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Another Day of Infamy

By Mary MacElveen
December 12, 2007

Editor’s Note: President Franklin Roosevelt famously dubbed Dec. 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy” because of Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor. However, in the annals of legal and political history, Dec. 12, 2000, could be a rival in ignominy.

As writer Mary MacElveen notes in this guest essay, that was the day when five Republicans on the U.S. Supreme Court short-circuited American democracy and gave the presidency to George W. Bush:

December 12th, 2000 was truly a day of infamy for those of us who do remember that on that date the Bush v. Gore decision was handed down by the United States Supreme Court, handing the presidency over to George W. Bush.

I still remember the phrase that was used in determining the outcome of that case, that “no irreparable harm” comes to George W. Bush. I have often thought of that phrase and have remarked: Well what about the rest of us?

As of yesterday, 3,888 U.S. soldiers have lost their lives, 28,629 have been maimed, and according to JustForeignPolicy.org 1,130,689 innocent Iraqis have been murdered at Bush’s hands. I would say they have felt the most harm out of anyone.

While there is still a debate that rages on whether or not the attacks that happened on September 11th, 2001 would have occurred under a Gore presidency, our retaliation towards Afghanistan has resulted in 469 U.S. soldiers losing their lives. We must remember them as well.

In identifying what kind of an American one is, it has been said that some are post- 9/11 Americans and others are pre-9/11 Americans -- and I just want to clarify for all that I am a pre-December 12th, 2000 American.

Afterwards, what I viewed was an America handed over to a man who cares nothing of our shared destiny. A man who would go on to say of the United States Constitution, which is a sacred document to me and others, that it is nothing more than a “God damn piece of paper.”

No, President Bush you are as worthless as you chose to describe our United States Constitution. You, Sir, are garbage in my eyes.

The Constitution is a document that was handed down to all of us by our framers. Our framers, who were geniuses in my opinion, knew what sacrifice was all about. Many gave their lives so that all of us would be guaranteed the rights described in the Bill of Rights.

President Bush, on the other hand, never once called Americans to sacrifice when he invaded Iraq and sent us spiraling out of control under the guise of fighting the war on terrorism. No, he sent us all shopping.

As he sent Americans to the malls, lives were being lost in some faraway land known as Iraq. As some Americans were seeking red-ticketed sale items, red blood was being spilled and continues to be spilled in that country.

He and his kind have selfishly fed from our federal reserves which were spent killing those who knew what duty and honor to country was truly about.

If Bush truly does have a soul, and I call into question whether he does, it is my hope that those lost to all of us will haunt him for the rest of his days. May he hear their screams as they died in battle and may he hear the screams of Iraqi families literally being blown apart.

In both cases, I have seen their pictures and have screamed out to the heavens above, “God, what did we do to deserve being led by President Bush?” I still seek to hear his answer.

At times I have felt like giving up on the world of politics since it has grown to be a beast filled with lies in which you do not know who is on your side. But, below is a passage stated by former Vice President Al Gore in the third presidential debate which was held on, October 17, 2000:

“And I want to tell you what I tell them: Sometimes people who are very idealistic and have great dreams, as young people do, are apt to stay at arm's length from the political process because they think their good hearts might be brittle, and if they invest their hopes and allow themselves to believe, then they're going to be let down and disappointed.

“But thank goodness we've always had enough people who have been willing in every generation to push past the fear of a broken heart and become deeply involved in forming a more perfect union. We're America. And we believe in our future, and we know we have the ability to shape our future.”

Many have lost all hope during these past seven years due to loss of jobs, loss of homes, still going without healthcare. … I often wondered during these past seven years how many have come not to believe in any future.

As the world of politics slips into a darkened abyss, I am coming close to being one of them. It has come to a point where I no longer believe in the United States government and those elected to lead us.

All I have to say and do so sarcastically is: “Thank you, U.S. Supreme Court.”
Thanks for ruining not only my children’s lives but the lives of all who will come after us.

Do not get me wrong. I'm not saying what was lost to us is all about Al Gore, since our country is not all about one person. But the damage inflicted upon the United States occurred when the United States Supreme Court decided for we the people who our president would be.

Those five justices or rather injustices robbed this country blind as equally as those they put into power. It is my hope that they too hear the cries and screams of those who have lost their lives in these past seven years. …

As many presidential campaigns focus on religion right now, it is my hope that those who conspired against the American people feel and see the Pearly Gates slammed in their face on their own personal judgment day. All of whom gave us the worst administration in U.S. history.

It is my hope that on the other side they will see the souls lost within these past seven years just before they are sent to the bowels of Hell.

December 12th, 2000, was the catalyst to our darkened and shared history when a president was allowed to take power and not at the will of the people.
The people were denied their voice on that day and we must always be mindful that it should never happen again.

Bush always states that our soldiers are dying for our freedoms – and one of those freedoms is to have every vote counted. His very presence in office and by the means he obtained it besmirches the honor and duty to all that serve this country.

Author Mary MacElveen can be reached at her e-mail address, [email protected].

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