Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Bill Moyers in The Christian Century
The Christian Century: If the Bush administration were to ask you for your advice, what would you say to them?
Bill Moyers: Well, I did give President Bush advice once: on a broadcast I urged him to make Al Gore head of homeland security—in other words, turn our response to the terrorist attacks into a bipartisan effort, make the fight against terroism an American cause, not a partisan battle cry.
What would I say now? Fire the ideologues and assign them to scrub the floors at Guantánamo for penitence. Stop confusing neocon pundits with Old Testament prophets. Read the Bible for humility's sake, but for policy's sake commit to memory the report of the Iraq Study Group. Don't sacrifice any more soldiers to prove you're in charge; get the soldiers out of the line of fire between Sunnis and Shi'ites. And remind your hirelings of Winston Churchill's definition of democracy as the occasional necessity of deferring to the opinions of other people.
Read the whole blessed thing.
--ER
Bill Moyers: Well, I did give President Bush advice once: on a broadcast I urged him to make Al Gore head of homeland security—in other words, turn our response to the terrorist attacks into a bipartisan effort, make the fight against terroism an American cause, not a partisan battle cry.
What would I say now? Fire the ideologues and assign them to scrub the floors at Guantánamo for penitence. Stop confusing neocon pundits with Old Testament prophets. Read the Bible for humility's sake, but for policy's sake commit to memory the report of the Iraq Study Group. Don't sacrifice any more soldiers to prove you're in charge; get the soldiers out of the line of fire between Sunnis and Shi'ites. And remind your hirelings of Winston Churchill's definition of democracy as the occasional necessity of deferring to the opinions of other people.
Read the whole blessed thing.
--ER
Comments:
<< Home
"If you have to talk about God to win elections, that doesn't speak well of God or elections."
---Bill Moyers
Now that's the best damn line in the whole thing.
---Bill Moyers
Now that's the best damn line in the whole thing.
We should print it on leaflets and drop 'em over Colorado Springs.
And maybe over Jim Wallis's joint, too. I like Jim W., but it's all still "talking about God" to win elections, isn't it?
I'll take a big ol' plate of church, please, with a side order of state, in a separate bowl -- 'cause I hate that food to touch!
And maybe over Jim Wallis's joint, too. I like Jim W., but it's all still "talking about God" to win elections, isn't it?
I'll take a big ol' plate of church, please, with a side order of state, in a separate bowl -- 'cause I hate that food to touch!
Geoffrey! There is a long and venerable history of liberal-progressive-hell-sensible Texans!
Remember Molly!
Amidst an admitted mainstream of Texas hawks, Dubya is the aberration. He sure as s--t isn't a conservative -- but he sure as s--t isn't under the bell, either!
Remember Molly!
Amidst an admitted mainstream of Texas hawks, Dubya is the aberration. He sure as s--t isn't a conservative -- but he sure as s--t isn't under the bell, either!
Redneck, sometimes you just frackin amaze me: "There is a long and venerable history of liberal-progressive-hell-sensible Texans".
People like Molly and Bill standout because the are different than those around them. Texas is the first to damn its own when they get out of line.
People like Molly and Bill standout because the are different than those around them. Texas is the first to damn its own when they get out of line.
I didn't say the line was wide, only long -- starting with Sam effing Houston himself, who defied the mood of the day! Secession!
Soap-Box Warning:
Sam e-fiing Houston, a.k.a. The Raven, (the father of Texas Independence)was from Tennessee (was Govenor there and chased out by Jackson) by way of a long stay in the Cherokee Nation, not a native Texan. And yes they stole the Secession vote from him by delaying, arresting, or killing the Western and Northen Texas legislators before they got to the State Capitol. And after the Texas Secesshes won, they went on a killing spree all over the Northern and Western parts of their own State. That's real Texas history: bigotry, bias, and murder of their own citizens. My wife's family was knee deep in all of that Texas blood and gore (and they are proud of it).
Sam e-fiing Houston, a.k.a. The Raven, (the father of Texas Independence)was from Tennessee (was Govenor there and chased out by Jackson) by way of a long stay in the Cherokee Nation, not a native Texan. And yes they stole the Secession vote from him by delaying, arresting, or killing the Western and Northen Texas legislators before they got to the State Capitol. And after the Texas Secesshes won, they went on a killing spree all over the Northern and Western parts of their own State. That's real Texas history: bigotry, bias, and murder of their own citizens. My wife's family was knee deep in all of that Texas blood and gore (and they are proud of it).
Bill Moyers is a great American, and the last of a dying breed of journalists who actually questioned the information provided by the gubment, rather than acting as a stenographer. He has a piece on PBS tonight called "Buying the War". I know I will be tuning is; it promises to be very instructive.
Sam effing Houston, also known as Big Drunk, spent some wandering years with the Cherokees, too, taking a Cherokee as his "wife," until he got tired of her, got tired of playing Indian, and left Indian Territory to find adventure in Texas.
So, what's your effing point? It doesn't matter who I hold up to be admired, you find reason to shoot 'em down for their flaws.
They've all got effing flaws, and so do we. I'll take flawed effing heroes over a bitter cynicism so effing deep that it allows for no effing heroes at all.
And yeah, since you're on a roll, Robert E. Effing Lee is one of mine, too. And Stand Effing Waitie. So go ahead and get it all out of your system at once.
Red, thanks for the heads-up.
So, what's your effing point? It doesn't matter who I hold up to be admired, you find reason to shoot 'em down for their flaws.
They've all got effing flaws, and so do we. I'll take flawed effing heroes over a bitter cynicism so effing deep that it allows for no effing heroes at all.
And yeah, since you're on a roll, Robert E. Effing Lee is one of mine, too. And Stand Effing Waitie. So go ahead and get it all out of your system at once.
Red, thanks for the heads-up.
As far as Houston not being a native Texasn -- almost none of the revolutionaries were. Just a few were, such as Jose Francisco Ruiz, José Antonio Navarro and
Lorenzo de Zavala.
So what? Native Texanness is highly overrated. The greatest Texans in Texas history have always come from somewhere else -- the present president of the United States excepted.
Lorenzo de Zavala.
So what? Native Texanness is highly overrated. The greatest Texans in Texas history have always come from somewhere else -- the present president of the United States excepted.
ER says: "So, what's your effing point? It doesn't matter who I hold up to be admired, you find reason to shoot 'em down for their flaws."
Yep, that's right. Did I shoot down Bill Moyers? Did I shoot down Molly Ivans? Did I dump on Ann Richards? No, I took a shot at that mythical "long and venerable history of liberal-progressive-hell-sensible Texans" you procalimed.
You know I am prejudice, that is PREJUDICED, against Texas, but I do have Texans as friends, although I wouldn't want my daughter to marry one.
Yep, that's right. Did I shoot down Bill Moyers? Did I shoot down Molly Ivans? Did I dump on Ann Richards? No, I took a shot at that mythical "long and venerable history of liberal-progressive-hell-sensible Texans" you procalimed.
You know I am prejudice, that is PREJUDICED, against Texas, but I do have Texans as friends, although I wouldn't want my daughter to marry one.
Point taken. Correction: Many historicaL figures I say I admire you dump on.
Or, maybe I got up with my neck extra red and my internal battle flag flyin'. (Went to Texas weekend before last to party at the race, and I'm goin' to Texas again this weekend to party at a party. I got my Lone Star on!)
But, "Bill Moyers? Did I shoot down Molly Ivans? Did I dump on Ann Richards?"
No, but they are flawless. ... kidding ...
Or, maybe I got up with my neck extra red and my internal battle flag flyin'. (Went to Texas weekend before last to party at the race, and I'm goin' to Texas again this weekend to party at a party. I got my Lone Star on!)
But, "Bill Moyers? Did I shoot down Molly Ivans? Did I dump on Ann Richards?"
No, but they are flawless. ... kidding ...
What we need to do is establish decontamination stations on the Oklahoma side of the river so you can cleanse yourself of that ain't we god's only children lonestar bs that gets on people down there. By the way watch out for them Mexican trucks on I-35.
The way I see it Bill and Molly are durn near flawless. Ann had some work to do however.
Post a Comment
The way I see it Bill and Molly are durn near flawless. Ann had some work to do however.
<< Home
