Stephen F. Kislock, III – 3/1/05

This page was last updated on March 1, 2005.

Practice what you preach; Stephen F. Kislock, III; Beaver County Times; March 1, 2005.

You know someone has gone off the rails when someone tries to equate the President of the United States with former KGB agent Vladimir Putin.

Below is a detailed critique of the letter.

“Talk about the pot calling the kettle black: G.W. Bush challenged Russian President Putin on democracy.”

[RWC] You gotta love the disrespect, “G.W. Bush” instead of “President Bush.” I’ll take Mr. Kislock’s cue and refer to him as Stevie.

“One, the United States invaded Iraq, Why? Russia has not invaded any country in the 21st century.”

[RWC] “Why?” Stevie should read House Joint Resolution 114.

“Russia has not invaded any country in the 21st century?” I guess Stevie doesn’t count the ongoing occupation of Chechnya, though I have to admit the invasion occurred in the 1990s.

“The U.S. Justice Department has refused to release its report on ‘Minorities in America.’ Why? The United States has the Patriot Act, with 99.9 percent of all actions taken against Americans protected by secrecy. Your library card, the books you buy, and who you associate with: all watched.”

[RWC] I couldn’t find anything about Stevie’s alleged “report on ‘Minorities in America’” so I can’t comment. That said, notice that Stevie didn’t tell us what he believes the alleged report says. Without explicitly saying so, Stevie wants us to believe the alleged report says something bad. This is an example of what I refer to as a “drive-by” bashing.

Stevie doesn’t explain what he means by “99.9 percent of all actions taken against Americans [are] protected by secrecy” or cite the source of his data. Does he believe the government should conduct all investigations in the open? If you can’t conduct covert criminal investigations, you’re in trouble.

Stevie is fibbing when he writes, “Your library card, the books you buy, and who you associate with: all watched.” Does he really expect us to believe the government rummages through this data for everyone on a routine basis? It’s true the government can subpoena these records, but that’s nothing new. The books you borrow and/or buy are business transactions and business records have always been subject to subpoena during criminal investigations. As you would expect, subpoenaing these records requires court approval; a government agent can’t simply walk in and demand them. Don’t ask me how Stevie believes the feds watch those “who you associate with.”

“A free press: As long as you toe the line with the administration’s propaganda.”

[RWC] Is Stevie serious? Does he read what the old media says and writes about President Bush on a daily basis? Did he miss the 2004 campaign when the old media did its best – worst? – to defeat President Bush? Does he realize Putin has fired reporters who didn’t report the “company line?”

“Just ask James D. Guckert also known as Jeff Gannon, reporter/neo-con plant to distract real reporters from getting any information.”

[RWC] Stevie refers to a writer for a conservative web site. Stevie apparently believes you need to be a writer for the “mainstream media” to qualify for a press pass for White House daily news briefings. Liberals went on a witch-hunt with respect to Mr. Gannon because he had the gall to ask a question that made liberals look bad. It’s OK to ask questions intended to make President Bush and/or conservatives look bad and questions intended to make liberals look good, but you can’t ask questions that shine a light on liberal hypocrisy. Mr. Gannon broke that law.

“Matthew Cooper of Time magazine and Judith Miller of The New York Times will be going to jail, but Robert Novak, the right-wing pundit who published Valerie Plame’s identity as a CIA undercover operative, is not even bothered by the Justice Department. Why?”

[RWC] It’s difficult to comment on this issue because so little is known, though that doesn’t stop Stevie. Stevie failed to note the FBI interrogated Mr. Novak, though neither the FBI nor Novak will discuss the outcome of that interrogation.

While we’re on it, it’s not even clear Ms. Plame’s alleged status as a covert agent was really a secret. I’ve read several articles implying her status was an “open secret” in Washington, DC. A New York Times article indicated Ms. Plame was pulled off covert operations in the 1990s when the CIA believed CIA turncoat Aldrich Ames gave Plame’s name and the names of other agents to the Russians.

“Secret detention: No, not in Russia, but the good old U.S. of A. Former Attorney General John Ashcroft had thousands arrested but no convictions. Why?”

[RWC] “Former Attorney General John Ashcroft had thousands arrested but no convictions?” This is a nice allegation, but once again Stevie offers no proof.

Does Stevie really believe there are no secret detentions in Russia? Let’s not forget the candidate who opposed Putin’s handpicked man in Ukraine was poisoned in a rigged election. Eventually, though, after extensive protests a new election was conducted and the poisoned candidate won.

“The Department of Justice is issuing one-way tickets to those deemed a threat. No trial, no lawyer: They just disappear. Sounds like the old evil Soviet Union.”

[RWC] Notice that Stevie didn’t provide a single example. It’s another “drive-by” accusation.

I’m not sure, but I don’t think Stevie believes the USSR was evil. A lot of American liberals believe the USSR wasn’t given a fair chance to succeed.

“G.W. Bush talked of a viable political opposition. This does not exist in America today. With Congress, the Supreme Court and the White House controlled by the far right of the Republican Party, it’s their way or no way.”

[RWC] Stevie doesn’t believe Democrats are “viable political opposition?” If he truly believes “Congress, the Supreme Court and the White House [are] controlled by the far right of the Republican Party,” Stevie’s economic, political, and social positions must be left of Karl Marx.

President Bush and the bulk of Republicans in Congress are barely right of the Democrats of the 1950s and early 1960s.

“It’s their way or no way?” I guess Stevie forgot the judicial nominations “filibustered” by Senate Democrats.

“‘You are either with us or you are against us.’ That’s the preamble of the New World Order.”

[RWC] “Preamble of the New World Order?” Geez, Stevie is into conspiracies!