OUR VALUES

The light of our ideals shone dimly in those early dark days [of the Revolutionary War], years from an end to the conflict, years before our improbable triumph and the birth of our democracy. General Washington wasn't that far from where the Continental Congress had met and signed the Declaration of Independence. But it's easy to imagine how far that must have seemed.

General Washington announced a decision unique in human history, sending the following order for handling prisoners:

"Treat them with humanity, and let them have no reason to complain of our copying the brutal example of the British Army in their Treatment of our unfortunate brethren."

Therefore, George Washington, our commander-in-chief before he was our President, laid down the indelible marker of our nation's values even as we were struggling as a nation – and his courageous act reminds us that America was born out of faith in certain basic principles. In fact, it is these principles that made and still make our country exceptional and allow us to serve as an example. We are not bound together as a nation by bloodlines. We are not bound by ancient history; our nation is a new
nation.

Above all, we are bound by our values.

George Washington understood that how you treat enemy combatants could reverberate around the world. We must convict and punish the guilty in a way that reinforces their guilt before the world and does not undermine our constitutional values.

Now these values – George Washington’s values, the values of our founding – are at stake. We are debating far-reaching legislation that would fundamentally alter our nation's conduct in the world and the rights of Americans here at home. And we are debating it too hastily in a debate too steeped in electoral politics.

The Senate, under the authority of the Republican Majority and with the blessing and encouragement of the Bush-Cheney Administration, is doing a great disservice to our history, our principles, our citizens, and our soldiers. The deliberative process is being broken under the pressure of partisanship and the policy that results is a travesty."

I don't think Hillary Clinton should run for president. But today, she deserves our thanks for standing up for the values of our founding fathers.

Just Watch It.

And tell me what you think. Is your government torturing people?

Immigration and Democrats

With regard to the immigration issue, Lou Dobbs and many other pundits have been asking the question, why not just secure the border first. The proposed immigration bills have generally attempted to resolve the many difficult issues all at once. I have been saying the same thing for months, just secure the border, it's a security issue (which could help the GOP)and most Americans agree that the border is a vulnerability. The Democrats should covertly attempt to rally immigration protests. My guess is that the GOP does not even want to deal with border security because it brings attention to the issue of amnesty, worker program, etc. So long as the Democrats do not appear to be supporting the movement (which they do not), the GOP will take losses for having the amnesty issue in the news. If we do not win at least one house, the embarrassment will be destructive and it will be because the D's will not exploit this issue. It's not policy kids, it's politics!!!

Burns burned on burns ...

Okay, I'm getting tired of logging on to "Hannity Sucks Ass." So I'll just post a picture of an ass. This is Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT), who is in a fight for his political life. During his life as an auctioneer, he came down with foot-in-mouth disease, and it has plagued him throughout his unfortunately extended senatorial career. (This is the guy who, when running for his first term, said he would seek only two. Now he's seeking his fourth.)

So anyway, in July Conrad approached a group of hotshot firefighters in the Billings airport. ("Hotshot" isn't a pejorative term; this is the elite crew.) These guys were bone tired, headed back home to Georgia. Based on the whines that Burns had heard from his rancher pals, he lit into them, saying they had done a "piss poor" job of firefighting. Well, that little imbroglio has cooled down a bit. Or it would if Connie didn't keep throwing tinder on the fire. And, unfortunately, the wildfire season continues in Montana.


Here's the latest. Burns wrote a condescending "official" letter to Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, urging him to declare a fire emergency and mobilize the National Guard. Schweitzer was seven weeks ahead of him, having declared an emergency on July 11. Ah, Connie ... if only you knew your burro (ass) from a burrow (hole in the ground). Jon Tester (left -- in more ways than here) looks better every day.