Jimmy Carter on Leno
 

From http://www.crooksandliars.com/ :

President Carter joined Jay Monday night and talked about his book. The subject turned towards this administration and Jimmy really told you how he felt.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/11/23.html#a6027

Right on, Jimmy! I like the way he describes it as "fundamentalist government" - the deterioration of liberties, the way we have turned our back on human rights, tax breaks for the wealthy at the expense of the rest of us, etc.

You know, really, W. has taken this great country and the profound principles of democracy and desecrated it all. I am ashamed of my fellow countrymen that we have both allowed this to happen and allow it to continue.

Back in the Nixon era, a certain faction was fond of the saying, "My country, right or wrong." Its not our country anymore - no matter how you look at it. The US has become the country of those with wealth and priviledge. It has turned into a global bully, and the current administration's sanction of torture and the treatment handed down to prisoners of war makes W. every bit as bad as Saddam was.

I denounce the United States as it now stands. This is not MY country, anymore. :mad:

This IS my country, I just don't like the administration.

The 51% of Americans who voted for W to engage in a second term of destruction, are NOT my countrymen. The nation which endorses torture is NOT my nation. The government which has taken away our rights guaranteed under the Constitution is NOT my government. The people who sit on their hands and allow this to continue are NOT my people.

On my father's side, my ancestory goes back to the Revolutionary War. I could be a member of the DAR if I felt like sitting around drinking tea with my pinkie extended. My family sat out the civil war, and my grandfather fought in WWI, as my father fought in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.

The principles and ideals for which our ancestors were willing to lay down their lives have been tossed aside and violated for the sake of expediency and the gain of a few who are out, not for this country, but for themselves, instead. None of us should sanction what is going on. It is time to make it OUR country again, not theirs.

Strong words, but I feel very strongly about what has happened to what once used to be MY country. :sniff: :rar:

The problem with that Mari is the same as is exposed when Democrats say they want to "take" the country back. Most of us who aren't aligned with either of the big two don't want the government taken by one or the other. I could stomach moderation. I'd prefer dismantling but I'll take moderation. I know the feeling you're describing and for me it applies to 95 percent of the votes cast, not the voters themselves, but to their misplaced faith... Oh and Jimmy did kick some butt there. :)

Yeah, Griff, I'm not saying I want the Dem's especially to take the country back. I think WE should! Jimmy was pretty good; for an old guy, he kicks butt!

Where's the INS when you need them?

Rounding up the 49% who DIDN'T vote for W. :eyebrow:

Greetings from the 51%. You are welcome to emigrate to Switzerland.

Heh! Thank you. Much good it would do you. I could still post to the Cellar from Switzerland. Ask Jag. Nice try, though.

I'd invite you to the UK, Marichiko, but I'm not so sure you would find much change here - Blair and W are virtually a double act that few of us really want. Oh, and BTW did you have a similar situation as here last election when the majority of seats (or whatever you call their equivalent in the US) didn't equate to the majority of people voting - just because of the way the voting regions were split and the 'first past the post' system of deciding who takes each location without any consideration of voter numbers overall?