or Powell's or me• • •
"Mike and Jon, Jon and Mike—I've known them both for years, and, clearly, one of them is very funny. As for the other: truly one of the great hangers-on of our time."—Steve Bodow, head writer, The Daily Show
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"Who can really judge what's funny? If humor is a subjective medium, then can there be something that is really and truly hilarious? Me. This book."—Daniel Handler, author, Adverbs, and personal representative of Lemony Snicket
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"The good news: I thought Our Kampf was consistently hilarious. The bad news: I’m the guy who wrote Monkeybone."—Sam Hamm, screenwriter, Batman, Batman Returns, and Homecoming
July 13, 2007
Twenty Years Ago Today
Sam Husseini points out it was twenty years ago today that this strange exchange took place during the nationally televised Iran Contra hearings:
REP. BROOKS: Colonel North, in your work at the NSC, were you not assigned, at one time, to work on plans for the "continuity of government" in the event of a major disaster?SEN. INOUYE: I believe that question touches upon a highly sensitive and classified area so may I request that you not touch on that, sir?
REP. BROOKS: I was particularly concerned, Mr. Chairman, because I read in Miami papers, and several others, that there had been a plan developed by that same agency, a contingency plan in the event of emergency, that would suspend the American constitution. And I was deeply concerned about it and wondered if that was the area in which he had worked. I believe that it was and I wanted to get his confirmation.
SEN. INOUYE: May I most respectfully request that that matter not be touched upon at this stage. If we wish to get into this, I'm certain arrangements can be made for an executive session.
Sam goes on to explain how this turned him into a radical.
Posted at July 13, 2007 01:56 PM | TrackBackSaw it live, and although I was already a radical it had a similar effect on me. Have never trusted any of the 'leadership' since. How little has changed except for the worse. I was already at a low ebb today, probably shouldn't have read this.
Posted by: Nell at July 13, 2007 05:08 PMEver since the CONSTITUTION WAS SIGNED, different Administrations have tried to side step it, NOTHING NEW. Only difference is WE are able to swallow more HORSESHIT, without apparent discomfort, than precedeing generations.
Posted by: Mike Meyer at July 13, 2007 06:03 PMLt. Col. Oliver North, for example, helped draw up a controversial plan to suspend the Constitution in the event of a national crisis, such as nuclear war, violent and widespread internal dissent or national opposition to a U.S. military invasion abroad.
Looks like it's time to put those plans into effect.
Posted by: SteveB at July 13, 2007 06:14 PMI wonder, did the USSR ever conceive of something so foolish that it was sure to backfire? Seeing as the US was at that point the sole reason for the USSR, I doubt it. This country isn't run by radicals, it's run by idiots like Ollie North. Maybe the power class elite isn't as elite as I had once thought...
Posted by: at July 13, 2007 06:51 PMAH, the wealth and the power, and they ALWAYS go scot free with a medal. Sell weapons to the Iranians to fund the Contras???? NO problem, here's your own show when you retire, here, have a medal. And it's ALL over the money. These people will dive on a nickle like piggeons on a bag of popcorn. My PERSONAL belief is that if you could CUT OFF THE MONEY for, say, ONE HOUR, or even as much as ONE DAY, cut it off from ESPECIALLY CONGRESS, WE TAXPAYERS, would OWN CONGRESS and WE could make them perform THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY, as written in THE CONSTITUTION.
Posted by: Mike Meyer at July 15, 2007 03:04 PM
