Are We (Americans) Better Off

[Jim]

Well, Ashcroft is leaving but look who is replaceing him.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041110/D8694G201.html

I like this the best...
He also wrote a controversial February 2002 memo in which Bush claimed the right to waive anti-torture law and international treaties providing protections to prisoners of war. That position drew fire from human rights groups, which said it helped led to the type of abuses uncovered in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.

[Torn Rose]

I think it's too early to tell, I've been reading on what I can about him, but I'm not holding my breath since he is best of buds with george.

[Jim]

I guess it's better to have him there than the Supreme Court

[SirMoby]

Originally posted by Jim
I guess it's better to have him there than the Supreme Court

It's only a matter of time.

We are a bit better off simply because the entire concept of mixing church and state should go against everything this country stands for or at least did stand for a few years. However this guy could be very scary if that's how he feels about human rights. He may have been doing exactly what he was hired to do and that is protect the President against any legal action. He could be tried for war crimes 20 years from now.

[darksoft]

Originally posted by SirMoby
It's only a matter of time.

We are a bit better off simply because the entire concept of mixing church and state should go against everything this country stands for or at least did stand for a few years. However this guy could be very scary if that's how he feels about human rights. He may have been doing exactly what he was hired to do and that is protect the President against any legal action. He could be tried for war crimes 20 years from now.

Separation of church and state gets so used so much but for unknown reasons.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

Right from the 1st Amendment. I'm not saying we should have any religious groups in charge of the government or running things behind closed doors but separation of church and state is simply not in the constitution.

[venturi]

Originally posted by darksoft
Separation of church and state gets so used so much but for unknown reasons.

Right from the 1st Amendment. I'm not saying we should have any religious groups in charge of the government or running things behind closed doors but separation of church and state is simply not in the constitution.

Yet if one reads things like The Federalist Papers and numerous other writings authored by the founding fathers that drafted the consitution you will see the term "separation of church and state" used.

It is called the "spirit of the law". The words "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" are pretty dang clear to me. Yet this administration has pushed through Congress "faith based initiatives" that have become law. I'm no scolar of juris prudence but that seems a bit UNconstitutional.

[darksoft]

Originally posted by venturi

Yet if one reads things like The Federalist Papers and numerous other writings authored by the founding fathers that drafted the consitution you will see the term "separation of church and state" used.

It is called the "spirit of the law". The words "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" are pretty dang clear to me. Yet this administration has pushed through Congress "faith based initiatives" that have become law. I'm no scolar of juris prudence but that seems a bit UNconstitutional. [/b]

I'm not saying faith based initiatives are constitutional, I just quoted what it said in the 1st amendment...

I did read one piece written by Thomas Jefferson regarding the separation of Church and State but it was regarding a specific instance, not overall.

I never said I was against separation of church and state, just that it never specifically says it in the constitution. And well all know letter of the law and spirit of the law do not always co-exist peacefully.

[GunnCat]

I saw Crossfire today and they were discussing this guy. Apparently some republicans aren't too pleased about the selection because they believe Gonzales is a bit too liberal

More conservative Republicans, however, have found some of Gonzales' relatively moderate votes on the Texas Supreme court troubling, including a majority vote not requiring some teenage girls to get parental permission for an abortion.

From CNN.
Could be a red herring though...

I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[docholly]

Actually i think Jefferson was a confirmed agnostic.

and Thomas Paine, who keep the spirits of the revolution alive with his underground newspaper 1776-1783 called "Common Sense" and various other pamphlets.. and was a good friend to Thomas Jefferson, so much so that Jefferson sent war ships to France to rescue him after trying to tell Napoleon how to run his revolution. *LMAO*.. anyway ..he was vitually run out of the US for writing in 1794, The Age of Reason in which he writes:

"Every national church or religion has established itself by pretending some special mission from God, communicated to certain individuals. The Jews have their Moses; the Christians have their Jesus Christ, and the Turks their Mahomet, as if the way to God was not open to every man alike. Each of those churches share certain books, which they call revelation, or their Word of God. The Jews say that God gave their Word of God to Moses face to face. The Christians say that their Word of God came by divine inspiration, and the Turks say their Word of God (the Koran) was brought by an angel from heaven. Each of these churches accuses the others of unbelief, and, for my own part, I disbelieve them all."

At least Jefferson had the sense Not to thump the bible and invade Turkey!!

Too many things are done in the name of "god".. i'd like to think she has a real belly laugh over some of them.

|rasta|

[T Pat]

I'ld say I'm better off
I've never met a Mexican that didn't like an occasional Tijuana Whore

[Certifiedbitch]

i'm just hoping that this guy will be a lot better than Ashcroft...but i'm sure it's time that will tell.

[Sarah_Jayne]

Anyone from Texas know if any of his rulings on the Texas Supreme Court made particular news there? I would be interested in that sort of information to see how he dealt with the domestics in his own State.

[SirMoby]

Originally posted by darksoft
Separation of church and state gets so used so much but for unknown reasons.

Right from the 1st Amendment. I'm not saying we should have any religious groups in charge of the government or running things behind closed doors but separation of church and state is simply not in the constitution.

?????
I don’t recall any article or clause in the Constitution that states all individuals should have right to become wealthy, however the phrase “Land of opportunity” is often used for the USA. While it’s not possible to ensure everyone gets the same opportunities it would be very difficult for an appointed or elected official to stay in office if they openly approved of the old concepts that opportunities to gain wealth should only be given to the already wealthy. Because of this we are considered a country where everyone has opportunities to pursue wealth. That’s one of the things we stand for as a people.

What does that have to do with the Constitution? This country stands for many things that are not documented in the Constitution. The Constitution is a legal document and not a social documentation of the American culture.

The USA stands for many things that are not written into legal documents. The day that American only stands for things that are written in legal documentation is the day that we become far worse then any oppressive government in history.

[ClubPussy.com]

At least there was a change.

Change is always Good.


He asked for an opportunity... And yes! He's a Liberal... He Is Latino. Most Latinos are Liberals...

[Kath]

Change IS good - well, um.... usually. lol

I spoke with one webmaster who said it best though - "Better the devil you know, than the one you don't."

Hard to tell how different it will be - or if anything will change at all with Gonzales in office instead of Ashcroft. One thing to remember though is that they are touting him as the first Hispanic American to hold the Cabinet position... if you don't think there will be distractions and special related interests because of it - think again.

Plus there's the war in Iraq, the continued search for WMD, etc. etc. etc. LOTS to keep him busy - I honestly don't think that an adult webmaster who is running an HONEST and LEGAL business has anything to worry about - just pay your taxes, don't send things illegal through the mail and don't fraud/cheat your customers or other webmasters. How hard is that?

[Trax]

Well lets hope

still living in europe or canada is def better for an adult webmaster