I wondered after reading Marilyn's post
Quote:
"I wondered just the other day if a President, after being elected, decided he (or she in the future) didn't like it and could give a 2 week notice, and look for another "job"?

Can the President just quit?"

so I looked it up. I couldn't find any sources but I was reminded that Nixon actually quit after being impeached. And on yahoo answers they state that yes he can resign and the VP would become President.
I can't imagine a President would quit unless he was impeached and even then it's not a given.
I think it's ridiculous for anyone to think a President should/would quit for lying. The very nature of the job involves a great deal of lying or withholding information at the very least. There is so much going on behind the scenes that we have no clue about and probably won't ever. However part of my spiritual belief is that once we die and go to the afterlife that all the great secrets of life will be revealed to us. I believe we'll find out everything from how the world was made to our parents' lives before we came along to what happened to those socks (and keys and that one favorite slipper) that vanished to what our loved ones were thinking and feeling at specific times in their lives.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I think it would depend on what kind of lie they told, and the reason for it.

There are misleading statements and half truths that are necessary for our security. Those I'm okay with. I've actually believed that OBL has either been dead or his whereabouts known to us since right after we invaded Afghanistan, but that we can develop strategies better of everyone thinks we're clueless.

Self-serving lies are apt to be a different matter, though, IMHO. In Nixon's case, he was lying to cover up a burglary that was committed on his behalf. Not okay.

In Clinton's case, he was lying to save himself from embarrassment. I can absolutely understand wanting to avoid the scandal and the ensuing family problems, but was really troubled at the lengths to which he was willing to go to keep from just coming clean. It made me think he could easily be blackmailed. In the course of that cover-up, he arranged for a job for ML in the Pentagon for which she didn't seem all that qualified, etc., which is, IMHO, an abuse of power at the expense of the taxpayers. In other words, he was willing to use and abuse the people's assets to cover his personal assets, and that does not speak well of his character.

Political spin is also a form of lying, but I guess that's to be expected. Everyone wants to put their position in the best light possible, and it's critical that those representing another POV care enough to debunk them. When you spin, you risk being called on a lie and losing credibility.

I can't imagine anyone quitting once they made it to the oval office because the job looked too difficult, but I guess stranger things have happened!

Good point I actually meant the types of lies that are necessary or deemed necessary for our security. I don't think someone who tells self serving lies is the kind of person I want anywhere in our government however here we are burdened with a whole herd of them.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Oh, I don't think the President should quit.....I just wondered if he could.

I imagine that there are times that the job is overwhelming--to say the least--and a person might just wake up and decide they didn't want to do it anymore! Highly improbable, just one of those "hmmmmm...what if?" things that pops into your head!

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I think it's like the Mafia (which actually doesn't exist lol) once you're in, you're in until they relieve you of your life, unless you do something so stupid (like Watergate for example) that even the crooks can't back you up anymore!

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I don't want to derail this topic but I wanted to add something from yesterday (because we had a big ice storm my internet was down all day yesterday). Pres. Bush was in office not even 8 months when 911 happened. I think he handled the crisis extremely well considering we had not had an attack of that scale before. He kept us safe for 8 years after that. Since 911, knowing we can be attacked on our own soil, everyone is aware of the threat. We really didn't think that much about terrorism here before then. I don't think Pres. Bush deserves any blame for 911. Had in been in office several years I'd rethink my opinion. I don't understand why there isn't a huge uproar concerning the failed Christmas attempt. ANY president after 911 has to have our safety and terrorist threats at the top of the list.

I think we are so overwhelmed by everything going on in Washington, DC right now that we just shake our heads and think "it figures". I wasn't surprised at the Christmas attempt. As usual the steps being taken for airline security are mostly to make us think they are doing something to prevent these attacks when in reality everything is just an inconvenience to regular law abiding people. Has even one true potential terrorist been stopped? Or is it just small children and Joan Rivers?

Mikey Hicks, 8, Can’t Get Off U.S. Terror Watch List - NYTimes.com

Joan Rivers, a.k.a. Joan Rosenberg, a.k.a. Potential Terrorist -- Daily Intel

Does anyone really feel safe to fly? I am eager to hear from those of you who have flown lately or who fly regularly.


I am not a flier I would rather drive and I don't go anywhere that I couldn't drive to although for my job I will potentially be doing some flying this year which will be interesting.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

As an add-on to what KTS just said...

I don't have a firm grasp on how an administration is 'built'. It seems that both Clinton and Bush, to a large extent, relied on people known to them from 'back home.' Sometimes this seems to serve them well. Karen Hughes, for instance, seemed extremely competent. I think Rove was, as well, but something about his communication style wasn't as slick as perhaps necessary for a national audience. What Bush had in his favor was a father with a political history, and that gave him connections with savvy insiders that Clinton simply didn't have. When I think of Joslyn Elders all I can do is shake my head and laugh.

I think Palin would have had similar handicaps. I realize she wasn't running for President, and I really like her... but I also know that her connections with people with a lot of history and insider capabilities didn't run very deep. I think it's refreshing to have someone who has lived in the real world, having had to live with the laws Washington doles out, enter the law-making, law-enforcing arena. They have a perspective no lifelong politician can ever, ever have....

And yet, they don't have the insight regarding who to call when a multi-national crisis occurs. They don't always appreciate long-standing protocol, or even know what it is.

I know the White House has permanent staff that is there to ensure some continuity, but it boggles my mind how a 'team' gets assembled.

Obama had some connections in his favor. Personally, I didn't trust them any farther than I could throw them, but he had 'buddies' thanks to his short tenure in congress who could at least steer him regarding the positions he would need to fill, etc.

It's just such a huge, huge machine - one the founders never envisioned or intended, IMHO.

I flew just last week.

I am a 40-something white female who had to voluntarily surrender for destruction my almost-empty 6-oz tube of Crest that accidentally got left in my carry-on.

I was seated by a 20-something darker-skinned, Middle Eastern-looking woman who whipped out a brand new 6-oz tube of Avon hand lotion and slathered it up and down her arms.

I was flying from the middle of the country to the east coast and back again. I saw several people being wanded and patted down. They do make you take off your shoes and send them through the x-ray machine.

What I always wonder about is 'parts'. One person might not be taking on anything significant, but a group of individuals each taking on 'parts' of things and hiding them in the compartments in the back of the seat on successive flights could equal a weapon.

If they knew your alias was "wowitsdark" you'd most likely be permanently banned. lol

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Shortly after 9/11 I flew from Detroit to Tampa. The TSA was just randomly, at least it seemed random, picking people to either go through their luggage, pull out of line to pat down etc. Here I am, a blonde 30 something woman, and I got the whole shebang!! But there was a 20 something man in line with me who was obviously of Middle Eastern descent. He was basically ignored.

So, I watch him. I wasn't terrified, but curious as to what he was doing. He was acting nervous, had a company tag on of some sort, and was only carrying a note book of some sort. She looked very suspicious to me but was completely ignored by airport personel. Well, he ended up being seated across from me on the plane, so I got to watch him. I'm sure I wasn't too obvious....lol. He behaved strangely the entire time. I'm sure it could have been because he knew what ppl may have been thinking. I finally concluded he was probably just starting a new job and was nervous because of that. He really seemed like a nice young man. And I'm still here, so he obviously wasn't a terrorist.

I said all of that to say that that day HE should have been the one being checked out. Not me. Let's face it, it is entirely possible that there was a woman just like me in line to get on that plane with the terrorist at Christmas, and she was the one being patted down and her luggage being ransacked. And this time, he was a terrorist. It is time we put people's feelings aside......if you are innocent, what's the big deal!!

sorry, I know this is not really on topic...

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Melissa

LOL - that's a result of me trying several usernames, being told they were taken, looking up and out the window, and realizing it was later than I than I thought. "Wow!" I said to myself. "It's dark!"

Hmmmm.... wowitsdark? Bet that's not taken! lol

wowitsdark...funny we were telling a similar story at the same time...lol

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Melissa

We were on vacation last week and took a tour in Mexico. As we were about to leave on our tour, we could get our photo taken with a guy in a sombrero. He was from India, and was saying, "Come get your picture taken with a fake Mexican!" lol

Bush was warned every single week about AlQaeda and did absolutely nothing. The PDA entitled "Bin Laden determined to strike in US" was written a little more than a month before 9/11. Considered so important and considering a strike imminent, an agent flew to Crawford to personally brief Bush. The agent was dismissed. I don't know that we could have stopped those attacks. We should have tried.

This information does not make me feel safe. After 9/11, we had several anthrax attacks. We also had the shoe bomber, Richard Reid.

As far as the terrorist watch list goes, whatever system they use for name recognition is odd and targets its share of innocents. Sen. Kennedy was on it but I think that that was deliberate.

I would feel better if the TSA had a chairman, but it's very important to Sen. DeMint that Americans go unprotected for very petty political reasons.

On the ther hand, Obama is supposed to turn the economy around in less than a year.

A President can quit if he chooses. Vice presidents have done so. Some have quit due to the ailing health of a loved one.

Nixon was never impeached. He received a pardon in exchange for his resignation.

Sorry my mistake.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

It's easy to use hindsight and say that memo was THE memo to check out immediately. I'm sure they gets tons of intel all the time. How do you weed out the really legitimate ones and if there are no details as to how they will attack what do you do then? I just wouldn't blame a pres in office that short of time period with something like this that hadn't happened before. But that just mho.

OH and I guess you think Clinton wasnt warned about Osama or AlQaeda, the military under Clinton had Osama in their scope and they callled off the sniper....We were attacked at least three times under Clinton and for 8 years he did nothing, had he maybe 911 would have never happened..you want to blame a man in office 8 months for the biggest terrorist attack in US history but what blame goes to the man that had held the office for 8 years, common since tells you he knew much more and when we were attacked he did NOTHING!!!!!!

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"It isn't that liberals are ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so."
- Ronald Reagan

My point is this: if something happens on your "watch" it's your responsibility.
It's kind of like when I worked as an EMT--we picked up some pretty sick or injured people. Our goal was not necessarily to save their life, but to keep them breathing until we could pass them off to the hospital. Because if someone died in the back of the ambulance it meant we had a lot of paperwork to fill out. Doesn't make it right, doesn't make it fair--it just is a statement of fact.

I think not enough was done by Bush's administration in the beginning--he was too busy relishing his victory. I don't think Obama has done much better in the beginning---he's too busy relishing his victory! I don't remember Clinton's or Bush 1's start of office....but I'm sure it was the same for them.
I am a cynic. I am jaded. I am suspicious. I don't think out government has always been looking out for our best interests (the common folk).

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I have it from at least two members of the military that were in Iraq for the first skirmish (under Bush 1) that they were inexpicably called off of the city where they knew Sadam Hussein was. The troops pulled up, and didn't attack....

Blame can be spread to everyone. Your unabashed hatred and contempt for Clinton is sad, because I don't think you look at the whole picture.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

To Kvmj, thanks so much for your comments I sincerely and dearly appreciate them. I firmly stand behind your comments 100 percent all the way. But some here still feel we are safe because of the ex President Bush we are not. The 9/11 attacks happened right here in my city New York City, they were not caused by the Iraqi nation and still cannot understand how people feel it was justified to enter into a war where we literally had no business. Again mentioning so many times over and over, this war has cause our country billions of dollars and will continue to do so. Also the money issue is quite a large issue, however all those innocent lost of lives here and aboard. General Colin Powell warned ex President Bush you enter into this war, you inherit and you will own it. And Kvmj why do so many people still think that our New President Barack Obama not osama could perform miracles with the mess the Bush and his administration left in his lap.. Peace. Catherine

Nobody is expecting miracles. He's just so smitten with himself, he can't seem to focus. It looks like this last election may have helped him refocus. I certainly hope so.

you are so extreme Catherine.

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Melissa

Extreme how Melissa kindly tell me. If you mean I am extreme in my thoughts and beliefs about our ecomony and politics and being proud to be a left winged liberal democrat I am extreme and have every right to be. I know the truth yet not one single Republican can put one single item of blame on ex president Bush.I never expected Obama to perform miracles only God does that, however the conservatives do think that Obama should have done so already whille they and me and all Americans gave Bush 8 years , Obama has one year under his belt and honestly even if he did solve all our problems someone would still find fault with him. I read in my paper the other day, that should President Obama will help with so much of our money for the Haitian people because they are black like him . This comment came from someone living here in New York and totally racist. So again Melissa how am I so extreme????. Peace. Catherine

By extreme I mean that there is no middle ground with you. It's been said by many of us Republicans over and over that in no way do we love, love love Bush or hate, hate, hate Obama.

It's never been said that Bush was innocent, that he did everything right.

You said "I know the truth but not one single Republican can put one single item of blame on ex president Bush"

a. Which "truth" are you talking about??
b. the rest of the statement is extreme. point made.

You said "I never expected Obama to perform miracles" when in the above post you had accused others of expecting miracles. I don't think anyone expected miracles. Mostly ppl are concerned that his focus and that of his cronies is not in the right place.
The conservatives have not expected miracles of Obama. Another extreme comment.

I completely understand, and have stated before that when Obama entered office things in this country were difficult. I just am realistic enough to realize that not EVERYTHING was Bush's fault. Another extreme thought.

So Catherine, what exactly has Obama done in his first year??

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Melissa

Clinton called them off because to strike would have caused civilian casualies. There was no sniper. I respect that. It's obvious to me that Bush never did concern himself with who he killed or who got killed.

The fact that Bush did absolutely nothing after being warned on a weekly basis is what he's guilty of. Bush never even tried. Even after an agent goes all the way to Crawford, Bush says, "Ok. You've covered your a**. You can go now."

Bush never lifted a finger.

Wow ladies.....where do you get all your information? You all are posting quotes and information that I have never heard before!

Books for me. The 911 report is a good place to start.

uNREAL....You expect Bush to have prevented 9/11 in 8 months, yet Clinton couldnt prevent it in 8 YEARS!!! Take off your rose colored glasses!!!

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"It isn't that liberals are ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so."
- Ronald Reagan

The libs blame Bush for EVERYTHING!!! I think they always will..... Besides Bill Clinton was too busy with his interns........

Kathy is on a roll tonight. lol

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Melissa

*sigh*
I'm probably the most liberal person you could know.
I don't think that Fmr. President Bush is to blame for everything. There is some pretty convincing evidence to indicate that he and his cronies didn't do enough, didn't take the threat seriously, thought they were invincible.

And, obviously, none of Bush's supporters understand that Clinton could multi-task! I'm relatively sure that Clinton was capable of getting his jollies while making decisions! *wink*

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Thanks Marilyn.....now Clinton's face is on Scott Brown's body. (see headline thread re: Cosmo photo)

AND I have a picture of Monica and Clinton with him on the phone conducting Presidential business....

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Melissa

Don't forget his cigar lol and I like Clinton just for the record. Every single person I know was doing better financially when he was in office and you can say what you want about him just remember he had the national debt lower than anyone else. When Bush took over it skyrocketed to the second highest in history, the highest being now.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

With all due respect, I would not take this as "truth". We all know somebody who knows somebody who said somebody else said, and so on and so forth. Unless these two people you know were in command, I would not rely on their information. Again, no disrespect intended. I can't really elaborate much more than that, but I think you know what I mean.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I have flown several times in the past 7-8 years. April 2002, flew to Hawaii..... in LAX, my DD and I were pulled aside for the "full screening" - she was about 7 I think?? And what raised suspicion for her was that she was carrying a Cinderella purse full of pennies. LOL. I was pregnant at that time, and yes, I guess that "bump" could have been a bomb. LOL. Then, as we were boarding the plane, the whole family was pulled aside for a "full screening". Made me feel safer, at the time.

Flew to DC in 2004. The last 30 mins. of the flight NO ONE could get up from their seats and the window shades had to be UP. Didn't make me feel more or less safe.

I have always thought of someone putting a bomb in their luggage, and the plane blowing up, or the plane crashing, any number of things.

The most recent flight was around XMAS. This is the flight that has me feeling VERY unsafe. I checked our bags and we headed up to security. We made it thru fine, they searched one of my carry on bags....I had bought one of those candle warmer crocks and it was in there. They took it out, and swabbed it with something. NO clue what that was for. Then, we were sent on our way. Was feeling fine....... HOWEVER, when we got to our final destination, and retrieved our luggage, I discovered things had been stolen from our luggage. I had heard of this happening, but, didn't really give it much thought.

I did a lot of research about this (theft from luggage) and what I found is this: there are SO MANY people handling our luggage, any number of people can be going into it. If their taking things out, what's to say they can't/won't put things in??? If people are stealing from your luggage (TSA/Baggage handlers, etc), and selling your stuff for a buck..... what's to say they can't be bribed for the right amount of money, to put something IN your luggage??? It can happen, and I won't be surprised when it does. They need constant surveilance/recording of ALL baggage areas, and something needs to be done about surveillance of the baggage area inside the airplane. Baggage handlers are up there, usually alone, handling the luggage.

Do I feel safe flying?? HELL NO!!!! TSA is a JOKE, all of it is. It's a big Government waste of money to make people feel good. I will and do still fly, as sometimes, it can not be avoided.

Ex-TSA worker admits stealing from luggage at Newark Liberty International Airport | New Jersey Real-Time News - - NJ.com

TSA Baggage Screeners Exposed - CBS Evening News - CBS News

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

aia, that is a very interesting observation - that someone could put something IN your bag. I don't fly often, but try to be on an even keel about it. I can't control being on a plane that perhaps is a target, so I can't really worry about it.

I do think our "rights" are eroding and all we do is throw money at something to make ourselves feel better. I wonder how many jobs have been created by the TSA / Homeland Security resultant of this? I believe these are federal jobs so we also have to think good benefits and retirement in the future as expenses.

While I couldn't work a job that amounts to standing around, just look at all the TSA people standing around in the airport. Yes, I know.....if something were to happen, I'd be happy to have all those people around. However, I wonder about their training and physical ability, as in ...would / could they act in a unified manner and handle a crisis?

dl

That's why most "veteran" fliers suggest only bringing carry on and not checking any bags. I have seen travel shows on tv where they say they FedEx their clothes and stuff to the hotel. I will be possibly doing some flying this year for my job and I am not looking forward to it. I will probably be looking around thinking people on my flight are terrorists and I may be so nervous that I am profiled. That is if my name is not already on the list for being critical of the Federal Government.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

The last time I flew I checked a bag. For one thing the airlines are charging for that now and the other mentioned issues are a pain. When I flew home, I swiped a smaller bag from my dd and just carried it on. I will try to never have to check again. Besides that, you don't even have to actually take it on the plane sometimes, you just set it in the cart just before you board. What's up with that??

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Melissa

I won't be checking bags again, either. Also, I would not do the cart thing you mentioned. As we were boarding the plane a few weeks ago, I saw this cart/shelf thing, and there were people's bags on it, totally unattended. Anyone could have touched them, swiped them, etc.

Making another thread about airline safety.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I know I'm wasting my time here (as so many have done before me) but the reason she thinks you're extreme is because you ARE extreme. You post things like you LOVE, LOVE, LOVE President Obama and that you wish you could marry him. That's extreme.

You also post many things like your above statement. How can you possibly "know the truth yet not one single Republican can put one single item of blame on ex president Bush" when it's not even the truth? Only people like you love any politician so much that they think they're perfect. Why do you assume that everyone holds the same fanatical viewpoint as you?

News flash, ILL. Everybody doesn't see it as Republicans vs Democrats and hate the opposing party and everybody in it. Most Republicans don't love, love, love their GOP politicians with the same fervor that you hate, hate, hate them. Most of us are able to see what we believe to be the good and the bad in all the candidates of all parties and vote accordingly. Just because you have no middle ground doesn't mean that others don't.

Only a fanatic would say something as ridiculous as that 'not one single Republican can put one single item of blame on ex President Bush". Do you know 'every single Republican' in the United States? Do you know what 'every single Republican' thinks? Of course not and it's your constant asinine statements like these that make people think you're extreme to the point of fanaticism. Of course your wanting to marry Obama posts because you love him so much it hurts didn't help, either. LOL.

And she is helping teach, shape, guide, mold, and mentor children. I wonder if the school is accredited?

dl

Yes deddlastt my school is accredited but thanks hon for asking and also thanks for letting everyone here what I do as my profession spread it more I am so proud of my job and simply love doing it, been doing it for 10 years plus so thanks keep spreading the word, no harm done I would love for all to know how much I love doing the job I do. Peace to Opal and deddlastt. Catherine