Welcome back, Cam.

Cam, it's good to have you back.

I've been wondering about travel overseas among this climate. It was hard enough being an American in Europe before. I always found it comical that the Canadians would pin a Canadian flag to the backpacks so they wouldn't be confused with us. It looks like I'll need to pick one up before my next trip.

You're not the only one. My wife and I have a growing desire, a feeling shared by close friends, to finally move out of the US, most likely to Europe. We don't want our 9 month old daughter to grow up with such a narrow, close-minded view of the world, as we perceive is currently the norm in the US. Americans simply don't encounter alternative cultures and different languages over such small distances like happens in other parts of the world. How can one be a citizen of the world, if one never really encounters the world?

Definitely glad you're back, Cam. Just know you're not the only disenchanted soul out there. You're right; you're not the first. But thanks for vocalizing this point of view.

While you're in Austin, you might enjoy getting to know some of the people who dislike the Administration's policies and the government's folly. Most of us -- a growing percentage of us -- find the current situation unacceptable, as the several protests this week attest. Hope you enjoy Austin.

come to Canada. everyone loves Canada! its good to have you back.

"...either Bush will not get re-elected, he will be assassinated or he will be impeached."

Don't delude yourself Cam - the right convinced themselves these very things would bring down Bill Clinton. It didn't happen then, and it won't happen now.

Thank god.

Cam is back!

I have a pet theory that all these things that have been racing down hill (eg the economy, foreign policy, etc etc) will now improve greatly since Cam is back + publishing camworld.com.

And no, I'm not kidding.

There's something comforting in knowing a blogger out there who's thoughtful + intelligent is back on the scene.

--
d.

Hi Cam,
Well not all Bubbas are rednecks here in Austin--though you might think so by appearance. Lots of us natives like to play "spot the visitor" during SXSW week. Hope you enjoy the conference and feel free to contact us if you want to visit with some friendly locals.

Good to have you back, Cam! You're not the only one disillusioned and frightened by the current administration. I myself have spent many an evening rocking back and forth in the fetal position. But it cannot continue on this way. It has to get better, but I'm afraid that some fairly serious wake up calls are coming our way. I think the WTC disaster was a wake up call that many people heard, but some are still not listening.

I've got dual citizenship (European) and I've thought about leaving. But can I affect change as well outside the US? I wonder if there is anything I can really do, but I can talk to people I know, I can post what I learn and spread the word. But I admit there may come a time in which I will bail ship. I've got a 2-yr old to think about, and what's best for him is my primary motivation.

Please don't say you are from New Zealand. Frightened post-Bali Australians have been doing that, so we don't want everyone else doing it. Being from a harmless country remote from most of the world's troubles does have its advantages. We don't need others spoiling it for us. Aussies can sort of get away with it, but Americans never would. And there is also quite a bit of resentment against rich American exiles buying up prime New Zealand coastal real estate, pushing up prices, despoiling the environment with their development schemes and fencing off the land to deny locals their historical access. Americans are not exactly best liked down here at the moment.

Why is it the world to americans only extends as far as europe? I'm sure most americans are actually meaning UK when they are talking europe. The position of UK is right behind the behind of US so there is no difference. The next terrorist attack will most likely happen on the Tube in London. And UK without London is nothing I tell you. I'm a Londoner.

Obviously, if you are a white american, you would want to live in countries where whites are the majority. If you are black, its likely that you are not too bothered about racism and will happily live in any part of the world.

I still believe the safest place for americans to live is america. Try to use your vote instead to get the a55hole Bush out of power next time and hope a president who is not a chimp comes to power.

Typical bullshit from the liberal elites. Regardless of what is happening, millions still aspire to come, and will come. They way Cam is talking we've sealed our borders. Hardly the case. Visitors visas are being issued, and foreign students are still flocking to our shores.

Unlike this group here, I'm not ashamed to call myself American, or to show my American passport in public. Nine of the ten time, I'm treated with respect.

For those who want to leave, good luck. You can take Alec Baldwin and Barbara Streisand with you.

Travel broadens the mind, eh? There's nothing like visiting another country to remind you how strange your own is. I wish more people would do the same and maybe then we wouldn't all be so gung ho about where people were born and brought up.

I am a proud American and supporter of President Bush. I don't travel to foreign shores, but if I did, I wouldn't be afraid to tell anyone who asked how I feel.

Don

Ashamed to be an American. Shame on You. Buy yourself an airline ticket to another country and get out.

You need to wake up and smell the roses or is it going to take a Nuclear Explosion in an American city for you to realize that the President is correct. It is not a conspiracy the government does not lie they have been very forthcoming in what is being done and what is known. I have traveled all over the world for the last 20 years and have spent considerable time in at least 50 countries. On the large part Americans are loved by the general populace. Governments have their reasons to say what they say and most of the time it is purely economical.

Have you ever traveled to a middle east country and talked with the average joe on the street? I have broken bread in Muslim homes in Muslim countries and have taken the time and learn there culture. The few radicals give most muslims a bad name.

Do you not think that is France did not have 70 billion dollars in contracts and oil rights that they would be singing the same song. As an American you have the right to bitch, complain, protest, vote and speak your mind. Many in the world do not have that freedom. If you were of another nationality and posted what you have posted today you would most likely find yourself dead. Your assertion that something terrible may befall the President is disgraceful. I Love this country and if you need help picking out a country to move to I can give you a short list to try out.

"The few radicals give most muslims a bad name."

The few radicals in the American government give most Americans a bad name.

Please show me in my essay where I am talking about Muslims. You may continue to try and put words in my mouth but I knw that most of my readers are intelligent enough to not fall for such debate tactics.

"As an American you have the right to bitch, complain, protest, vote and speak your mind."

As an American, you also have this right.

You may think it is disgraceful, but it is how I feel. As an American I have the right (at least for now) to speak and write it.

"I love this country and if you need help picking out a country to move to I can give you a short list to try out."

I also love America, and even declare so in my essay. Thanks for your offer for help but I already have my short list.

Whoa! Just becuase some disagrees with President Bush doesn't mean they are un-American or that they don't love our country. That smacks of McCarthyism. That black vs. white thinking is exactly the problem with the Bush Administration's approach to handling the Iraq issue. It's not a simple issue and war isn't necessarily the only answer. The Bush Administration doesn't appear to recognize this, despite many many intelligent people (Jimmy Carter today in the NYT editorial, for instance) speaking out.

Yes, a frew radicals give Islam a bad name. The same is true of Christianity.

Getting a clue works in both directions, Todd. Lambasting someone for having a differing viewpoint--or even for speaking it--is scarily Orwellian. Liberal vs. Conservative differences aside, Cam has a legitimate point. Americans are feeling uncomfortable when they travel abroad because of Bush's foreign policy.

Being "American" means a lot of things to a lot of people. And in fact it's because we can each freely voice these differences and each freely believe differently that makes American such a great country. The sly erosion of these basic tenets of American freedom by the Bush Administration's attack on our civil liberties is truly what makes me ashamed to be an American in this decade.

Hello, Cam; care to share what our options are for handling the terrorists? How do we de-claw this menace? Are UN inspections the answer? We have been doing that for twelve years now, haven't we? What about an embargo? Would the other nations of the world unite and stop buying oil from Iraq? Probably not. And for some reason, I do not think the anti-war marches going on today will do anything to eliminate the threat. So, what are our other alternatives? Tell me; please.

President Bush and his staff have taken deliberate and measured steps to prevent another 9/11. Key members of the Bush Administration, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Powell and Franks, have been there before and know what needs to be done. They are making decisions for the security of our nation, based on intelligence you and I are not privy to; they are not making their decisions for the sake of making a fashion statement. Nobody wants a war. But, if that is the course set before us we need to address the challenge head on and persevere until the job is done!

I, for one, am thankful that I am an American. And I am proud that our current leadership is not looking to see which way the winds of popular opinion are blowing; but, have the guts to choose the path they feel is warranted to address current crisis.

Thanks for sharing your opinion, and remember that this is just one of the great things about our country; we have a right to our opinion even if it is wrong.

Robert, my essay is not about terrorism. It is not about fundamental religion, Muslim or Christian, so answering your questions would stray too far from the discussion my post has prompted. I will save such a response should I write about those topics in the future.

You are correct that the Bush administration is taking steps towards eliminating worldwide terrorism, but many educated people feel they are taking too many steps towards eroding the civil liberties of the American people and the principles they were founded upon.

Bush and his administration will push/drag this country into an unwanted war, regardles of popular opinion. It seems inevitable. No one knows if this is political suicide or not, but that seems to be the general feeling of a lot of people. Squandering the good will of the American people that took decades to build is a serious charge, and the Bush administration's bungling of foreign policy and lame explanations for such decisions is not something that can be reversed easily.

Cam, welcome back to blog land. I can't say welcome back to the States because my wife and I are living in the land of Alps, cows, machine tools, drugs and banks (Switzerland). I definitely understand your concern about the current incumbent's ability to define America in ways that make much of the rest of the world cringe. Even with the Europeans who agree that Saddam should be removed, Bush seems like a bumbling idiot...sorry, dangerous person with weapons of mass destruction.

Unfortunately, on a world infested with humans, not everyone is willing to be Mr. Rogers or live in his neighborhood.

>...as he puts it "Hey, who hates New Zealand?"

Someone does. A letter sent to the New Zealand Herald this week threatens attacks here if Iraq is attacked. Authorities say it cannot be discounted as a hoax, though the overall security alert remains low.

"Cheney, Rumsfeld, Powell and Franks have been there before and know what needs to be done. They are making decisions for the security of our nation, based on intelligence you and I are not privy to"

Here's the german point of view: "Cheney, Rumsfeld, Powell and Franks have been in the White House before and really don't have a clue on what to do. The decisions they're making are undermining every priciple your country is built on and aid their own interests, based on intelligence which doesn't exist".

Even if said intelligence, which is called evidence by the Bush-administration (which is something entirely different by definition), is existing *and* saying what Bush tells us, there's one fundamental and unchangeable priciple in this world which especially you americans hold to be self-evident. It is:

Evidence is NEVER, EVER secret. There is no such thing and there never will be. It's a shame that the President of the United States believes that this is possible.

Send him a copy of your own constitution.

You Americans, by the way, are the only ones who define "Liberal" as: "soft on drugs, slow on crime, unpatriotic and generally dumb".

Cam,

Glad to see that you are finally back. I trust I'm not the only one who missed your fresh voice on the net.

If you feel cynical now please, please, please read "Against Empire" by Michael Perenti. It's a damning review of US foreign policy (not just Bush) that could make the most red blooded American question our government's foreign policy.

At any rate I love the new design and look forward to more great posts!

--Joe

Sorry to have read something in your essay that you did not say, Cam.

Was I to have inferred that you were speaking of "eroding the civil liberties of the American people"? I really missed that as being your point. On the other hand, I did not mention anything about "fundamental religion, Muslim or Christian". Therefore, there would be no need for you to stray too far from the topic of your post.

To address your post directly:

I find it puzzling that you mention your "increasing sense of hypocrisy (you) keep finding (yourself) in by simply being an American in this day and age" while you take your American "greenbacks" over to Siberia to "removed myself from the constant barrage of American culture and media (no television, no cell phone) that is an ingrained part of (y)our daily life." I cannot help but wonder how many Russian citizens would be able to take their rubbles to any other country and get away from their daily trials for three weeks.

Why, while in Russia, do you learn "very quickly to blend into (your) environment or (you) would have to deal with the inevitable..." and yet you are surprised that an American construction worker would size you up when you are wearing your "black pants, Moscow boots, and black leather jacket"? Apparently you were out of your element, and in theirs.

Equally as strange is when you say, "Thousands more enter the U.S. illegally or come on student or work visas, of which a shockingly high percentage stay after the visas has expired. I don't fault them one bit, but I feel that perhaps the America they dreamed of coming to as children is not the same...". I would guess that the majority of these folks are staying in the U.S. because "staying" is worth "fighting for", not because of some childhood fantasy.

I am curious to know why you "had to reassure them that it is likely one of three things will happen within the next two years: either Bush will not get re-elected, he will be assassinated or he will be impeached." Do you know how absurd that sounds?

Additionally, what I did "hear" was that you are unhappy with the current administration. With comments like "...disturbing antics of the current administration...", and "...wondering how such a friendly state could produce such a bad President..." and "...because of the stupidity of Bush's foreign policy decisions..." how could anyone infer that your essay is specifically related to the erosion of civil liberties? For the most part, the folks that are raising banners today, are raising banners of pacifism not banners of civil liberties.

Lastly, in your response to my comments, you say that it is about civil liberties not terrorism. That being the case, would you share your concerns? Is it the checks and balances imposed at our ports of entry? Are you concerned that steps being implemented to hold foreigners with visas accountable for there activities while they are in our country?

Cam, I can empathize with your disenchantment with the world's current political climate, but I do not share your opinion that the American people or our leadership is to blame. But that is OK. We can disagree; for iron sharpens iron.

Robert, just becuase an opinion differs from yours doesn't necessarily make it *wrong* (as inferred by your previous post).

It's the mixing up of these different (and even unrelated) issues that the Bush Administration wants--it furthers their cause. It's no surprise that the majority of the American public now thinks there is a concrete link between the events of 9/11 and Saddam/Iraq, when in fact no one has yet been able to show evidence of this. This is the result of the propaganda spewed by the Bush Administration. 19 of the 20 suspected terrorists involved in the 9/11 hijackings were from Saudi Arabia--yet we don't hear the Bush Adminstration pushing for a war against Saudi Arabia or regime change to get the Saudi royal family removed from office.

Personally, I can't wait until our own little regime change here at home. I'm tired of the knee-jerk, over-reactive, hyperbolic actions of our overly-conservative "leaders" who are choosing to disregard our constitution to further their corporate aims.

"Buy yourself an airline ticket to another country and get out."

This quote basically summarizes what's wrong with our country right now. People have forgotten that DEBATE is the cornerstone of DEMOCRACY. It's the people who don't believe in the importance of differing opinions are the "Un-American" ones and are "who should get out" to make more room for people like Cam who know what America's about.

Dissent is patriotic. Stay, Cam, Stay.

Damien, I didn't infer that Cam's opinion was wrong. I said I disagreed with him. I am saddened when people say that they will leave America because they disagree with our leadership. Can you imagine if our Founding Fathers did the same thing? Do you realize that even though our Founding Fathers had the common goal of establishing our republic that it took ten years to craft the foundation on which it rests? They "wrestled" until the job was complete. Our nation's diversity is one of our greatest strengths.

Anyway, you say, "It's the mixing up of these different (and even unrelated) issues that the Bush Administration wants--it furthers their cause." What is this cause you speak of?

It has been almost 18 months since we were attacked. Our government has been sifting through all of the intel and have made their plans known. How has the administration been knee-jerk and over-reactive? Tell me how.

Iron sharpens iron.

No one's forgotten that debate is a cornerstone of democracy. There's been more debate recently than there has been in years. So Cam wants to leave now that he's been seduced away. Fine, let him go. Does he really "know what America's about"? Hardly. He's been pushed into the lunatic fringe and away from any sort of credibility.

If you listen to the liberals (like Cam and his brother Damien), they'll have you believe the US is sending itself to Hell. And they'll use all the crazed wingnut lexicon in the book to get their point across. They can't go two sentences without using the words "1984", "Orwell", "spew", or "propaganda". Such dramaqueens!

If you listen to the conservatives, they'll have you believe the US is going to be sent to Hell by some other country. So they get all paranoid and xenophobic. Everyone's out to get the US. Screw them all. We're goin' affur them thar fellers next. Etc. etc.

Both sides are totally off the hook right now. Both sides feel that they're in the minority, also, which is hilarious. They're rebels, free-thinkers, the only sane ones left. They feel they'll be political martyrs soon.

What's funny is that some Americans feel that, because they're so disenfranchised and ashamed of themselves, that they'll move to another country. They hear the country's nice, but they don't know anything about it. But then they can feel more pure about themselves.

That's hilarious. Go ahead, American -- run to another country that doesn't want you and try to fit in even though you know nothing of its culture. Isn't that exactly what these Americans who want to leave hate about other Americans?

Grow a spine. You're an American. Deal with it.

From your previous post:

"Thanks for sharing your opinion, and remember that this is just one of the great things about our country; we have a right to our opinion even if it is wrong."

There aren't too many opinions that can be classified as "wrong". Well, except those annoying liberal ones.

Like so much hot air...

I have a few words for America and Americans: For the people, by the people. Too few people are willing to sacrifice their time, money, reputation to help better this country, but almost everyone has an opinion on how it should or should not be run.

President Bush was inserted, not elected. President Clinton was voted into office by winning the majority of the votes, but less than 50% of the eligable voters voted. That is not a President elected by the true majority. Bitch all you want about policy, but if you're not doing more than your share to help elect those policy makers, you're blowing hot air. Countries are not healed by debate, but by action. If you disagree with the current President Policy, start discussing possible candidates you do support in your weblog. You're a popular guy on the internet, Cam, and capable of swaying a few votes with your intelligence and elegance...but will you? You can't be ashamed of America because YOU ARE America and all that is good and bad with it. You can make a difference; the question is do you care enough to try.

I guess Howard Dean, Jimmy Carter, and the leaders of most of the rest of the world are also dramaqueens.

How does making literary allusions = wingnut lexicon?

For me to believe the US is sending itself to Hell, I'd first have to believe in the Christian definition of Hell, which is also part of the problem. Bush is incapable, I think, of thinking about this "war" in non-religious terms. He seems to believe there's a manifest destiny that the US purge the "evil-doers" from the face of the earth. His administration continues to infect their decisions and plans with religious overtones. Their morally upright, seemingly God-given right to wreak destruction on peoples and governments which follow an alternate belief system sounds very much like the rantings of another religous zealot who insists its Allah's calling to inflict pain and suffering on non-believers.

Wouldn't it be interesting to have an Agnostic or Atheist President (and Administration). It'll never happen, of course, but it's interesting to think about.

Oh, and Xeus, the nice thing about American (I thought) was that it accepted anyone, member of the "lunatic fringe" or not. Maybe we should instead imprison people because their ethnicity or religion is related to that of the 9/11 terrorists.

But don't mind me, I'm just a liberal with a "wrong" opinion. I'd better be careful about what I say in public though, else I get arrested or investigated for thinking wrongly. Fuck the constitution and freedom of speech. Time to burn my "Give Peace a Chance" T-shirts. Wouldn't want to wear one in the wrong place.

Over-reaction? Knee-jerk politics? The Patriot Act.

Welcome back, Cam! I like the simplicity of your new design, but it looks like so many other MT sites out there. The old CamWorld was refreshing because it was different. Oh well.

That said, I am sorry to see you drag out the same tired clichés that liberals always have. "The Europeans are mocking us. We need to change our policies to gain their respect." Time was, that was said about our clinching to capitalist ways instead of their progressive, "modern" socialist paradises. We've seen the dramatic differences between those two systems—though I'm sure many here would disagree at how dramatic and in what sense.

Now it is said about our foreign policy. "Foolish Americans, their cowboy president is charging into war with both guns blazing. If only they were sophisticated like us, they would know that you need to appease Hussein since he is just a petty dictator." They say this as if the president would commit hundreds of thousands of Americans and wreck the economy—war always does—in order to satisfy some familial revenge or get better prices for oil. He has been quite clear in his intentions: he views Hussein as a menace to civilization and liberty who must be stopped before he gets seriously genocidal.

I'm not sure I agree with his point of view—North Korea seems much more imminently dangerous—but I'm willing to give him a pass because his motivation seems valid and he's got a rogue's gallery of future targets that I think need to be taken care of.

I certainly don't give a rat's ass what a bunch of whining Europeans think about our style of defending liberty—a concept that they hardly embrace. Once we've cleaned up the world and made it safe from terrorism—a big, huge once to be sure—they'll probably lament the United States' power even as they enjoy the Pax Americana without all the empires.

Cam's essay sounded like an American kid's first time to Europe when he comes back and croons about how superior it is to the US. Since I know he's traveled a bit, it's surprising to read...

Damien, you play the part of a victim so poorly. Victim liberal, fighting The Man, Big Brother, the Po-Po's.

How come you keep calling yourself a liberal with a "wrong" opinion? Do you want to actually maturate your arguments, or just whimper and cry about you being in the perceived minority?

I never said the "lunatic fringe" should leave. I just feel sad because they've argued themselves out of credibility. No one (not even from their own party) will listen to their extremism.

I'm sorry if I said "going to Hell" -- maybe I should have said "going to shit" or "going to pot" so I could've avoided your whole religion kick.

And "1984" is a tired reference, used as FUD by far left wingers. Most of them haven't even read the damn book.

You've got issues.

(before you go nuts and find some pejorative to label me with, I don't like the administration's policies)

Rick - Clinton did not get a majority of the votes. He won both elections with forty-something percent - a plurality.

What's interesting to me is that Xeus seems to be taking a superior attitude here. He tells us to "grow a spine" and "deal with it" and alludes to being more cosmopolitan than average. What he doesn't realize is that the way in which some people "deal with it" (myself included) is by engaging in debate. He criticizes me for having a viewpoint he's heard before--for not being original and for using terminology others have used before in projecting their viewpoints. He quickly turned the discussion into a personal attack instead of a debate of the issues, and I took the bait and responded. Congratulations, you've landed a big liberal fish, Xeus.

on calling myself a liberal with the "wrong" viewpoint. This is sarcasm. My point, which I thought was quite blunt, was that there are few opinions which can be classified as "wrong" and just because somone disagrees with your viewpoint doesn't make them wrong. F. Scott Fitzgerald observed that that the test of a first rate mind is the ability to hold two opposing thoughts at the same time while retaining the ability to function. I fear there are far too many folks in powerful positions who sadly lack this ability...they have made everything into a black/white issue. This is true for people in the Bush Administration, some liberal pundits, and even a good number of people we are fighting against.

I don't have a problem with people who disagree with me. I don't have a problem accepting that other opinions are not always wrong. What I have a problem with is bad, narrow-minded logic, plagiarized opinions, and plain-old out-dated reasoning. That's why, when I read stuff that clearly disagrees with my opinion, I only want to read the best stuff. There's a copy of "The Nation." sitting on my desk with a cover article about an argument against the war, right now. And up until a few months ago, I was against a war, in theory. It's still a complicated mess and I certainly have my own doubts.

Is that proof enough for you?

Want to know what's funniest about your Fitzgerald quote? It was updated later by George Orwell in "1984" as a definition for the word "doublethink", an ability that allowed the fascist government workers to mentally continue to destroy history and recreate it as Big Brother wished. The current administration you condemn as being vaguely Orwellian doesn't have the ability of "doublethink", while "1984"'s administration does. By extension of your own logic, are you still sure you want them to be able to "doublethink"?

You need to rethink your ideas. This is getting embarrassing.

A little paranoid it seems.

Austin folk are friendly and accept a lot of weird people in their town. I figure Bubba was staring at you because you were interesting or maybe he was trying to determine where he could buy boots like yours.

Want to see an interesting mix of people? Visit 6th st.

First of all, I want to thank my readers for keeping the debate civil, so far. I am deleting ridiculous flames and troll-bait, so don't bother trying to post such. I know my readers are smart enough to know the difference, so I won't lecture.

The comments thing on my site is a new one for me, and last year I told myself I'd never have comments on Camworld but I have caved and am trying it out to see what the discussion is like. If it falls apart and people refuse to debate intelligently, like everyone above has done so far, I will keep enabling comments for posts that I want discussion about. Otherwise, I will disable comments entirely.

Bill, please know that a new design is in the work and this default MT (that Mena calls "clean") is just temporary until I can get my newly-learned CSS-layout skills under control. I'm at SXSW this week so have very little time to focus on design and coding.

Robert, it is not a secret that I am not a fan of the Bush administration's actions and that I oppose the current line of reasoning for the impending war in Iraq, but it is my opinion and I'm free to state it - and you are free to debate it with and try to change my mind.

Also, I do want to point out that I'm not planning on "running off" to another country just because I'm tired of America. Far from it, I have more important reasons to go overseas for lengthy periods of time. I just spent three weeks in Siberia, spending time with my very good Russian friends and interviewing people I am considering hiring for a business venture I am researching. Sure, my U.S. dollar buys a lot more there than it does in New York, but to fault me for taking advantage of such an economic fact is ridiculous. I can assure you that most of the rich people in Bush's circle of friends and business acquaintances do exactly this very same thing on a regular basis.

It is also true that Damien's political view reflect my own in many ways, but it is to be expected. We are identical twins and have very similar thought patterns and were raised by the same parents, however we differ in ways that some people would never expect. Just ask any friend who has met us both and they'll confirm this.

Rick, you make some good points. I will not vote for Bush in 2004, regardless of the outcome of the war or if the war happens at all. I will vote for the candidate whose views and ideas I agree with. In fact, I feel that the best person to be President right now would be, had events in 200 led to him being elected, John McCain -- a Republican.

Rick, my way of influencing others is this weblog. It is voicing my opinion and engaging in intelligent debate. It is supporting the Congressmen and politicians who agree with my political views. It is participating in anti-war rallies and supporting the campaigns that most closely are aligned to my points of view. It is carefully explaining to my friends overseas that the America they see on their televisions and in their newspapers, represented by Bush's speeches and actions, is not necessarily the viewpoint of ALL Americans. People I am close to expressed grave concern to me that they feel Bush is a renegade President who has hijacked American democracy and are worried about their friends and relatives...IN AMERICA.

And "1984" is a damn fine book. Do you think that Bush has read it? My gut instinct would say that he has not.

Cam,
Glad to have you back. Re: your comments about Bush and the next two years. I do hope that Bush's term as the US leader is as short as his fathers (or shortened by impeachment) however I worry that once again he will steal the election. With many states getting rid of paper ballots after the 2000 election there will be no paper trail to follow should Bush decided to steal another.

CHris

yo. i'm betting you will take some heat for this one - but you've echoed my sentiments and many of my friends here in minneapolis and northern minnesota. in fact i have a friend who has already moved from the to canada for this very reason. im ready to take my portable business and the modest amount to tax dollars it generates to a country with more respect for others in the world, the environment and its citizens.

let us hope that in the words of garrison keillor the bush administration will be looked back at as a "dumb low-rent mistake" ... and that alone.

I happened across the new site last night and read Cam's post last night. I wanted to take the time to read everyone's comments before I posted and I just finished that.

1) On the connection between Iraq and Al Qaeda - Disarming Iraq is not really about whether there is a connection now or not. The danger comes if there is a connection in the future. Or if Saddam Hussein finds and/or creates a terrorist group that is closer to his ideology and arms them accordingly. The United Nations has acknowledged this over and over, but for many years, many members have lacked the will to do anything about it. As Bill Clinton noted in 1998, "If we fail to respond today, Saddam and all those who would follow in his footsteps will be emboldened tomorrow. Iraqi agents have undermined and undercut [them]. They've harassed the inspectors, lied to them, disabled monitoring cameras, literally spirited evidence out of the back doors of suspect facilities as inspectors walked through the front door." President Clinton was correct, but was unable to assemble the necessary alliance. President Bush, realizing the greatest mistake his father made was in letting the UN dictate the goals of the Gulf War, has assembled an alliance outside of the UN. The only question remains whether the Security Council will support the alliance or not.

2) On American Public Opinion - George Bush was elected, as every president has been, by a majority vote in the Electoral College. If you want to change the system, fine. Work with your congressional representatives and state representatives to get a constitutional amendment passed to change to a direct election system. There was a lot of talk of this immediately after the election, but I have heard nothing lately. The best measure of public opinion since 2000, is not the polls, but the 2002 election. And since the Republicans kept the House, regained the Senate, re-elected the President's brother, and achieved most of their other election goals, I would say that the American People would seem to be behind the President. And as far as talk of Bush getting beat in the next election or even impeached, it doesn't bother me in the least. But talk of assassination makes some of us uncomfortable.

3) The Erosion of Civil Liberties - I thought the Patriot Act should have had an automatic cutoff clause inserted. However, it did not and both parties supported it overwhelmingly (357-66 in the House and 98-1 in the Senate). Again, if you want to make changes, as Bernie Sanders is doing, contact your congressional representatives.

4) Anti-American Feelings around the World - Frankly, I just don't care what the Europeans or anybody else think. It wasn't their countries that were attacked on Sepember 11th, it was ours.

Anyway, Good Luck, everybody.

____It is also true that Damien's political view reflect my own in many ways, but it is to be expected. We are identical twins and have very similar thought patterns and were raised by the same parents, however we differ in ways that some people would never expect. Just ask any friend who has met us both and they'll confirm this.____

I can confirm this. I think I'm more like Damien than Cam is.

Robert wrote, ____It has been almost 18 months since we were attacked. Our government has been sifting through all of the intel and have made their plans known. How has the administration been knee-jerk and over-reactive? Tell me how.____

No, Robert, they haven't been knee-jerk and over-reactive. In fact, they haven't been forthcoming much at all. They tell us things which do us no good--"There's a threat, but we can't say anything more about it, except to say that you should be wary"--and do not tell us the things we yearn to hear: "Here are the results of our exhaustive 18-month investigation into the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks" or "Here are the names of the people we are holding as prisoners, and here are they names of their legal counsel" or "Here are the expected locations of the banned weapons we believe Iraq currently has" or "Here is why we began the stop-Iraq campaign even before Sept. 11" or "Here are the reasons we believe Saddam Hussein plans to attack the United States" or "Here is logic behind our statement as to why, although we claim to be enforcing a UN resolution, we are willing to go this without the support of the UN."

No, we get none of that. None of it. Where is the evidence? Where are the facts? Where is the supporting information? In the plagiarized reports of Tony Blair? In the lies passed on by disreputable sources, only now revealed to us as the inventions of informants? In statements made years ago which said Iraq will have nuclear capabilities in six months, predictions now outdated? In the attempts to prove the presence of weapons of mass destruction by saying, more or less, "Well, there's no specific evidence that they don't exist"?

Now is the time for full disclosure; the lives of our intelligence sources no longer outweigh those of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers, or civilians, nor do they justify the turmoil and chaos and death we will unleash in fewer than ten days.

My opposition to the war is not based upon my dislike of the Bush administration, but upon my belief that the known facts do not support it. The march toward war is based upon suppositions, predictions, assumptions, wishful thinking, willful ignorance and distrust. That is unacceptable.

Nice post, Cam. Nothing like going overseas to see how the majority of the world views America. Though I doubt W. could be impeached since he's in bed with the conservative Congress - nor assasinated - given the sophisticated security he has (that would suck anyway - would just mean Dick took control) - one thing giving me hope is at least there's no chance in hell this Administration will be re-elected in a year and a half. My wife is worried they might cancel the 2004 elections or seal the borders before then, but barring that, we should be able to stay in the states and see W. go the way of his Daddy soon.
Also - W in no way represents the average Texan. He was not raised or educated here, but among the East Coast power elite. His being governor was nothing more than a result of the typical Christian/Corporate voting structure that has the money and influence to control politics in this state. Many of us wanted to re-elect Ann Richards, and Bush only won that by the narrowest of margins.

I've already checked about moving there. Someone told me love it or leave it and that worked for me! Anyway, you don't need a Visa right away if you're going for less than 3 months and you can get one there if you get a job. They speak English and they drive on the left side of the road.

Grant, you do have points worth considering. Some of the answers you seek I would be interested in knowing myself. Yet, I ask, if we are at "war" with terrorist do we want them to know everything we know about them? If you and I know, the terrorists will know, which places our own at risk.

Grant, you also ask... "Where is the evidence? Where are the facts? Where is the supporting information?" Here is a link that might provide some answers to your questions:

http://www.lib.ecu.edu/govdoc/iraq.html#keydocs

I know for certain about one American guy claiming political asylum here in the Netherlands (or Holland, as a lot of people happen to know it). Actually, that was in the news quite a while ago and I don't know what happened to his claim.

"I said I disagreed with him. I am saddened when people say that they will leave America because they disagree with our leadership. Can you imagine if our Founding Fathers did the same thing?"

Would that be the same Founding Fathers who left their native country and formed another that was more to their liking?

Welcome back Cam. Thought I'd just point out that not all is rosy here in Europe either. Lots of people, including me, are dumbfounded by Tony Blair's actions and his almost slavish devotion to everything Bush says.

Rogers you ask..."Would that be the same Founding Fathers who left their native country and formed another that was more to their liking?"

I guess you could say that, Rogers. However, if I recall my American history correctly, the Europeans that first touched American soil did so for the promise of riches for their beloved country, not to start another.

Anyway, I'm glad those that stayed on, didn't turn tail and return from whence they came when times got tough.

Hi there, this is Jamie Leigh from www.jamieleigh.net. It's about time I stopped here, I've heard so much about you. All I can say is as with many others I am looking forward to seeing your new website. Your last entry was incredibly well written and I wanted to just commend you on that.

Every so often I will visit a website on the internet that catches my eye. Yours was one which interested me (besides of course hearing of it and reading of it in my books and such on weblogs) and I found this to be very unique and special. The content most importantly to me, the writing, how it is all presented together. Although one entry, I am certain to bookmark you. For me from day one, my mission in life is to continue expressing myself through my art and through my gift of creativity, and it's what has truly saved me. I was so glad to find your website tonight and wanted to tell you that. It is extremely refreshing to see something such as this and I definitly plan on returning. I would love to invite you to come say hello to me at my official website (www.jamieleigh.net), I would love to have you. Keep up the incredible work and never stop being who you are.

Nothing more but a job well done and NEVER STOP expressing yourself.

All my love,
Jamie Leigh
http://www.jamieleigh.net

I really wanted to read this article. I got in about 5 paragraphs, then the eye strain was too much. PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE use black text like 99.99% of the rest of the web. It's there for a reason. People who tell you light grey is easier to read on web pages have no research to back this up. Grey is a different shade/intensity on every monitor -- CRT, LCD, etc., further varied by how each user has adjusted their monitor brightness. However, black is always black. It's a universal that works best for readability.

Sorry, I really wanted to read this article, but it was too difficult.

FWIW, I have perfect vision.

I found this poem on a weblog last month and thought it one of the funniest things I've read all year. It's also quite applicable to the above commentary. It's composed of outakes of different speeches and press comments made by our President.

[poem courtesy of Kerri and www.star-shine.net]

MAKE THE PIE HIGHER
by George W. Bush

I think we all agree, the past is over.
This is still a dangerous world.
It's a world of madmen and uncertainty
and potential mental losses.

Rarely is the question asked
Is our children learning?
Will the highways of the Internet become more few?
How many hands have I shaked?

They misunderestimate me.
I am a pitbull on the pantleg of opportunity.
I know that the human being and the fish can coexist.
Families is where our nation finds hope, where our wings take dream.

Put food on your family!
Knock down the tollbooth!
Vulcanize society!
Make the pie higher! Make the pie higher!

I'm sorry to say I've thought the same thing in the recent past. I thought, hmmm...should I re-patriate myself back to Norway where my grandparents immigrated from in the early 1900's? I am disgusted with this administration and everyday realize its not going to get any better. But I can promise one thing, Bush will not be re-elected! He will start a war but he will not be president again if I have any say in the matter...and will work my fingers to the bone for any other candidate except him!

Dear Cam,

Can relate to how you feel. Can relate to how you think. As an expat living in Australia, I am horrified at the events taking place in the U.S. The FBI accessing people's library records. A man in New York being arrested for wearing a "Give Peace a Chance" t-shirt in a shopping mall. Bernedette Devlin, a member of the Irish Parliament, being detained by Homeland Secuirity at the airport. The limited news in the mainline U.S. media and limited debate.

I'm not ashamed of being an American. I believe my childhood and education taught me precious values and ethics. It's a shame the current administration didn't get the same upbrining and education.

If it's any consolation, I believe that somewhere in Texas is a village that's lost its idiot. Maybe they'll find him and take him back!

Cheers from Australia and keep the faith. The values this administration is oppressing are worth fighting for. Surely Americans can find a legitimate despot to fight closer to home.

Welcomeback afterall, Cam

jlo

On behalf of Canadians everywhere I'd like to offer an apology to
the United States of America. We haven't been getting along very well
recently and for that, I am truly sorry.

I'm sorry we called George Bush a moron. He is a moron but, it
wasn't nice of us to point it out. If it's any consolation, the fact that
he's a moron shouldn't reflect poorly on the people of America. After all
it's not like you actually elected him.

I'm sorry about our softwood lumber. Just because we have more trees than you
doesn't give us the right to sell you lumber that's cheaper and better than your own.

I'm sorry we beat you in Olympic hockey. In our defence I guess our
excuse would be that our team was much, much, much, much better than yours.

I'm sorry we burnt down your white house during the war of 1812. I
notice you've rebuilt it! It's Very Nice.

I'm sorry about your beer. I know we had nothing to do with your
beer but, we Feel your Pain.

I'm sorry about our waffling on Iraq. I mean, when you're going up
against a crazed dictator, you wanna have your friends by your side. I
realize it took more than two years before you guys pitched in against
Hitler, but that was different. Everyone knew he had weapons.

I'm sorry about that Liberal MP calling you guys: "Damned Americans"
We know some of you are good people.

And finally on behalf of all Canadians, I'm sorry that we're
constantly apologizing for things in a passive-aggressive way which is
really a thinly veiled criticism. I sincerely hope that you're not upset
over this. We've seen what you do to countries you get upset with.

Thank you.

So the system works fine when a candidate in your favor is elected ... but let someone you don't agree with come into power, and all of a sudden the system is flawed, or was compromised in some way by corrupt politicians.

How can you even claim to have (or want) all of the information that is being used to guide our actions abroad? This country is far too big to let the information trickle down to every joe blow (and foreign informant). That's why we elect representatives isn't it?

I say, if our administration is doing it, it's because the majority has deemed it so.

You say it's not the majority? that not all eligible parties have voted? I say that the ones who got off their duffs and voted have the right to have their elected representatives honored in their decisions. Just because your side doesn't have enough people to vote your views into power doesn't make those currently in power guilty of corrupt practices.

Oh ... and welcome back ... yours is probably one of the more interesting blogs to read. ;-)

Welcome back.

About the essay: I dearly hope you are a regular voter. I am, and I have simply stopped voting for incumbents. If someone is in office now, vote 'em out. They can run on their record next time around if they want to.

I will no longer tolerate any excuses for not voting - people who don't bother to go vote and complain about the corrupt, non-representative government we have are simply lazy. Go vote - throw the rascals out!

interesting piece. i really enjoyed it. I got to this from a link off of my friend Eric Case's blog, at which i am a usual disturbance to his karma. First of all, you humor me. Americans were hiding their passports before the bush administration. And do i dare say that they were doing it during the Clinton administration. Although i totally disagree with your position on the current situation with Iraq, and probably more situations in life to even count, I try to understand your opinions. You sound like an intellegent person, and i've only read the one piece of yours, so i'll give you the benefit of the doubt. I'd just like to know why you Bush-bash and don't support your arguments. The only thing i see out of you, and others involved in the idyllic peace scene for that matter, is that you are anti bush. You would not be saying the same things if Clinton/Gore/any other socialist/communist was in office. So, try and do yourself a favor and present some ideas for solving the iraq issue, rather than bush bashing at every turn. Also, generalizing without any well conceived position, is a strength of yours. It makes you sound uninformed, closed minded and unoriginal. On the positive side, you, unlike myself, are a good writer and i enjoy your commentary. I'll stop back again soon and disturb your karma. --Don't hate me for having an opinion.

Hey, I feel your pain ... as someone who has changed country twice, I think I know a bit what it's like.
You just *never* go back to seeing your original/home culture the same way you used to.

And now I'm in New Zealand :)

I'm sure there are a *few* people who hate us Kiwis. The war-inclined section of the Aussie population thinks our government's foreign policy stance is too 'soft' and we should pledge our support to the Bush government. Fat chance :)

Something is in the air - probably a stink from the White House which the media and half the population doesn't notice. My brother also decided that if this kept up he should check into New Zealand immigration laws.

Easter Lemming Liberal News
http://elemming2.blogspot.com

Dear Cam and all others reading this,

I'm a European and I want to try and put some perspective on this debate.

Hate is a very, very strong word. It is just not true that Europeans hate America. Yes, many of us (myself included) bemoan those aspects of American culture which we consider negative; but we are in a minority. Just to name a concrete example of the this: a large minority of Europeans bemoan the spread of McDonald’s across Europe. But no one forces Europeans to eat at McDonald's, they do it of their own free will (if you want to look at it positively) or herd mentality (if you want to look at it negatively). And this is a good example of the love-hate relationship Europe has with the USA: many of us make fun of certain American stereotypes, and some of us bemoan American’s increasing, often negative, influence on Europe, but Europe as a whole embraces American culture and simply cannot get enough of it.

People in Europe do not hate America. On September 11th people stopped working; everyone was appalled; the newspapers and television were filled with the event, and no one ever said it was a good thing; I simply could not stop crying as I watched the footage on TV, and I know many others reacted likewise.

I love Europe, speak four European languages and I've lived in six European countries in my 28 years. Nevertheless, most of my favourite films are American, most of my favourite records are American, many of my favourite authors are American, and I’m typing this on an American laptop running American software. I have very dear friends in America, and I have visited America twice (California, Virgina, Maryland and DC) and had an incredible time both times. But I would never want to live there, nor raise children there.

Most intelligent Europeans know that the American government is not representative of the American people, and this is the problem: you do not live in a democracy. You live in an empire which has been an empire since Nixon, if not earlier. The world’s most powerful and influential country has a two-party system with no significant difference between the two parties, a situation in which only the filthy rich can run for president, and a population where most people cannot be bothered to vote; your current president speaks as if he believed in Divine Right, and whatever anyone says, your country’s strongest and most influential religion is Mammon.

Having said all this, some of the comments in this thread are indicative serious flaws in certain people’s attitudes. I end my post by quoting them without further comment:

"I am a proud American and supporter of President Bush. I don't travel to foreign shores, but if I did..."

"...the government does not lie..."

"I certainly don't give a rat's ass what a bunch of whining Europeans think about our style of defending liberty—a concept that they hardly embrace. Once we've cleaned up the world and made it safe from terrorism..."

George Bush is ass.

I love CamWorld!

I know what you mean - I just got back from doing a 6 month contract in Paris. The shift in perspective gets you thinking. What most don't realize is the US media is constantly pumping out a view that gets reflected off of everyone and ultimately, its not accurate.

I would consider leaving the US permanently - I find what this country has become distasteful. Greedy, self righteous, vast sense of self entitlement, and arrogant. Where's the pride to be had in that?

Plus, as a software architect, I'm not finding any work - so what have I got to lose by pulling up stakes?

LOL....all of you...comedy..pure comedy....First to my fellow Americans...There is a game being played in the world..its the only game that truly counts...it's called King of the Hill...America is on top(till India and China's economy's grow to suplant us as the primary consumer economy's of the world and our loss of our manufacturing base finally bites us in the ass ) for now...Our govt. be it democratic or republican maintains our way of life through the most immoral and criminal means possible. The support of ruthless dictators who give lip service to the words democracy, unjust tariffs and subsudies(the sugar industry to name one of many) or out right bribery and manipulation of political affairs within sovergein countries...we do it all. Why? to keep Americans swimming in Beer, hamburgers,chocolates,DVDs, SUVs and Tai Kwan Do/yogurt profilerating urban sprawling mini malls. I realize this is being done..i realize why its being done..and i am okay with it. Americans want the hamburger but don't want to know how the cow is killed. The liberals and the conservatives are equally guilty so long as you partake in the glorious oppertunities and resources made avaiable in this country. Those resources are available to you because our govt. took them(at below market value) from someone else...As i said before..i am all for it. Why? cause i live in america. I want the best for me and my family. If i lived somewhere else..i would be pissed to be sure. Is my govt or by extension myself moral for reaping the rewards of our unconscienceable behavior??...Hell no. Unlike the rest of you..i don't differenciate between the responsibility of my govt. and me as a citizen/consumer. By the way, we don't really want to establish any true american style corpracracies..oops i mean democracies in the world..the last time we did that (Germany and Japan) we ended up with Real competitors for our way of life...we learned that lesson 60 years ago and have not started another true democracy since... As for all you Europeans, aussies,kiwis and anyone else....if you were the King of the Hill...your govts would do the exact same thing and you would bath in the ensuing bounty as fully as we Americans. For our British and french friends..history has already shown your true colours when given almost absolute power in the world.....so kindly shut up...History shows that Rise and Fall is the nature of all things human...In 80 years some young Chineese or Indian citizen will be saying these same words to their countrymen...till then..i for one say..It is good to be the King.

I would agree that living in the U.S. right now is kind of ugly. It is a product of the excesses that have built up over the last half century. The U.S. just had the longest bull market in history, and now greed and laziness have to be weeded out.

Every country is subject to mood swings, but they all have their own unique character underneath it all.

The U.S. grew out of hard work and bold ideas. It hasn't forgotten that -- it just hasn't had to rely on that for a while. If you're like me or the friends I grew up with, we're second-generation Americans whose parents came from lives that were worse overseas. Our parents then made good lives for themselves here. And then we grew up reading American authors like Faulkner and Steinbeck and got an idea of what things used to be like when times were harder.

I'm at a language school with probably the highest concentration of nationalized native speakers in the country. Most of them fled from horrible situations in their homelands. Their words about how bad it used to be ring truer.

To lose faith in the U.S. now is just hopping on a bandwagon, much like a sports fan changes allegiance based on which team is winning that year.

Of course, the response to this will reflexively be that people haven't lost faith. But when you're charged up with so much destructive cynicism that it pollutes all of your ideas, you might as well have lost faith. If you're so disappointed with it all, why don't you take a more active role in trying to change it? Why don't you show some courage? Blogs won't change the world. Neither will standing anonymously in a crowd protesting. What's next? Sit-ins at the city library?

Voter apathy eventually leads to the emergence of someone like Bush. Bush decides he actually wants to do something actively. People disagree with his reasoning, or his doing it. So they then find a strong candidate representing their views to unseat him. More people vote because they're more pissed off about the administration and they care about it. Voting starts to increase. Maybe there's a silver lining to all of this. Maybe people will vote again, maybe politicians will diverge more.

I'm tired of do-nothings. I'm tired of talkers. There's no freaking reason to be unemployed right now, especially if you're someone complaining about all the wrongs in the world. Yet you can't go anywhere on the web these days without finding some moaning, jobless blogger. Puke.

All that said, I plan to retire through the government and move to Rome. I can't imagine changing my citizenship, though. There's nothing wrong with finding it more comfortable to live somewhere else.

Xeus

I was born an American and feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunities and life that I have had. The times that I have travelled it has always been great to be home. I understand that there are others that do not feel the same way about America and respect their right to their opinion.

Those that are ashamed of the US and feel like leaving should consider acting on those feelings. I am sure that there are many options available. Do the research, consider the pros and cons, and make a decision. Would it be better to stay here and be miserable or go somewhere else and perhaps be happy?

I have a great deal of respect for those who who decide they cannot remain in the US, give up their US citizenship and find a home somewhere else. On the other hand it is hard to respect someone who is full of hate and vile for this country but is unwilling to act on principle because it may mean giving up the style of life this country makes possible.

Just my two cents.

There is no place like home. Think about it.

PS: Cam you were not right about looking at people in the eye on the street in Russia. This is my favourite game (to see their reaction) :)

welcome back Cam!

I am a ntive american living in florida and a land which is suposed to be where my people have been for thousands of years has been competely twisted. The values of individualism, creativity and truth are held underwater by commodity. I knew the war was a lie from the start, no waepons of mass destruction complete and utter lies, white man Bush speaks with a forked tongue. Question is what will we do about it. Was all of this sorry crap part of the manifest destiny?