Party!

I might not get a post in tomorrow as I was will be beach partying. I am sure my many readers will understand.

Friday Kid Blogging

When I say in my profile that this isn't about me, I mean that in a couple different ways. First, it is all much bigger than me. It is us. The state, the nation, the world. We are really in this all together in the end.

More importantly, it is about my kids and what they will have to deal with, clean up and pay for long after I am gone. So, as they are the most important thing, I am going to start a new tradition (an annoyingly pervasive oxymoron) and post a new picture of my kids every Friday. I hope to figuratively kill at least two birds with this proverbial stone. First, the picture should always be new which means I need to take at least one decent picture every week. Second, I never get around to sending out pictures and now my family can always look here a get pictures along with my politics.

So here is the first installment of the weekly Friday Kid Blogging:

Have there been any actions by this Administration which have not been part of a power grab for the Executive Branch? Do they realize they will not be in power forever and they are handing Democrats this power in the future? Or do they just assume the Dems are too timid to use them?

Personally, I wouldn't trust my mother with the powers Bush is trying to grab.

I just don't get it

This whole NY Times treason argument makes no sense to me at all. First, the Times have just been doing their job. They get information; they print it if it is deemed newsworthy. There is nothing illegal in their disclosures. They don't have security clearances which would prevent them from disclosing classified information they obtain. The only potentially illegal activity would be by the leakers themselves. Then perhaps the NYT could be prosecuted (persecuted?) as an accessory to a crime.

Secondly, this is exactly what the free press is supposed to be doing. In my mind, there are no government secrets short of tbe identities convert agents (let's not go there yet) or actual troop movements (no, reporting a possible drawdown of troops scheduled for possibly 18 months away does NOT constitute reporting troop movements) of which exposure should be forbidden. Transparency is the ally and, in fact, the life-blood of a vibrant and successful democracy. Secrecy is the poison. The NY Times is precisely what the Framers (most notably my hero Jefferson) had in mind when they created the 1st Amendment.

Lastly, there was no information disclosed in any of the NYT articles which would actually help a terrorist. These programs were long suspected. Any moderately crafty terrorist (or other criminal) would already be working under the assumption they were under surveillance using all methods available whether technically legal or not. The problem most Americans have with these programs isn't their existence at all. I for one approve with one major caveat. It is the insistence by this Administration to enact these programs with no oversight which is the problem. It is not in the interest of a democracy, even one at war, to allow one branch of government to work entirely without the checks and balances established in our Constitution. There is no reason we should be asked to just trust the President and not demand that someone, anyone, look over their shoulder to call out abuse. It is hard enough with two branches involved.

I won't even get in to the obvious hypocrisy. That can wait for another post.

The intellectual dishonesty is amazing.

Who the heck is using Ibizar

I am really frustrated that someone is using Ibizar for a username. I make up a perfectly non-sensical name so I will be able to use it everywhere and someone has it. Oh well. I suppose when everyone in the world in on the internet, there are only so many words (real or otherwise) to go around.

Just putting this out there until I can write something real. I hope I can come up with some thoughts which will interest someone out there. I am curious if anyone will stumble on this site without me advertising it. Give me a quick comment if you read this.

Check back. I hope to post at least once a day so don't be a stranger.