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George H.W. Bush, 41st President of the United States, Dies At 94 (washingtonpost.com)
George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, has passed away tonight at the age of 94. As The Washington Post reports, he was "the last veteran of World War II to serve as president, he was a consummate public servant and a statesman who helped guide the nation and the world out of a four-decade Cold War that had carried the threat of nuclear annihilation." From the report: Although Mr. Bush served as president three decades ago, his values and ethic seem centuries removed from today's acrid political culture. His currency of personal connection was the handwritten letter -- not the social media blast. He had a competitive nature and considerable ambition that were not easy to discern under the sheen of his New England politesse and his earnest generosity. He was capable of running hard-edge political campaigns, and took the nation to war. But his principal achievements were produced at negotiating tables.
Despite his grace, Mr. Bush was an easy subject for caricature. He was an honors graduate of Yale University who was often at a loss for words in public, especially when it came to talking about himself. Though he was tested in combat when he was barely out of adolescence, he was branded "a wimp" by those who doubted whether he had essential convictions. This paradox in the public image of Mr. Bush dogged him, as did domestic events. His lack of sure-footedness in the face of a faltering economy produced a nosedive in the soaring popularity he enjoyed after the triumph of the Persian Gulf War. In 1992, he lost his bid for a second term as president. Bush's spokesman Jim McGrath announced his death on Twitter, but didn't provide the cause of death. In 2012, he announced that he had vascular Parkinsonism, a condition that limited his mobility.
UPDATE: George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, has issued a statement on the passing of his father: "Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Doro, and I are saddened to announce that after 94 remarkable years, our dear Dad has died. George H. W. Bush was a man of the highest character and the best dad a son or daughter could ask for. The entire Bush family is deeply grateful for 41's life and love, for the compassion of those who have cared and prayed for Dad, and for the condolences of our friends and fellow citizens."
Despite his grace, Mr. Bush was an easy subject for caricature. He was an honors graduate of Yale University who was often at a loss for words in public, especially when it came to talking about himself. Though he was tested in combat when he was barely out of adolescence, he was branded "a wimp" by those who doubted whether he had essential convictions. This paradox in the public image of Mr. Bush dogged him, as did domestic events. His lack of sure-footedness in the face of a faltering economy produced a nosedive in the soaring popularity he enjoyed after the triumph of the Persian Gulf War. In 1992, he lost his bid for a second term as president. Bush's spokesman Jim McGrath announced his death on Twitter, but didn't provide the cause of death. In 2012, he announced that he had vascular Parkinsonism, a condition that limited his mobility.
UPDATE: George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, has issued a statement on the passing of his father: "Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Doro, and I are saddened to announce that after 94 remarkable years, our dear Dad has died. George H. W. Bush was a man of the highest character and the best dad a son or daughter could ask for. The entire Bush family is deeply grateful for 41's life and love, for the compassion of those who have cared and prayed for Dad, and for the condolences of our friends and fellow citizens."
Turns out, a lot of those people back then really were communists or communist sympathizers, and they really did mean to use their influential positions to overthrow the US government. And why not? It worked well in China, Yugoslavia and would have worked in Italy and Greece had the Americans not colluded with dark forces to alter the results of democratic elections.
Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
Hmmm... I'm not sure I agree with you.
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... not only that, but without a father that loved him so much that he was willing to throw his life away to get the child milk... the child will have grown up without someone to help raise him. The child's mother will have had to work twice or three times as hard leaving the child to be raised by someone who is already unable to share
A president's job is to represent the people and act as commander in chief. He's not there to make laws. He's not there to pass laws. He's not there to do most things. He has the option to veto bills, but that's really only meant for extraneous circumstances.
The American people are warlike. I dare you to suggest otherwise.
Each day each child stands and recites
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Let me clarify. From the time a child first enters school, each day, they will repledge their allegiance. They're declaring they are an ally to a member of a conflict. They are declaring in front of a room of people that they are ready and willing to play their role in a conflict or battle if necessary.
They are declaring the allegiance to a symbol which is a flag. A flag is a tool that has little or no purpose out of either battle or political battle. A flag is something you place everywhere the way a dog marks trees. If a dog decides to mark a tree that's been marked by another dog, that dog is declaring they are willing to fight for it. This is precisely what we're doing with flags. A flag is a symbol of anger and aggression. It's a symbol of dominance and daring.
Children... every day for 12 years or more are declaring their willingness, readiness and intent to dominate all others to support the flag, the republic for which it stand... they will do it with absolute belief that God wishes this to be so... and WTF?
With liberty and justice for all?
Liberty by the definition provided in Merriam Webster's dictionary has changed many times over the years to make this statement true. Or should I say that as the American government has slowly degraded the liberties permitted, the definition has changed to reflect what little liberty as a person has left by law. Now, it seems that liberty means that you should be allowed to watch the 4th of July Fireworks while hundreds or thousands of highly armed police officers enforce the barriers and limit where you are allowed to sit or stand, limit whether you can go to the bathroom, etc... but the good news is that this is in the name of guaranteeing you liberty and freedom.
And justice. Tell me... what is justice? Justice requires that people are treated fairly and well enough that no individuals will feel a need to intentionally impede on other people's liberty. A just system would require no justice system because in a just system, the people would in theory be content. I know this is silly, but it sets a premise of a utopia I'm leading up from.
A justice system is a system which is there to "dispense justice" in a systematic way that should be as just as possible to as many people as possible.
If someone were to steal milk from a convenience store... and while they're there "In for a dime, in for a dollar" grabs a bottle of Jack Daniels and a carton of Newports. He even carries a gun, not because he would ever shoot at a person, but because shooting a few bullets into the floor would likely get him out of there with less friction. He stole the milk because he was poor and his baby was hungry. He stole the Jack and the Newports because he's so shaken up from doing this that he'll chug the bottle and chainsmoke until the shaking stops.
This is an extreme example. But what is justice here?
Should we send this man to prison for 5 years ensuring that during that time, he'll be unable to provide for his child. Then when he gets out, his child, raised mostly without a father