The Politics of Dancing

Boston Herald, Friday Sept. 14 "U.S. Rep. Martin T. Meehan (D-Lowell) scoffed at reports Air Force One was targeted by terrorists - the reason Bush aides have put forth to explain why the president delayed his return to Washington after Tuesday's attack on the Pentagon. `I don't buy the notion Air Force One was a target,' said Meehan. `That's just PR. That's just spin.'"

Mr. Meehan was criticized heavily for breaking ranks and making this statement. But maybe there is more going on here than meets the eye. Afterall, wasn't Meehan right? There were some things that no one noticed going on in the American political structure. Sometimes it's easiest to see what doesn't get covered.

On Sept. 12 the white house released press saying that "we have specific and credible information that the White House and Air Force One were also intended targets of these attacks." At the time it seemed a little odd, I wondered where they got that idea. Four planes: WTC1, WTC2, pentagon, ? (crashed, thankfully before completing it's mission). During the briefing Ari Fleischer went on to say it was real and credible information. You can't really say the press release was 'in the heat of the moment' because it was the next day after things had begun to become more clear. But why haven't we heard anything more about that real and credible information? Look around and see if you find any reference to the white house having been a target after say... Sept. 14.

Here is where the other shoe drops. Why was the white house under attack? Because if someone is attacking the president, congress, or supreme court there is undisputably a clear and present danger to national security. There are a lot of things a president can do in a situation like that and still be *somewhat* legally defensible even without congressional consent.

Sept. 14 "The Senate also gave its official consent for the president to use force against those responsible for the attacks. "

So congress votes to allow use of force. The white house as a target is forgotten. The great political dance goes on.

Ben

This week's news from Dover, NH.

You may or may not have heard that the senior class of Dover High School elected a same sex couple as class sweethearts. The principle tried to nix it, but the students prevailed.

Well, last week a contingent from "God Hates Fags" got together a protest group from middle america and flew them into Dover. They set up their protest and discovered they weren't the only church going people outside the high school. In fact they were outnumbered by the members of a Dover church who had turned out to support the high school students.

Bravo to the students of Dover High for standing behind their votes and bravo to the community of Dover for standing behind their children.

Oh, as for GHF, well they can just (see the subject line) Dover.