AMERICAblog: Jimmy Carter refused entry into Zimbabwe
Indigo
· 1 year ago
That's a gutsy crowd of old folks, The Elders. Imagine if they stormed Salt Lake City in the name of social justice and equal rights for all. Well, it won't happen but imagine . . .
To be fair, so do all other presidents. But, you get to the heart of the matter. Also, the US routinely turns away starving Haitian refugees trying to come into the Miami area, but also routinely lets in white Cubans. There wouldn't be some political racism going on in Miami, would there?
Still, we're seeing third world countries being devastated by climate change, petty dictators and first world politics as well as AIDS and other diseases.
It makes me feel very small because while relatively a healthy poor person in the US, I at least have food and shelter. Even in the US, that may be what most people wind up with in the near future.
cosanostradamus
· 1 year ago
. Yeah. Well, Carter STARTED it!
And he deserves credit for going out on a limb to help the Haitian people when there was nothing to gain and everything to lose for him, personally, politically. Real change in Haiti would amount to "nation-building, " which, of course, is a Repukelickin' bugaboo. Would they oppose it if it were needed in NW Europe or some other mighty white area? Methinks not.
Any person who can look at this little girl and not feel motivated to help is simply not human. Yes, there are a lot of problems in this big, bad world. But a few helicopters would save a bunch of children, just 700 miles off our shores.
Helping others is the first step toward helping ourselves. Once we recognize and fight for the humanity of others, no one can deny our own humanity. If you are too poor to send money, send an email demanding aid to Haiti: Military airlifts of food & medicine. If you have the strength, organize a food drive in your community. If you don't care about Haiti, do it for the poor, homeless and malnourished in your own county. Make Thanksgiving something to be thankful for. .
AdrianBrowne
· 1 year ago
No . . . W has gone AWOL again -- this time while (nominally) serving as president.
George AWOL Bush
Older_Wiser
· 1 year ago
He's been in Peru at a "conference" but bet he slid down into Paraguay to survey his Bunkerland...
red_dwarf
· 1 year ago
If Bush goes to Paraguay it will be because the rest of the world might go after him for war crimes, but not us.
The logic for Obama to move forward and let unanswered crimes go without retribution lies in the argument that if Pelosi and Reid did nothing during the commitment of those crimes then they are co-conspirators as it were - the Dems are equally as guilty.
Why should Obama have to reach back and indict so many criminals? He wants to look forward. Personally I don't think America will ever regain her foothold as an outstanding model of Justice and Democracy - precisely because of people like Reid and Peolosi.
By not initiating Impeachment against Bush in 2006 Pelosi became a partner in crime. And her reward? She stays on. Obama may be trying to move forward but the crimes and lies of the past will be our ball and chain as we struggle into the future. As a country, we have lost our way.
cosanostradamus
· 1 year ago
. Good! Indict Pelosi & Reid, too! We need to get rid of those DINOs anyway. Let it be known that collaboration is a crime, too. .
red_dwarf
· 1 year ago
Bartcop was the one to bring the argument that I used above. That's why I like dropping by his site - he has a knack for getting it right. In this case, ole Bart hit the nail on the head. Reid and Pelosi were well aware of the crimes that were committed - and they were also aware that it was their constitutional duty to activate the only remedy given to us by our founding fathers to take out a criminal thug. By pissing on the Constitution, for political gain, makes Pelosi and Reid criminals. Removing a criminal from office is a CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY, not a choice. Therefore Obama should not have to reach back to indict these fascist rat bastards - because, if he did, he'd have to indict a slew of Democrats as well.
evan_la
· 1 year ago
Oh, now, that would have been unseemly. Nancy might have upset some of her friends. *gags*
red_dwarf
· 1 year ago
evan - *gags* is exactly what Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and the rest of our founding fathers would be doing if they were alive today to express themselves.
Let it be known that historians will recount Pelosi's statement that "...she thought..." it would not be a good time, etc. as pure unadultered BS. The Constitution does not rest on WHAT A SINGLE PERSON THINKS. It is a legal document - and Impeachment triggers (trigger is a legal term) WHEN A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED. See how simple it is? And we're just dips*** bloggers, not lawyers.
But we are awashed in BS. 24/7. Maybe someday we'll leave it behind, but I doubt it (it'll be a long long time in the future if it ever does happen) - maybe someday we can extract our "selfish" genes.
cosanostradamus
· 1 year ago
. It's the same argument against "truth & reconciliation" commissions all over the world: Don't stir up trouble, let the wounds heal, don't set a bad precedent, you could be next. F*ck that. If you committed high crimes, you need to swing high.
We're developing a banana-republican culture of official immunity from all consequences of any actions, no matter how foul. They say we don't want another Watergate: Well I do! Every time it's required. Otherwise, we'll end up "disappeared" by some future President. Bush came pretty close to that.
Then again, who knows what they'll find when they close Gitmo. That guy who admitted he sold Dubya coke? A witness to Mrs Dubya's murder of her ex-boyfriend? Some guy who shot "Girls Gone Wild" cell-phone video of Jenna?
Lock up Bush, Cheney, Reid & Pelosi. It's just the bipartisan thing to do. .
Sage24
· 1 year ago
It's great to see former Presidents, like Carter and Clinton, do so much for the rest of the world. Is it a coincidence, that it is mostly Democrats who after serving this country, seem to want to help the rest of the world?
Mbeki should be ashamed of himself. I cannot understand why he ignores the plight of those poor Zimbabwean people, whilst supporting Mugabe, a ruthless dictator, and not holding him accountable, for the horrible conditions in that country. He should put the welfare of his fellow Africans before his loyalty to Mugabe. If Mugabe's fellow African leaders don't hold the Mugabe regime responsible for what is happening in their neighborhood, then who should? It is sickening to hear Mugabe getting away with murder, and then keep blaming the "colonial powers" for the way he has plundered and raped that country. The people are suffering, while Mugabe and his thugs, live like kings.
tommytoonz
· 1 year ago
Certainly not a coincidence, it's bred into Democrats, to help your neighbor. Did Reagan do anything after he left office? No. Bush Sr.? No, not until Clinton jumped to help the tsunami victims BEFORE President Bush (Jr) did Bush Sr. even offer up to join Clinton
rik
· 1 year ago
Not at all in the same numbers, or in the same way, but some people are dying as a result of Bush's policies to coddle Wall Street - lack of money for health care and other survival needs, for example (as well as deaths from other Bush policies.)
Beyond that, it's great to see more attention focused on the urgent situation in Zimbawe (which is also needed for other African countries, too, assuming Africa itself is a continent and not a country :-) While I agree that "better late than never" often holds true, Kofi A. deserves much more condemnation for his inaction during his tenure at the UN re: Africa and many other issues.
ShirleyGoodnessanMercy
· 1 year ago
I will never forget how the Republicans demonized Jimmy Carter to the max before he was even inaugurated.
Zim?? Zim?????? Does anyone actually call Zimbabwe Zim????
RIPRAT
· 1 year ago
Honestly, the only thing that these wonderful old folks are coming here is to enjoy the free life Zim has to offer (NOTE: since they have Vitamin-M at their disposal)....i say go for it - why the hell not, Rhodes moved to the Southern Africa only to improve his health - only to realise how rich this place was and still is...R~I~P~R~A~T
mirth
· 1 year ago
I'm glad to see wide coverage of Zimbabwe's block of humanitarian aid.
I wish there was wide coverage of this block of humanitarian aid:
"Israel has pushed the Gaza Strip to the brink of a humanitarian crisis by cutting off the supply of most aid, choking off the flow of fuel for Gaza's only power plant and restricting the transfer of most supplies.
Beyond that, Israel is barring most diplomats, aid workers and international journalists from going into Gaza — an unprecedented and sweeping ban that's entering its third week."
Carter was denied entry there as well I believe. It amazes my that Carter is so thoroughly demonized by the same know-nothings swalling St. Ronnie's choad.
All Comments
Peanuts should be in Haiti. He still owes them.
Please help the little starving kids.
Thanks.
.
Still, we're seeing third world countries being devastated by climate change, petty dictators and first world politics as well as AIDS and other diseases.
It makes me feel very small because while relatively a healthy poor person in the US, I at least have food and shelter. Even in the US, that may be what most people wind up with in the near future.
Yeah. Well, Carter STARTED it!
And he deserves credit for going out on a limb to help the Haitian people when there was nothing to gain and everything to lose for him, personally, politically. Real change in Haiti would amount to "nation-building, " which, of course, is a Repukelickin' bugaboo. Would they oppose it if it were needed in NW Europe or some other mighty white area? Methinks not.
Any person who can look at this little girl and not feel motivated to help is simply not human. Yes, there are a lot of problems in this big, bad world. But a few helicopters would save a bunch of children, just 700 miles off our shores.
Helping others is the first step toward helping ourselves. Once we recognize and fight for the humanity of others, no one can deny our own humanity. If you are too poor to send money, send an email demanding aid to Haiti: Military airlifts of food & medicine. If you have the strength, organize a food drive in your community. If you don't care about Haiti, do it for the poor, homeless and malnourished in your own county. Make Thanksgiving something to be thankful for.
.
George AWOL Bush
The logic for Obama to move forward and let unanswered crimes go without retribution lies in the argument that if Pelosi and Reid did nothing during the commitment of those crimes then they are co-conspirators as it were - the Dems are equally as guilty.
Why should Obama have to reach back and indict so many criminals? He wants to look forward. Personally I don't think America will ever regain her foothold as an outstanding model of Justice and Democracy - precisely because of people like Reid and Peolosi.
By not initiating Impeachment against Bush in 2006 Pelosi became a partner in crime. And her reward? She stays on. Obama may be trying to move forward but the crimes and lies of the past will be our ball and chain as we struggle into the future. As a country, we have lost our way.
Good! Indict Pelosi & Reid, too! We need to get rid of those DINOs anyway. Let it be known that collaboration is a crime, too.
.
Let it be known that historians will recount Pelosi's statement that "...she thought..." it would not be a good time, etc. as pure unadultered BS. The Constitution does not rest on WHAT A SINGLE PERSON THINKS. It is a legal document - and Impeachment triggers (trigger is a legal term) WHEN A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED. See how simple it is? And we're just dips*** bloggers, not lawyers.
But we are awashed in BS. 24/7. Maybe someday we'll leave it behind, but I doubt it (it'll be a long long time in the future if it ever does happen) - maybe someday we can extract our "selfish" genes.
It's the same argument against "truth & reconciliation" commissions all over the world: Don't stir up trouble, let the wounds heal, don't set a bad precedent, you could be next. F*ck that. If you committed high crimes, you need to swing high.
We're developing a banana-republican culture of official immunity from all consequences of any actions, no matter how foul. They say we don't want another Watergate: Well I do! Every time it's required. Otherwise, we'll end up "disappeared" by some future President. Bush came pretty close to that.
Then again, who knows what they'll find when they close Gitmo. That guy who admitted he sold Dubya coke? A witness to Mrs Dubya's murder of her ex-boyfriend? Some guy who shot "Girls Gone Wild" cell-phone video of Jenna?
Lock up Bush, Cheney, Reid & Pelosi. It's just the bipartisan thing to do.
.
Mbeki should be ashamed of himself. I cannot understand why he ignores the plight of those poor Zimbabwean people, whilst supporting Mugabe, a ruthless dictator, and not holding him accountable, for the horrible conditions in that country. He should put the welfare of his fellow Africans before his loyalty to Mugabe. If Mugabe's fellow African leaders don't hold the Mugabe regime responsible for what is happening in their neighborhood, then who should? It is sickening to hear Mugabe getting away with murder, and then keep blaming the "colonial powers" for the way he has plundered and raped that country. The people are suffering, while Mugabe and his thugs, live like kings.
Beyond that, it's great to see more attention focused on the urgent situation in Zimbawe (which is also needed for other African countries, too, assuming Africa itself is a continent and not a country :-) While I agree that "better late than never" often holds true, Kofi A. deserves much more condemnation for his inaction during his tenure at the UN re: Africa and many other issues.
Zim?? Zim?????? Does anyone actually call Zimbabwe Zim????
I wish there was wide coverage of this block of humanitarian aid:
"Israel has pushed the Gaza Strip to the brink of a humanitarian crisis by cutting off the supply of most aid, choking off the flow of fuel for Gaza's only power plant and restricting the transfer of most supplies.
Beyond that, Israel is barring most diplomats, aid workers and international journalists from going into Gaza — an unprecedented and sweeping ban that's entering its third week."
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/56299.html