phloem
09-18-2009, 05:25 PM
I feel compelled to share this exchange I had recently with Senator Barbara Boxer. I could say a lot more about my long history of political activism, and my continuing outrage in the direction that this nation has taken, but suffice to say it's about 180 degrees from where I think we need to go to create a rational, sustainable, equitable, and compassionate world. That said, many will likely think I've said little below to communicate reason and compassion. But day to day, I do my best to make the world a better place, but I am just so insulted by the continuing barrage of misinformation and deceit we get from those who presume to be our leaders -- their actions are not getting us where we need to go. To wit:
Dear Mr. Phloem:
Thank you for contacting me to share your views on the Bush Administration's policies on the treatment of detainees held in United States custody. I appreciate hearing from you on this important topic.
In recent months, the American people have witnessed mounting evidence of the Bush Administration's authorization and use of torture against detainees at secret prisons worldwide. However, the American people have also taken steps to right these wrongs.
Shortly after he took office, President Obama signed an Executive Order banning the use of such practices. And most recently, Attorney General Eric Holder appointed prosecutor John H. Durham to launch an investigation into alleged abuses by the Bush Administration.
The authorization and use of torture by the United States government against prisoners in its custody will long remain a dark stain on our nation's history. I believe that we must fully examine these executive violations of our laws and Constitution in order to understand the failures of our recent past, send a clear signal to the world that we respect human dignity and the rule of law, and prevent such abuses from ever recurring.
The United States is a nation of laws, and no one is above the law. The American people deserve to know what happened so we can ensure that it never happens again.
Thank you again for your letter and for caring deeply about this critical matter.
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
My response:
Senator Boxer:
Your response is full of lies, distortions, and political contrivances. Obama has clearly NOT suspended the use of torture, and has approved continuing torture, and continued the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, and expanded the use of programs through which torture is practiced. Moreover, since when is the bombing of civilians not torture? Or the forced starvation of millions of Iraqis and Palestinians and Afghanis?
"...the American people have also taken steps to right these wrongs" American people? You mean a few corporate stooges with the financial backing to presumptuously claim to represent my interests? And just what are those steps? They sure look steps backward to me.
Launching an investigation falls far short of indicting war criminals. Until Obama sends a clear signal that the Justice Department will proceed with a full, unimpeded criminal investigation of the abuses of the Bush Administration, your words and that of Obama are nothing but self-serving circumvention, obfuscation, and lies. You, Obama, Pelosi, Reid, and just about all your cronies in Congress and the Obama adminstration are guilty of collaborating in the execution of war crimes. That includes the similarly lawless, rogue state of Israel, which along with the morally, ethically destitute nation in which I live, deserves to be wiped off the face of the earth. We need a new paradigm that doesn't relegate people's needs to the sewerpipes of corporate greed.
"No one is above the law." Just who do you think you're lying to? I am not a brain-washed ignoramus, and the profoundly apparent truth is that the Obama Administration continues to act, just as did the Bush Administration, in clear refutation of international laws and treaties. Moreover, Obama has demonstrated his complicity in war crimes, and his obstruction of justice, in refusing to bring Bush, Cheney, Perle, Wolfowitz, Rice, Rumsfeld, and many others to justice, and he's made very clear that he opposes efforts by Attorney General Holder to do so. Well, that makes Obama an accomplice, and also subject to impeachment and conviction for treason.
It is happening again, already, despite your pathetically empty assurances. The Obama adminstration is continuing its illegal and unwanted intrusion into the domestic affairs of sovereign nations (Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Honduras, etc.), and no doubt is playing a role, through state-terror practices, in subjugating the popular will of the citizens of those nations. I hope to hell every single last foreign operative working for the CIA, NSA, AID, or mercenary corporations dies a horrible death for the collective misery they've inflicted on millions of people over the past many decades.
Your lies are infuriating, and further evidence that the government of this nation is not capable of serving the best interests of its people. I will do all in my power to bring you and the rest of the totalitarian fascists running this country to the fate you all deserve: life in prison.
Long ago you lost my confidence and respect. In its place is a growing dedication to ridding this country of all its political opportunists who only serve at the behest of the corporate and banking elite of the world. You are my enemies. I owe your or the U. S. no allegiance, only a commitment to bring all of you to justice.
Dear Mr. Phloem:
Thank you for contacting me to share your views on the Bush Administration's policies on the treatment of detainees held in United States custody. I appreciate hearing from you on this important topic.
In recent months, the American people have witnessed mounting evidence of the Bush Administration's authorization and use of torture against detainees at secret prisons worldwide. However, the American people have also taken steps to right these wrongs.
Shortly after he took office, President Obama signed an Executive Order banning the use of such practices. And most recently, Attorney General Eric Holder appointed prosecutor John H. Durham to launch an investigation into alleged abuses by the Bush Administration.
The authorization and use of torture by the United States government against prisoners in its custody will long remain a dark stain on our nation's history. I believe that we must fully examine these executive violations of our laws and Constitution in order to understand the failures of our recent past, send a clear signal to the world that we respect human dignity and the rule of law, and prevent such abuses from ever recurring.
The United States is a nation of laws, and no one is above the law. The American people deserve to know what happened so we can ensure that it never happens again.
Thank you again for your letter and for caring deeply about this critical matter.
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
My response:
Senator Boxer:
Your response is full of lies, distortions, and political contrivances. Obama has clearly NOT suspended the use of torture, and has approved continuing torture, and continued the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, and expanded the use of programs through which torture is practiced. Moreover, since when is the bombing of civilians not torture? Or the forced starvation of millions of Iraqis and Palestinians and Afghanis?
"...the American people have also taken steps to right these wrongs" American people? You mean a few corporate stooges with the financial backing to presumptuously claim to represent my interests? And just what are those steps? They sure look steps backward to me.
Launching an investigation falls far short of indicting war criminals. Until Obama sends a clear signal that the Justice Department will proceed with a full, unimpeded criminal investigation of the abuses of the Bush Administration, your words and that of Obama are nothing but self-serving circumvention, obfuscation, and lies. You, Obama, Pelosi, Reid, and just about all your cronies in Congress and the Obama adminstration are guilty of collaborating in the execution of war crimes. That includes the similarly lawless, rogue state of Israel, which along with the morally, ethically destitute nation in which I live, deserves to be wiped off the face of the earth. We need a new paradigm that doesn't relegate people's needs to the sewerpipes of corporate greed.
"No one is above the law." Just who do you think you're lying to? I am not a brain-washed ignoramus, and the profoundly apparent truth is that the Obama Administration continues to act, just as did the Bush Administration, in clear refutation of international laws and treaties. Moreover, Obama has demonstrated his complicity in war crimes, and his obstruction of justice, in refusing to bring Bush, Cheney, Perle, Wolfowitz, Rice, Rumsfeld, and many others to justice, and he's made very clear that he opposes efforts by Attorney General Holder to do so. Well, that makes Obama an accomplice, and also subject to impeachment and conviction for treason.
It is happening again, already, despite your pathetically empty assurances. The Obama adminstration is continuing its illegal and unwanted intrusion into the domestic affairs of sovereign nations (Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Honduras, etc.), and no doubt is playing a role, through state-terror practices, in subjugating the popular will of the citizens of those nations. I hope to hell every single last foreign operative working for the CIA, NSA, AID, or mercenary corporations dies a horrible death for the collective misery they've inflicted on millions of people over the past many decades.
Your lies are infuriating, and further evidence that the government of this nation is not capable of serving the best interests of its people. I will do all in my power to bring you and the rest of the totalitarian fascists running this country to the fate you all deserve: life in prison.
Long ago you lost my confidence and respect. In its place is a growing dedication to ridding this country of all its political opportunists who only serve at the behest of the corporate and banking elite of the world. You are my enemies. I owe your or the U. S. no allegiance, only a commitment to bring all of you to justice.