WTF?.

I know I’m way late with this, but I must have missed it on my travels last month. The Gadflyer brings me the story that the Rev Sun Myung Moon had himself crowned Emporer of the United States and declared the Messiah at a ceremony in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in the presence and with the enthusiastic participation of a bipartisan contingent of Members of Congress. No, really. Did this even make the newspapers?

[Crooked Timber]

But ait. Doesn't Moon know we are at war and Bush is now Emperor (or is it King)? What happens when these two 'rulers' decide that America only has room for oene Supreme Leader?  comment []10:48:06 PM    

Fair Warning.

When I am President, those people who think they are so clever and such savvy travelers for using the parents’ room instead of the regular bathroom — because it’s quieter and cleaner and they read about this handy trick in a “Travel Tips” column once, even though they do not have, say, an unhappy five-month-old in their arms who needs a change and a feed — had better watch out. I will have the Justice Department and a team of Military Lawyers by my side, together with a bag of bamboo splinters, a Leatherman Crunch, a Camping Stove and a copy of the Constitution of the United States for kindling. And who would stop me? For one thing, a War on Irritating Frequent Flyers would command widespread popular support, and I would be willing to consider opening New Fronts in this war, e.g., on People Who Cut Me Off In Traffic, or Bloggers Who Do Not Link To My Posts. Besides, in the words of President George W. Bush, “I am the commander, see? I do not need to explain why I say things. — That’s the interesting thing about being the President. — Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don’t feel like I owe anybody an explanation.”¹

¹ Previously thought to be mere bravado but subsequently discovered by Administration lawyers to be a valid constitutional argument licensing the use of torture against unspecified numbers of persons.

[Crooked Timber]

This adminstration believes that in wartime, the President can do ANYTHING he wants and it will not be illegal. He can ask people to do anything and they can not be held responsible for following his orders. And he himself is above the law. That is what they have written and how they have acted. It is up to us to decide if we want democracy or a king, because this administration's total disregard to our form of government is quickly providing us with a black and white choice. Is the greatest political experiment the world has ever known about to fail? It will up to us to decide. History will judge us, although Bush has already said he does not care about history because he will be dead.  comment []10:40:55 PM    

From the Associated.... From the Associated Press ... Reversing itself, the Army said Tuesday that a G.I. was discharged partly because of a head injury he suffered while posing as an uncooperative detainee during a training exercise at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. The Army... [Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall]

Great. Our troops practice beating a 'test' prisoner and hurt him so severely that he has to be discharged. Makes me all warm and fuzzy.  comment []10:36:11 PM    

Even back home.... Even back home they're starting to wonder. This from an editorial in yesterday's Houston Chronicle ... The United States' moral authority to call for the rule of law and respect for human rights has been undermined by legal machinations the... [Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall]

The Torture scandal brought to you by the same people who gave us Iran-Contra. They both derive from the same absolute disrespect for the Constitution and its separation of powers. They have been looking for a rationale to completely ignore the Legislative branch and create an Emperor. We are seeing the upshot of this view and its rapid degradation of almost everything that gave America any status in the eyes of the world's population.  comment []10:34:43 PM    

Allow me a.... Allow me a moment of suspicious speculation ... Earlier today we noted reports that President Bush had told one of the Pope's chief advisors (actually Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican secretary of state) that "Not all the American bishops are... [Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall]

This makes it very clear that the agenda is purely political and Kerry is its only target. The 'activists' that want the Catholic Chrch to deny Communion want it to only apply to Bush's opponent. They want to Catholic CHirch to enter the political arena purely to help elect a President, not because they feel any REAL moral disgust. The moral relativism is something that most conservatives accuse liberals of. Here, they are saying pro-choice, gay rights, sodomy are only bad as long as they hurt Kerry and help Bush. Everything is purely politics to this bunch, even morality.  comment []10:31:31 PM    

"Bush [told Cardinal.... "Bush [told Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican secretary of state], 'Not all the American bishops are with me' on the cultural issues. The implication was that he hoped the Vatican would nudge them toward more explicit activism. Other sources in... [Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall]

I find it hard to believe that anyone would feel comfortable with the Pope putting pressure on bishops to help get Bush elected. And why is this an issue with just Democrats. Lots of Republicans are as pro-choice as Kerry, yet there is no witholding of Communion threats for them. And how about death penalty proponenst, since the Church is against the death penalty. How can the bishops be allowed to simply pick and chose who violates the principles of their religion? Can you violate only part of their principles and still receive Communion? I think it is a very slippery slope to any Church to take an active role in the political choices of its participants. If it does, it should immediately lose any tax benefits and have to pay just like anyone else who creates a political club.  comment []10:27:17 PM