Republican Pantywaists
Well there are certain sections of New York, Major, that I wouldn't advise you to try to invade. Rick Blaine to Major Strasser in Casablanca.
New York City has always been the rugged face of America. The lady who stands in its bay says “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses . . . ” but on shore the locals attitude has always been, “If you’re tough enough to cut it here, your as welcome as the next guy.” We watched that spirit unfold on 9-11 and the days after. Americans were reminded of what we loved about this brash, tough city. So how is it that according to Republican leaders the city is now a bunch of wimps.
The Obama Administration has announced that some of the people responsible for 9-11 are going to be brought to the scene of the crime where justice will be meted out. There is only one red-blooded American reaction to this news, “It’s about time, bring it on.” It’s an out rage that the man who claims to have masterminded 9-11 has not been brought to justice and met his just desserts years ago. It’s been 8 years. We got the guy who planned the Pearl Harbor attack in about 2 years and he was protected by the entire Japanese Fleet.
This delay of justice came about because we were led by chicken hawks who had no faith in American justice and who believed Americans were as unwilling to take risks for their country as they were. So they set out to have shame trials in Cuba of all places, and the Supreme Court said no. So then it was back to the drawing board. The result - nothing.
Now finally justice will be done and the Republicans are crying like babies. “Oh we can’t bring them to New York, the terrorists might hurt us if we do that.” What! The terrorists now get to decide to suspend America’s system of justice? Are the toughest of Americans now such sheep that they are unwilling to take a reasonable risk for their country? If we had tried these folks in Cuba do we really think Cuba would have become their favorite target instead of New York? New York represents the life blood of America to our enemies and if they can hit New York they will. That means if they want to punish America for trying their fellow terrorists they will hit New York, if they can, regardless of where the trial is conducted.
Our young men and women are putting their lives on the line in Iraq and Afghanistan every day. The risks they take are real and substantial. We are their fellow citizens. This is our country and we had better be prepared to take reasonable risks to preserve its institutions. During World War II, German prisoners of war were brought to my state and several others. We couldn’t afford big supermax prisons either. The prisoners were kept inside wire fences. I am sure some of the locals expressed quiet concerns about their new neighbors. But taking risks for what you believe in has always been part of being a real American. Now the Republicans and even some of the Democrats in Congress whimper like beaten pups at the mention of housing prisoners in America.
Think about the view of American citizens that is behind this posturing. They see us as unwilling to do anything to protect our country. We won’t pay taxes to fight the war. We are too afraid to have trials of terrorist murders here. We are petrified about having these people in the same state as we are, even if they’re in a supermax. If these weasel livered politicians convince the terrorists that Americans are that soft we will truly be in a world of hurt.
Today’s pathetic Republican leaders think of Americans as the towns folk in High Noon. There are people coming to terrorize our town, but we are too afraid or self interested to do anything about it. These are the same Republicans who like to describe themselves as our tough fathers and the Democrats as our caring mothers. Well, my mother was one tough woman and she’d have called these Republicans for what they are: a bunch of pantywaists.
New York City has always been the rugged face of America. The lady who stands in its bay says “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses . . . ” but on shore the locals attitude has always been, “If you’re tough enough to cut it here, your as welcome as the next guy.” We watched that spirit unfold on 9-11 and the days after. Americans were reminded of what we loved about this brash, tough city. So how is it that according to Republican leaders the city is now a bunch of wimps.
The Obama Administration has announced that some of the people responsible for 9-11 are going to be brought to the scene of the crime where justice will be meted out. There is only one red-blooded American reaction to this news, “It’s about time, bring it on.” It’s an out rage that the man who claims to have masterminded 9-11 has not been brought to justice and met his just desserts years ago. It’s been 8 years. We got the guy who planned the Pearl Harbor attack in about 2 years and he was protected by the entire Japanese Fleet.
This delay of justice came about because we were led by chicken hawks who had no faith in American justice and who believed Americans were as unwilling to take risks for their country as they were. So they set out to have shame trials in Cuba of all places, and the Supreme Court said no. So then it was back to the drawing board. The result - nothing.
Now finally justice will be done and the Republicans are crying like babies. “Oh we can’t bring them to New York, the terrorists might hurt us if we do that.” What! The terrorists now get to decide to suspend America’s system of justice? Are the toughest of Americans now such sheep that they are unwilling to take a reasonable risk for their country? If we had tried these folks in Cuba do we really think Cuba would have become their favorite target instead of New York? New York represents the life blood of America to our enemies and if they can hit New York they will. That means if they want to punish America for trying their fellow terrorists they will hit New York, if they can, regardless of where the trial is conducted.
Our young men and women are putting their lives on the line in Iraq and Afghanistan every day. The risks they take are real and substantial. We are their fellow citizens. This is our country and we had better be prepared to take reasonable risks to preserve its institutions. During World War II, German prisoners of war were brought to my state and several others. We couldn’t afford big supermax prisons either. The prisoners were kept inside wire fences. I am sure some of the locals expressed quiet concerns about their new neighbors. But taking risks for what you believe in has always been part of being a real American. Now the Republicans and even some of the Democrats in Congress whimper like beaten pups at the mention of housing prisoners in America.
Think about the view of American citizens that is behind this posturing. They see us as unwilling to do anything to protect our country. We won’t pay taxes to fight the war. We are too afraid to have trials of terrorist murders here. We are petrified about having these people in the same state as we are, even if they’re in a supermax. If these weasel livered politicians convince the terrorists that Americans are that soft we will truly be in a world of hurt.
Today’s pathetic Republican leaders think of Americans as the towns folk in High Noon. There are people coming to terrorize our town, but we are too afraid or self interested to do anything about it. These are the same Republicans who like to describe themselves as our tough fathers and the Democrats as our caring mothers. Well, my mother was one tough woman and she’d have called these Republicans for what they are: a bunch of pantywaists.