Pat Buchanan: This White House fears losing, so it has chosen not to fight

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Bush recoils from greatness (Pat Buchanan)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5445086/

Handed a once-in-a-generation opportunity to return the Supreme Court to constitutionalism, George W. Bush passed over a dozen of the finest jurists of his day -- to name his personal lawyer.

In a decision deeply disheartening to those who invested such hopes in him, Bush may have tossed away his and our last chance to roll back the social revolution imposed upon us by our judicial dictatorship since the days of Earl Warren.

Why is a judicial cipher like Harriet Miers to be preferred to a judicial conservative like Edith Jones? One reason: Because the White House fears nominees “with a paper trail” will be rejected by the Senate, and this White House fears, above all else, losing. So, it has chosen not to fight.

Bush had a chance for greatness in remaking the Supreme Court, a chance to succeed where his Republican predecessors from Nixon to his father all failed. He instinctively recoiled from it. He blew it. His only hope now is that Harriet Miers, if confirmed, will not vote like the lady she replaced, or, worse, like his father’s choice who also had “no paper trail,” David Souter.

[texpatriot2004]

1. I read somewhere that * broke the law playing dress up that day

It's impersonating a military person or something?

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

2. I'm more concerned that, as a TAXPAYER...

...I paid to have his damn name stenciled on that PLANE.

:evilgrin:

[AllyCat]

6. And is he chewing???? What is up with his lips? eom

[yellowcanine]

25. That is his "Don't I look macho in the uniform?" smirk. "The smirk" can

take on various forms. It is a multimorphic smirk.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. He is the commander in chief

and was acting the part... so no, did not break any law... his name tag even said Commander in Chief George Bush and had the wings he "earned" while in the guard

[texpatriot2004]

7. No, I am pretty sure I remember Wes Clark (I think it was him)

said that it was a violation.

Maybe it was Kerry...I can't remember now it's been some time ago.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. And I am telling you he can

the problem is... no US President SINCE WASHINGTON has worn the uniform in front of the troops... hell no CiC since Washington has led troops in the field.

Read yoour history and Whiskey rebellion

[texpatriot2004]

11. I am not saying your wrong. I think you're right. I'm just sharing

what I remember.

What's the "Whiskey Rebellion"?

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. wikipedia is your friend

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiskey_Rebellion

Basically the first revolt of the young Republic... over paying money for whiskey and Washington led the troops on that one

[texpatriot2004]

14. Hey thanks. I didn't know that they started fighting over whiskey.

What did they want it for free?

Oh I see they wanted it without tax. Thanks for the link.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. You welcome

[texpatriot2004]

18. Interesting history. I wonder why the little guys were charged a

higher tax than the larger producers? Pro-Corporation even back then?

[happyslug]

19. More complicated than just tax.

The problem is Whiskey in 1790 Western Pennsylvania was also the medium of exchange i.e. money. Since the US was cash poor in the 1790s people had a tendency to barter, but sooner or later you needed something to use as a "medium of Exchange". In a Money based economy that is Cash, but when Cash is short what ever is the most commonly produced a traded good becomes that medium. In Colonial Virgina is was Tobacco, in the Ante Bellum South it was Cotton, in Western Pennsylvania in the 1790s it was Whiskey.

Thus the issue was NOT taxation per se, but a tax on the closest thing in Western Pennsylvania to cash. It would be like today you being taxed NOT on how much money to had, or your wealth, or the value of your property but how much CASH YOU HAD ON HAND (Notice I am using Money and Cash in two different concepts, money including things like credit and checks while cash means only cash).

A further complication was that the Federal Government also made it the law that all Federal Cases for Pennsylvania had to be held in Philadelphia, a hardship for anyone living in Western Pennsylvania in the 1790s when the major roads east were little more than ruts going over the Mountains.

Now had Yellow Fever not hit Philadelphia in 1793 you would have had bloodshed, but Yellow Fever forced people out of Philadelphia till it was to late to organize an attack in 1793 (when Western Pa was most up in arms) so no attack occurred till 1794 when things had calmed down both in Western Pa and Philadelphia. Few Gunshots were fired and once the troops arrived conflict was minimized. Even Alexander Hamilton once he climbed over the Mountain realized it was an hardship to require people in Western PA to Travel to Philadelphia fro trial so that was changed. Furthermore the introduction of Troops in Western Pa brought with this hard currency so Whiskey was cash was not as important.

The big points of the Whiskey Rebellion was in 1791 and 1792, but the time troops arrived Western Pa had calmed down. While the area was still proud of the fact its Representative to the State Convention to ratify the Constitution had voted against the Constitution 26 to 1 (and burned down the house of the single person to vote for the Constitution in 1792) by 1794 Philadelphia was listening to them and addressing their concerns. Surprisingly the introduction of troops brought with them the hard coins needed and a reduction in the level of the tax do to the hardship the tax was causing. While the Whiskey rebellion was "put down" in the long term the points brought up by the Rebels were addressed and granted by the Federal Government.

One of the side affect of the Rebellion was that the Democratic Party obtained a strong foothold in Western Pa that has lasted to this day.

[texpatriot2004]

20. Wow, fascinating to hear you tell it. To this day, really? The Dems

have a foothold there to this day? That's pretty awesome. I see what you mean about money and cash being two different things. It's interesting because although the matter was dealt with by the Federal Gov. it seems that they also listened to these people and heard them. You know, they were pardoned by Washington, Hamilton understood the hardship of the traveling once he did it himself...that kind of thing. Unlike today when a "Representative" may or may not represent a constituent.

I wasn't aware of the yellow fever thing at the time either. If that hadn't have happened, it could have been ugly huh?

Very interesting read. Thanks for sharing.

[happyslug]

21. Western Pa has been Democratic for a LONG TIME

Now they tend to be Liberal on Economic Issues but Conservatives on Social Issues (for example except for the city of Pittsburgh itself, Gay Rights is NOT on anyone's agenda and would vote for any Marriage protection act but support Union rights).

Now from the Civil War to the 1920s the City of Pittsburgh was Republican while the rest of Western Pa was Democratic (Some of the River Steel towns in the same period was Republican, they all followed what Pittsburgh did in the 20th Century). Starting around 1900 the Democrats were viewed as the reform party and straighten out several Republican messes and than slowly took over the City of Pittsburgh itself in the 1920s. By 1932 no Republican remain on City Council and none have been elected since. The last Republican mayor was defeated in 1928, and no Republican has been mayor since (And that last Republican was an anti-Mellon Republican, Andrew Mellon dominating the GOP in Pennsylvania from about 1900 till the 1930s).

After WWII, the Democrats controlled the City and the River towns but Republican controlled some of the Suburbs (most suburbs were and are Republican Controlled). South of Butler Pennsylvania even the Rural Areas are Democratic Areas (And Clearfield and Green Counties, both Heavy Rural are Strongly Democratic given their Coal Mining Heritage).

In a nutshell that is Western Pennsylvania to this day, Republican controlling some of the richer suburbs but even the Rural areas only turning Republican as you enter Butler County to the North and pass Allegheny Mountain to the East.

[Anywho6]

3. That picture just makes me want to barf n/t

[AllyCat]

5. Pat Buchanan...he approaches the argument from an opposite viewpoint

but he always seems to hit the nail on the head. You know, in a weird way, I hope a bunch of Repugs vote for her so that they all lose with THEIR bases in the 2006. Lets see what happens.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

12. In 25 words or less, I honestly believe...

...Bush chose Miers because "this White House is afraid to lose."

So yeah, however Buchanan said it, I personally think there's a strong foundation for his punch line.

IMAGINE the battle that would have taken place if he'd nominated Gonzales. He would have scored some BIG points in the Hispanic community, but we'd also see the stories of Gonzales burying his DUI charges back in the headlines again.

It would have been another long, drawn-out "John Bolton Recess Appointment" NIGHTMARE.

I've GOT to give Bush credit for at LEAST being smart enough to recognize that.

[Carla in Ca]

16. What you say is interesting.

My Dad is very conservative and we often get into passionate discussions about politics. Although for very different reasons, we both want impeachment. It's about the first time we've ever agreed on anything political. Who would have thought?

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Hmmm buchanan knows DC and the beltway

my, my, my... INTERESTING... I don't trust her, but he is right, what if she becomes another david souter? Oh the horror?

Sorry while I chuckle here

[ladylibertee]

10. More proof our Leaders,wether we understand their tactis or not,

know what they are doing.We are winning.

[LittleClarkie]

15. Ahahahahahaha!

The whole reason Pat decided to vote for Bush, despite his feelings about the war, all down the tubes. Poor little Pat. He wanted those SC nominees. Psych! Can't have it! Bahahahaha!

[leesa]

22. Just no thought in Buchanon's head that "the paper trail" exposes

unethical and/or criminal conduct. Republicans are disgusting.

[blondeatlast]

23. If only this tactic could be abstracted into a three-word phrase.

In that article, Buchanan has pretty much written the book on W's misadministration.

[sendero]

24. Pat, Pat, Pat..

... I only wish I was as happy as you are unhappy.

Sure, Ms. Miers isn't the foaming-at-the-mouth idealogue you'd have liked to have seen appointed, or is she?

We really don't know much about her do we?

And Pat, I've been watching a PBS documentary on the 60s. You are there, saying the stupid malignant shit you are so well known for saying. At least you have remained consistent over the years.