I guess it can also read “because they can”, as this goes way beyond Bush himself. But that seems to be the response that I am hearing most for, well, just about anything that is absolutely outrageous that is said or done by this administration, or its rabid, foaming at the mouth supporters.
And it shows just how ridiculous and vacuous the arguments are in support of some of the most disgusting and vile acts against the Constitution, the American people, the Iraqis and just about anyone else that doesn’t fit into the “lucky sperm” category. And while this is somewhat of a reflection on the 25% who still support Bush or his policies, it is more of a reflection on how far that the general discourse and level of critical thinking has sunk in recent years.
After all, technically, those who say this are correct. Bush can fire any US attorney that he wants to for whatever [legal] reason he wants to – no questions asked. Yet, of the over 400 US attorneys that have served over the past 25 years or so, none were fired “just because”, let alone for issues related to election fraud or investigating high level government officials.
Just because “he can” or because “it isn’t illegal” doesn’t make it right, ethical or even acceptable. Not by a long shot.
Even putting aside the inane ramblings and rantings of the zombies and talking meatsticks whose heads exploded over a blue stained dress, this line of thinking has threatened the fabric of our democracy (small “d” for the time being). There is hardly any two way conversation or debate anymore – and in the limited instances where there is, the ideology and basic viewpoints are so far apart that it is like talking a different language.
Or talking to a brick wall – which may be easier, since we wouldn’t have to figure out just what language said brick wall was speaking.
Outing a CIA operative and the entire network of contacts, who just so happened to be investigating nuclear proliferation at a time when we were invading another country for….supposed nuclear proliferation? Sorry, no crime committed technically, so move on. Just “patriotic” officials doing what was within their legal rights.
Sort of.
Authorize torture, indefinite incarceration and detention of people, just because you can? Disregard the Geneva Conventions? Well, John Yoo has more letters after his last name than are actually in his name, so he must know what he is talking about. And Alberto Gonzales was on the Texas Supreme Court, so he wouldn’t lie, right? Besides, those people at Abu Ghraib had it coming to them, and the troops were just blowing off steam, without any guidance from Rumsfeld anyway. Not to mention the fact that Saddam attacked us on 9/11 anyway.
What’s that? None of that is true? Oh well, if it wasn’t legal, then there would be punishment, and since there was no punishment, then it must have been ok.
Signing statements negating laws? Secret Executive Orders giving the Vice President the ability to declassify whatever he wants whenever he wants however he wants? Ignoring subpoenas based on specious “Executive Privilege” assertions? Suspending habeas corpus for “certain cases” where “enemy combatants” are declared, just because?
Why not? After all, there is nothing that says that this can’t be done, right? And if there is, so what – it isn’t really totally illegal anyway.
So that’s the level that things have devolved to. Not because it is right. Not because it is ethical. Not because it is something that would benefit the American people. Not because it is even completely legal.
Because he can.
Our founders would be so proud.
also in orange
Definitive evidence that our political system is broken came the day the Democrats took impeachment off the table, before they even regained control of Congress. Everything they have failed to do since January to rein in Bush has only been superfluous.
happened a long time before that steven> Bush v. Gore, 12 dec 2000…fini.
it’s been all downhill ever since.
lTMF’sA
Very well written, clammyc. If that is the premise that just because they can, well that street is traveled two ways, BTW. so can we, we must say…we the ppl must have our say too. Why because we can…and no- if, ands, or buts- about that one. I am not afraid of them, and I will not give in to them even if they shoot me at sunrise. These ppl are not the ones I support, what so ever! They threaten intimate and blackmail us all into believing the worst of anything, unless it is something good for them that we know is bad for us all…such as giving more corporate org. more tax relief. What the hell??!! They are all traitors to this nation. They are bankrupting us all including the nation as a whole. Can the ppl not see this???!!
I certainly agree with you about the facts you present but why is it that they are doing such a thing instead of making us stronger as a nation on the whole. It is truly baffeling to me.
“Just because “he can” or because “it isn’t illegal” doesn’t make it right, ethical or even acceptable. Not by a long shot.”
And while clammyc is right, the real problem is the fact Bush’s supporters and enablers believe anything Bush does must be in the country’s best interest by definition of him being President, ergo it must be “right, ethical, or acceptable.”
It’s not “Because he can”, it’s “Because he did it.” Quite literally. We’re talking about millions of people who either ignore what he’s actually doing and take what the President does as a matter of faith necessary to save us from The End Times, or know exactly what he’s doing an approve of it anyway because “it’s about time somebody did.”
Bushism is a cult. Anything Bush does must, by definition, be in America’s best interest. And as potentially reductio ad absurdum as it is, it’s the truth. Millions of Americans literally believe Bush is infallible.