In the post continuation are the proclamations of George Bush and Governor Rounds fully exploiting the 9-11 tragedy for partisan political purposes. It appears from Bush's proclamation that the US Congress is complicit in this blatant smoke and mirrors attempt to further conflate the 9-11 tragedy with the falsely justified and poorly conceived war against Iraq..the wrong enemy at the wrong time in the wrong place for the wrong reasons.
Calling September 11 "Patriot Day" is inappropriate to begin with. It might make sense to move Labor Day to September 11 to honor the Workers and Laborers who died at the World Trade Center because of terrorist attack. It does not make sense to somehow pretend they are some variety of super patriots who are any different than any of the rest of the population in the US that goes to work nearly everyday. We already have the Fourth of July for displays of real, phony, and imagined patriotism. We also have a Memorial Day for those who have died in service to their country. We have Presidents Day to memorialize those servants of the people. What we really need is a FOLLY DAY to forever remember the excesses and misuse of power that generate tax slavery and misery for millions of people. We need to remember all the riders on white horses who turn into death on a white elephant. Fail to remember and we will be doomed to repeat...wasn't the Vietnam war lesson enough?
Bush and the pandering expediency chasing congress critters have turned a tragedy of government folly and alien terrorism into the biggest extravaganza of smoke and mirrors in history of US. This is an outrage against decency and common sense.
It is no accident that "Patriot Day" appears to share something with "PATRIOT Act". Bush and the congress critters too incompetent to see that Bush justifications for war with Iraq or who saw and in the interests of exploiting tragedy for their own re-election purposes have in these actions engaged in outrageous deception and fraud on the population. This is more handwaving to make it appear there is a reason for the Bush War in Iraq.
Instead of wandering around saying things like "Oh, isn't that proclamation so nice and thoughtful ", we should be completely outraged.
This is however nearly the LAST HURRAH for the Bush Administration in conflating the 9-11 tragedy and the PATRIOT act and the Bush War. Unless of course the Texas Twit decides to unleash a nuclear weapon somewhere for partisan effect before the end of his disastrous terms A real Patriots Day would not celebrate an event used to erase and blur the constitutional guarantees of freedom that have in the past separated the United States from the hellholes of the world where freedom of speech, press, and right of assembly and privacy are only myths and dreams. A real Patriots day would not be a part of camouflaging the executive ripoff of congressional powers implicit in the Gonzalez-Bush idea of a "unitary executive. Nor would a real Patriots day in anyway support the idea that Dick Cheney as VP is somehow in a totally separate area of government that is neither executive or legislative or is a special mix of the two that makes he and his office immune from any congressional investigations.
At what point will the United States population decide that they have had enough of being treated like mushrooms kept in the dark and fed horseshit by the cynical political whores wasting our lives and sacred honor in the interests of corporations and their own re-election and maintenance of power in the interests of the already powerful and influentials.
***Stay tuned, stay outraged, and don't take the horseshit as gospel anymore--- Doug Wiken
Below are copied the press releases of President Bush and Governor Rounds in their latest blatant attempts to exploit the grief and tragedy of 9-11 as they conflate that with the War in Iraq and the PATRIOT act.
Office of the Governor
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD57501
(605) 773-3212
www.state.sd.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, September 7, 2007
CONTACT: Mitch Krebs or Roxy Everson, (605) 773-3212
Gov. Rounds asks that all flags fly at half staff Sept. 11 to observe Patriot Day
PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Mike Rounds today is asking that all flags in the state be flown at half staff on Tuesday, September 11, 2007, from 8 a.m. (CDT) until sunset to honor those lost during the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.
"It is appropriate that we remember and honor those brave men and women whose lives were taken in the deadly attacks on Sept. 11, 2001," said Gov. Rounds. "It is also appropriate that we thank those who serve the cause of defending our country and recognize our first responders who answer the call in times of need."
The White House Proclamation issued by President George W. Bush proclaiming Patriot Day, 2007, can be found at: www.whitehouse.gov/news/proclamations/.
The proclamation asks all units of government to direct that the flag be flown at half staff on Patriot Day.
The proclamation calls upon the people of the United States to observe Patriot Day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and remembrance services, to display the flag at half staff from their homes on that day, and to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. eastern daylight time to honor the innocent Americans and people from around the world who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
-30-http://www.state.sd.us/news/printDoc.aspx?i=8819
http://tinyurl.com/yw844t
==========================================
September 4, 2007Patriot Day, 2007
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
RSS Feed White House NewsSeptember 11, 2001, was a defining moment in American history. On that terrible day, our Nation saw the face of evil as 19 men barbarously attacked us and wantonly murdered people of many races, nationalities, and creeds. On Patriot Day, we remember the innocent victims, and we pay tribute to the valiant firefighters, police officers, emergency personnel, and ordinary citizens who risked their lives so others might live.
After the attacks on 9/11, America resolved that we would go on the offense against our enemies, and we would not distinguish between the terrorists and those who harbor and support them. All Americans honor the selfless men and women of our Armed Forces, the dedicated members of our public safety, law enforcement, and intelligence communities, and the thousands of others who work hard each day to protect our country, secure our liberty, and prevent future attacks.
The spirit of our people is the source of America's strength, and 6 years ago, Americans came to the aid of neighbors in need. On Patriot Day, we pray for those who died and for their families. We volunteer to help others and demonstrate the continuing compassion of our citizens. On this solemn occasion, we rededicate ourselves to laying the foundation of peace with confidence in our mission and our free way of life.
By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89), the Congress has designated September 11 of each year as "Patriot Day."
Below are copied the press releases and proclamations of the latest exploitation of the grief and tragedy of 9-11
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 11, 2007, as Patriot Day. I call upon the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff on Patriot Day. I also call upon the people of the United States to observe Patriot Day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and remembrance services, to display the flag at half-staff from their homes on that day, and to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. eastern daylight time to honor the innocent Americans and people from around the world who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.
GEORGE W. BUSH
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/09/print/20070904-6.html
http://tinyurl.com/yu2va4
Brilliant post and right on target.
I enjoy your quote about staying tuned, staying outraged and not taking horseshit as gospel, but personally find I'm just as disheartened/disenchanted/outraged with the enabling, the spinelessness of the Dems too. We've got Corporate sponsored media, politicians and less honor and integrity out there and I think Patriotism has got to be the act of cleaning out the spineless and the souless.
Posted by: The Feefster | Sep 10, 2007 at 07:29 PM
Really excellent Doug, and I like this blog!
Posted by: Pat C | Sep 10, 2007 at 08:00 PM