Frankly I think this is dumber than connecting the devaluation of human life with mass murder or characterizing American colleges as more permissive in their social standards than some parents may like. Democrat Implies Sept. 11 Administration Plot By Juliet Eilperin Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, April 12, 2002; Page A16 Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) is calling for an investigation into whether President Bush and other government officials had advance notice of terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 but did nothing to prevent them. She added that "persons close to this administration are poised to make huge profits off America's new war." In a recent interview with a Berkeley, Calif., radio station, McKinney said: "We know there were numerous warnings of the events to come on September 11th. . . . What did this administration know and when did it know it, about the events of September 11th? Who else knew, and why did they not warn the innocent people of New York who were needlessly murdered? . . . What do they have to hide?" McKinney declined to be interviewed yesterday, but she issued a statement saying: "I am not aware of any evidence showing that President Bush or members of his administration have personally profited from the attacks of 9-11. A complete investigation might reveal that to be the case." Bush spokesman Scott McLellan dismissed McKinney's comments. "The American people know the facts, and they dismiss such ludicrous, baseless views," he said. "The fact that she questions the president's legitimacy shows a partisan mind-set beyond all reason." In the radio conversation, McKinney delivered a stinging attack on the administration. In 2000, she charged, Bush forces "stole from America our most precious right of all, the right to free and fair elections." With the September attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania, McKinney said, "an administration of questionable legitimacy has been given unprecedented power." She suggested that the administration was serving the interests of a Washington-based investment firm, the Carlyle Group, which employs a number of high-ranking former government officials from both parties. Former president George H.W. Bush -- the current president's father -- is an adviser to the firm. McKinney said the war on terrorism has enriched Carlyle Group investors by enhancing the value of a military contractor partly owned by the firm. Carlyle Group spokesman Chris Ullman asked: "Did she say these things while standing on a grassy knoll in Roswell, New Mexico?" During her five terms in office, McKinney has often given voice to radical critiques of U.S. policy, especially in the Middle East. She defied the State Department to investigate assertions that international sanctions are brutalizing innocent Iraqis. With her comments concerning Sept. 11, McKinney, 47, seems to have tapped into a web of conspiracy theories circulating during the past six months among people who believe that the government is partially -- or entirely -- to blame for last year's attacks, which killed more than 3,000 people. "What is undeniable is that corporations close to the administration have directly benefited from the increased defense spending arising from the aftermath of September 11th," McKinney charged. "America's credibility, both with the world and with her own people, rests upon securing credible answers to these questions." None of McKinney's colleagues has embraced her allegations, but a few said they are familiar with the theories. "I've heard a number of people say it," said Rep. Melvin Watt (D-N.C.), who quickly added, "I can't say that it would be a widely held view" among lawmakers. Some lawmakers have a less charitable view of McKinney's penchant for publicity. Rep. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) said McKinney is simply trying to impress her constituents. "She's demonstrated at home an ability to win," he said, "and she's demonstrated in Washington a total lack of responsibility in her statements." Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), a friend of McKinney's, said the Georgia Democrat is adept at seizing on "red-meat" issues that resonate with her political base and have helped her fend off a series of GOP challengers. "She's not as random as people think," Kingston said. "People always want to hear a political conspiracy theory."
Yup, this is stupid. Doesn't make what Delay said any better. What I'm trying to figure out is how exactly teaching evolution in the classroom devalues human life. How exactly is that?
It isn't supposed to make what DeLay said any better, nor do I claim anywhere in my post that it does. I just said that personally, I think accusing the Bush Adminstration of complicity in the September 11th terrorist attacks is dumber than either of the Tom DeLay comments that the self-annointed right thinking posters on this BBS are falling all over themselves to condemn. How does teaching evolution devalue human life...? I don't agree that it does, but I can see the reason some might think so (thus, I don't consider it a "dumbass" statement): perhaps people are more likely to consider human life sacred (and therefore not something to be casually gunned down) if they believe it comes of God's divine grace than as a fluke of nature. I don't agree with that. But I hardly think it's as ridiculous an idea as it's made out to be.
"I am not aware of any evidence showing that President Bush or members of his administration have personally profited from the attacks of 9-11. A complete investigation might reveal that to be the case." There's absolutely no evidence, so we'd better investigate. The old, "Where there's no smoke, there could possibly be fire so we'd better look" theory. How do we know her friends didn't profit in some way from the terrorist attacks? We'd better appoint an independent council and start poking around her life, her friends and her finances. There's absolutely no evidence to support the idea that she or anyone she knows profited from the attacks, but a complete investigation might reveal that to be the case. For that matter, how do we know she's not a drug mule. We'd better give her a full body cavity search each time she enters the House Chamber just to be sure. I mean, there's no evidence to support such a contention, but........
I don't see that the statement DeLay made was as assanine as the reason he said it. It was clearly said as a way to cast blame in the direction of a practice to which he has long been opposed. Using the deaths of children as a platform for your own political rhetoric is, IMO, a dumbass thing to do. Besides, believing in evolution does not preclude you from spirituality or a relationship with God. There are even Christians who believe that evolution existed. What McKinney said is also incredibly stupid, but what a surprise that we have politicians doing and saying stupid things. She's just another one to add to the growing heap of politicians who spend more time with their shoes in their mouths than of the floor.
"She's not as random as people think," Kingston said. "People always want to hear a political conspiracy theory." Sadly, I think this part is often true. People often seem far more willing to believe in (often wacky) conspiracy theories than in reasonable explanations and true events.
I'm sure there was advanced warning, but like all of us before 9/11, who would have been seriously alarmed. I'm sure they didn't know exactly what was going to happen and whether or not it was a substantial or credible warning so there's know way to assume that they could have warned the people of New York. Secondly, duh!!!! Of course people in this administration and their cronies are poised to make profits from this war. This administration had been trying to get the Taliban to let them build a Pipeline accross Afghanistan for moving oil (acording to my main man Michael Moore), but talks broke down and it looked as if all hope was lost to get that pipeline... Until now! No Taliban=oil pipeline baby!!! (sarcastic) Also, for all the axis of evil and the "we're gonna git ya Saddam" talk, I find it strange that Haliburton, the oil company Dick Cheney was the CEO for, invested money in Iraq to help with oil production. Anybody out there who isn't already jaded, sorry, but world events actually are deeply influenced by oil, big business, and the GOP.
I'm not even going to touch the GOP thing... but Oski...when in history was the above NOT true?? the history of the world is colored by the scarcity of resources. This has ALWAYS been the case. Nations have gone to war over resources over and over and over again. Hell, Japan's entire history is colored by limited resources. Russia's is colored by the quest for a warm water port (to facilitate in bringing in resources). Today, oil is perhaps the most important resource we have (after water). It powers our entire economy. It powers the major economies of the entire world. Why is it evil to try to protect US interests that sustain our economy...that allow people like me to go to work each morning so I can provide for my family??? People talk about the US protection of oil interests like it's this new thing that has no parallels in history....or as if it's evil. I'm sorry, I just don't see it that way. As for the GOP...are you serious??? Ummmm...since the President of the United States is a Republican, I guess it's safe to say the GOP does influence world events. And I guess it's safe to say the Democrats influenced world events when the president (and his administration) were Democrats.
You realize this is the same lady who, after Rudy Giulliani turned down the Saudi Crown Prince's $12M donation to the victim's fund, said that she'd like to "help" him donate it to other causes in the U.S.
I did not know that. I had never heard of her before this story. Don't particularly care, I just think it's stupid to use the lack of evidence as a reason to call for an investigation. To me, there needs to be some evidence before the idea of an investigation is even broached.
She's out there, Kagy. It's like my stupid ass starting a thread titled "Grass=Green". I wonder if she knows that a plane didn't really crash into the pentagon :\
