How Duke Cunningham the traitor almost ruined my Thanksgiving...

Thanksgiving provides each of us with an opportunity to reflect on our lives, and give thanks to the Lord for all of the things that he does for each of us, and for everything.  It's a great opportunity to spend time with our families, and to give thanks to them for the support they give to us.  It is also an opportunity to be a bit reflective on our lives, and on those things that are important.  But I won't wax on, as this is not a "Thanksgiving Day Message" from the FlashReport.  But it was this general Thanksgiving "happy and appreciate state of mind" that was interrupted yesterday for some time by disgraced, imprisoned former Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham.

I am not sure what it was that caused me to think about Duke yesterday. Perhaps the ongoing string of articles that appear in the San Diego U-T and the North County Times as they track the trials of those involved with Duke's dastardly deeds.  Then again, maybe when you are thinking about your family and close friends, it also allows you to think about those friends who have really hurt you...  Whatever the reason, "Duke" was a very unwelcome turkey in my Thanksgiving thoughts.

In contemplating what Cunningham did, even on a peaceful holiday with festive music, good food, and surrounded by family, my blood pressure started to rise.  I realized one thing immediately.  I will NEVER be able to forgive that scumbag for what he did to our country.  In placing our government up for "sale" like that, I place the name of Duke Cunningham alongside those of Alger Hiss, Aldrich Ames, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, etcetera.  Which is to say that Cunningham's crimes were such a violation of the trust that was given to him by the American people that he committed, in my mind, treason against the United States of America.  What he did when he "sold" our government for personal gain was so offensive, and so egregious that his prison sentence seems extraordinarily inadequate.

Obviously, given that the penalty for treason in America is still the death penalty, I had to ask myself this question -- would I have wanted Randy Cunningham to be sentenced to die for his crimes against this country?  To be honest with you, I don't know the answer to that.  There have certainly been a lot of times when my anger for his transgressions have made me wish that were a sentencing option - truly.

I remember reading that one of Cunningham's former colleagues, a Member of Congress whom I hold in high regard, actually sent a letter to the judge, requesting leniency in Cunningham's sentence.  If I recall correctly, this Congressman said that his sentence should be, "balanced with his long and distinguished service record."

That is ludicrous.  That is like saying that infamous traitor Aldrich Ames, who as a CIA operative sold secrets to the Soviets, should have had considered as a 'mitigating factor' the 30+ years of "service" he gave to the CIA before he was caught.  After all, he wasn't a spy his whole career, right?

Duke Cunningham's "service" to our country before he committed the unspeakable act of using his high office to sell out America for personal gain actually makes his crimes worse.  It means that he had every opportunity possible to appreciate what this country stands for, and still...

While I probably would lean against applying the death penalty for Cunningham, I sure wish that he could spend the rest of his natural life behind bars.  That is certainly what he deserves for the damage he did to our country and to the institution of the United States Congress.  Of course, as an elected officer of the California Republican Party, I can tell you that his betrayal of our political party was profound.

I will make it a point this holiday season to send a note to Cunningham, in federal prison, and make sure that he understands that there are some acts that are so unconscionable so as to exempt the actor from receiving any forgiveness or sympathy.

Duke Cunningham may not be in prison for life.  But he deserves to be scorned to the end of his days. 

I think back to the precinct walks and phone banks for "Duke" -- how we all worked so hard in that first election that he won for that U.S. House seat.  Then I fast-forward to today.  That mental journey is a painful one.

Mr. Cunningham, as you sit in your cell, and contemplate your crimes against the United States of America, I hope that you understand that you got off way too easy.  But many of us know it, and will never, ever forgot the depth of your treason to this country.

For now, I will try to enjoy the rest of my holiday weekend, this column have been a catharsis to get some of this 'angst' out of my system.

(Cross posted from the FlashReport)

Comments

[Anon]

Wow...I wonder what Jon will say next Thanksgiving when Mike Carona is sitting in his cell.

Anon you beat me to the punch on that one. Each chastisation of Duke I read in that article I replaced the name Cunningham or Duke with Mike Carona.

[MrWhipple]

Wow, lots of vitriol for a congressman who sold votes in exchange for gifts, but none for a president who has methodically and systematically stripped us of constitutional rights and lead our country down the road to fascism.

And Cunningham's in jail, while Bush is still in the White House.

Says a lot about the priorities of neocon Republicans.

[Rifleshot]

Mr. Whipple: we keep hearing aboout all the rights we've lost since 9/11. If this is just rhetoric, it should stop. If, on the other hand, these lost rights can be quantified, we should all know specifically what we've lost. Please (and this is not a sarcastic request) list for us the rights the readers of this blog have lost since the war on terror began.

[Dan Chmielewski]

Or replace Cunningham with Doolittle; but Carona fits too.

Rifleshot, I refer you to a new book, "Bill of Wrongs: The Executive Branch's Assault on America's Fundamental Rights," by the late Molly Ivins and completed with the assistance of her longtime collaborator and in this case, co-author, Lou Dubose.

Ivins was inspired to write the book due to threats to our rights; you want examples -- The Patriot Act strips civil liberties, habeas corpus is weakened, free speech rights are suppressed, and dissent in the defense of liberties was being characterized as treason by the Bush administration and its enablers.

We've lost quite a bit since 9/11, from illegal wiretaps, the unlawful imprisonment of American citizens, and the undermining of freedom of the press to name a few. There is an erosion of the checks and balances that prevent a president from seizing unitary powers.

[shaldi]

Dear Mr. Chmielewski,

Molly Ivins? What's next...a Noam Chomsky dissertation comparing and contrasting George Bush and Hitler? Molly Ivins? Good grief.

As for specifics, let me quote your own list of "specific" abuses...
"The Patriot Act strips civil liberties, habeas corpus is weakened, free speech rights are suppressed, and dissent in the defense of liberties was being characterized as treason by the Bush administration and its enablers."

Well, one certainly can not be more specific than that! And besides, Molly Ivins said it was so...it must be true.

I love the Patriot Act and, for your information, it does not strip civil liberties, whatever such twaddle actually means.

Free speech suppressed? Have you read the hysterical anti-American mainstream media lately, or for the last seven years? If free speech were being suppressed, would the New York Times be able to publish sensitive information on an almost weekly basis? Would the Scott Beauchamps of The New Republic and the Frank Rich/Maureen Dowd wing of the NYT continue to be able to publish their third-grade drivel?

Habeas corpus suspended? Do you mean such as Abraham Lincoln actually carried out during a time of war or is this in reference to savage combatants taken from the field of battle and held in detention at Guantanamo? Constitutional gurantees of habeas corpus do not apply in this instance if this is what you are hysterically referencing. But, why let facts get in the way of a good Molly Ivins rememberance?

Dissent in defense of liberty? Huh? If calling a front in a larger war lost when we have troops in the field (of which I used to number myself)and when we are actually destroying the enemy is defending liberty, I must confess to being confused. If comparing American troops to Nazis, murderers and rapists is defending liberty, then I am confused further still. The American soldier is the best friend this world has ever known, and ever will know.

Wake up sir. This war did not start 5 years ago. Muslims declared war on America almost 30 years ago. George Bush did not "start" this war...murderous and savage Muslims began it many years ago. George Bush is one of the few leaders, in my lifetime at least, to stand up to barbarians against an unwilling world, of which I am sure you are proud to count yourself.

Iraq is one front in a larger conflict and we will prevail for, while not perfect, we are noble and humane.

Molly Ivins?? What is next...a Lancet study of Iraqi civillian casualties? Good grief sir, please grow up.

Best regards,

Sam Haldi
Atlanta, GA

[wondering]

Thanks for your thoughts, Mr. Haldi. By the way, are they still flying the Confederate flag in your state building?

[Rifleshot]

Wondering: like somehow the Confederate flag reference is suppossed to invalidate a well-constructed argument. Maybe Sam should respond with Berkeley's refusal to allow their fire department to fly the American flags on their trucks. Probably just as relevant.

[8AF]

George Bush did not "start" this war...murderous and savage Muslims began it many years ago. George Bush is one of the few leaders, in my lifetime at least, to stand up to barbarians against an unwilling world, of which I am sure you are proud to count yourself.

This is a great statement. Considering the Saudis have individuals in custody believed to be responsible for the Khobar Towers bombing. Our president ("you're either with us, or with the terrorists.") has done or said nothing to bring those individuals to justice or bring justice to them.

I bet you believe the Iraqis were responsible for 9/11, don't you?

Conservatives who have supported the shredding of the 4th Ammendment (via warrantless searches and wiretaps) will be quite interesting to watch when all that executive power accumulated during the Bush Administration is in the hands of President Hillary Rodham Clinton.

[MrWhipple]

Rifleshot and Sam Haldi:

Your comments are sadly typical of the neocon Republicans who have closed their eyes, plugged their ears, and shouted "LALALALALALA" when the subject of constitutional violations has been raised.

Here's a good article that will bring you up to speed:

http://reason.com/news/show/123496.html

[Dan Chmielewski]

Sam --
The book features documented cases where normal Americans who dissent against the war or the president have been arrested or otherwise detained in violation of the First Amendment and Fourth Amendement. Their are interviews with law enforcement officials, witnesses, and judges and each example is painstaking documented and fact checked.

Might I suggest you re-read the Bill of Rights and the rules as to how they apply to anyone in this country.