Reply #38: So many...

[neoblues]

So many people willing to give George the benefit of the doubt (even one would be more than he deserves)... and after all the experiences we've had with him?

Sure, the story does sound "made up", but as others have said, it most certainly reflects his true attitude, and it really could have happened. Even if he didn't call it "just a piece of paper", it does represent the primary obstacle between him and most of his aims (especially the most subversive/heinous), not to mention his (stated) desire for absolute power. <"If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier... just so long as I'm the dictator" (Bush joked)(or was it a Freudian slip)>

I don't doubt for a minute that Bush would revoke the Constitution, or re-write it (extensively) to his liking, in a heartbeat--if he could. If he did re-write it, rest assured America would be closer to a theocracy, the President would have permanent and unlimited powers (and possibly have a lifetime term limit), and who knows what else--to the effect that "we, the people" would have fewer rights, protections, liberties and freedoms than ever. Even the least change would include making the definition of marriage explicitly between a man and a woman (and the Constitution seems an odd place to formalize that). Plus, why stop there... who needs the Bill of Rights?

Rewriting the Constitution--then he really would be a transitional President with an unprecedented legacy--oh, wait... I forgot, he already is one--having made the world truly hate and distrust us, having setback environmental protection laws untold decades, having secured public debt beyond imagination for generations to come, having increased the gap between rich and poor, and ensuring many in the middle class join the poor, having further damaged Education in America, having infamously invaded another sovereign nation without just cause and against international law (let's hope he's not set a new precedent), having rolled back citizen's rights and guarantees to proper due process, having blurred the separation of Church and State, having engaged America's military and intelligence organizations in using torture against international law, and who knows what else. If he could, he'd be happy to be known as the President who did away with Social Security (and simultaneously further enriching Wall Street by redirecting required employment taxes to investment firms).

Go ahead, believe he takes his job seriously and earnestly supports and defends the Constitution of the United States (if, and to the extent that, he does, I'm confident that he does so only because, and as far as, he is forced to for legal, political or other expediency (never for ideological reasons, however)). If it makes you feel better, you can even imagine that he "cares" about the average American citizen (well, we were speaking of delusions/fantasies). "Just a piece of paper", indeed (and one he'd be happy to have out of the way). It "sounds" just like him.