Should we trust George W. Bush?

World Net Daily ^ | 8/29/02 | Harry Browne

[feelin_poorly]

Shortly after 9-11, TV talk-show host Sean Hannity said, "Thank God, we have an honest man in the White House!"

And when you think about it, a great deal of what you might believe about the so-called War on Terrorism is based on statements from George W. Bush. You have only his word, or that of someone in his administration:

• that Iraq, which George Bush is dying to invade, still has "weapons of mass destruction" that threaten Americans directly;

• that Osama bin Laden masterminded the 9-11 attacks (the infamous videotape demonstrated his joy at the success of the attacks, not his participation);

• that the people being imprisoned as terrorists really are terrorists – even though they've received no public trial (whether you believe terrorists deserve to be protected by the Bill of Rights is irrelevant. You don't even know that they are terrorists until they receive a fair trial under the Bill of Rights);

• that the Bush administration won't misuse the private information it's acquiring through its massive violations of civil liberties.

Since America is endangered by the "you're either with me or against me" tactics of the Bush administration, it becomes vital to know whether we can trust the man in charge of our government.

The record

So does George Bush's record inspire confidence in his honesty?

Unfortunately, this is the same man who has referred to trillions of dollars in budget surpluses – even though the federal government hasn't had a budget surplus since 1956. (The appearance of any "surpluses" was created by taking excess receipts from Social Security and applying them to the general budget, even as the politicians swore they were protecting Social Security.)

Mr. Bush even has the chutzpah to refer with a straight face (well not exactly a straight face, he loves to smirk) to corporate executives "cooking the books." He neglects to mention that many of the corporate bookkeeping methods the politicians are so incensed about today were motivated by rules imposed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

And George Bush is the same man who in 2000 said he believed in "limited government." Most people assumed he meant a government limited by the Constitution. In fact, he took an oath in which he swore to uphold the Constitution.

But he's violated virtually every one of the first 10 Amendments – especially the Ninth and 10th Amendments, which are meant to impose precise limits on his power.

• He's willing to give your tax money to foreign dictators who claim they "need" it (meaning they've gone too deeply in debt by spending money on palaces and other forms of self-aggrandizement);

• He wants to escalate the spending of your tax money on farm subsidies, health care, welfare, government schools, the War on Drugs, propaganda and other programs – none of which are authorized in the Constitution;

• He believes we should trust him and his minions when they tell us the unnamed people they've locked up are not entitled to the protections of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.

• He claims he can attack Iraq without a congressional declaration of war – even though the Constitution clearly gives such authority exclusively to Congress.

So his belief in "limited government" apparently means government limited to what he wants to do.

George Bush is the same man who in one breath tries to ingratiate himself with you by saying, "It's your money, not the politicians' money" – but in the next breath, he says he's entitled to one third of "your money."

George Bush is the same man who said he has learned more about political philosophy from Jesus of Nazareth than from anyone else. But he's proven by his actions that he doesn't really believe such things as "Blessed are the peacemakers." And "the meek" who Jesus said would inherit the earth are in Mr. Bush's eyes really just "collateral damage" in his plans to tell the world how it must live.

Is honesty important?

In these and in so many other ways, George Bush has proven that he's not an honest man – and that we shouldn't trust him with the safety of America.

In fact, Thomas Jefferson understood that we shouldn't put our trust in any politician. He said we should bind them down from mischief "by the chains of the Constitution." And a truly honest man wouldn't even ask you to trust him.

Contrary to what you might have thought, this isn't an article about George Bush. It's an article about you. Are you going to demean yourself by putting your faith in a man who has done so much to demonstrate the folly of such faith?

Are you going to let politicians stampede you into throwing away the Bill of Rights, based on "evidence" you never see, reassured by politicians who have proven that the truth is secondary to their own ambitions?

Don't you have enough respect for your own mind to make your own decisions, refuse to accept conclusions without evidence, and be something better than a cheerleader for a politician or a political party?

[Howlin]

What's Joe got to do with this thread?

[Howlin]

Darned good question.

[Howlin]

Why don't you point out a few of the Freepers who don't know enough to satisfy you and your definition of this country.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

GMTA. I was just getting ready to ask that.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

It WAS an odd announcement. Almost seemed like it was an alert. You know........

"BEWARE, FREEPERS DEFENDING THE PRESIDENT AGAINST THIRD PARTY WANNABE"

Maybe that's a new rule I hadn't seen yet.

[habs4ever]

No doubt if more people listened to you, then life would be better, correct?

Maybe they have, and don't like what they hear.They may not be "clanking " on, but have dismissed you and yours for the marginal also rans that you wish you weren't.Moaning about how rotten the rest of the electorate is for not drinking your Kool Aid is a surefire way to restore that dream of a Constitutional Republic.A stick in the eye is always a treat.

[lonestar]

Precisely. And these people think we should be happy because we're not in Iraq, after all.

Actually, I was thinking you should be happy that we have an Electoral College.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Maybe that's a new rule I hadn't seen yet.

Well, if it is (a big IF), one would hope that it would be posted somewhere so that we could all be aware of it. You can't follow a rule you don't know about, after all.

[Howlin]

It looked vaguley like tattling to me. Looks like somebody might think there's a new sheriff in town.

[Howlin]

He told you what you were thinking. Now hush. After all, he KNOWS.

[VaBthang4]

I understand your reluctance to say that given the obvious reaction but I tend to agree with you.

I believe they were very honorable men but they simply couldnt have imagined the sort of threat our nation now faces...and I am firm in the belief that if they were here now...they would be the loudest hawks calling for action.

More than anything else, they had a firm grasp on salient reality and I suspect there would be little debate amongst them.

Now, afterwards I am positive they would have a juicy rebuke waiting for all of us...but that is another matter.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Well whatever it is, it's strange and I have this overwhelming sense of smelling frankfurters cooking.

[thepitts]

So does George Bush's record inspire confidence in his honesty?

No,I am not inspired.

[spodefly]

The scope and scale of the federal government grows every year, regardless of whether the Democrats or Republicans are in power. Many 1000's of laws created in the past 50 or so years have no basis in the Constitution, nor do many of the departments and agencies currently operated by the federal government and paid for with our tax money. Meanwhile, the only powers granted the federal government in the Constitution (toward the goal of providing for a common defense, insuring domestic tranquility, and securing the blessings of liberty) are atrophied at best, and completely ignored at worst. Even the borders that define us as a nation not longer have meaning.

I have no doubts that George Bush is a more principled man, a more honest man, and a more moral man that Bill Clinton, and I do trust Bush as much as I would ever trust any politician. But that isn't saying much. The trajectory that we are on with regard to social policy, foreign policy, governmental influence and interference, etc., is not based on the principles that the Constitution codifies, and is not based on Conservative ideals.

Choosing the lesser of 2 evils is the curse of a damned culture.

[Freemeorkillme]

On a personal level.

For the first time since 1992, I have a president I trust absolutely; look to for an example of what leadership really is; profoundly understands what personal examples he must set as a righteous man walking with God as the Commander-In-Chief; and, who makes me proud to be an American living in America. For what it is worth, I can look into his countenance and KNOW that he has my back(not a quantifiable experience) and yours(whether you realize it or not) and that he wears our concerns on his sleave.

All politics aside, these are the feelings a man of his character conveys. He stands for us(all). I will stand for him 100%. If belief makes one a bot, than I proudly wear the title BUSH-BOT!

Onward Christian soldier!

[RedBloodedAmerican]

you would read articles and letters written by the Founding Fathers, you would discover that HB is fairly consistent with their views.

Got any comparisons handy? Thanks.

[Amelia]

Problem is, most Americans don't have a clue what the founders believed.

I know that even the Founders had huge disagreement over what the scope and power of the Federal government should be.

[deport]

What is it with these guys? It says something about a politician when he can't get his point across without snide little remarks like this.

Based upon the following, I'd guess he's had trouble getting his point across for sometime now.....

2000 Presidential votes for Browne....

• 384,431 votes
• 0.36%

[Freemeorkillme]

Very good post. I'll save it and pass it along.

[Miss Marple]

Do I trust President Bush? Yes. I trust him with my life, my children's lives, and my grandchildren's lives. I trust him with the military. I trust him to do what is right.

Who is Harry Browne to ask this question? What has he done to help defend our nation?

I stand with the President. God bless President Bush.