On "Losing America"

[H2O Man]

As we prepare to watch the democratic debate, and as Super Tuesday approaches, here is one of the issues I think we should focus on. It has to do with the Constitution of the United States of America. Let’s take a brief look at a quote from Senator Robert Byrd’s 2004 book, "Losing America":

"Only hours after the September 11 attacks, the administration instilled a ‘shadow government’ of about a hundred senior executive branch officials …. White House chief of staff Andrew Card directs the shadow government from the White House, where he is immune from giving testimony to Congress (have we heard this before?). …. Of course, this shadow government consists of one branch only, the executive branch.

"This shadow government was created under the authority of the old ‘continuity of government’ plans left over from the Cold War ….. However, the Congress has not sanctioned the shadow government, nor were members of Congress even made aware of its existence until the story was leaked in March 2002. …. The shadow government is presumed to continue its operation outside of congressional oversight.

"Further attempts to shut out Congress have emerged. ….the White House issued a statement citing the president’s ‘constitutional authority’ to withhold information from Congress. …." (pages 78 - 79)

I am not interested in telling DUers who to vote for, or against. I trust everyone to think for themselves, and make up their own mind. But I would hope that people think about issues such as the Constitutional government vs the shadow government (which consists of executive branch officials and business leaders selected by Cheney and Rumsfeld).

Thank you,
H2O Man

[rosesaylavee]

1. K & R

[OzarkDem]

2. Very much in my thoughts yesterday

as I contemplated to what extent the shadow government had expanded its reach into the Democratic primary process. My suspicions were first aroused several months ago when all campaign contributions to GOP candidates suddenly dried up and shifted to Dems.

The rapid succession of events in the last few days is ample evidence something is afoot. It controls some Dems with promises others with threats. We just have to figure out which Dem can resist or manage it and which one will capitulate and do its bidding.