06/12/2002 Archived Entry: "Jose the terrorist"
The one thing I've noticed while this story has broken, is that initially, the administration framed the suspect as an Al Qaeda operative, named some unpronounceable (by 95% of Americans anyway) Arab name-Abdullah al Muhajir. In the initial AP and Rueters reports, his real name wasn't even mentioned. 48 hours later, and he's definitely become Jose Padilla, even for Bush: "This guy Padilla is a bad guy." He certainly sounds like a thug. However, aside the skeptical timing that makes a political ploy out of a serious matter, something else is happening. What's got to give Rove a bit of a wince here is that this has a double-standard for those with brown-skin written all over it, especially considering that he is American-born, a citizen. There are a lot of American-named Jose's that see this a bit different than does Robert Kelly, who's just fine with this. Besides, Kelly's opinion isn't honest with the ramifications. Like Morris, it's a flippant hawk opinion based on whimsical poll findings. This War On Terror is a slippery slope. It's a War that will never end. A enemy, terrorism, that will never be defeated. Enemy combatant will become an end at every turn where the constitution is at odds with the means. Once the precedent is set, the Presidential fiat looks more dictorial than democratic. While this may be only the opinion of 35-40% in the polls today, so what, liberty trumps.
Replies: 2 comments
Not so flattering article on Ashcroft, this time from conservatives.
http://www.sunspot.net/news/opinion/bal-op.witcover12jun12.column?coll=bal%2Dpe%2Dopinion
http://www.suntimes.com/output/novak/cst-edt-novak13.html
It goes to support my analysis. If the Dems gain control, Bush would fire Ashcroft, and Miguel Gonzalez or Viet Dinh may become AG, just because there would be a furor. Otherwise he sticks with Ashcroft, On'Neill, Daniels and Lindsey and goes down in 2004.
Posted by G.C.Raj @ 06/13/2002 01:37 PM PST
Scapegoats for GOP losses in 2002: Lott would be at the head of the class. Bush's team is in such deep economic trouble that only someone who had no political future would sign on with his economic mess.
"One early political supporter of Bush who is closely connected to the White House mentioned the danger of a politically lethal ''double dip''--a second recession before recovery from the last recession is complete."
Yep, coming in 2003.
Posted by myDD @ 06/13/2002 02:33 PM PST
