Wish I could just devote my time to reading several books now, John, but I can't squeeze it in....so will have to rely on both/several sides of issues and decide that way, then maybe pick one or two books as it gets closer to election 2006 and 2008. I do pass peruse several SI threads for that reason. No one could read that many newspapers, or books, or magazines, and there is enough variety and degrees of the political spectrum to at least see what is new...
Right now am heavy into doing some original research on an unsung large family group with lots of ties in the west and who are ultimately connected to several of the founders of this country. These folks settled and accomplished so much, I'm really surprised their stories haven't been told before, as a book in and of itself.
At first, didn't think I had a "pony in the race" and was a bit reluctant to get heavy into it...but something kept nudging me forward! Talking to another researcher today, and had a big AH HA....told her who I'd wish would write the book that must be written.... She said she got chills, and said quietly, "you are so right....he would be perfect for this project." So we'll see. Plus the 101 things I always get involved in, including a wedding for a son in a few weeks...
Longwinded, I know, but even though you and I don't agree on some things (Chomsky for instance, and probably not Ramsey Clark nor George Soros either <ggg>), I do appreciate your thoughts.
On the last note of mine >> mean knowledgeable in real 'boots on the ground' knowledge <<
... I should amend that to say that IF the people who are making policy and other decisions have actually had their boots on the ground by "signing on the dotted line, with their careers in jeporardy if they are wrong"..then of course they would count as "boots on the ground".....
We have WAY too many people in government at all sorts of levels who are there to collect a pay check, who make decisions, and who have absolutely no accountability. This is wrong IMO.
Bush or Clinton, or whatever person is President is supposedly responsible for all of the KAZILLION people in the Government AND their actions....(Look at the headlines S2 posts for instance..."Bush does this...Bush flubs that," etc etc)....
When we get right down to it, WHO is the person who actually did whatever it was???? THe President takes the fall for all the KAZILLION people working there, and most of those are the 9-5'ers with no accountability.
SO IF they work for the Government, as Clarke did, then they should be responsible for what they do (or DON'T do) or say.... just as much as the President and his cabinet, etc.
Clarke was in the Clinton Adm, at a high enough level, and should have had more than a little inkling that there was trouble brewing, rather than waiting till 9-11 to say..."oops" |
