In which I remember civic lessons (and cry a little)

Needless to say, not impressed with Bush's speech last night.

I remember in junior high that we had to memorize the preamble to the U.S. Constitution and the president's oath of office. At the time, I remember being rather resentful--why did I have to memorize some stupid oath? Even the president didn't have to memorize it, he just repeated what the the Chief Justice said.

But I can see the point now.

I'm sick of all this "defend America at all costs" rhetoric. Our apparently elected president stated last night: "as we get farther and farther from 9/11, we've got - we seem to have people less and less committed to doing everything that is necessary to defend the country."

What he's forgotten or never learned and most likely doesn't care about is that his job is not to defend the country at all costs. He swore:

"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

The Constitution, dammit. The Framers were not idiots, they worded it this way on purpose: the President's job is to defend the Constitution and the principles it stands for. But instead Bush runs about tearing down the principles that he swore to protect as he blathers about defending America, and in actuality just grabs more and more power into his own hands. Power that no president of the United States should have. If I start mentioning slogans like "Down with Tyrants!" will the SS, oh wait, the Secret Service, show up at my door? And if they do, hey, they inferred the connection, not me.

(I had originally written a slightly different slogan there and then deleted it, because, you know, it's not paranoia once they start tapping people's phones without any lawful authority.)

In which I can't help but add

Because I'm still fuming for all kinds of reasons, and it's distracting me from working, I point out this quote:

"The government will make use of these powers only insofar as they are essential for carrying out vitally necessary measures...The number of cases in which an internal necessity exists for having recourse to such a law is in itself a limited one."

Bush on the Patriot Act? Bush on his domestic spying program? No (but you figured that out, I'm sure, since the sentence was actually somewhat literate and grammatical, if in a stilted, grandiose sort of way). Hitler in 1933 before the Reichstag (Parliament) on the emergency powers granted to him after the Reichstag Fire.

In fact, though, as far as I've seen, Bush hasn't actually said anything about his supposedly legal wiretapping powers being used only "insofar as they are essential." But he has criticized the "shameful act" of disclosing to the American public that the president of their democracy is engaged in tapping their phones without any legitimate basis in or recourse to law or legal process.

This type of analogy is not that far fetched.

In which I attempt to bite off more than I can chew

Because I apparently don't have enough guilt in my life over tasks I fail to do, I decided to manufacture some more. I've put in a claim at fanfic100. For all those people who've called me crazy over the years, here's Exhibit 1. A hundred fics? Yeah, no problem, especially considering that I've only just started writing again after several years of not finishing a single damn thing. I'm almost hoping that it's rejected. But not really.

This may or may not have been precipitated by further (or really, ongoing) family stupidity. The same stupidity I have already complained about (see here for previous vague rantings, but really, don't bother). I love that I get dragged into these messes for no other reason than the fact that I'm related to these people (and they upset my poor parents). It's rather like punishment for being born, isn't it? Someday, I'm going to be the one that causes all the trouble and hurt, really I am. And I too am going to claim complete and utter righteousness, cause really, it's just everyone else's fault and let's all take sides.

Um, not.