Rutgers professors: We don't want Condoleezza Rice at commencement

[Earth_First]

The Rutgers University Faculty Council has approved a resolution calling upon the university’s Board of Governors to rescind its invitation to Condoleezza Rice to speak at commencement.

"Condoleezza Rice ... played a prominent role in (the Bush) administration’s effort to mislead the American people about the presence of weapons of mass destruction," according to the resolution. And she "at the very least condoned the Bush administration’s policy of ‘enhanced interrogation techniques’ such as water boarding," the resolution read.

"A Commencement speaker... should embody moral authority and exemplary citizenship," it continued, and "an honorary Doctor of Laws degree should not honor someone who participated in a political effort to circumvent the law."

At this writing, the university is not backing down. Rutgers spokesman Greg Trevor said that Board of Governors selection of Rice was "unanimously approved" on Feb. 4

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/16643963-condoleezza-rice-voted-off-the-campus-by-rutgers-univ-profs

[HughBeaumont]

1. Yep. No matter how you slice it, Sweetness is a war criminal.

As is the entire Bewsh administration. Lies started a war that bankrupted a country, and it all comes back to Condi.

[santamargarita]

31. Don't forget he stole 2 elections ; his old man helped murder

President Kennedy; his grandfather was Hitler's Banker! I wish we could deport every member of that goddamn cabal.

[Enthusiast]

66. I direct your attention to post number 63.

[HughBeaumont]

118. Oh, great. We excuse genuine lie-caused war crimes because, you know, "BOTHSIDESDOESIT"!!

And . . . TEH BENGHAYZEE!!



Fuuuuuuuuuuuu . . .

It's as bad as the idiots likening MSNBC as the "left wing equivalent to Fox".

[warrant46]

90. Kinda-Sleezy Rice = War Criminal

[barbtries]

2. good for them

she belongs in prison.

[mylye2222]

104. there is a better place for her....

Than a university to speak....

A court room during her trial from charge ofwar crimes

[coldbeer]

110. Why we did it (Maddow)

Maddow had her in the spotlight along with Powell.
These two culprits act innocent in the background.
They were used like a bordello bed.

I am glad that the profs at Rutgers took this stand.
I want Condy to squirm with this exposure. My big
disappointment is that Rutgers now belongs to the
Big Ten. Rutgers is going to allow her (pay her) to
speak.

Maybe something good might evolve from this?

[daybranch]

3. She knowingly misled us into war

I remember when on television, she was asked if Iraq was a bigger threat in the middle east than Korea. Rather than correct the television commentator and pointing out that Korea was not in the middle east, she simply said yes. Just a liar is all she is.

[Feral Child]

4. K&R n/t

[PowerToThePeople]

5. good. hopefully the board listens.

Calling out the war criminals publicly is the first step towards this nation getting back to some semblance of a just nation.

[NJCher]

6. people like Rice

are trying hard for legitimacy.

Won't happen.


Cher

[Dustlawyer]

7. Damn liberal colleges, they are almost as bad as that damn liberal media!

(Sarcasm)

[mountain grammy]

17. Exactly!!

[Viking12]

57. we're even worse

where do you think "the media" gets all their commie learnin'?

[catbyte]

8. She should've been indicted for this quote alone:

"We don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud." –National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, on Iraq's nuclear capabilities and the Bush administration's case for war, Sept. 8, 2002"

[jsr]

36. +1

[Enthusiast]

74. Yes. It was a special lie.

It was a lie crafted specifically to deceive the American people.

How could Iraq suddenly come up with rocket technology to deliver a nuclear warhead? The Bush Administration was all about deceiving the American people. But oddly enough they were allowed to get away with it just like the criminal banks were rewarded for massive fraud. WTF?

Now look at the nation, it is falling apart, it is clear off the tracks.

[1awake]

9. This issue aside, shouldnt the students have a say?

Im not sure I care what the professors want or don't want nor what the Board wants.

[Bandit]

12. Do students get a say in what material they must study?

[Lurker Deluxe]

14. Uhhh ... sure ...

Pretty much what it's all about ... you choose your field of study.

[tblue37]

18. But the students don't decide the content or emphasis in the *courses* they

take in that field of study. The people who are already trained experts in the specfic field make that determination.

Universities consist of more than one "stakeholder" group. In terms of what the school's purported mission is, faculty and students together comprise the primary stakeholders, while administration and other staff members are supposedly the support personnel necessary to achieve the school's ostensible goals.

[Lurker Deluxe]

22. pretty much all carrot, no stick.

In the case of higher education it is all the students choice. There is no mandatory anything. You don't want to take that class, don't. You don't want to read that book, don't. You may fail out, have to change majors, or any other number of things but the choice is yours to make ...

Learning is a choice.

[tblue37]

23. But those points are not relevant to the issue of whether faculty should have a right to

be heard when they file a complaint like the one in the OP.

[Lurker Deluxe]

26. not what I responded to

I responded to a question, "Do students get a say in what material they must study?"

I don't give a rat's ass to the OP, or to what Condi does ... I pay as little attention to that group of goat fuckers as I can. Ignore them and they will go away.

[Hissyspit]

95. Um, speaking as a college instructor...

Wrong.

[Lurker Deluxe]

114. Um, speaking as a college dropout

You're wrong. You can't force me to do shit, if I don't want to do it.

Period.

What I choose to learn or not learn, read or not read, is completely up to me.

[Hissyspit]

119. I'll let you think about that.

Another thing professors do.

[1awake]

20. lol... that how it was for me each time. nt

[Enthusiast]

48. The professors should decide.

Apparently. Because they see that Condi is UNFIT. Condi said no one could imagine terrorists using planes as weapons. She was lying. The memo warned specifically about planes as weapons. She should be in prison. She has no credibility. No one associated with the Bush Administration has any credibility and deserves any respect.

[1awake]

52. Oh, I could care less about Rice... she can go retire somewhere never to be heard from again.

But it's a commencement, which is for the students, not the professors. Really has nothing to do with this op... just a thought.

[Enthusiast]

56. Why say it then? Why argue in favor of the rightie position?

Just a thought? Okay. Maybe you are the only 1awake.

[1awake]

59. I'm arguing from the position that the students should have a say.

It has nothing whatsoever to do with Rice, or even this situation. I have no idea whether the students would want her there or not... didn't even cross my mind. I was addressing the protocol of commencement, not necessarily this one. I apologize if it sounded other than how I meant it.

Clever use of my handle lol.

[proudretiredvet]

63. I must respectfully disagree.

What Condi did was wrong but I blame Bush for that whole deception.
When I compare what she said to what what Susan Rice said about the Benghazi attacks when she knew a much different truth it is hard for me to get very fired up about Condi.
I do not like being lied to no matter what letter is in front of someone's name.

[Enthusiast]

64. Respectfully won't cover your ass. You are exposed.

You are on Democratic Underground talking about Benghazi? Carrying right wing Fascist water?

You are comparing Susan Rice to Condi Rice? Are you even a fucking Democrat? WTF?

Condi's lies cost the nation over two TRILLION dollars and over four thousand lives! Your priorities are clearly not those of a Democrat.

[cui bono]

68. Calm down. They're not "talking about Benghazi". They're using an example of statements

made about situations.

Sheesh.

[proudretiredvet]

70. So we are now discussing how we value a lie or many lies.

It is about the cost of the lie and not if telling lies to our nation are right or wrong.

I believe that repeatedly lying to our nation and citizens is wrong. I will not qualify or quantify wrong with a price tag.

It is a matter of honor. Telling a lie is never right because of money. Telling a lie is never right because you believe the end result is more important.

Unless it is done to protect our national security or the loss of life it is always wrong. Even then the lies should be exposed, owned, corrected, and explained as soon as the treat has passed. Honesty does count with me, every time.

It is a very clear and easy right and wrong for me. I do understand that others do not believe as I do.

What you think of me is clearly unimportant especially to me.

Have a nice day.

[Enthusiast]

73. Condi Rice claimed that we could never have considered

the use of planes as weapons. That was a lie. It was a very diabolical sort of lie. A lie that was supposed to give cover for the greatest intelligence failure in United States history.

The kind of lie does matter.

The Bush Administration's lies to justify the Iraq War was an especially egregious kind of lie. A kind of lie that constitutes treason. Condi knowingly participated in that lie. That lie was treason.

And clearly I could care less what you think of me. It says more of me that you don't like me, or what I say, because I am on the side of right, I am a patriot.

[rhett o rick]

75. I dont know where to start. First of all it hasnt ever been proven that Susan Rice

lied. In the heat of the moment she gave an explanation that was later clarified. Clearly no attempt to mislead. And no one died.

Condi Rice told many lies and repeated them, not in the heat of the moment but as part of a propaganda machine to take us to war.

Hundreds of thousands died and million of lives ruined do to the lies that Condi Rice participated in. To this day she has no remorse for the dead Iraqi children.

And blame Bush and not Condi? You cant be serious. Condi is ten times smarter than poor Dim-Son. She knew exactly what she was doing. And, although Bushy shares responsibility, he was a dupe.

Just a hint. If you want to last here, dont be so obvious when injecting Right-Wing memes.

Just to be clear, Bush and the wacko assholes that supported him are responsible for the deaths of at least 100,000 innocent Iraqi children. May the war criminals and their supporters (including Democrats) rot in hell forever.

Have a nice day

[rhett o rick]

91. It's not often I get to debate with someone like you here. You compared the

the premeditated lies that Condi participated in that led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands, lies that she tries to defend today, with what happened re. Benghazi attack. Even if the first reports by the Administration were politically motivated, they were quickly corrected AND NO ONE DIED BECAUSE OF THE REPORT.

Attempts to make the two events equivalent are not just asinine they would seem to be politically motivated to the point that those making the attempts wouldnt qualify to post in Democratic Underground.

For the record, you are excusing the war crimes of Condi Rice are you?

[FiveGoodMen]

77. "I will not qualify or quantify wrong with a price tag"

Telling Aunt Sally that the pie she made was good even though she forgot the sugar -- a lie.

Telling the nation we had to start a war or be destroyed by weapons that didn't exist -- a lie.

Yup. Who cares about the cost? They're both lies.

[Marr]

80. That's like saying there's no difference between someone who killed another driver

in an automobile accident, and Jeffrey Dahmer.

[LibGranny]

82. I support your sentiments about Comment #63.

There is NO comparison re Benghazi and the trumped up Iraqi War!

[rhett o rick]

99. "You are exposed" Ewwww!

[Enthusiast]

109. Was that wrong?

[rhett o rick]

115. This is a decent message board and there should be no exposure here.

Just sayin.

[Marr]

81. Let me get this straight.

You aren't particularly concerned about Condoleeza Rice's lies to start a war, but you're very upset about the Benghazi conspiracy theory?

Interesting umm... position.

[proudretiredvet]

84. You do not get that as a given either.

How did Condi start a war with only her lie? That in itself is not true. I blame Bush for the war, it was his call and his responsibility. Condi was just a handy tool to spread a lie. Sound familiar?

[Marr]

85. Who said she started the war by herself?

I doubt that many people would accept the notion that blame for a fraudulently-sold war can be neatly placed on a single, retired politician who no longer matters.

A whole political faction, not to mention the corporate media, helped sell those lies-- and they'll all have that stink on them for the rest of their lives. Rice should just be happy there's no justice in this country for people who act on behalf of the powerful, and go away.

[proudretiredvet]

88. Actually I got that from you.

Here it is.
"You aren't particularly concerned about Condoleeza Rice's lies to start a war,"

There was no mention of anyone else there.

You might find post #87 interesting. It is exactly what I and many other vets with experience in the middle east thought immediately after the attack and why I never bought into the spontaneous protester story. From first look at the weapons that were deployed in the initial attack the cover story sank like a rock.

[Marr]

103. Then you misunderstood.

I do not believe that Condoleeza Rice started the Iraq War all by herself.

I also don't believe that her lies should be excused, or that we should all just put the blame on some now-irrelevant politician.

[Hissyspit]

96. Nonsense.

Utter unadulterated crap.

[haydukelives]

120. Benghaziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

the Benghazi alert system has been activated.

[Hissyspit]

94. Um, the Professors??

The people hired because they know things?

Good grief.

[1awake]

111. lol... then by your logic so do I, so i guess im right? nt

[on point]

10. Belongs in prison. She also approved of torture with Cheney

[llmart]

11. Hopefully if the university goes ahead and has her speak.....

the students will all turn their backs on her while she's speaking, or better yet, walk out and come back when she's gone.

[heaven05]

30. yep, let her speak

and the way to 'dis' her is here. Great suggestion. Non violent and silent.

[closeupready]

34. Was just gonna post that.

[sinkingfeeling]

13. Condoleeezza was here at the University of Arkansas last night to speak in our

'Distinguished Lecture' series. Funny, but there was absolutely nothing about what she said on the TV news this morning. I was amazed that there was no protest demonstration. The UofA said they would not allow in backpacks, large purses, or banners.

[jtuck004]

69. "The UofA said they would not allow in backpacks, large purses, or banners" < It strikes me that

what she carried inside her head, her beliefs and motivations, are more dangerous than the contents of any backpack...

[Paladin]

15. Good move, Rutgers faculty.

Rice got off way too easy for the matters she either bungled or actively participated in.

[loudsue]

16. This is part of the Powell Manifesto at work: the rightwing take-over of universities and their

boards of directors/governors. It was intentional: after the protests of the '60's and '70's, Powell rallied Adolph Coors, and the rest of the US Chamber of Commerce nazis, and determined to take over schools, the courts, churches, media, publishing, and the democratic party. They used industry to only fund research projects at schools who would install faculty "approved" by the money suppliers; which Universities wanted and needed, and need now, more than ever. The Powell Manifesto was the 1970's version of PNAC, and in fact, what enabled PNAC at all.

[erronis]

41. Right on!

They waged a behind-the-scenes hijack of most institutions. They figured out that they couldn't beat the plebes by pure votes or voices so they relied on $s.

I think that these moles are so deeply embedded in much of our society and governments that it will take years to purge ourselves of them.

[loudsue]

46. Hell, erronis....they've taken over DU.

They are like cockroaches. Worse. Lice. Bed bugs. Chiggers.

[Enthusiast]

51. Their sockpuppets are right here on this thread arguing in favor of Condi.

Part of the Fascist coup.

[alp227]

107. Ah i remember that info from Thom Hartmann's new book The Crash of 2016

don't know about the Coors family but yeah the USCOC was definitely behind the right wing packing of university boards. Relevant passage: here (click on the 2nd result).

[loudsue]

117. Wow! I didn't know about this book of his!

I just remember being exposed to the Powell Manifesto WAAAAYYYY back in the early days of DU, when there was always so much research going on. After that, I continued to look for it in other articles and references.

This, in my opinion, is one of the most sinister, insidious fronts to democracy and freedom that has ever been perpetrated on our land. It is the (bush lead) plot to kill FDR by the American Nazi party, but by sneak attack at every level of our intellectual infrastructure. It is Ayn Rand on steroids, and made manifest.

May the chamber-of-commerce and justice powell, and all their lackeys burn in hell.

[mountain grammy]

19. Good to see the push back..

it's the only tiny bit of consequence the war gang has had to face...

[joeglow3]

21. I agree with them, but let the students decide

I am 100% confident the students will say the same. However, the event is about the students and NOT the professors.

[sabrina 1]

24. War criminals should be prosecuted, not invited to give lectures. If a country approves of their

crimes, like this one, then it's up to the people to shun them. IF she goes there, the students should walk out. It's sickening to see these people in our universities and colleges with all that blood on their hands. And sickening that war crimes are our policy now.

[Mr Dixon]

25. SMH

Great stance but in the end they caved so what was the point?

[zeemike]

27. The Bush brand must be rehabilitated.

And so I doubt they will change their mind.

And besides torture is sometimes necessary to keep us safe...Jack Bauer proved that on the TV show 24...don't these professors watch TV?

[Aristus]

28. Karma sucks, Condie.

At least for you, it does...

[Scuba]

29. Welcome another ethical faculty to the B1G. Woo hoo!!

[pacerbluedrum1949]

32. Good for Rutgers

Good for them ,since all those war criminals got away without even a hand slap, just maybe the embarrassment of being turned down and having it published and spelled out has got to hurt ..You know Jr. Vice P.Shoot friends in the face and the rest of those war mongering asses could care less but Rice is an Academic she went merrily along with these Neanderthals in my opinion because liked the power and attention maybe just maybe deep down in her soul she's kicking herself I seriously doubt but maybe.

[closeupready]

33. I wouldn't either. She's a shameless warmonger. K&R

[Orsino]

35. Can't they take her for an afternoon?

Just to give the rest of the country a break? One day a year?

[HappyMe]

37. Good.

I wouldn't be interested in what the war monger has to say.

[toby jo]

38. At least she'll have to stand there knowing the people she's addressing know what she is.

A student walkout or something along those lines would be nice, but with 4 Rutger years under one's belt and a tired economy waiting for you, doubtful we'll see that.

[Jefferson23]

39. Rice failed in her duties. Have the decency to GO AWAY. Why We Know Iraq Is Lying ( Editorial NYT )

By Condoleezza Rice
Published: January 23, 2003


Eleven weeks after the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution demanding -- yet again -- that Iraq disclose and disarm all its nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs, it is appropriate to ask, ''Has Saddam Hussein finally decided to voluntarily disarm?'' Unfortunately, the answer is a clear and resounding no.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/23/opinion/why-we-know-iraq-is-lying.html

[jsr]

40. $35,000 and a honorary degree for a war criminal and waterboarding enthusiast

[raccoon]

42. Rutgers rocks! nt

[joeybee12]

43. Damn librul professors acting like war crimes is a big deal! Yeesh!

knr

[JEB]

44. Torture queen should ride her super tanker back to the shoe store

or Stanford. Argh. She deserves nothing but shame and punishment befitting a war criminal.

[kimbutgar]

45. She is a Russia specialist from her Stanford education

I wonder why she has not been speaking out and criticizing the situation in the Ukraine. Since she is such a foreign policy expert and one of the bushie loyalists.

[merrily]

47. The graduates should boycott the graduation.

Yes, I know they've worked for it for four years and amply deserve it. And maybe their parents deserve it even more. But they should boycott. It's very important.

About 20 years ago, Georgia's Emory University was going to have Rush Limbaugh, then relatively new on the scene, as commencement speaker. The graduating class protested, threatening a boycott.

The University swapped Limbaugh out, substituting the President of Atlanta headquartered Coca Cola, claiming he was all they could get on short notice. However, Archbishop Tutu did give the invocation and gave a speech as well.

Many of the graduates still weren't happy with the President of Coke, though, so they deliberately (and noisily) tripped going up to the wooden stairs to the platform to claim their diplomas.

ETA: Alternatively, the students and the professors who object to Condi yapping self importantly at the graduation can either turn their chairs around so that their backs are to her, or they can stand up and turn their backs to her. This is what a number of Democrats did in D.C. when Bush was inaugurated the second time, stood along the route and turn their backs when Bush or his limo passed them.

[loudsue]

54. They need to stage an alternate graduation ceremony. Someone steal the diplomas.

Fuck the damned board of governors.

[myrna minx]

49. K&R n/t

[12ZTR]

50. A few options

BOYCOTT Rutgers.
BOYCOTT Commencement.
Stand up & turn all backs to her as she is speaking.
Stand up & yell "LIAR" as she's speaking,shouting her down.
BOYCOTT Rutgers.

Forget it! Students & parents aren't this smart.

[NYC Liberal]

53. Actually, I hope she DOES show up and they give her a welcome like UMass gave Andy Card...

[closeupready]

58. OMG - I just LOVED that!!!

I literally laughed out loud here.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

65. Wow, I missed that.

THAT'S the way to do it. Good for them.

[gristy]

92. How wonderful and beautiful

[wilsonbooks]

108. Thank you for posting this. I had never seen it.

[hibbing]

55. uh...what about Stanford? ..hello?

Condoleezza Rice is currently a professor of Political Economy in the Graduate School of Business; the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution; and a professor of Political Science at Stanford University. She is also a founding partner of RiceHadleyGates.


Peace

[marions ghost]

60. Cannot believe they'd consider her in the first place

"A Commencement speaker... should embody moral authority and exemplary citizenship," it continued, and "an honorary Doctor of Laws degree should not honor someone who participated in a political effort to circumvent the law."

Ouch!

As might be expected, the professors are not alone in their opposition to Rice's presence on campus. Several petitions are circulating among students as well."

[raven mad]

61. I have only one word for Ms. Rice.

And it's not nice.

[Catherina]

62. Happy to be 100th rec n/t

[LiberalEsto]

67. Good for my Alma Mater's faculty!

Unfortunately the Rutgers university administration has been more or less full of shit since former University President Mason Gross retired in the mid-1970s.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

71. I hope MSNBC televises her speech. It will be...

worthy

[HockeyMom]

72. Not surprised in the least

as a native New Yorker knowing Rugters. GOOD for them for calling it like it is.

[QuestForSense]

76. I'd like to know who wants her there and why.

Her hands will remain dirty forever. Worse than Cheney.

[SummerSnow]

78. Here is her rap sheet

http://warcriminalswatch.org/index.php/the-culpable/36-the-culprits/54-rice-condoleeza

[bigwillq]

79. Good for Rutgers!

K and R

[Cha]

83. Shame on the Board of Directors of Rutgers. What are they, obtuse? Good Luck

to the students.

"As might be expected, the professors are not alone in their opposition to Rice's presence on campus. Several petitions are circulating among students as well.
"I’m a member of the faculty council and this seemed the right forum to raise the concern," said Robert Boikess, a Chemistry professor who actually introduced the resolution. "Many students are very concerned as well."

"Rutgers' student newspaper published a letter from Lawrence Michael Ladutke, an alumnus, who was critical of the school's choice as well: "Honoring such a dishonorable person is disgusting because doing so honors the inhumane and unconstitutional actions Rice carried out," Ladutke wrote. "My face is red, and not with scarlet pride. Rather it is red from embarrassment and anger."

The comments under that article were all from brainwashed idiots.. as far as I could see.

[gussmith]

86. Hey Professors

Why not amend that anti-rice statement to also condemn Christie? He is the biggest problem your state has right now.

[indepat]

89. How dare the Rutgers University Faculty Council trash Condisleasy Rice! How could she have

foreseen airplanes being crashed into tall buildings and not know Iraq were not really capable of creating mushroom clouds over our homeland within 30 minutes?

[Hissyspit]

93. Unindicted War Criminal

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1047533

[lonestarnot]

97. What, they don't want killers of those possessing oil to send them on to their futures with a pot

full of lies?

[Dawson Leery]

98. If war criminal Condi Rice get to speak on a college tour, it is only fair

that Charles Manson gets to speak too.

[ReRe]

100. Rutgers Rocks!

And you do too, for bringing this news to our attention!

[MindMover]

101. Well at least the board of governors will show up for the speech ... nt

[Mnemosyne]

102. Probably were also afraid her husband would attend. Two war criminals for the price of one.nt

[alp227]

106. ???? Condi is not married.

unless you take seriously the rumors that have flown around DU for years about GW Bush and Condi having an affair.

[JHB]

113. There was the time she gaffed and referred to him as "my husband"...

...which is what I think Mnemosyne was referring to.

No affair need be involved. By all accounts she thought excessively highly of him, to the point where it seemed like a bit of a crush.

[Mnemosyne]

116. I was referring to when she accidentally called ** her husband. nt

[alp227]

105. Moral authority? Exemplary citizenship? Just ask Mike Rice, former men's basketball coach

On December 13, 2012, Rice was suspended three games without pay and fined $50,000 for abusive behavior toward his players. The suspension came after athletic director Tim Pernetti obtained video footage from a practice during either Rice's first or second season at Rutgers, at which Rice was seen throwing basketballs at players' heads and cursing at them. Assistant coach David Cox led the team during Rice's suspension.[5] As part of the suspension, Rice was not only banned from any contact with his players or going on recruiting visits, but was banned from coming onto campus altogether.[6] Pernetti characterized the suspension as "a complete removal from the program," but stated that Rice would return to Rutgers for the 2013-14 season pending a review of his behavior.[7]

The situation changed dramatically on April 2, 2013, when ESPN's Outside the Lines aired several hours of video from Rice's practices. According to ESPN, the video, provided to Pernetti by then-assistant coach Eric Murdock, showed Rice berating, pushing, kicking, cursing and throwing basketballs at players during practices. Murdock said that he first told Pernetti about the abuse in the summer of 2012, but Pernetti took no action until he and other Rutgers officials saw the video in December. Murdock claims he was fired in July for reporting the abuse, and is suing Rutgers for wrongful termination.[8] The video touched off a nationwide outcry, with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie condemning Rice's behavior, and State Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver among many demanding that Rice be fired.[9]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Rice,_Jr.

It took FOUR MONTHS after Rutgers first disciplined Rice to realize his behavior was bad enough to fire Rice.

Rutgers fails again. Sure, right wingers who were drooling over the Duck Dynasty guy a few months back are now going to trot out that dusty ol' non argument again. But c'mon, these idiots would be complaining about Bill Clinton lying about his extramarital relations yet being able to speak at commencements.

[yellowwoodII]

112. Chris Hedges at Rockford College--2003

We are reminded of Chris Hedges' speech at Rockford College. But Hedges was right.

I want to speak to you today about war and empire.

Killing, or at least the worst of it, is over in Iraq. Although blood will continue to spill -- theirs and ours -- be prepared for this. For we are embarking on an occupation that, if history is any guide, will be as damaging to our souls as it will be to our prestige, power, and security. But this will come later as our empire expands and in all this we become pariahs, tyrants to others weaker than ourselves. Isolation always impairs judgment and we are very isolated now.

We have forfeited the good will, the empathy the world felt for us after 9-11. We have folded in on ourselves, we have severely weakened the delicate international coalitions and alliances that are vital in maintaining and promoting peace and we are part now of a dubious troika in the war against terror with Vladimir Putin and Ariel Sharon, two leaders who do not shrink in Palestine or Chechnya from carrying out acts of gratuitous and senseless acts of violence. We have become the company we keep.

The censure and perhaps the rage of much of the world, certainly one-fifth of the world's population which is Muslim, most of whom I'll remind you are not Arab, is upon us. Look today at the 14 people killed last night in several explosions in Casablanca. And this rage in a world where almost 50 percent of the planet struggles on less than two dollars a day will see us targeted. Terrorism will become a way of life, and when we are attacked we will, like our allies Putin and Sharon, lash out with greater fury. The circle of violence is a death spiral; no one escapes. We are spinning at a speed that we may not be able to hold. As we revel in our military prowess -- the sophistication of our military hardware and technology, for this is what most of the press coverage consisted of in Iraq -- we lose sight of the fact that just because we have the capacity to wage war it does not give us the right to wage war. This capacity has doomed empires in the past.