Moyers: 'When the President Does it, That Means That it is Not Illegal'
By Nicole Belle Sunday Oct 28, 2007 8:38am(Guest Blogged by Bill W.)
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BILL MOYERS: Remember "The Lives of Others" - the movie that won this year's Academy Award for best foreign language film....a story of life under East Germany's secret police. The critic Roger Ebert said: "The movie is relevant today, as our government ignores habeas corpus, practices secret torture, and asks for the right to wiretap and eavesdrop on its citizens. Such tactics, he said, did not save East Germany; they destroyed it, by making it a country its most loyal citizens could no longer believe in." You want to say it couldn't happen here but we've been close before. During the cold war with the Soviet Union and then the hot war in Vietnam, a secret government mushroomed in this country. ...(transcript)
In 1975 the Select Senate Committee headed by Sen Frank Church (D-ID) began looking into allegations first reported by Seymour Hersh in the NYT and found that the CIA, NSA, FBI and other federal agencies had been involved in everything from plots to assassinate foreign leaders, illegal storage of poisons and biological warfare agents including anthrax, warrantless opening of mail and wiretapping and other intel-gathering on US citizens, and misuse of the IRS , just to name a few of the abuses by the Executive Branch they discovered. One of the ways Congress responded to try and restore checks and balances was by passing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978, which established a secret court to oversee all domestic wiretapping activity. Bill Moyers looks at the undoing of Congress' checks and balances put in place following the Church Committee hearings and the unprecedented expansion of Executive authority in the wake of 9-11. You can watch the entire episode online here.
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can you say B U S T E D ?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/29/83331/268
kudos to Bill Moyers for speaking truth to power all these decades
All of the issues raised by Moyers are just most indications of the fascism we see rising in this country (United States). There is another famous individual (see link below) who, along with the many national characteristics of fascism present during his reign also was above the law just as Bush appears to be today.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KkSFIw6vePM
How is it that Bill Moyers isn't in prison? He's far too "uppity" for the likes of the Bush gang.
Based on experience for the past 6+years, a more accurate mantra would be:
'When president Bush does it, that means it must be illegal'.
Seems like the higher up you are in the pecking order, the more the law should apply.
Does that make boosh a pecker?
Windows Media Player cannot play the file because it is corrupted.
can you say B U S T E D ?
http://www.bfeedme.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/Dolly%20Parton.jpg
our government ignores habeas corpus, practices secret torture, and asks for the right to wiretap and eavesdrop on its citizens. Such tactics, he said, did not save East Germany; they destroyed it, by making it a country its most loyal citizens could no longer believe in.” You want to say it couldn’t happen here but we’ve been close before. During the cold war with the Soviet Union and then the hot war in Vietnam, a secret government mushroomed in this country. …what part of this is so difficult to understand??? still the right continues to cling to the geo Bush doctrine. they follow whatever he has to say and do ascribing to the thought that he's doing it for the country's good. he in fact is in the process of destroying the United States. We are quick if not already there becoming the most hated country in the world. The ugly American at its worst. we must be relentless in our fight. our country is dependent on it. and the worst part: the evil is not without, it is from within.
Dave @ 4:
An attempt to marginalize Moyers was made by leaking word of an 'alcohol problem' he allegedly had. (The only reference I can find is to Moyers' son, William Moyers.)
Unfortunately, since that only invites further comparison with Mr. Bush, the play went nowhere rather fast.
below_me @ 1:
Damn! She's got brass balls!!! I hope she tells all before they rendition her...which we all know could very well happen...
‘When the President Does it, That Means That it is Not Illegal’?
I suppose that's the 'Divine right of Presidents'. Sounds like someone's taken a page out of King James' playbook.
Let's prove to this President he is WRONG.
Oil rises to record above $93 a barrel
Why would the East Germans believe in an country artificially created for them by the Allies and Soviets?
Will you fix the clip it seems to be corrupted, I can only get as far as "The critic Roger Ebert said" and then the clip stops.
You'll notice these regulations go into effect during DEMOCRATIC administrations and they disappear just as quickly as soon as the Republicans take office. This has been going on for over 80 years. So which party is interested in protecting your freedom, and which party believes freedom means the wealthy elite are free to do whatever the fuck they want?
Thanks to people like Bill Moyers, Seymour Hersh, Keith Olberman et al, for having the courage to stand up and speak truth to the pretenders to power. Too bad more people don't listen to them and learn about what's really happening in our country and around the world. Fascism is too nice a word fro what I fear will transpire in the not too distant future.
I'll throw this out there one more time. Check off the warning signs, people . We're almost there unless we get off the sofa and start caring about our kids future :
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2064157,00.html
iraqconcilable @ 18:
PLEASE don't stop throwing this out there!!! This bears repating over and over and over until people realize that is happening!!! I'm goin to copy the link and sen it out to everyone I know!!!
So they did all these things, but they didn't want 9-11 to happen. Right. And they also don't want another one to happen; that would mean we'd have to go after another country.......
One morning not too long ago William Kristol was on C-Span's "Washington Journal" and said (with his trademark snarkiness) he would LOVE to sit across the table and debate Bill Moyers on a future show.
Please Brian Lamb... please make it so
below_me @ 1:
That would be soooo awesome. That one interview would change the world. There's 2 problems....1) no channel/corporation is going to take her up on that 2) if one did, they would probably kill her
Charles Fried scares me.
As presidential candidates go.... Chris Dodd is the only person running for president who has been out in front of the American people on this issue. I would suggest to everyone to look at his stand on this issue and his plans to help repair our nation. You can only vote for one candidate in the democratic primary. I suggest we get this right. If you want more of the usual suspects in washington vote for Billary. If you want a fresh face without experience, vote for Obama. If you want Vision without practicality, vote for Edwards. If you want your country back, VOTE FOR CHRIS DODD!
You know, I always thought those who spoke of conspiracy concerning 9/11 were nuts. Perhaps we should revisit this day in our history. It seems terribly convenient that since he was a congressman back in the 70's that Cheney wanted to restore unlimited power to the presidency and he needed an excuse. No sooner than he is vp we have 9/11 and he has his excuse.
Considering the long arm of deceit and corruption in our government and seeing how the Democratic party seems to back up this corruption rather than bring it to a halt, it seems that it would be a good idea to revisit this dark day and we may find something lurking in the dark shadows that will change the view of every one of us.
The movie The Lives of Others scared the bejeesus out of me, because I saw how the rigid thinking of authoritarian personalities is nothing more than powerlust disguised in a veneer of patriotism (nationalism), with blind ambition leading the way.
Thank God for Bill Moyers. And isn't it amazing how it's in fact the Dems who most ardently defend our democracy and its constitutional freedoms, even back then? It's frightening to think what we might find if we really start turning over the rocks. I believe Waxman has barely scratched the surface. We really don't have a clue what's been going on given all the secrecy of this administration. I am truly afraid for this country right now for so many reasons. I'm afraid we're too far down this slippery slope, and it may be too late to turn back.
Has Sibel Edmonds never heard of YOUTUBE???
Sibel Edmonds is a patriot on a par with Paul Revere . This is not an exaggeration . Instead of "the British are coming" it's "the fascists are coming" and every effort must be made to air her message and keep her safe .
Chris @ 22:
Hopefully she has a very good hiding place.
iraqconcilable @ 29:
At the risk of sounding defeatist...does anyone think they're goin to let her speak?
they're gonna throw a black bag on her head like in the movie "V" and no one will hear from her again...damn...I'm afwully pessimistic this mornin...
retwter @ 28:
Youtube is either unknown or considered an amusement parlor to millions of people who would rather eat chips and play with the TV remote. Why do you think the corporations put way more effort into censuring TV than the internet. When (and if) people start switching en masse to the net, they will clamp down on that . If Ms. Emonds can get on primetime by some miracle, she'll reach way, way more people than Youtube. Even going on cable ( K.O. ? ) will reach more .
Funny I just watched this movie for the first time yesterday. Its a fantastic movie that haunts you afterward. Highly recommended to those who have not seen it yet.
Bill Moyers, hero of the people. He is a study in integrity, something thats been lacking in our leadership for a looong time.
Dick Cheney is a perfect example of someone who should never, ever be given power.
I watched the clip and it's very disturbing. The man who wants to be attorney general is clearly a well trained shrub co. puppet ready to do whatever his masters tell him to do. IF waterboarding is torture? IF?????
There's a quick way to help him decide. Treat him to an hour long session of waterboarding. See how he feels afterward.
Just looking at these dough-boy repugs and thinking about how they'd respond even to the suggestion that they might be tortured. You'd have to be careful not to drown in the river of urine they'd create wetting their pants at the same time. The heartless bunch of war mongering morons would crumble if you gave them a paper cut.
Oh if only there were some way to send them on 'vacation' to guantanamo. I can imagine they'd be singing a much different tune after a month at shrub co.'s torture club.
Shadowgm @ 10:
Bill did get a DUI in vermont or NH, he had a .095 when .08 had just become the new limit. 2 freakin beers can get you past .08.
They did get him off the air for a while. His show NOW was an hour long & very similar to his new show. http://www.current.org/news/news0222moyers.html
this show got the GOP panties tied into a real tight bunch.
Ken Tominson & Pat Harrison both GOP hacks were involved in a lot of chicanery at PBS here is a small dose of it: http://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/?p=49
http://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/?p=50
The GOP scum tried their best to get a stranglehold on the media but as long as Frontline, Democracy Now & Bill Moyers are around they are gonna have a tough time.
iraqconcilable @ 18:
With respect to the ten points listed all falls into place. my only problem with the ten points list is that the control of the media has to be number one. once they control the media all else falls iinto place. how do i know this to be true? just check what has happened here and first and foremost was control of the media. with that they controlled the heartland, the military, and gradually according to plan all the pawns fell into place.
Loonie @ 35:
Or power tools.
9/11 was the excuse used for King Bush's power grab.
Expose 9/11 and the whole house of cards come down.
"problem" (9/11) "reaction" (fear) "solution" (Illegal powers)
From Democracy Now:
I remember when this story came out back in June, and how it was ignored by Crooks and Liars.
Well, better late than never.
Thank you Sibel for your courage and integrity.
Moyers mentioned "The Lives of Others", the German film about the East German Stasi (State Police) that won the Best Foreign Film Oscar last year.
If you haven't seen this movie, go out and rent it. It's incredibly good.
The ironic thing, given that it is about gross abuses of civil rights by government, is that the right-wing press loved it. William F. Buckley raved about it. He didn't seem to connect the dots in regard to the FISA court and the abuse of the US constitution.
retwter @ 28:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHnIyGWEz_Y&eurl=http://www.dailykos.com/...
Some of the things Sibel is has information on...
Corruption & illegal activities involving US persons:
1)Illegal payments to several elected officials in Congress; on going (1997-2002).
2)Joint illegal activities between certain foreign agents (state & non-state) and US lobbying firms, government officials (Pentagon and the Department of State) and several elected officials. These activities include obtaining and passing highly classified and sensitive DOD documents & bribery and/or coercion of US individuals.
3)Nuclear black market related activities carried out by certain foreign groups/lobbying firms/businesses/individuals & US persons (former & current US government employees and officials).
More information: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=2498
I am more convinced each day that the time is rapidly approaching to tip over the streetcars and rip up the cobblestones. We need to replace Congress with a parliament and the office of the President with a prime minister to make them more quickly accountable to the people. Too much mischief can be done in four years.
The current occupiers of the west wing have fouled the Oval Office with their perfidy. It began with a coup in 2000 and will end with the emasculation of Congress and the courts.
lucid fiction @ 40:
Too much spin and noise, not enough critical thinkers or enough people caring or wanting to think they are living in a dream world or doing anything about it.
ysbaddaden @ 39:
Well he has power and he is a tool ....... bad combo.
Chris @ 22:
A good way to get ones self killed.
L.A. Confidential @ 13:
Makes no real difference, it's because the green back is in free fall, relative to the real world the price hasn't changed that much, it's just that the dollar isn't worth anything so it takes a lot of them to pay for the same amount of oil.
What a pity that impeachment has been taken off of the table. I blame every crime that has happened since on Nancy Pelosi. She now owns this travesty.
So that should mean,by reichwing logic, Clinton getting a blow job should be a virtue.
Bill not Hillary.
The day before 9/11 Rumsfeld announced 2.3 TRILLION dollars missing at Pentagon. On 9/11 the 'most powerful and sophisticated' military could not stop 9/11 from happening. Suddenly the 'terror wars' were on and the money spigot was opened full blast. Time after time after time 'they' have been caught regarding missing billions from provisional authority in Iraq to Blackwater/Halliburton contracts and they are continually dismissed or swept under the rug. I believe stealing from the government ina time of 'war' is treason yet they just get awarded more and more open contracts. The US government was hands down the biggest winner in terms of 'short' sales pre 9/11 and people are still saying they had nothing to do with it??!! Those who are in government and silent are just as guilty as those who are in charge of this criminal neocon scam. Unfortunately it will take power outages and food riots before the people wake up but it will be too late then because Blacwater will become a national police facist force with no accountability.
pissedoff @ 48:
All I'm sayin is...people, start stockpilin stuff. Weapons ammo, food&water, etc...hope for the best, prepare for the worst...the shit is about to hit the fan.
pissedoff @ 48:
Aren't they already doing private work in Texas to that effect.
pissedoff @ 48:
I was thinking along similar lines this morning, and did a bit of blogging about it.
A factor coming into view is that we are post peak on oil. All of this corruption filling the highest levels of government is going to become too costly for an endless stream of new players to enter into. The devaluing dollar is going to make it increasingly difficult to profit from government crime. The quantities of dollars distributed, will have to increase in the rate of distribution continually. An American Perestroika is in the making.
FLASH!!!!!!!!!!!!! If the president does it, it is not illegal than why in the hell did the impeach a DEMOCRATIC president for telling a fib under oath...
Forgot,....I forgot,.....I said Democratic president....it only means if a president does it. it is not illegal if it is a ""republican"" president...We should all make a note of that.
yellow dog @ 44:
Sadly, I have come to the same conclusion.
George W. Idiot-boy, would have been thrown out of office immediately after Katrina if we had a parliamentary form of government.
Instead, we were stuck with these criminals for 3.5 additional years - where they do nothing but flaunt the law, and waive the middle finger at 75% of the american people. I don't think this is what Madison had in mind.
And Nancy Pelosi should be indicted for failing to defend the constitution; which is her first oath of duty, whether she realizes it or not!
When Hitler does it, that means it is NOT illegal.
Paul @ 46:
AGREED. someone has to champion this. she and harry reid have to go. quit mollycoddling them and get them out....NOW.
And does anyone really have to askthe question of,
" Why give the Telecoms immunity "................?
So when is this ineptly neutered dog of a congress going to stand up to the 'liar in chief' and impeach these traitorous war criminals for their crimes?
If I have to wait until November 2008 or January 2009, then it will be the Democrats that will suffer along with the Republicans for their inaction's and irresponsible failure to "Uphold and Defend the Constitution of the United States of America".
all you anti republican pro democrates are all idiots. first there are good in both parties, some are just a little more in line with your own belief system. After all Jimmy Carter must have been the best President to date. The epitome of the Democratic party.
Some thing for all you Bush bashers. Oh and how long were there captives in Iran under his watch?
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