a position would be little more than a sop.

---

Re Krugman's piece, it is becoming increasingly clear that Obama engaged in exactly the kind of &quot;politics as usual&quot; he so decried during his campaign: lying, obfuscating, dissembling, spinning, etc.  If he continues on his rightward course (away from left politics and toward centrism), he will no longer be the &quot;candidate of change,&quot; but rather simply the lesser of two evils.

What a shame.

---

Re Kristol's piece, I wonder if he is aware of just how threatened the DOI is vis-a-vis the VRHTA (Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Act).  Consider the following passage from the DOI:

&quot;[W]henever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness...[W]hen a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.&quot;

If the VRHTA is passed, there is the very real possibility that invoking this passage could be labeled &quot;treason.&quot;

Peace.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Re Stone&#8217;s piece, while the thought is noble, little would actually change, since even the word of a Cabinet Secretary can be overridden (or simply ignored) by a president.  Ultimately, such a position would be little more than a sop.</p>
<p>&#8212;</p>
<p>Re Krugman&#8217;s piece, it is becoming increasingly clear that Obama engaged in exactly the kind of &#8220;politics as usual&#8221; he so decried during his campaign: lying, obfuscating, dissembling, spinning, etc.  If he continues on his rightward course (away from left politics and toward centrism), he will no longer be the &#8220;candidate of change,&#8221; but rather simply the lesser of two evils.</p>
<p>What a shame.</p>
<p>&#8212;</p>
<p>Re Kristol&#8217;s piece, I wonder if he is aware of just how threatened the DOI is vis-a-vis the VRHTA (Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Act).  Consider the following passage from the DOI:</p>
<p>&#8220;[W]henever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness&#8230;[W]hen a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.&#8221;</p>
<p>If the VRHTA is passed, there is the very real possibility that invoking this passage could be labeled &#8220;treason.&#8221;</p>
<p>Peace.
</p>
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