Thoughts, essays, and writings on Liberty. Written by the heirs of Patrick Henry.

“Though the earth, and all inferior creatures, be common to all men, yet every man has a property in his own person: this no body has any right to but himself. The labour of his body, and the work of his hands, we may say, are properly his. Whatsoever then he removes out of the state that nature hath provided, and left it in, he hath mixed his labour with, and joined to it something that is his own, and thereby makes it his property. It being by him removed from the common state nature hath placed it in, it hath by this labour something annexed to it, that excludes the common right of other men: for this labour being the unquestionable property of the labourer, no man but he can have a right to what that is once joined to, at least where there is enough, and as good, left in common for others.”     John Locke,    Two Treatises of Government, Of Property

November 18, 2007

Quote Of The Day: Incredible Irony Edition

by Doug Mataconis

From George W. Bush’s speech to the Federalist Society:

When the Founders drafted the Constitution, they had a clear understanding of tyranny. They also had a clear idea about how to prevent it from ever taking root in America. Their solution was to separate the government’s powers into three co-equal branches: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. Each of these branches plays a vital role in our free society. Each serves as a check on the others. And to preserve our liberty, each must meet its responsibilities — and resist the temptation to encroach on the powers the Constitution accords to others.

Umm, Mr. President ?

?

Oh, never mind.

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Permalink || Comments (6) || Categories: Quote of the Day
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6 Comments

  1. [...] Hat tip to Doug Mataconis [...]

    Pingback by Who Said It? | Hear ItFrom.Us — November 18, 2007 @ 6:23 am

  2. Yeah, yeah…he spouted the same kind of bullshit back in 2000 when he was running. Based on his actions while in office, he either doesn’t believe in federalism and he’s lying or he’s simply too stupid to understand what it actually means.

    Actually, it’s probably both.

    Comment by UCrawford — November 18, 2007 @ 8:47 am

  3. I don’t know whether to laugh at this or cry.

    Comment by Hyrum — November 18, 2007 @ 9:32 am

  4. This is right up there with the time he preached about how precious all human life is back when he vetoed a stem cell bill. I believe 63 Iraqis were killed that day.

    Comment by Jeff Molby — November 18, 2007 @ 9:55 am

  5. [...] Doug Mataconis notes this little bit from President Bush’s recent speech to the Federalist Society: When the Founders drafted the Constitution, they had a clear understanding of tyranny. They also had a clear idea about how to prevent it from ever taking root in America. Their solution was to separate the government’s powers into three co-equal branches: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. Each of these branches plays a vital role in our free society. Each serves as a check on the others. And to preserve our liberty, each must meet its responsibilities — and resist the temptation to encroach on the powers the Constitution accords to others. [...]

    Pingback by A Second Hand Conjecture » Separating Powers — November 19, 2007 @ 8:39 am

  6. I can’t decide whether to laugh or cry, but this speech has been made, in similar fashion, by the legislature and judiciary as well. And is just as sadly ironic when they say it too.

    Comment by Eric — November 19, 2007 @ 11:15 am

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