Baetjer to Frist to Baetjer to Frist
Mar. 19th, 2003 03:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
arisbeTwo days ago Howard Baetjer, a Towson University economist, wrote an open letter to Princeton classmate Bill Frist, the Senate Majority Leader:
Bail Bush out, Bill. Bail us all out. Call your colleagues together, rescind officially any authority Congress has given to the executive branch to declare war on Iraq, and state publicly that the decision on declaring war with Iraq shall be made by Congress alone, as required by Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution.
Today Senator Frist replied:
At the end of the day, what divides us on this issue are not legalities and constitutional niceties. We differ on the best means to address the threat posed by Saddam Hussein — for surely there can be no doubt about the threat posed by this brutal dictator.
And Professor Baetjer responded:
There are two other key differences between us. The first concerns our view of the appropriate role of the American government. I believe that role is to protect the lives and property of people in the territory of the United States. You suggest that it includes
the liberation of the Iraqi people, the foundation of democratic government in Baghdad, and the spread of peace in the Middle East.
Where in the Constitution is the U.S. government directed to liberate other peoples and found governments?
The final difference between us is the crucial one. It’s a different view of the sheer capabilities of politicians and bureaucrats. You believe that American officials, once the destruction and bloodshed end, actually can accomplish “the liberation of the Iraqi people, the foundation of democratic government in Baghdad, and the spread of peace in the Middle East.”
I believe this is hubris...
The positions have been stated with clarity and intelligence. Click on the quotations above to see the complete documents, which may well find a place in the history of our era.
Bail Bush out, Bill. Bail us all out. Call your colleagues together, rescind officially any authority Congress has given to the executive branch to declare war on Iraq, and state publicly that the decision on declaring war with Iraq shall be made by Congress alone, as required by Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution.
Today Senator Frist replied:
At the end of the day, what divides us on this issue are not legalities and constitutional niceties. We differ on the best means to address the threat posed by Saddam Hussein — for surely there can be no doubt about the threat posed by this brutal dictator.
And Professor Baetjer responded:
There are two other key differences between us. The first concerns our view of the appropriate role of the American government. I believe that role is to protect the lives and property of people in the territory of the United States. You suggest that it includes
the liberation of the Iraqi people, the foundation of democratic government in Baghdad, and the spread of peace in the Middle East.
Where in the Constitution is the U.S. government directed to liberate other peoples and found governments?
The final difference between us is the crucial one. It’s a different view of the sheer capabilities of politicians and bureaucrats. You believe that American officials, once the destruction and bloodshed end, actually can accomplish “the liberation of the Iraqi people, the foundation of democratic government in Baghdad, and the spread of peace in the Middle East.”
I believe this is hubris...
The positions have been stated with clarity and intelligence. Click on the quotations above to see the complete documents, which may well find a place in the history of our era.
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no subject
Date: 2003-03-19 12:25 pm (UTC)An excellent question, if sixty to ninety years late.
A hundred forty?
Date: 2003-03-19 12:30 pm (UTC)Re: A hundred forty?
Date: 2003-03-19 12:31 pm (UTC)Me, I think the West Coast should secede from the Union. You guys can figure things out for yerselves.
West Coast
Date: 2003-03-19 12:54 pm (UTC)