About Damn Time, Woman!

[neadods]

Karen Hughes is leaving Government service at the end of the year.

About damn time, woman!

From the moment she was rewarded for putting Bush in office with a State Department job burnishing the image of the United States abroad, she has not been just a national, but an international embarrassment to herself and the Administration she serves.

It's not just that the Associated Press notes Polls show no improvement in the world's view of the U.S. since Hughes took over.

It's that this is a woman who the British called most parochial person ever to hold a senior state department appointment. Who popped off profundities like "Government policies really affect people’s lives."

Who stood in front of an audience of Saudis and told them how she'd answered the questions of an Egyptian official by citing the Constitution.

Wrongly.

I had one person at one lunch raise the issue of the President mentioning God in his speeches. And I asked whether he was aware that previous American presidents have also cited God, and that our Constitution cites "one nation under God." He said "well, never mind" and went on to something else.

It's hard not to think that maybe he changed the subject because there's no talking to someone that ignorant of the country they're supposed to be talking up. Whose goverment they're part of. That maybe someone who doesn't know the fucking difference between the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the 1954 amendment to the Pledge of Allegiance shouldn't be permitted to open their mouth about religion OR politics, much less in front of a Muslim audience in defense of a nonexistant pro-Christian clause in regard to what is widely seen as a modern Christian crusade against a soverign Muslim nation?

(Would you be surprised to hear that I ranted about this at the time?)


And what does Ms. Incompetent say about the image that she splattered still further?

"This will take a number of years," Hughes said of the challenge of improving the world's view of the U.S., calling it a "long-term challenge."

Well at least she'll have enough time to sit at home and finally read the Constitution. If she's crunched for time, maybe she could just try the Bill of Rights. Just the first one might be an eyeopener.

Comments

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

She's not entirely out of the picture yet. According to Condi Rice (from a newscast on NPR), Hughes will "be consulting for me on several projects for some time yet."

Pfui.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Bugger! Well, if she's whispering in Rice's ear, then at least she's not humiliating the entire nation world-wide. Remember, Karen, just because YOU don't know dick about the country doesn't mean all those funny furriners don't!

[tiggerallyn.livejournal.com]

The ignorance the American Taliban displays about our nation's religious history shouldn't surprise me, and yet every time it happens it does.

When I'm told, "The Founding Fathers made this a Christian nation," my usual reply is, "Oh, really? You should read the Treaty of Tripoli sometime. And why is it that the Constitution mentions god absolutely never?"

[museclio]

Not only that, in the oath of office proscribed for the president, it *exlicitly* says swear or affirm, so, the Founding Fathers envisioned a president who might not wish to swear an oath to god.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

They don't even need to read the Treaty of Tripoli (which I'd be willing to bet most think was made up by some liberal.) Point 'em at a copy of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and ask 'em to find the bits that talk about God. Anywhere.

They're the founding documents, and the only time they mention religion is in context of nonestablishment. Any establishment.

Then point them to a history of the Pledge. Because I'm stunned at how many people think Jefferson wrote it and it's been recited since Betsy Ross gave us a flag to pledge to.

[tacnukesoul.livejournal.com]

The two most relevant parts of the Constitution are:

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) 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." notice the words missing from the end

and

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

[calenorn.livejournal.com]

What I find interesting is the way these 'advisors' are bailing on Bush after he has spent years defending them. He took the advise of these people, painted the country into a corner, and they just tell him, "whoops! bye!" He might have turned a few things around by jettisoning some of these losers long ago, but he clung to his blind loyalty. And they turn their backs on him. I can see a Braodway musical coming down the road a few years. It's almost enough to make me feel sorry for the guy.

Almost.

Ignorant Brit surfing past

[aligoestonz.livejournal.com]

Even if there is something that says you are "One Nation under God" is it specific about which one? God, I mean. Cos I'd be happy with that as long as everyone got to choose their own.

Re: Ignorant Brit surfing past

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Technically, it is not specific about which God. (But that still cuts out the atheists, the polytheists, and the matriarchical pagans.)

Because it is not specific, whenever it is challenged in court the defense is always "Oh, it's ceremonial, it doesn't really MEAN anything." And then the Religious Right gets all hyper and uses it as an example of anti-Christian bias anyway, because while no God is actually *specified,* it is generally *understood* to be the Judeo/Christian God.

Our original national motto was "E pluibus unum" (I think I misspelled that) "From Many, One." I like that much more, and it's more inclusive.

Re: Ignorant Brit surfing past

[aligoestonz.livejournal.com]

Good point about the atheists, polytheists and matriarchal pagans. I have to admit it's mainly an argument I've used to wind up the occasional muppet I've come across that seems to assume that being Islamic is by definition unamerican. And I agree "E pluibus unum" or however it's spelled, is a really good motto.

Re: Ignorant Brit surfing past

[neadods.livejournal.com]

the occasional muppet I've come across that seems to assume that being Islamic is by definition unamerican.

Dig deep enough, and you'll find most of those muppets think anyone outside their church and political party is probably unAmerican.