EU Constitution Unveiled

The proposed EU constitution, unveiled Monday and to be considered by EU leaders next month, calls for an elected president and the post of foreign minister to represent the union internationally, and a binding bill of rights.

 

The document, drawn up by a 105-member committee led by former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, calls for the European Union's six-month rotating presidency to be replaced by an EU president, elected from the current batch of heads of state for two and a half years. He also favors creating the post of EU foreign minister to represent the bloc on the world stage

 

Perhaps as important, at least to the British, was that the document does not use the term "federal" and the European Union will not be renamed "United Europe" of the "United States of Europe." ...

 

Giscard d'Estaing's power-sharing proposals have gone down well with larger member states, such as Britain, France, Italy and Spain, but are fiercely opposed by smaller states, the European Commission and the European Parliament.

 

More popular among delegates to the Brussels-based body, which has been compared to the Constitutional Convention, which gave birth to the United States, are proposals aimed at boosting the bloc's foreign policy powers.

 

In a nod to the recent splits over Iraq, the draft text unveiled Monday calls on members to "actively and unreservedly support the Union's common foreign and security policy in a spirit of loyalty and mutual solidarity."

 

It also commits the 15 members to come to each other's defense in the event of terrorist attack.

 

EU constitution unveiled

UPI

May 26, 2003

 

Interesting.  Most interesting.  I wonder about the consequences the next time Junior bucks international opinion in order to wage war?

 

More than that, however, realize this:  You are witnessing a major turning point in European history.  Think about the comparison to the Constitutional Convention for a moment.  Let it sink in.

 

And be awed.  I am.

 

Posted 5:13:24 PM   Send comment

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Political Strikes - May 23, 2003

 

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A Shameful Memorial Day 'Tribute'

President Bush to mark Memorial Day with a wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery, paying special tribute to troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. ...

 

"Each Memorial Day, we pray for peace throughout the world, remembering what was gained and what was lost during times of war," the president said in a Memorial Day proclamation.

 

"From the bravery of the men at Valley Forge, to the daring of Normandy, the courage of Iwo Jima and the steady resolve in Afghanistan and Iraq, our men and women in uniform have won for us every hour that we live in freedom." ...

 

Bush to Pay Tribute to Troops in Iraq

Optimum Online

May 26, 2003

 

Positively shameful.  Or perhaps a better word is "shameless."

 

George, what do you know about serving your country in time of war?  Where were you in '72?

 

George Bush had an opportunity to be patriotic and he walked away from that patriotic duty if his comrades in arms can be believed. In any military unit each member looks out for the other in that unit, if one person walks away, the whole unit suffers. This "desertion" can not be swept under the rug like some traffic ticket. This crime is an offense to every man and women in America and especially those that have served and those that are currently serving our nation in the Armed Forces.   James Glaser Why So many Veterans Are Finding George W. Bush Despicable November 6, 2002

And courage?  What do you know of courage?  You're a Vietnam War deserter who sends our young men and women into harm's way for the purpose of conquering a smaller, weaker country on the premise of... What is it this week, George?  Is it still weapons of mass destruction?  Or are we back to liberating the Iraqis again?  Or shall we return to the deception of avenging the September 11th attacks by invading a country that had nothing to do with 9-11?

 

And bravery?  This, from the Commander-in-Chief who spent September 11, 2001, puddle-jumping across the country in Air Force One while the rest of the nation wondered where you were, what you were doing, and why you didn't provide us the anchor of sanity and reassurance we needed, when we needed it the most?

 

I won't even get into your aircraft-carrier landing stunt.  Or the way you plan to exploit the deaths of 3,000 Americans for the benefit of your 2004 election campaign.

 

My father was a veteran of World War II.  He died, a proud patriot, more than a decade ago.  Not a day has passed that I don't miss him, more than words can say.

 

And yet -- for his sake -- I'm glad he's not here this Memorial Day to witness this dishonor to him, and to all servicemen and women who have fulfilled their sworn duty -- and worn their uniforms proudly, bravely, and legitimately.

 

George, this is one day you should have stayed in Crawford and kept a low profile.

 

To me, it is an affront to the Americans killed or injured in Iraq for the President to exploit the trappings of war for the momentary spectacle of a speech.

Senator Robert Byrd

May 7, 2003

 

Posted 3:24:11 PM   Send comment

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Michael Moore Site Update

UPDATE (3:59 a.m. EDT):  Looks like Mike's ISP caught the hack, and has erected a "placeholder" page, presumably until Mike (or whoever runs his site) can reconstruct the front page.  Well, at least I was able to grab the hacked message while it was still up (that's the reward for having a couple dozen news feeds running simultaneously on your desktop!) -- but eventually, one semi-"mainstream" news site (albeit the right-leaning WorldNetDaily) finally caught up with us lowly bloggers; e.g.:

 

The website belonging to filmmaker Michael Moore is back online after being hacked this weekend, apparently by someone hoping the director's Academy Award gets taken away. ...

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