One of the most disgusting memes floating around right now is the Official Assertion that the U.S. Attorneys "serve at the pleasure of the President".
I can't be the only one who finds this statement to be disturbing, because "pleasure" is self-gratifying, and I hate to remind any NeoCons, GOP shills and other amoral types who continue to stand with this guy, but the President works for us. There is no "pleasure" in the job description.
This statement is, of course, embedded to hell and back with what we have all known: This Presidency is Imperial, and as such, anything and everything has been "at the pleasure of the president". Abu Ghraib, Water Boarding, the death of Habeas Corpus, wiretapping, No Child Left Behind, the failed War on Terror (War of Terror?)-all of these, and many more, have been "at the pleasure of the President". Apparently, everything he has done in these long years has been about "pleasure". I dare say Nero would be proud.
How long can this go on? When will we say enough? Because at the end of the day, it is the President, all of them including this one, who serves "at the pleasure of the people", and we're pissed.
Interesting, albeit disturbing, obverse construction that we are then all Masochistic here, that we continue to allow the Chief Sadist to reign supreme over us. In that sense, then, I share your sentiment that we're pissed . . . or that we should be . . . and am reminded of Paine of another ilk whom BushCo should read since it's apparent they don't govern with this sentiment:
ReplyDeleteIt requires but a very small glance of thought to perceive that although laws made in one generation often continue in force through succeeding generations, yet they continue to derive their force from the consent of the living. A law not repealed continues in force, not because it cannot be repealed, but because it is not repealed; and the non-repealing passes for consent.
-Thomas Paine, Rights of Man, 1792
You're right that it should not be "pleasure" but "behest" or . . . Pain.
Throw the Bastards Out!
Roaring...
"L'état, c'est moi" -- Louis XIV
ReplyDelete"I'm the Decider." -- George W. Bush
It took the reigns of two more rather decadent kings for the French to use Dr. Guillotine's invention. Of course, people aren't suffering enough here...yet...