Should People Who Just MAY Be Violating The Oaths Of Office They Swore To...

[WillyT]

Throw The Word "Patriot" Around?

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of ______________, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

And I am NOT just talking about the President. There seems to be gobs of Official America that skirt the oaths they have sworn to.

Just asking.



My definition and your definition of the word "Patriot" may be quite different. Yet it is the height of hubris to throw that accusation around without checking yourself first.

Remember... They called it the "PATRIOT ACT" for a reason.

[DJ13]

1. K&R

Must be an uncomfortable question for many here.

[WillyT]

2. Yep... It Is One Seriously Uncomfortable Question For All Of Us.

[DJ13]

3. Yep

(A sneaky kick...)

[WillyT]

4. Nice...

[dkf]

5. I was just citing this to a friend.

People don't understand that upholding the constitution is only stated duty of all government officials.

[DirkGently]

6. "Patriot" is a red flag. As is "traitor."

Neither are frequently used with any degree of honesty or nobility of purpose.

[KoKo]

7. It's a question that we keep asking...and it goes away..Thanks for Bringing it Back

from the GREAT PR/TALKING POINTS Memory HOLE...of DISINO...we get drawn into ...in lapses...when life takes over...and we get tired...too tired.

K&R!

[Mnemosyne]

8. I read, "They called it the 'PATRIOT ACT' for treason." We've been in opposite land for so, so long

it seems.

Thanks for keeping it going, Willy!

[Igel]

9. Pointless challenge--"checking yourself first."

Pretty much nobody considers himself (herself) a traitor.

Snowden's not just trying to hurt the US. He's a patriot! He's trying to make the US suffer so it'll see the errors of its ways, repent, acknowledge his Truth and go on to a Bright Shining Future.

Those who outed Plame were trying to do what was Best for America, showing that a former ambassador wasn't doing what was Best for America. However, that former ambassador published his op-ed piece as part of what he could do that was Best for America.

You have to be pretty cynical even of yourself to check yourself and not find a gleaming, proud patriot there. As you say, "my definition and your definition of the word 'patriot' may be quite different."

Perhaps Hiss didn't see himself as a patriot. Then again, I'd probably be surprised if he didn't. After all, how better to keep the US from engaging in hubris and using the Bomb to bully others and deny its own better angel than to make sure using the Bomb would produce very, very bad consequences. Rather like the good parents who don't want their daughters innoculated against the cervical cancer virus or trained to use contraceptive. If "corruption" is less risky then it's more attractive.