You're talking about "King" George Bush of course? Amazing how so many of those fit him to a tee.

These words, these men, this revolutionary document will surely feel quite strange to most of the Wizbangers who daily submit, worship and defend our current incompetent, criminal "King George"

New Englanders had been fighting Britain since April 1775. The first motion in the Continental Congress for independence was made on June 4, 1776. After hard debate, the Congress voted unanimously, but secretly, for independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain on July 2 (see Lee Resolution). The Congress reworked the text of the Declaration until a little after eleven o'clock, July 4, when the twelve colonies voted for adoption and released a copy signed only by John Hancock, President of the Congress, to the printers. (The New York delegation abstained from both votes.) Philadelphia celebrated the Declaration with public readings and bonfires on July 8. Not until August 2 would a fair printing be signed by the members of the Congress, but even that was kept secret to protect the members from British reprisals.

John Adams, credited by Thomas Jefferson as the unofficial, tireless whip of the independence-minded, wrote to his wife Abigail on July 3, 1776:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

Adams was off by two days, however. Certainly, the vote on July 2 was the decisive act. But July 4, 1776 is the date on the Declaration itself. Jefferson's stirring prose, as edited by the Congress, was first adopted by the July 4th vote. It was also the first day Philadelphians heard the official news of independence from the Continental Congress, as opposed to rumors in the street about secret votes.

Rating: 4.2/5 (5 votes cast)

Some people would even vote against the Declaration of Independence. Sigh.

Thanks! We needed that!

"You're talking about "King" George Bush of course? Amazing how so many of those fit him to a tee."

Tell you what JFO, why don't you back that extraordinary claim up. Cut and paste the list of enumerated grievances, and under each one give a SPECIFIC example of our President emulating it.

If you are unclear on the concept, the enumerated grievances are those starting with the word "He" or "For."

I doubt that you can find examples for more than a tenth of them, and that most of those examples will be strained -- or one with the recent report that Iraqi police beheaded 20 suspected insurectionists.

The signatures of this document are without a doubt the bravest of the brave. They know they have signed their death warrant. The thought into this document was not done in a flippant or cavilier way, such as the libbies comments. Thanks JT, for this reminder of an actual profile in courage. ww

If I am not mistaken, most of these men did in fact 'loose their fortunes'.

How many would be willing to do that today?

taz, many today would be willing to TAKE your fortune (or prevent you from making one) in the name of [pick any of all]:
- universal Health "Care"
- Global Warming
- stem-cell research
- etc...

"We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good."
Hillary Clinton, June 28, 2004

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,"

Apparently, some are created more equal than others.

Rule of law!?! Strict constructionists feel free to construct your own version, for now.

What is truly sad is that most Americans have never read the entire Declaration, even those who have taken what passes for a Civics course in public high school. Thank you, Jay. This was a perfect way to start my Independence Day.

Important points in the Declaration:

1. Our rights are granted by our Creator----not by a King, a Constitution or a Bill of Rights. (Indeed, Amendment 9 of the Bill of Rights notes that amendments describing rights are not comprehensive.)
2. Our rights are unalienable
3. The powers of the government (or at least the JUST powers) are derived from the consent of the governed.
4. The purpose of creating a government is to protect our unalienable rights. ("That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men")
5. The people can withdraw their consent when the government fails to fulfill its purpose.

Semanticleo: "Apparently, some are created more equal than others."

Strict constructionists?? You mean like Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, who in an obvious homage to George Orwell wrote THIS in 1978:

"In order to get beyond racism, we must first take account of race. There is no other way. And in order to treat some persons equally, we must treat them differently."

Blackmun remains a HERO to the Left for his origami-like twisting and turning of our Constitution into whatever suited his purpose.

Justrand;

Let me ask you a question.

Which made the better decision; BushI who pardoned
Weinberger and Crew BEFORE all the dirty little secrets of Reagan's Arms and Coke Dealers negotiating with the Ayatollah became public knowledge, or GWB
acting only after the public was treated to the facts via the evidence, conviction and sentencing of Libby?

I'm sorry, Semanticleo, can remind me again what JUSTICE was obstructed by Libby??

The Special Prosecutor was appointed to find out who "leaked" the name of a non-covert desk-jockey at Langley. Long before he questioned Libby that very same Special Prosecutor had SOLVED THE CASE!! Armitage! Justice COULD have been served by proceeding down THAT lane.

Now then, back to your question...what was it again? And how does it apply to your earlier "Strict Constructionist" thing??

Now then, back to your question..

The question would be clear to an honest man.

Semanticleo...after careful research I have discovered that between Bush I and Bush II there was, gasp, ANOTHER PRESIDENT!! Klinton.

Please re-word your question to include his granting of Executive Clemency to the FALN bombers. Since the actions of Bush I involved a pardon the better comparison is between Libby forgetting details of a non-crime versus FALN bombers killing innocent people in a bank.

Justrand; You sound defensive. Conscience?

Leo, you're just full of questions, but rather evasive on answers. "The question would be clear to an honest man."

I don't recall you being named Grand Inquisitor around here, asking all the pointed, snide questions and exempt from any answers. When did that happen?

J.

Semanticleo...nope, just looking for something closer to apples-to-apples.

A PARDON is not the same as a COMMUTATION of sentence.

Of course, "Obstruction of Justice" in a non-crime situation is not the same as a bunch of FALN bombers slaughtering innocent people.

But at least both Presidential actions involved Executive Clemency.

Clear enough?

"Which made the better decision;"

Uh, Jay...the question was put to Justrand, but for his and your edification I have simplified it.

But feel free to feign confusion if you find the answer unkind to your position.

The Defarge Dems just can't get over their blood lust for Libby. And they never will.

"A PARDON is not the same as a COMMUTATION of sentence.'

Correct in terms of legal definitions, but I am talking about the result; escape from punishment.

You see apples come in varieties. Granny Smith and Pippin are still apples, not oranges.

ok, Semanticleo, here's the answer:

George W. Bush made a BETTER decision in commuting PART of Libby's sentence (the jail time), but leaving the appeal process in place to determine justice...than BILL KLINTON did in freeing the murderous FALN vermin so his wife could get the PR vote in New York.

now THAT should be clear enough even for you!!

"George W. Bush made a BETTER decision in commuting PART of Libby's sentence"

If the appeals process allows the conviction to stand
justice will have been served? Or is the only just outcome that Libby be exonerated and nominated for Sainthood?

Sheesh, can't a simple holiday remembrance stand without lefties trying to co-opt it to air their political grievances?

Why don't all you lefties go open a cold beverage of your choice, fire up the barbecue, toss something on it (it can veggie burgers, for all I care), sit back and enjoy a summer's day, hmmm?

If the appeals process allows the conviction to stand justice will have been served?

And if he had served a significant part of his sentence and an appeal overturned the conviction, then justice would have been served?

The judge made a lousy decision in not allowing him to remain out of prison during his appeals process.

He's not a violent criminal, he has no past record, he's not a flight risk.

Me thinks the judge believes he has a good chance of winning on appeal, and wants to make sure Libby is punished before that happens.

Semanticleo, you apparently (by your silence) feel that Saint William of Klinton made a BETTER decision freeing a pack of murderous vermin than Bush did in keeping a NON-VIOLENT man out of jail while his appeals went forward.

shame on you.

Just out of curiosity, do you fellas and ladies who run this Wizbang blog thingy know whether or not people are spamming the rating system? How can you get less than five stars on a public document like this, anyway (let alone 2.3 stars)?

How can you get less than five stars on a public document like this, anyway (let alone 2.3 stars)?

Because America-hating lefties just have to vent their spleen somewhere.

"The question would be clear to an honest man." - Semanticleo

Thus Semanticleo explains why he is struggling with concepts entailing Justice.

A belated echo of what ww said. These men signed the Declaration while the world's greatest Navy was anchored in New York harbor.
We are indeed fortunate that an assemblage of such brilliant, brave and persevering men occurred at this time in our history.

one more brave man...Rick Monday

mms://a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/library/open/features/monday_flag_350.wmv?media_type=wms&av_type=video&event_pk=486348&product=gen_video

oops...shoulda done the URL thing. Well...cut & paste into your browser and enjoy!

"The question would be clear to an honest man." - Semanticleo

Thus Semanticleo explains why he is struggling with concepts entailing Justice.

Good one, DJ! -LOL-