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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTroglodyte Republicon "HEARTS" Bradley Manning, proposes a national holiday
Why are neanderthals like Chuck Grassley, longtime GOP Senator from Iowa, so fond of "whistleblowers" like Manning that they're proposing a holiday to honor them?
RT | Published time: July 30, 2013 18:57
'Patron saint of whistleblowers' US Senator Chuck Grassley, R-IA
The idea might not win approval with the rest of the Senate, but Republican lawmaker Chuck Grassley has put in a resolution for a new commemorative holiday for the United States National Whistleblower Appreciation Day.
"Anything we can do to uphold whistleblowers and their protection is the right thing to keep government responsible," said Grassley, who is famous for personally aiding whistleblowers in their battles against rule-breaking officials. "If you know laws are being violated and money's being misspent, you have a patriotic duty to report it."
The choice of 30 July, the date suggested in the proposal, made jointly with Democratic Senator Carl Levin, is not accidental. It marks the 235th anniversary of what was one of the earliest whistleblowing regulations implemented anywhere by the Founding Fathers in the Continental Congress in the midst of the Revolutionary War.
It is the duty of all persons in the service of the United States, as well as all other the inhabitants thereof, to give the earliest information to Congress or other proper authority of any misconduct, frauds or misdemeanors committed by any officers or persons in the service of these states, which may come to their knowledge, said the bill, resolved on July 30, 1778.
http://rt.com/usa/chuck-grassley-whistleblower-day-809/
note to Grassley: The UK Guardian does not constitute "a proper authority." Neither does Julian Assange, and neither does Glenn Greenwald.
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)ucrdem
(15,512 posts)It seems there's a correlation between ODS and post-2008 "whistleblowing" that crosses partly lines. Here's Grassley calling Obama stupid in April 2012, for example:
RT | Published time: April 09, 2012 15:44
Responding to the presidents comments from last week, Senator Grassley told his Twitter followers over the weekend that the citizens that Obama was elected to represent have a bit more know-how than their own leader.
Constituents askd why i am not outraged at PresO attack on supreme court independence. Bcause Am ppl r not stupid as this x prof of con law, Grassley tweeted on Saturday.
http://rt.com/usa/grassley-obama-twitter-stupid-612/
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)Therefore, if you support Bradley Manning, you support Chuck Grassley!
Chuck Grassley called Obama stupid and supports Bradley Manning.
Therefore, if you support Bradley Manning, you called Obama stupid!
Brilliant.
ucrdem
(15,512 posts)Tthat better? Basically means the same thing. Usually translated as "birds of a feather flock together."
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)Pretty it up with a parable all you want, you're still trying to attribute the disgust we have for Grassley to Manning. That's the definition of the association fallacy.
ucrdem
(15,512 posts)"Guilt by association" isn't really relevant because no one is accusing Grassley of Manning's crimes. It's also a really bad translation.
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)Group A makes claim C.
Evil, evil Group B makes claim C.
Therefore, Group A agrees with evil, evil Group B.
So, again:
Some DUers support Bradley Manning.
Evil, evil Chuck Grassley supports Bradley Manning.
Therefore, some DUers are in league with Chuck Grassley.
Union Scribe
(7,099 posts)RetroLounge
(37,250 posts)RL
quinnox
(20,600 posts)The OP doesn't seem to be getting any back up.
MNBrewer
(8,462 posts)Note to you:
ucrdem
(15,512 posts)To my knowledge Levin didn't, and this thread is not about Levin.
MNBrewer
(8,462 posts)ucrdem
(15,512 posts)SMC22307
(8,088 posts)Post childish, manipulative bullshit, expect pushback.
Mojorabbit
(16,020 posts)MNBrewer
(8,462 posts)ucrdem
(15,512 posts)Aren't we?
MNBrewer
(8,462 posts)if it wasn't a good idea?
But go ahead, smear smear smear.
SMC22307
(8,088 posts)They're right on this:
"Anything we can do to uphold whistleblowers and their protection is the right thing to keep government responsible," said Grassley, who is famous for personally aiding whistleblowers in their battles against rule-breaking officials. "If you know laws are being violated and money's being misspent, you have a patriotic duty to report it."
ucrdem
(15,512 posts)I have no doubt that Senator Levin's reasons are entirely worthy, and I am equally confident that Grassley's motives, like Manning's, Snowden's, Greenwald's, and Assange's, are not.
functioning_cog
(294 posts)quinnox
(20,600 posts)Hmm, odd that you didn't highlight that part in bold.
It is a very good idea, hopefully it passes into law.
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)Autumn
(44,744 posts)NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)quinnox
(20,600 posts)If they are checking that fine news site out, there may be hope for them yet! (In other threads I have seen, RT.com was disparaged by the "usual suspects"
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)quinnox
(20,600 posts)Autumn
(44,744 posts)who the hell else can you got to?
ucrdem
(15,512 posts)It just says information of misconduct should be given to "Congress or a proper authority":
It is the duty of all persons in the service of the United States, as well as all other the inhabitants thereof, to give the earliest information to Congress or other proper authority of any misconduct, frauds or misdemeanors committed by any officers or persons in the service of these states, which may come to their knowledge, said the bill, resolved on July 30, 1778.
This raises the question of just what Manning thought he was doing, and why, and those questions don't have sympathy-inspiring answers.
Autumn
(44,744 posts)a Congress as dysfunctional as the one we have. It just doesn't work .