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January 11, 2006
Bush Explains "Responsible" War Debate
President Bush, speaking to the VFW on Tuesday:
"We face an added challenge in the months ahead: The campaign season will soon be upon us -- and that means our nation must carry on this war in an election year. There is a vigorous debate about the war in Iraq today, and we should not fear the debate. It's one of the great strengths of our democracy that we can discuss our differences openly and honestly -- even in times of war. Yet we must remember there is a difference between responsible and irresponsible debate -- and it's even more important to conduct this debate responsibly when American troops are risking their lives overseas."
Now you may be asking yourself, "Just what is 'responsible' debate, and what is 'irresponsible' debate?" The president went on to explicate the difference:
"The American people know the difference between responsible and irresponsible debate when they see it. They know the difference between honest critics who question the way the war is being prosecuted and partisan critics who claim that we acted in Iraq because of oil, or because of Israel, or because we misled the American people. And they know the difference between a loyal opposition that points out what is wrong, and defeatists who refuse to see that anything is right."
Aha! Now I see: "Responsible" critics say, "The war in Iraq is a good thing. Perhaps there have been a few tactical mistakes here and there, but they don't detract from the goodness and wonderfulness of this war of liberation. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!" Meanwhile, "irresponsible" critics are the ones who have the audacity to question the war itself, the motives of its backers, or the veracity of the president. The "loyal opposition" is the other wing of the War Party, which questions the war effort only around the edges but never considers the fundamental justice of the war itself, while "defeatists" are those who actually think that the war was a bad idea from the start and that we ought to get out now before it gets even worse.
The president also advised Americans to vote for one wing or the other of the War Party, and not to vote for any of those "irresponsible" "defeatists", who obviously are traitors who give aid and comfort to the enemy:
"We also have an opportunity this year to show the Iraqi people what responsible debate in a democracy looks like. In a free society, there is only one check on political speech -- and that's the judgment of the people. So I ask all Americans to hold their elected leaders to account, and demand a debate that brings credit to our democracy -- not comfort to our adversaries."
Finally, there's this gem from earlier in the speech:
"Dictatorships seem orderly -- when one man makes all the decisions, there is no need for negotiation or compromise. Democracies are sometimes messy and seemingly chaotic, as different parties advance competing agendas and seek their share of political power."
I guess the president prefers the semblance of order. He, after all, is the one who signed the bill prohibiting torture and then turned around and said he wouldn't abide by it--a move applauded by that staunch defender of strict constructionism, Rush Limbaugh:
"Bush issued a signing statement -- which is the president's interpretation of every bill he signs -- and the president said, basically, 'Screw this! I have to protect the country. I'll do what it takes to protect the country.' The Democrats and McCain are in a tizzy over this because Bush was essentially saying, 'If I have to I'll ignore this law using my inherent constitutional authority.'"
Yes, according to Limbaugh, the president has the "inherent constitutional authority" to ignore a law that Congress passed and he signed if he just doesn't feel like abiding by it. Rush Limbaugh needs to apply for a name change to Joseph Goebbels.
Posted by Mike Tennant at January 11, 2006 11:47 AM
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