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QUOTATION: People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote - a very different thing. - Walter H. Judd

2004-08-05 - 4:23 p.m. Freudian Slip? Bush Misspeak Cites U.S. Readiness to Harm U.S. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush told a roomful of top Pentagon brass on Thursday that his administration would never stop looking for ways to harm the United States. The latest installment of misspeak from a president long known for his malapropisms came during a signing ceremony for a new $417 billion defense appropriations bill that includes $25 billion in emergency funding for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we," Bush said. The Republican incumbent, who is in a tight race for reelection against Democrat John Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran, used the 11-minute presentation to underscore his commitment to U.S. troops. On hand for the ceremony were Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. * * * * * * * * Well, you can bet the liberals are jumping all over that one 'cause we think that for once he's telling the truth, that even he believes what his administration has been doing over the past several years has not been in the best interest of the U.S. What exactly does "dealing with terrorism" mean? As Joan Chittister said in this week's "From Where I Stand" newsletter: Is it engaging in global slaughter or extending our political negotiations? Does it involve eliminating support for terrorists by developing new foreign policies or sealing our borders to foreigners or putting on more guards at airports?" The main thrust of her newsletter was involved with the democratic process and how difficult it is for the average American to become an informed voter; with talk shows based on contention not conversation, opposites hired ostensibly to provide balance, but actually to assure entertainment value Jerry Springer-style. If you know the cast of characters, you know before the show begins what you will hear. So why listen? I've been reading Flynn's, America the Vulnerable,[You can hear his Fresh Air interview at this site] which points up just how little has been done to protect our country since 9/11. I was heartened today to hear that California was doing a disaster drill, pretending a dirty bomb had gone off in a container at one of our ports. I'm hoping there will be some news about how our first line of defense did in this rehearsal. Flynn thinks we should be doing more prevention, more risk management at our ports and at our borders...and alloting more budget to our actual protection than to fighting the war against terror overseas. What a concept! I would have laughed when I read La's The British are Coming, The British Are Coming had it not been such a serious subject. My question is...are any of us any more prepared today than we were on 9/11? Flynn asks some important questions somebody should be considering...some questions involving personal preparedness, as well as national preparedness. Simple things such as a few days supply of water and food in your home -- just in case transportation becomes problematic. Many of us are writing about our concerns, but I keep wondering how we can get the message to the people who count. I keep writing to Senators Feinstein and Boxer, but that's like preaching to the choir. My friend, Bev, wrote in her journal, Funny the World, of her despair. Joan Chittister wrote: "From where I stand, it looks as if the media has surrendered to the lowest possible level of political reporting. Ideas don't interest them; only argument satisfies. Anything else, they tell us, is not worthy of their attention. And these are the same people who will show us day after day and hour after hour of pole vaults, high dives and balance beam routines when the Olympics return -- scripted, repetitious and highly politicized. Interesting, isn't it?" Yes, isn't it just... And here's a timeline of events preceding or coinciding with the upgrading of tterror alerts...an interesting bit of reading. Thanks to Pandi! email: Visit the U.S. National Debt Clock Electoral College Vote - Current Current Iraq Body Count previous - next