TESSIER/OBAMA 08

“When you choose the lesser of two evils, always remember that it is still an evil.”
-- Max Lerner, “Actions and Passions,” 1949

Anonymous said...
This just in from the OD Newswire. Bella Abz and Gloria Steiny have been arrested for the attempted murder of ME. According to the report lawyers have been dispatched from NOW to counsel and represent the two. The preliminary hearing will be held on the 13th floor of the City County Bldg in downtown Suffragette City. In other news we would like to thank everyone for attending the Stump People's gala all money raised will go to the BIID Research Charity.

Buns Up Kneelin Herald News reporter;Susy Anthony
July 11, 2008 12:23 PM

Many thanks to the insightful, clever, and humorous comment (don't forget your commas) on the blog regarding NOW’s (National Organization of Women) sending hitwomen (Gloria, Betty [Friedan], and Bella, as well as back up support consisting of Dr. Evil’s Fem-bots, and a squadron of Anti-Rush Feminazis) to assassinate Me. So, thank you Suzy (and please send me a bunch of those round metal things bearing your engraved image). But I must tell you that as much as I abhor Me’s politics, as you know, I’m against the death penalty, and killing in general. Which is why I must warn Me about this secret mission. My readers are many, but responses few -- people have your say!

In an editorial in Fridays (&/11/08), John R. Miller takes up the issue of human trafficking. Miller writes, “Sex slavery is not the only modern incarnation of this ancient institution…but it is the largest category of slavery in the United States.” Miller continues, “Imagine my surprise when the Justice Department started a campaign AGAINST a new bill that would strengthen the government’s anti-human trafficking efforts.” What provisions does the Justice Department oppose? Should Americans who foster a thriving sex-slave-trade in foreign countries be prosecuted? NO. Does sexual child abuse perpetrated abroad merit harsher penalties? NO. Should American courts have jurisdiction over American sex-slavers in other countries? NOPE.

As Miller points out, the Justice Department’s 13 page letter that opposed the new bill contends that addressing these issues would be too “burdensome.” Miller writes, “The department strongly objects to a provision that would make it easier to prosecute pimps.”

There is an argument out there put forth by some feminist groups, and the American Civil Liberties Union, that prostitution is a legitimate profession engaged in by educated, consenting women as a career choice. In truth, those who have worked with sex trafficking victims find that “most prostitutes are poor, young, abused, harassed, raped, beaten and under the control of pimps against their will.”

Count me among those who view prostitution as an enslavement rather than occupation.

Speaking of prosecuting criminals (I know this is an imperfect segue), it was heartening to learn that the International Criminal Court chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, will ask that an arrest warrant be issued for Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for war crimes. According to the New York Times 7/14/08 (Lydia Polgreen), “anti-genocide and human rights advocates have cheered the decision to request charges against Mr Bashir, calling it a victory in the battle against impunity.” Consider that word, “IMPUNITY.” Further consider the justice in prosecuting anyone, even sitting presidents, who inflict atrocities on innocent civilians and wage illegal wars with IMPUNITY. Hopefully, Moreno-Ocampo will consult Vincent Bugliosi’s “The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder”(2008) when he gets around to indicting W. for crimes against humanity.

Why should the International Criminal Court choose to prosecute? Consider this excerpt from Frank Rich’s Sunday, 7/12/08 Times op-ed piece. “Mr. Bush’s 2005 proclamation that ‘we do not torture’ was long ago revealed as a lie. Antonio Taguba, the retired major general who investigated detainee abuse for the Army, concluded that ‘there is no longer any doubt’ that ‘war crimes were committed.’ Ms. Mayer uncovered another damning verdict: Red Cross investigators flatly told the C.I.A. last year that America was practicing torture and vulnerable to war-crimes charges. Top Bush hands are starting to get sweaty about where they left their fingerprints. Scapegoating the rotten apples at the bottom of the military’s barrel may not be a slam-dunk escape route from accountability anymore. No wonder the former Rumsfeld capo, Douglas Feith, is trying to discredit a damaging interview he gave to the British lawyer Philippe Sands for another recent and essential book on what happened, ‘Torture Team.’ After Mr. Sands previewed his findings in the May issue of Vanity Fair, Mr. Feith protested he had been misquoted — apparently forgetting that Mr. Sands had taped the interview. Mr. Feith and Mr. Sands are scheduled to square off in a House hearing this Tuesday. So hot is the speculation that war-crimes trials will eventually follow in foreign or international courts that Lawrence Wilkerson, Colin Powell’s former chief of staff, has publicly advised Mr. Feith, Mr. Addington and Alberto Gonzales, among others, to ‘never travel outside the U.S., except perhaps to Saudi Arabia and Israel.'"

What the above considerations suggest is this country needs a radical change of vision. Which is why I have decided to run for president with Obama (I really wanted Ralph Nader) as my running mate. Why would this better serve America? Because with me it would truly be, “Change? Yes We Can,” rather than, “Change? Maybe We Can.” In a role where I’m affecting policy, Obama would serve as eloquent orator who makes what I do sound cool. He would speak out against surveillance. He would excoriate proponents of the death penalty. He would pontificate on why religion has no business in governance. He would drum up support for just campaign financing. He would expound on why building a fence to stop illegal immigration is folly. In short, he would serve as a politically correct functionary, while, I, in my infinite wisdom, would implement what was once thought to be an unachievable utopian pipe dream—the political realization of a universal code of social justice and worldwide attitude of peace love and understanding.

Finally, I will officially announce my candidacy at Julie’s party, which I am thoroughly looking forward to.