He’s also very, very sorry about that whole American Revolution thing.

I’m just kind of curious, where does the President get the authority to demand this? I thought the court system was the only branch of government that can make such demands, through a civil trial.

I don’t know why we have to have these dog and pony shows all the time. These blowhards in congress love to grandstand and feign outrage. These hearings amount to modern day public floggings. We should just let Code Pink throw rotten lettuce and tomatoes at those unfortunate souls who have to come before these committees. Why not just bring back the stockades?

The most irritating thing about these hearings is the “opening statements” each and every member of the committee feels obliged to make. It’s further proof that these hearings have little to do with learning new information and everything to do with politicians grandstanding and hearing themselves talk.

How about we figure out how to stop the oil leak and cut out the political theater.

The administration has unfairly assumed that BP won’t pay the claims. Now they get to distribute the funds to those whom they see fit. If the money goes to pay compensation to furloughed oil workers that are victims of barrys’ moratorium, then that is illegal.

I’ve previously posted Joe Barton’s duplicity in this link from crooks and liars. Barton has also gotten 3.3 million dollars from the oil industry. And if you’re wondering what’s up with Haley Barbour, he used to be a lobbyist for the oil industry before he got into politics. No wonder he’s so protective.

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/how-dick-cheney-and-tom-delay-caused-gulf-o

I thought that the President, in his lack luster speech, claimed that an independent third party would administer the funds.

What a complete ass!

roxsteady says:
“I’ve previously posted Joe Barton’s duplicity in this link from crooks and liars. Barton has also gotten 3.3 million dollars from the oil industry. And if you’re wondering what’s up with Haley Barbour, he used to be a lobbyist for the oil industry before he got into politics. No wonder he’s so protective.”

That’s a valid and fair point. Another interesting point to include is that Barry McSame Obama received the highest percentage of BP campaign finance contributions.

I absolutely agree with Mr. Barton.

And Rox, save your outrage, Obama is the biggest recipient of BP money in the last 20 years and as we all know, he hasn’t been in Washington that long.

Good point Michelle. Also, why hasn’t the President given that money back. Or better, he should donate it to a fund that goes to helping the clean up. Of course he won’t.

Liberty Banned says:
June 17, 2010 at 11:58 am
I’m just kind of curious, where does the President get the authority to demand this?
_______

They do not have the authority to “demand” that a private company put money into an escrow account . The legislature had previously capped the damage amount at 75 Million.
President Obama did not win any consessions from BP yesterday . We have heard the 20 billion number for awile now and is as much PR and damage control (stock prices) by BP as anything else
Congress, and the White house, are now working on a nasty bit of business, that will in fact, give them the right to make these sorts of outrageous demands of companies . Congress of course will decide on a case by case basis how much money to demand.
However they decide to resolve this legislatively,it will ofcourse be made retroactive to include BP.

Check your facts dear. McCain received more from BP than Obama and contributions to the GOP went from 72% last year to 77% this year. If you’re going to change the subject wihich is what you folks do when the idiots on your side say something stupid, at least get the facts!

I know I will be accused of cheerleading for BP, but that’s not the case. I again find it incredible that before we even have an investigation, BP is castigated, but the Pres must wait for all the facts anytime a muslim is involved in a terrorist attack.

Also, I can’t believe how the “media’ in this country refuses to lay out the facts. The fact is tha the gov’t forced BP out into the middle of the ocean, where it is much riskier than in shallow water. After the Exxon spill, company damages were capped at $75 million in exchange the for gov’t being allow to specify where the drilling takes place.

Check your facts, DEAR!

via the politico:

Obama biggest recipient of BP cash

While the BP oil geyser pumps millions of gallons of petroleum into the Gulf of Mexico, President Barack Obama and members of Congress may have to answer for the millions in campaign contributions they’ve taken from the oil and gas giant over the years.

BP and its employees have given more than $3.5 million to federal candidates over the past 20 years, with the largest chunk of their money going to Obama, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Donations come from a mix of employees and the company’s political action committees — $2.89 million flowed to campaigns from BP-related PACs and about $638,000 came from individuals.

On top of that, the oil giant has spent millions each year on lobbying — including $15.9 million last year alone — as it has tried to influence energy policy.

During his time in the Senate and while running for president, Obama received a total of $77,051 from the oil giant and is the top recipient of BP PAC and individual money over the past 20 years, according to financial disclosure records.

BP destroys the Gulf, destroys the livelihood of tens if not hundreds of thousands of American citizens, kills countless wildlife, fisheries, oyster bed, tourism — and this moron Republican (but then that’s redundant) apologizes to BP?

I don’t like the $20.billion harassment that Obama took from them, but I have to say this is an own goal from Congressman Joe Barton. The Dems can definitely use this as a campaign ad. And a lot of people know the shakedown isn’t fair, especially after the holding of dividends from the Shareholders. But for him to say this in an election year is very, very, very stupid. By the way, it also shows that the GOP (and some dems) are serving the Big Corporation rather than the electorate. Campaign finance reform, really needed.

Liberty Banned says:
June 17, 2010 at 12:09 pm
rThat’s a valid and fair point. Another interesting point to include is that Barry McSame Obama received the highest percentage of BP campaign finance contributions.”

Try again – BP employees gave Obama’s presidential campagin $71K – and BP PACs gave Obama $77,000 while he was in the Senate. Democrats have received since about 1994 $800,000 from big oil – but the Republicans have received over $2.4 million from big oil Now THAT’S interesting.

From Tommy’s twitter:

I could never have hoped for a fuckup like this. #joebarton http://bit.ly/dCSP66 RT @MelissaTweets: @tommyxtopher u hope it’s a game changer

Why was he *hoping* for this kind of f-up?

Um…you are quoting “Big OIl.” The question is about BP my friend and the facts are Obama received the largest single sum. Not only that, he refuses to give it back.

Thanks Republicans, for so clearly laying out where your loyalties really lay. And thanks to commenters for comparing the approximately $ 70,000 Obama received from BP employees to the 3.3 million Joe Barton has taken from the the oil and gas industry.

I have no problem agreeing that Barton is just another corporatist, like Obama and the rest of them. This is one more example of how these two parties are crooks.

It appears the the libs have absolutely no use for the constitution. We have something called Due Process in this country, or at least we did until Obama was elected. It’s not up to the regime to hold a gun to someones head until they cry uncle, we have a court system for that. You libs can continue to say the we’re just cheerleading for BP, but the truth is we are cheerleading for the constitution.

What’s the Patriot Act, Michelle?

Michelle have your IQ checked. Seriously.

Barton is the biggest recipient of oil and gas industry campaign contributions in the House of Representatives, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Its data showed that Barton has collected $1,447,880 from political action committees and individuals connected with the oil and gas industry since 1989.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65G42D20100617?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

____________________

Where does the 3.3 Million number come from ? The number that Roxsteady and Jim R use is double what I can find, or any source seems to claim.

Ination, you may not like the patriot act, but it is law. You’ll notice Obama hasn’t changed much of it since he got into office, like he promised.

ConLoonPatrol says:
June 17, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Michelle have your IQ checked. Seriously.

Considering that is the most intelligent thing you can add to the conversation, you may want to take your own advice.

$20 billion buys a lot of gold! And seeds! Yipppppeeeeeee!!!!!!

Rep Joe Barton later added that he’s now retroactively outraged that Exxon had to pay any Alaskan fisherman in the 90′s after the Valdez spill.

Git R Done Republitards!

Congratulations Republicans, Joe Barton can see the future, and according to him, offshore drilling is so safe that a gum wrapper falling over the side of the platform is the high end of potential damage it can do:

“Offshore drilling and production platforms are so technologically advanced that one platform on the surface of the water can handle production from several different wells several miles apart, house a myriad of technologically advanced computer systems, employ scores of personnel, generate electricity, enable people to face and conquer the adversities of living in the middle of the ocean, and do so 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; all without so much as losing a gum wrapper over the side of the platform. It is truly amazing,” Barton said, at an opening for a Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality hearing on April 29, 2004.

This is what happens when your party regular lubes itself up with oil interests and then agrees to take it in the pooper while defending those same oil interests after a disaster like this.

Buy more gold! And oil! Don’t forget the seeds!

Michelle – trust me, I am not defending Obama. Are you saying the Patriot Act is constitutional?

Ination, There is much debate on that, but I’m going with Former Attorney General Ashcroft on this one:

In a speech to the conservative-leaning think tank American Enterprise Institute (search), Ashcroft sought to counter critics who say the act gives law enforcement unnecessary and overreaching powers that threaten the privacy rights of innocent people.

Ashcroft said the law has given police and prosecutors the tools needed to thwart would-be terrorists within the parameters of the Constitution. He gave several examples where the act allowed law enforcement officials to bring charges against suspects thought to be plotting attacks or supporting terror groups.

“If we knew then what we know now, we would have passed the Patriot Act (search) six months before Sept. 11 rather than six weeks after the attacks,” he said. ” … The cause we have chosen is just. The course we have chosen is constitutional.”

Ashcroft cited elements of the law that he says make it easier for law enforcement officials to pursue suspected criminals. For example, prosecutors no longer must get permission for different wiretaps every time a suspect changes cell phones. Instead, the wiretap provision applies to the suspect rather than a specific phone.

Liberty Banned:
Check your facts. And I have done so for you-in a rather fash, down and dirty way. There is a difference between getting monies from PACs and Companies vs employees. The “Little/small” people.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2008/apr/17/hillary-clinton/yes-oil-company-employees-have-donated-to-obama/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2010/may/24/bp-liked-obama-oil-stained-sarah-palins-hands-too/
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/obamas_oil_spill.html

Michelle, there are a lot of things to debate (4th amendment, specifically) but when I think of the PA, I think of this:

“Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”

- Benjamin Franklin

MichelleF says:
June 17, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Ination, you may not like the patriot act, but it is law. You’ll notice Obama hasn’t changed much of it since he got into office, like he promised.

Actually what he did was give it a 1 year extension. If you weren’t a brainwashed imp, you’d know that.

@Michelle F

You might like this article

“The ties that bind. Remember Rahm Emanuel’s rent-free D.C. apartment? The owner: A BP adviser”

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/06/rahm-emanuel-bp-gul-oil-spill.html

@CLP – does a 1 year extension change the content of the act? No.

HAHA, that’s priceless Bowenisland! Amazing the “media” hasn’t latched onto that yet. I mean can you imagine if Cheney was living in a place owned by haliburton!

Ination says:
June 17, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Michelle, there are a lot of things to debate (4th amendment, specifically) but when I think of the PA, I think of this:

“Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”

- Benjamin Franklin

I do like that quote and it’s an excellent point. It’s something I’ve thought alot about. I’m not saying I have all the answers. I do appreciate that you can debate like an adult. Perhaps you could offer a course. CLP could be your first student!

While Obama was pointing his nose skyward, wondering ‘Whose Ass He’d Kick’ (trademark), his own ass has been getting kicked by corporations in this country, and it’s great to see. Corporations in the U.S. are stockpiling money at an astounding clip. And why not? Obama’s anti-business regime suggests that these companies are better off hoarding it rather than reinvesting it in terms of growth (i.e. more people). And as we move into 2011 with the sunsetting of tax cuts and the addition of new taxes on top of that, growth will be even further off the table. Which all means that Obama will be facing high unemployment numbers for as long as anyone can see. It’s a tough thing to declare that you’re the ‘ass-kicker’ while getting your own ass kicked even harder. Obama’s albatross is high unemployment. He knows it; we know it. And as for the media, all of this is ‘unexpected’ to them.

“where does the President get the authority to demand this?”

From “We the People.” He represents us and acts on our behalf.

“The administration has unfairly assumed that BP won’t pay the claims.”

BP could “unfairly” declare bankruptcy and elude much of the cost. Insisting on a “down payment” is wise.

From: http://mediamatters.org/research/201006160023 :

“the escrow account would reportedly be established through negotiations with BP and it would be managed by an “independent trustee.”

” Now they get to distribute the funds to those whom they see fit. If the money goes to pay compensation to furloughed oil workers that are victims of barrys’ moratorium, then that is illegal.”

Why? The moratorium was necessitated by BP’s misconduct. Such compensation is appropriate.

“the gov’t forced BP out into the middle of the ocean”

BP went where the oil was. It’s more cost-effective/profitable to drill into one large oil reserve than many smaller ones.

“I absolutely agree with Mr. Barton.”

So do I. He SHOULD be “ashamed.”

ConLoonPatrol says:
June 17, 2010 at 1:32 pm

“Actually what he did was give it a 1 year extension. If you weren’t a brainwashed imp, you’d know that.”

_____________

Perhaps if you were not a simp ,and were able to read beyond the headlines you would know that The Patriot Act was not extended in its entirety. Specifically, only three provisions of the Patriot Act were extended.

The three extended Patriot Act provisions are:

•The “roving wiretap” provision allows the FBI to obtain wiretaps from a secret intelligence court, known as the FISA court, without identifying the target or what method of communication is to be tapped.
•The “lone wolf” measure allows FISA court warrants for the electronic monitoring of a person for whatever reason — even without showing that the suspect is an agent of a foreign power or a terrorist. The government has said it has never invoked that provision, but the Obama administration said it wanted to retain the authority to do so.
•The “business records” provision allows FISA court warrants for any type of record, from banking to library to medical, without the government having to declare that the information sought is connected to a terrorism or espionage investigation.

________

“That’s why as it’s come time to reauthorize this law, we’ve been working in a bipartisan way to do both – to show the American people that we can track down terrorists without trampling on our civil liberties. To show the American people that the federal government will only issue warrants and execute searches because it needs to, not because it can. What we have been trying to achieve, under the leadership of a bipartisan group of Senators, is some accountability in this process – to get answers and see evidence where there is suspicion.

Several weeks ago, this work bore fruit. The Judiciary Committee and the U.S. Senate managed to pass a piece of bi-partisan legislation that, while I can’t say is perfect, was able to address many of these most serious problems in the existing law.

Unfortunately, that strong bi-partisan legislation has been tossed aside in Conference. Instead, we have been forced to consider a piece of rushed legislation that fails to address the concerns of members of both parties as well as the American people.

This is legislation that puts our own Justice Department above the law. When National Security Letters are issued, they allow federal agents to conduct any search on any American, no matter how extensive or wide-ranging, without ever going before a judge to prove that the search is necessary. They simply need sign-off from a local FBI official. That’s all.

Once a business or a person receives notification that they will be searched, they are prohibited from telling anyone about it, and they are even prohibited from challenging this automatic gag order in court. Even though judges have already found that similar restrictions violate the First Amendment – this Conference Report disregards the case law and the right to challenge the gag order.

If you do decide to consult an attorney for legal advice – you have to tell the FBI that you have done so. This is unheard of – there is no such requirement in any other area of law, and I don’t see why it is justified here.

And if someone wants to know why their own government has decided to go on a fishing expedition through every personal record or private document – through library books they’ve read and phone calls they’ve made – this legislation gives people no rights to appeal the need for such a search in a court of law. No judge will hear their plea, no jury will hear their case.

This is just plain wrong.”

TOPIC: Homeland Security
December 15, 2005
Senate Floor Statement of Senator Barack Obama
The PATRIOT Act
Complete Text

_________

To sum up . You debate like a child.

Bowenisland, that’s unfair, my child could out-debate him.

“Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”

- Benjamin Franklin

Ben said that in 1759. Is it still 1759?

And BHO is a constitutional lawyer., surely he would know if the PA were unconstitutional, right?

Ben also said this:

Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

Benjamin Franklin, letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy, November 13, 1789

What an outrage, the people who caused this monumental ecological disaster are asked to pay for it . Well then I guess the Pelicans and the Louisianins and the shrimpers and the families of those that were killed should pay. How about the homeless and the people whose houses are being foreclosed. Wait a minute, I know , the Native Americans, its probably their fault for letting us get their land. Yeah, thats the ticket.
Michelle also needs to have her heart checked.

Iris says:
June 17, 2010 at 2:14 pm

What an outrage, the people who caused this monumental ecological disaster are asked to pay for it ”

BP has said from nearly the beginning that they would pay for all legitimate claims.

So what’s your problem?

Iris says:
June 17, 2010 at 2:14 pm

________________

Please wipe the Junk Shot off your face before posting .

Thank you in advance.

notsofast says:
June 17, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Iris says:

“So what’s your problem?”

_______

Sock puppet .

They also said they knew how to clean up a giant oil spill if it happened, hows that workin out. But don’t worry Im sure as a BP defender their magical fairy dust will keep any consequenses of the disaster away from you.

Bowenisland, part of her problem is she seems to be a wee bit obsessed with me.

the people who caused this monumental ecological disaster are asked to pay for it

Iris, I hadn’t heard that determined what caused it. What was it?

Iris says:
June 17, 2010 at 2:21 pm

They also said they knew how to clean up a giant oil spill if it happened, hows that workin out. ”

Hey, if it was good enough for BHO, it is good enough for me.

BTW, was that you covered in oil at the hearing?

MichelleF says:
June 17, 2010 at 2:22 pm

Exactly . That seems to be the reason “she” posts . Iris = sock puppet

BowenIsland says:
June 17, 2010 at 2:24 pm

MichelleF says:
June 17, 2010 at 2:22 pm

Exactly . That seems to be the reason “she” posts . Iris = sock puppet”

For whom?

You’re right Michelle, the fairys (or the gays maybe) in the middle of the night snuck a big ol’ oil platform out there in the Gulf and drilled a big hole in the earth and oil just started spewing out. Im sure the fairy dust will protect you too.

CNN poll shows disapproval over Obama handling of Gulf spill increasing

posted at 2:20 pm on June 17, 2010 by Ed Morrissey

A new CNN poll taken a day after Barack Obama’s Oval Office speech delivered more bad news to the White House. The poll shows 59% disapproval over Obama’s handling of the crisis in the Gulf of Mexico, an increase of eight points since May 21-23 survey. Approval has dropped from 46% to 41%, making an 13-point shift in approval in three weeks. The result shows that Obama’s speech failed to repair his damaged position and build his credibility on his competence.

So what you are saying, Iris, is you don’t know what caused the spill. Well then how about waiting to hear what caused it before tar and feathering them?

No Michelle you said you didn’t know what caused the spill. Yeah and asking those that caused it is now tar ring and feathering them. You belieive that BP would not lie and do the honorable thing even with their track record so their fairy dust Im sure will protect you to, just keep believing.

@notsofast – thank you for reminding me to check what year it is. I tend to stumble in and out of wormholes on a daily basis. You provided an additional Benjamin Franklin quote, which is a good one, but I don’t know why you took issue with what I said. The idea of giving up our liberties for more security is something bad?

You belieive that BP would not lie and do the honorable thing even with their track record so their fairy dust Im sure will protect you to, just keep believing.

No I’m saying wait for an investigation. It’s called due process and it’s the law! Why do you seem to be so against that?

Iris, let me provide a hypothetical for you. Say you are driving along in your car, you lose control and hit and kill a child. Now all the people in the neightbor surround your, confirm you guilty, and carry out the death penalty right there in the street. Now what if it was discovered that you had faulty breaks and there was nothing you could have done about the accident?

I’m not sticking up for them, I’m just saying can’t we wait for the evidence before convicting them? Wouldn’t you want people to do that if it were you?

Well, you are one of the few that seem to think that BP is not responsible. Keep believing . Those of us who are not protected from this monumental environmental disaster by BP fairy dust would like to move on and get this mess taken care of and the people it is affecting taken care of instead of waiting 20 years like the people in Alaska did with Exxon, but I guess they didn’t have the magical fairy dust.

I give up, you are officially like talking to a brick wall!!

Oh, come on Michelle, I’ll tell you what, why don’t you say who or what else could possibly be responsible, especially since BP has taken responsibility for it.

Haha…scumbag Barton is already walking back his comments, but of course the reich wingers here will still stand by them.

Typical reich wing apology…. ‘I’m sorry y’all took my comments the wrong way!’

“I want the record to be absolutely clear that I think BP is responsible for this accident, should be held responsible and should in every way do everything possible to make good on the consequences that have resulted from this action,” Barton said following his round of questioning of BP CEO Tony Hayward this afternoon.

“If anything I said this morning has been misconstrued in opposite effect, I want to apologize for that misconstruction,” he added.

Only the right would find fault with this. If BP doesn’t pay, who does? You do.

People who argue that the GOP is the party of fiscal responsibility can go ahead and shut up now. Either BP pays or you do. They’ve chosen you.

Van Jones….

“On one hand you’ve got the President of the U.S., who says he wants to kick some ass, and now you’ve got the other side who apparently want to kiss some ass”

I LOVE IT!!!

Joe Barton and Michele Bachmann are knuckle dragging neanderthals and the lowest forms of humanity on the planet.

“You libs can continue to say the we’re just cheerleading for BP, but the truth is we are cheerleading for the constitution.”

HAHAHAHA!!!

Queen Michelle to the Gulf residents…..

“Let them eat Constitution”

Memo to posters:

This Congressman who is kissing the BP’s ass on national television
should be investigated for selling out his country to big oil and big corporations.

It is not a “shakedown” Congressman Moron,
it is a very smart move to set up a trust fund
lest BP declare bankruptcy and try to stiff the US taxpayers
with the oil spill cleanup bill and related costs.

It happens too often that big corporations shirk their
financial responsibilities and leave it to a taxpayer
bailout.
Example: Most of US Airlines when they declared bankrupty
pushed their Pension Costs onto the US Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp
(ultimately the US taxpayer) with the help of many of these
same congress people.

Too many partisan morons
who cannot think for themselves on these boards

History777777777 says:
June 17, 2010 at 4:24 pm

Too many partisan morons
who cannot think for themselves on these boards
————————

Yes I agree, the transparent old & tired usual Left Wing hacks
& Alinsky Disciple- wannaBe’s
———————–

“The qualities Alinsky looked for in a good organizer were: *
ego (“reaching for the highest level for which man can reach — to create, to
be a ‘great creator, ‘ to play God”),
*
curiosity (raising “questions that agitate, that break through the accepted pattern”), *

irreverence (“nothing is sacred”; the organizer “detests dogma, defies any finite definition of morality”),
*

imagination (“the fuel for the force that keeps an organizer organizing”),
*
a sense of humor (“the most potent weapons known to mankind are satire and ridicule”), and an
*organized personality with confidence in presenting the right reason for his actions only “as a moral rationalization after the right end has been achieved.’…

“‘The organizer’s first job is to create the issues or problems,’ and ‘organizations must be based on many issues.’ The organizer ‘must first rub raw the resentments of the people of the community; fan the latent hostilities of many of the people to the point of overt expression. He must search out controversy and issues, rather than avoid them, for unless there is controversy people are not concerned enough to act. . . . An organizer must stir up dissatisfaction and discontent.’”

http://www.crossroad.to/Quotes/communism/alinsky.htm

What an unforced error.

>> sarainitaly says:
>> June 17, 2010 at 12:42 pm

>> I could never have hoped for a fuckup like this. #joebarton http://bit.ly/dCSP66 RT @MelissaTweets: @tommyxtopher u hope it’s a game changer

>> Why was he *hoping* for this kind of f-up?

What can I say? Such grace and charm (You are quite a lady)! Oh, I’m sorry. Please excuse me- wrong person. You must have skipped that class.

“Alinsky Disciple- wannaBe’s”

I doubt that many people know who you’re talking about – including YOU.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_Alinsky :

“His organizing skills were focused on improving the living conditions of poor communities across North America. In the 1950s, he began turning his attention to improving conditions of the African-American ghettos, beginning with Chicago’s and later traveling to other ghettos in California, Michigan, New York City, and a dozen other “trouble spots.”

Your questionable link implies a HIGHLY questionable connection between Alinsky and communism. The wiki article continues:

“When asked during an interview whether he ever considered becoming a Communist party member, he replied:

“Not at any time. I’ve never joined any organization—not even the ones I’ve organized myself. I prize my own independence too much. And philosophically, I could never accept any rigid dogma or ideology, whether it’s Christianity or Marxism. One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as ‘that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you’re right.’ If you don’t have that, if you think you’ve got an inside track to absolute truth, you become doctrinaire, humorless and intellectually constipated. The greatest crimes in history have been perpetrated by such religious and political and racial fanatics, from the persecutions of the Inquisition on down to Communist purges and Nazi genocide.”

The neocons are so desperate to “dig up” a bad guy they exhume the corpse of a long-dead, honorable, hard-working advocate for the downtrodden.