George Bush, Barack Obama and a Return to the Rule of Law

Sat Nov 22, 2008 at 03:50:45 PM PST

GWB was off the hook for impeachment, much to the consternation of many Americans, to say nothing for the rest of the world-at-large but in the final analysis maybe that’s how it had to be done? Dems knew if they’d impeached Dubya, Dick ‘Go Fuck Yourself’ Cheney and the rest of Cobra Command that it would only foster the continued resentment amongst an already hugely divided populace. Dems knew smart money was in uniting over dividing and they did what they had to do. Pelosi took it off the table and Obama’s in. Does correlation equal causation? In this case, can we call it a contributing factor? Divide and conquer is how Rove wins elections, unite and transcend may well be the Pelosi-Reid plan as much as it was Barack Obama's.

So, what does it mean? It just depends on what’s more important: Justice for the most corrupt and incompetent administration ever or getting the right person behind the driver’s wheel in one of the most uncertain times in history? Can an Obama presidency be that Justice, then?

At any rate, moving forward, my feeling is the rule of law needs to be preserved. If he and his cronies committed criminal acts they must be tried and if found guilty must be sentenced for them. Ultimately, America is a Nation of Laws or else, as the whole world has recently seen, in horror, it is a Nation of base Corruption and Criminality. There ought be no middle ground. Law is law and no one, not even Bush Jr and dangerous Dick are above it. Getting away with criminality is part of the old regime, not the new one. Right? Right.

The timing? Not right now, obviously. Dubya is poised to do all sorts of creative things with his pardoning power before he inevitably burns the White House to the ground on January 20th, including, possibly, a groundbreaking preemptive personal catch-all pardon for himself and the rest of the neocon rogues, murderers and sneak-thieves for any and all criminal acts committed during the worst administration since Nero.

Just look what he did with his signing statements; turned the whole legislative process on its ear, something only possible if you have a historically corrupt Congress and a historically spineless opposition party. So, what does all that mean? Don’t launch any investigations until the law folk have a good chance to look at the wording of whatever comes out of Dubya’s office in early to mid January.

Once you’re there you have to sell it to the American public in a way that doesn't tear down all the unification, good feeling and outright national healing the Obama victory has generated. It’s a speech by Obama and it’s about Law and it’s about no one being Above the Law. You either respect the Rule of Law or you don't. It’s about an investigation team recognized universally as post partisan. It’s about investigating where applicable and sentencing only if necessary. It is, perhaps most importantly, about showing America’s children that criminality is not allowed by anybody, not even Presidents. And finally, I would argue, it’s about America healing itself.

Love to you, America. I've watched your journey intensively over the last eight years and am so proud you made the decision you did. The whole world pays when you elect stuttering fucktards over intellectual giants strictly because you think they'd be more fun to have beers with. In electing Obama you've given not just yourselves but the whole world somebody we can all look up to. And work with. And effect Change with.

-iSenseChange

p.p. Going to change my name. The era of SensingChange is over. Change is here.

The Gonzo Letters: Hey Willie

“It is the Just man that disobeys the Unjust Law.”
-St. Thomas Aquinas

Hey Willie,

Will be covering your story extensively for the Gonzo Warriors, an international consortium of miscreants and ne’er-do-wells that find within them the primordial spunk to gurgle to the surface when Folk Heroes get pinched by the Law for smoking the Good Weed. My first report, entitled ‘Dear Trooper,’ is now being forwarded, my secretary assures me, to the Officer who busted your tourbus the other day. Nothing that can get anybody sued, I assure you, just some good natured fun at the expense of the first cog in the judicial machine that continues to enforce an Unjust Law.

Feel free to check it out, if such things interest you.

Beyond that, well, I’m thinking you might be the crucible that this marijuana criminalization thing might bust upon forever, man. Many, myself included, consider you a Legend and a Hero, which means maybe, just maybe people will start to question the Marijuana issue in ways they haven’t before. I say fight it. I know your old, but shit! Sometimes that’s what heroes do.

Whatever you do, you of course have my full support on this. I have no money but write a scorned letter like a man possessed. Furthermore, I’d be tickled blue if you’d consider an honorary membership in the Warriors. We seek truth, speak our minds and fear nothing, a rarity in these times of nearly omnipresent bullshit. Have you or yours fire me off an email if such things interest you and I hope to hear from you.

Right, all for now.

Sincerely,
Manfred Duke, aka General iSenseChange of the Gonzo Warriors

emailed to Willie Nelson. And his band. And crew. 19:50, 24-11-06

The Gonzo Letters: Dear Trooper

Just thought I’d take the time to thank you for protecting the Public Good, specifically, in tracking down and ticketing Folk “Legend” Willie Nelson for his egregious drug use. It’s unfortunate you’re not given the authority to throw the man the beating his seventy some-odd year old ass so richly deserves! Only way to learn ‘em!

Yes sir! For too long these artists and writer types have flouted the Law in this regard. I read an article the other day about some scientific analysis of a few pipes found in Billy Shakespeare’s pad and apparently there were traces of not only this evil weed but of the cocaine as well! And then you know what he did, Trooper? He went and glorified it in one of his tunes (or sonnets, as this doper liked to call them) referring to ‘compounds strange’ and a ‘noted weed’.

Now back in Billy’s day, well, they knew how to handle drug offenders: torture and death by the Church of England! It’s an idea whose time has come again, I think you and I are in agreement on that, Trooper. Don’t fret, I’m sure the NeoCons are working towards this sort of enforcement as we speak, it’s probably Patriot Act III or IV. And about bloody time! Amen, sir!

Billy Shakespeare got away with it, but the buck stops at Willie Nelson and rightfully so! I’m thinking the thing to do is throw the book at him, teach the fucker a lesson. I were you, I’d be looking at taking down Dylan next, or that Keith Richards idiot. Get enough of them at the same time, the same prison, imagine the Art that you yourself will have spawned! I’m thinking recording sessions, DVDs, t-shirts and whatnot. I know you’re gonna want to be in on this, I just ask you not to cut me out of the loop. This could be huge.

Feel free to contact me for this type of advice at any time, especially if you can catch more of these vicious doper artist fiends. This is a big opportunity for us but we must move quickly. Artists are a cagey bunch and once they get wind of our plans they’ll scurry to all points.

Right, all for now.

Yours,
Manfred Duke

NOTE TO WRITINGUPPERS AND ESPECIALLY GONZO WARRIORS: It is my fervent desire to send this missive to the trooper who has so courageously taken down Public Enemy Willie Nelson. Any ideas on where to send it? Everybody has email these days or maybe the cop-shop has a website or whatnot? I couldn't be more serious about this.