2008.10.11
Discuss Saturday's local commentary and letters
Advice to a young generation of voters
Ed Weathers
Weathers teaches at Virginia Tech.
After the McCain-Obama debate on Tuesday, one of my students sent me an e-mail that said the following: "The debate was painful for me to watch because neither candidate really got anywhere. I kept waiting for the K.O. -- just one big line ... that would leave the other candidate weeping in defeat."
Here's how I replied.
Read today's letters here.
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How do you, or more importantly why would you interpret the Constitution flexibly?? That would mean it has a meaning one day and some other the next? And how could this be good for the longevity of a nation?
Comment by BUD — October 11, 2008 @ 9:05 am
Bud,
Consider the source. Those who lean toward the left generally find the pesky US Constitution an impediment to the slow incremental march to a more socialist country. The Federal government is involved in so many things that it is not authorized to do in the Constitution. It's scary how it's been ignored by the politicians in their quest for power
Comment by Nick — October 11, 2008 @ 10:54 am
You're absolutely right, Bud, the federal government is getting into all sorts of things not authorized by the Constitution - like illegally wiretapping U.S. citizens, including military members serving overseas, like holding U.S. citizens as enemy combatants and denying them access to attorneys and claiming they don't have to justify the detention to the courts.
It is scary how the Constitution has been ignored by politicians in their quest for power.
Comment by Dan Radmacher — October 11, 2008 @ 11:03 am
So, Nick is concerned about protecting the US Constitution?
Nick: Are you pleased with the way DUBYA has cared for this precious document in these last 8 years? Please try not to be hypocritical in your response.
Thank You.
Comment by Concerned for the Future — October 11, 2008 @ 11:12 am
Dan,
I don't think monitoring over seas/outbound calls has been determined as unconstitutional when suspected/known terrorists are monitored...didn't the senate vote to extend FISA this past spring? More importantly, didn't the dem candidate for president vote to extend FISA? Plus it isn't WIRETAPPING as these are primarily cell phone calls which is why the BUSH admin. has largely gotten away with it.
Comment by BUD — October 11, 2008 @ 2:55 pm
Dan/Concerned
When have I said that W was the best thing since sliced bread? Don't put words in my mouth. The size of government has doubled in the last 8 years and I'm not thrilled with that. I'm conservative and the Republican party has left me, not the other way around. Yes I think the Constitution is being shredded but it didn't start 8 years ago. If you're a student of history at all, you can go back to Woodrow Wilson to find the beginnings of government over control. FDR's New Deal kept the process going and LBJ gave it new life with the 'Great Society'. How's the 'War on Poverty' working? 6 trillion dollars later and poverty, as defined by the Feds, is no less prevalent now as it was in 1965. Trends like these are not about solving problems as much as acquiring power. I just really think that there are many programs that should be the domain of the state and local governments, just like it was set up in the Constitution.
Washington is truly drunk with the acquisition of power and is proving that it has no solutions, only more programs. This includes both sides of the aisle.
CFTF, was that hypocritical?
Comment by Nick — October 11, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
Nick:
Not hypocritical at all.
Just curious; Did you vote for Bush? Twice?
Comment by Concerned for the Future — October 11, 2008 @ 6:28 pm
CF
Yes I did. I am disappointed over the results of his administration although I give him credit for being steadfast about the threat of Islamic facism. Whether the Iraq war, however it turns out, is justified will be up to the historians. Harry Truman was trashed and villified in the late 40's but is now viewed as one of the best of the 20th century.
The trend of this and other similar newspapers, not to mention the major networks, has been to blame every problem that comes along on 'the failed policies of the Bush administration.' That mantra has become so worn out that it's sickening. There are 535 congressmen and senators that are as much to blame for all of our current woes. Bush's approval ratings are drummed into our heads almost nightly but the ratings of the congress, generally 1/2 that of the President are rarely mentioned. I've finally realized that almost all of the politicians at the Federal level are little more than pond scum, self serving and power hungry. You can't blame all of this mess on one man.
Comment by Nick — October 11, 2008 @ 7:40 pm
Ed Weathers. Another lib writing to the RT on the Tech faculty. I'll ask for the 14th time since I've started noticing. Did this guy write the letter on taxpayer time? Did he send it on a VT computer?
I think I'll keep a running tally every time this happens.
Comment by Josh — October 11, 2008 @ 7:44 pm
I don't blame this all on Bush - at all. I've said repeatedly in here that there is plenty of blame to go around.
I do think he has been a disaster as a President and he gets to take a tremendous amount of responsibility for what's going on in the country and the world around us. I personally don't believe his steadfastness with regards to Islamic fascism has done as much good as it has harm. He has really damaged our country's ability to work in a multi-lateral way on the issues facing us. He has stoked distrust instead of cooperation. He has exhibited arrogance where humility would have been far more productive.
I think there are an astonishing number of people who voted for Bush twice who are struggling with that decision now.
I cannot imagine any way that Al Gore or John Kerry would have brought us to a worse place than we are now militarily, economically, or diplomatically.
Comment by Concerned for the Future — October 11, 2008 @ 8:15 pm
Josh,
What do you mean did he write the letter "on taxpayer time"?
Do you think college professors punch clocks?
I'm starting to wonder if you've ever stepped foot on a college campus. You sound like you get all your information about higher education from the "Limbaugh Institute for Advanced Conservative Studies."
Comment by Dan Radmacher — October 11, 2008 @ 8:23 pm
This from the Daily Kos:
"Today there are millions of angry white men in America whose incomes have been declining, whose pensions may be disappearing, who see immigrants and foreigners and blacks as displacing them in the workplace. If John McCain doesn’t think his repeated insistence that Obama consorts with terrorists and is dangerous for America might not stir up one or more of these angry white men to take it upon him/them selves to save the fatherland, then he’s not just reckless, he’s darn stupid, too."
I agree completely.
Comment by Concerned for the Future — October 11, 2008 @ 8:37 pm
This from the RT Roundtable Comments:
"Today the liberals in this country continue making devisive statements meant to play one part of our nation against the other. This in spite of the spirit of change and hope they regularly say from the other sides of their mouths. There still seems to be little hope that there well be any change in the way they pit one group of Americans against another."
Do as I say, not as I do.
Comment by Eugene — October 12, 2008 @ 8:38 am
Concerned,
You might want to use somewhere besides the Daily Kos as a source. If there ever was a venom spewing net site, that's it. As far as Gore or Kerry doing a better job, well, that's a stretch. Gore probably would have railed against those who took down the WTC and hit the Pentagon for increasing the carbon footprint and causing more 'man made global warming.'
Comment by Nick — October 12, 2008 @ 9:31 am
Dan,
Yah, unfortunately, I've spent more years on a campus than most people, and I certainly never dropped out of high school, but the point is, taxpayers don't want even salaried professors to use university bandwidth, electricity, maintenance, or overhead, or time that could better be spent preparing lessons or advising students, to advance their far-left radical political agenda in area newspapers.
If these goateed bespectacled sorts want to type away at Starbucks or in their studio apartments amid empty Domino's boxes and Hardees cups, on their own time from their own web address, that would be fine.
Comment by Josh — October 12, 2008 @ 10:57 am
Nick: You disagree?
Comment by Concerned for the Future — October 12, 2008 @ 11:18 am
Dan and Bud both recognize there are serious constitutional abuses, but each is concerned only with the abuses that support his own political agenda. If only folks like Dan and Bud could look at the amazing document that the constitution once was, then we could assure that prosperity and hope could continue and spread throughout the world.
Wiretapping? Wrong. Limits on exercise of religion in public places? Wrong. Selling air waves? Wrong. Holding naturalized citizens as enemy combatants? Wrong (unless it is treason). DNC putting up a presidential candidate born in another country? Wrong. No Child Left Behind? Wrong. Marriage penalty with IRS? Wrong.
Both sides of the political center should have no problem adding to the list of constitutional violations, but sadly each side only cares about their pet grievances.
Comment by Jane S — October 12, 2008 @ 1:01 pm
With regard to experience, Mr. Weathers, it is a stretch to say a man 20+ years younger than another has equal experience. Sadly, neither of them have ever run a state, a town or a company.
Comment by Jane S — October 12, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
Jane, so what is your point, that you are right?
I would differ with some several of your conclusions that apparently speak to "your" agenda.
Therein lies the beauty of the constitution.
Comment by Joe — October 12, 2008 @ 2:38 pm
Concerned
Disagree with what?
Comment by Nick — October 12, 2008 @ 2:49 pm
Well said Jane S. Don't forget the US Dept. of Education. I am fortunate to have completed the majority of my primary and secondary education before the US DoE came into existence. During the past 40 years I have observed the slow decline of education efficiency due in part to Federal interference in to what the states and localities are much more qualified to administer. We are spending much more per student than 40 years ago (adjusting for inflation) and the results are horrible. Getting rid of the US DoE and allowing school choice thereby breaking the stranglehold of teachers unions would benefit the system greatly.
Comment by Nick — October 12, 2008 @ 3:06 pm
Jane,
DNC putting up a presidential candidate born in another country? What are you talking about?
Comment by Dan Radmacher — October 12, 2008 @ 7:57 pm
Jane,
I am with Dan on this one . I dont like Barack but he was born in Hawaii.
I thought that was a state.
Comment by HERB KREBS — October 13, 2008 @ 6:21 am
JANE... I don't know where you get that I allow someone to violate the constitution if it suits my political philosophy. If something is found to be illegal the activity/entity must be stopped immediately. Good by me whether I like the decision or not.
Comment by BUD — October 13, 2008 @ 8:03 am
My Libertarian agenda?
Comment by Jane S — October 14, 2008 @ 3:11 pm
The evidence that Barack Obama was born in Kenya goes well beyond "conspiracy" theory. Clearly John McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone. Neither should be candidates.
The President is the one person who should be absolutely uncompromised in his loyalty to America. That's an agenda based on the Constitution of the United State of America.
Comment by Jane S — October 14, 2008 @ 3:17 pm
Jane,
That is ludicrous. Obama has released his birth certificate, and it's been verified. The rumor that he was born in Kenya is simple nonsense.
Comment by Dan Radmacher — October 14, 2008 @ 3:50 pm
"Obama has released his birth certificate, and it’s been verified."
Negative. He allowed a friendly reporter to look at it. Objective 3rd parties, including reporters, have been turned away.
No medical records
No college transcripts
No birth certificate
He has a lot to hide.
Comment by Henry — October 14, 2008 @ 4:24 pm
Dan,
There is no "Official Birth Certificate Verifying Board", but that did bring a funny image to mind.
Comment by Jane S — October 14, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
Jane and Henry,
Was the 1961 birth announcement published in the Honolulu Advertiser faked as well?
Black helicopters and tin foil, pure and simple.
Comment by Dan Radmacher — October 14, 2008 @ 4:37 pm
Dan
Did you notice that link doesn't go to the Honolulu Advertiser?
I assume you have a verified copy of Barack's birth certificate lying around. McCain went to court to prove he was eligible. Obama let a friendly reporter see a copy of his birth certificate.
And you guys are asking Mccain for his medical records? Tell you what. McCain will let Rush Limbaugh look at them. That should suffice, right?
Comment by Henry — October 14, 2008 @ 4:48 pm