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A Proposal

  • 2nd Jul, 2007 at 10:23 PM
Patriotic Pretzel
Marcus Porcius Cato (the Elder) ended every speech he gave in the Roman Senate with exactly the same words.

It didn't matter if he was speaking on domestic policy, foreign policy, monetary policy, military policy, or the delivery of mail to Londinium during the autumn; every speech ended with the same sentence:

Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

"...and therefore, I believe that Carthage must be destroyed." Now whether they were initially in the pro- or anti-Carthaginian camps, I have to believe that the simple and constant repetition of the phrase subconsciously led a great many Senators to share the opinion over time.

Three Punic wars later, no Carthage.

Given the current political situation in the United States, I should like to make a proposal. First, let me state baldly what I believe the situation to be, so perhaps the proposal will not seem quite so outlandish.

The President and Vice President of the United States have repeatedly and knowingly violated the laws of the United States, international agreements to which the United States is a party, and the Constitution of the United States.

They or their offices have refused to comply with both court orders and subpoenas issued by the Congress of the United States.

They have, in their dealings with the Congress, the press, and the citizens of the United States exhibited a breathtaking contempt for the truth, the rights of citizens, or their obligations under the law.

Through it all the party of opposition has scarcely opposed at all. And now that they have at last a majority in both Houses of Congress, now that they have, in fact, finally issued subpoenas, it seems obvious that the President and Vice President of the United States are dropping even the pretense of operating under our Constitution.

And therefore, my friends, it is up to us to spur our representatives in Congress to the deed they will not contemplate. It is up to us to place it in the public discourse. Not through shrill screeds (like this one, I'm afraid), but by the same message, placed everywhere we can place it, every time we can place it:

I believe the President and Vice President must be impeached.

You can even link back to here, if you like.

On July 4, I shall publish in these pages my annual gloss on the Declaration of Independence, which will outline the details of some of these outrages. I confess, however, that I haven't been keeping up the way I once did, so I encourage everyone to take a look and see for themselves where the current administration has done damage to this founding document of our republic.

You might try looking at the Constitution as well, and try to square it with the Unitary Executive. It might prove persuasive.

And therefore, I believe the President and Vice President must be impeached.

Arcadia Est Imperare Orbi Universo

Comments

( 11 Oratia — Sermo volo )
[info]littledrow wrote:
3rd Jul, 2007 10:46 (UTC)
That's interesting! And I'm not trying to be cheeky when I say it reminds me of Inigo Montoya. Can't help but wonder if Marcus Porcius Cato ever had someone get irritated and say "Stop saying that!". (The last bit was cheeky. It's early. I'm not entirely awake yet.)

Seriously, though. It works for advertising and marketing. The strategy is proven.


You want to give me a lot of money.
[info]jfs wrote:
3rd Jul, 2007 12:38 (UTC)
[info]nyarbaggytep wrote:
3rd Jul, 2007 16:13 (UTC)
*applauds*

And therefore, I believe the President and Vice President must be impeached.
[info]probablyscotty wrote:
3rd Jul, 2007 19:54 (UTC)
I believe it was, in fact, The Presidents of the USA who said "gonna move into the country, and eat a lot of peaches".

Which may or may not be relevant. ;-)
[info]gislebertus wrote:
4th Jul, 2007 00:57 (UTC)
I'd don't know if I'd go to Cato as a good example in this particular case. After all, he ended up getting the Senate to break the sacred word of treaty and attack Carthage unprovoked to begin the Third Punic War, which many later Romans saw as perhaps an impious sacrilege that brought down the wrath of the gods on the Republic less than a century later.

When you think about it, the president has something in common with Cato.
[info]thomryng wrote:
4th Jul, 2007 02:05 (UTC)
I'm not condoning Cato's politics or morals, just his methods - in this one particular case. :)

So you contend that the invasion of Iraq is going to bring about the fall of the Republic? Can't say I particularly disagree.

I sincerely hope we're wrong.
[info]rhonan wrote:
4th Jul, 2007 06:07 (UTC)
I don't know, he may be starting to be our best asset in the fight for solid Democratic control.
[info]badhairs wrote:
5th Jul, 2007 07:40 (UTC)
Well, the "Big Lie" theory works, so why not the "Big Truth?" Hooray for Memonics! (However it happens to be spelled.)
And that IS why I believe the President and Vice President should be impeached. Along with the Secretary of State, and the Attourney General...

"I've got them on my list,
I've got them on my list,
and they never would be missed,
they never
would be
missed"

(Which I also imagine Cheney singing merrily to Gonzales as the cabinet choruses...)
[info]jadedusoliel wrote:
5th Jul, 2007 17:16 (UTC)
Don't forget your user page.
I followed you from my husband's journal (SaAmun), and when went to add you to my friend's list I noticed you did not have the statement on your user profile. I'd like to recommend that you add it to your profile as well as to the end of your posts.

And therefore, I believe the President and Vice President must be impeached. Good night, and good luck.
[info]jadedusoliel wrote:
5th Jul, 2007 17:28 (UTC)
Sizing
Also it looks like the statement that you link back to this post from is smaller than the rest of the type. You might want to resize that because it makes the statement easy to miss.

And therefore, I believe the President and Vice President must be impeached. Good night, and good luck.
[info]thomryng wrote:
5th Jul, 2007 17:38 (UTC)
Re: Don't forget your user page.
Ooh! Good idea. Thanks.
( 11 Oratia — Sermo volo )