Yesterday, I recommended that Hugo Chavez kiss my ass…
…because he called President Obama “ignorant.” Like a third-world tin-hat strongman like him could ever compare with any of the top ten thousand potential U.S. Presidents.
(Side note: is it “tin-hat?” Or “tin-pot?” I’m not sure at this moment, and I’d rather have this mildly amusing side note than take the 5 seconds I’d need to google it.)
Anyway, today I see this:
U.S. Seeks Expanded Power to Seize Firms
The Obama administration is considering asking Congress to give the Treasury secretary unprecedented powers to initiate the seizure of non-bank financial companies, such as large insurers, investment firms and hedge funds, whose collapse would damage the broader economy, according to an administration document.
And I thought of this:
Venezuela government seizes ports
CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuela’s federal government seized seaports and airstrips in at least four states on Saturday, a move critics say is meant to limit the powers of mayors and governors opposed to President Hugo Chavez.
The takeover, ordered by Venezuela’s socialist president last weekend and approved by lawmakers, aims to bring the country’s major transportation hubs under federal control this year.
There are some pretty obvious differences between what Chavez is doing and what Obama is proposing – or, rather, “considering” proposing. For one, our military won’t just move into New York and occupy a building.
But there are some pretty obvious similarities, too.
Like this:
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Dreadful thought isnt it? The democratically elected president and the democratcially elected government of Venezuela actually controlling Venezuela’s ports?
Dont they know US Corporate thugs and their lackeys have the right to control absolutely everything?
Desperate times, Lance.
Never waste a crisis, huh Sam? And he’ll lay down the power once the crisis is over, right?
Yes, this is politics 101.
That, Sam, is why modern-day liberalism scares me. To you, the extraconstitutional seizure of private property is “politics 101.”
Ask yourself whether you want Republicans taking that power a step further once they’re back in charge.
No, the idea of never “wasting a crisis,” as you put it, is Politics 101. As for this seizure of private property, we don’t currently have a system in place to deal with AIG and the like. I think President Obama made it clear that he’s open to any “better ideas” that may come out of Congress. If you have a suggestion, perhaps you might contribute.
Oh, and as for extra-constitutional activity, one could write a book on the last 8 years. I’ll defer to your post on Dick Cheney.
In fact, we do have a system in place. We have a legal system, for those who have committed some kind of fraud. We have an economic system to punish those who have driven their companies into the ground.
If one could write a book, then surely you can cite one example along with whatever part of the Constitution applies. I’ll start you out with the Fifth Amendment.
5th amendment? The Bush administrations treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo. I honestly don’t have the time to point you to one of dozens and dozens of articles written on this topic. I’m sure you can find one. Read the New Yorker any given week (yeah, right).
Anyhow, we’ve gotten off track. I’d love to read about these “pretty obvious similarities” when you have a chance.
Just wait…there will be more similarities. President for Life Hugo Chavez and President for Life Obama. Don’t be surprised when the Feds (with rubber stamper Pelosi’s enthusiastic support)start closing down TV stations and radio stations that oppose the Obama administration.
Maybe secession isn’t such a bad idea. Start a new American nation founded on the principles of the founding fathers. That government which governs least governs best.
As for the comments on Guantanamo, it’s going to be very interesting to see how Obama weasels out of taking blame for the next horrific terrorist attack on the US.
Many of the tactics used at Guantanamo have been used for decades by the Israelis. If they didn’t work, the Israeli intelligence organizations wouldn’t use them. I’d love to see any Israeli government intelligence reports that show that such tactics don’t work. There probably aren’t any. Harsh terrorist interrogation has kept Israel pretty damn safe.
There have not been any 9/11 type attacks in Israel, because of the interrogation tactics they use. I doubt if anyone who knows the Mossad and or has worked in Israeli intelligence would dispute that water boarding and other similar tactics work.