Saturday, September 15, 2007
[1789 - James Fenimore Cooper, novelist, born in Burlington, New Jersey]
[1857 - William Howard Taft, 27th President, Supreme Court Chief
Justice, born in Cincinnati, Ohio]
[1889 - Robert Benchley, humorist, author, born in Worcester, Massachusetts]
[1890 - Agatha (Marie Clarissa) Christie (Miller), writer,
born in Torquay, Devon, England]
[1929 - Murray Gell-Mann, Nobel physicist, born in New York City]
Mouth and Money
President Bush, speaking to the nation last year about the threat posed by militant Islamic extremists, told us:
And we have learned that their goal is to build a radical Islamic empire where women are prisoners in their homes, men are beaten for missing prayer meetings, and terrorists have a safe haven to plan and launch attacks on America and other civilized nations. The war against this enemy is more than a military conflict. It is the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century, and the calling of our generation.
While I do not happen to agree with you, Mr. President, your supporters maintain that you are absolutely sincere in your belief that this is true. You have made the so called "War on Terror" the first priority of your administration.
If you are right Mr. President, and if this is not just more rhetoric intended to scare the American people into voting for Republicans in the next election, then I suggest to you that it is high time you did something more meaningful about this dire threat. No, I don't mean sending inadequate military forces to Iran that soon become bogged down in a bloody stalemate, as you did in Afghanistan and Iraq.
I will believe you, sir, when I see the following measures:
Both of your daughters enlist in the Armed Forces of the United States of America and volunteer for duty in Iraq.
You call upon Congress to reinstitute the draft and build an adequate military force to counter the threat.
You issue an executive order requiring all future military vehicles, ships, and aircraft to be powered by non-fossil fuels so as to reduce the stranglehold that the Islamic countries enjoy on us as a result of the U. S. dependence on foreign oil.
You call upon Congress to impose an emergency 25% tax on all imported petroleum products and rescind the tax cuts to the wealthy in order to pay for the additional burdens of Homeland security.
You issue an executive order immediately instituting gas rationing throughout the United States to reduce the stranglehold that the Islamic countries exert on our economy as a result of the US dependence on foreign oil.
William's Whimsical Words:
Isn't it time, Mr. President, that you put this nation's resources where your mouth says they should be?
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