Bush writes in his memoir “Decision Points.”

“I thought about my meeting with Danny Pearl’s widow, who was pregnant with his son when he was murdered. I thought about the 2,971 people stolen from their families by al Qaeda on 9/11. And I thought about my duty to protect my country from another act of terror.

‘Damn right,’ I said.”

My response to Mr. Bush is equally concise and clear.

Damn wrong.

Asked in a 2003 presidential debate to name his favorite philosopher, Mr. Bush answered, “Christ. Because he changed my heart.”

It is sickening enough that as President Mr. Bush had his legal team redefine torture to be only that, which caused permanent organ failure and or death. It is sickening enough that he flaunted every established International law that torture is a crime. It is sickening enough that he consistently obliterated America’s constitutional ideals of human rights.

But to do all of these calloused acts in the name of Christ elicits in me as a Minister and follower of Jesus a prophetic condemnation of hellish amplitude.

Here is what a “changed heart” looks like to Jesus.

“Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.”

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons & daughters of God.”

“You are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before the world that they may see your good works and give glory to God in heaven.”

Mr. Bush feigns that he struggled over his wild west “decision point” in ordering torture.

“The choice between security and values was real.”

How ’bout it Christ?

“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

What is the verdict of Christ for those who flaunt his sacred values?

Whether you hear Christ’s prophetically zealous pronouncement literally or not, his graphic depiction of such a souls state is clear, in or out of the earthly body.

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment.”

Damn right.

On Wednesday the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee spent 5 hours grilling a Hall of Fame caliber baseball pitcher and his trainer about 3 alleged shots of illegal substances injected into his butt.

Meanwhile Senator Arlen Specter the ranking Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee spent an hour and a half of moral fortitude with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell discussing the New England Patriots and the league’s decision to destroy tapes and notes turned over by the Patriots in an investigation that has become known as “Spygate.”

All the while in small independent theaters, that minor league reality show called life on planet earth features our President and Vice President admitting and shamelessly defending torture, the Senate approving unconstitutional wiretapping with a side of immunity for telecom companies, and the announcement of death penalty – no due process – military tribunal trials for alleged 9-11 conspirators.

The passionate preacher’s warning reverberates, “Majoring in minors!”

Old School Prophet Amos is a reliable educational advisor for our major in the in the college of higher ethics. “Seek good and not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you just as you say he is. Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the courts…let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like and ever flowing stream.” (Amos 5:14,15,24)

Be of good courage bearers of the light. Keep shining and sounding the light. Despot’s deeds ultimately get them expelled. Grandstanders who major in minors eventually flunk out.

The poetic truth intersected by William Channing Gannett will persevere and be granted the Everlasting Diploma.

“It sounds along the ages, soul answering to soul; It kindles on the pages of every Bible scroll; The psalmist heard and sang it, from martyr lips it broke, and prophet tongues outrang it till sleeping nations woke.”

One wintry am. I rounded the bend and I was welcomed with a barrage of snowballs, which Seth hurled at me with machine gun rapidity. I covered, ducked, and ran, but then something inside shouted, “Enough.” In desperation I fashioned a snowball and instinctively flung it in his direction. To my utter astonishment the icy sphere hit Seth square in the face! He scampered off screaming. Seth never bothered me again.

We are long overdue for a Seth moment in America. Bush/Cheney and their co conspirators are textbook bullies. Those who have studied such abusers will tell you that blowhard talk only emboldens sociopaths like these. Decisive action is the only course that will end the cycle of abuse.

Last week Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey used weaker than Democrat semantic double speak to non answer his true convictions that the President can break the law at this pleasure and that torture is just fine. It looked like for once the blue-faced Dems might actually mount a true defense of our Constitution, laws, and common decency.

Upon further review however, Senators Schumer and Feinstein decided they would vote in favor of Mukasey virtually ensuring his confirmation. Schumer justified his vote saying that he visited with Mukasey and he “flatly told me” if Congress passed a measure outlawing waterboarding, “that the President would have absolutely no legal authority to ignore such a law.” This is about as reassuring as saying Alberto Gonzales has recovered from his Alzheimer testimony syndrome. Senator Feinstein whined, “I believe that Judge Mukasey is the best we will get.”

In the legendary story from the Jewish scriptures, NBA sized Philistine warrior Goliath taunted the Hebrew people day after day while the elected officials and trained military leaders quaked in their armor.

Righteously sick of their cowardice a scrawny shepherd boy named David emerged from the pasture and planted a smooth stone with his sling shot between the giant’s eyes. He then used Goliath’s sword against him. At the sight of this the bully’s cohorts ran for the hills. Congressional Democrats, as the bumper sticker insists, “Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of the way!”

Even the gently flowing Tao Te Ching instructs, “In action; be aware of the time and the season.” Democracy’s sun is sinking low. There’s a time to fling the snowball. The time is now.

“Can a president put somebody above the law by authorizing illegal conduct?” Leahy inquired.

“The president doesn’t stand above the law. But the law emphatically includes the Constitution. It starts with the Constitution,” he replied.

These are a few key answers Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey offered last week before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The buzz is Mukasey is sure to be confirmed. Brace yourself anew. Our next United States Attorney General will occupy that noble office continuing the policies of torture, illegal warrantless wiretapping, and the President being above our laws and constitution.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy whimpered, “He’s at least answered the questions, which is better than his predecessor.”

We now have a bar so low for the highest law enforcement office in the land that an ant could jump it. Answering the questions. The content of the answers don’t matter. Is there a person reading this that could get a job with this pitiful standard?

I grew up a literal Bible believin’, Bible quotin’, Bible thumpin’, Bible memorizin’ guy.

Some of those teachings still have potent relevance. Jesus exhorted in the Sermon on the Mount, “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

Mukasey’s tack is as old as humanity; using weasels words to bypass honesty.

How long will “we the people” allow this administration to blaspheme our sacred covenants and human dignity for imaginary security?
Mukasey, “at least answered the questions.”

Yesterday President Bush lectured Cuba, “You can bring about a future where your leaders answer to you.”

Friends and Fellow citizens, what will your answer be?

“The President shall take the following oath or affirmation…. To the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

“The President of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”

The history of the present would be King of these United States “is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.”

He has led us into a war with premeditated and intentional falsehoods, thus undermining the will of the People and the Congress to consent to this course of action.

He has prosecuted and illegal war of aggression in violation of the United Nations charter and Nuremberg Principles of which we are co-founders and signatories.

He has flagrantly and continually violated the writ of Habeas Corpus guaranteed in our Constitution.

He has claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws through the tactic of Presidential signing statements.

He has flaunted the separation of powers over and over through secrecy; refusing to turn over documents requested by the Congress.

He has authorized and persistently practiced “cruel, inhuman and degrading” treatment amounting to torture of prisoners, wantonly violating the Geneva Conventions.

He has brazenly violated the fourth amendment – “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures” by means of warrantless wiretapping and surveillance.

We, therefore, as citizens of the United States of America…”appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these States, solemnly publish and declare” the impeachment of George W. Bush as President of our nation.

Rev. Chuck Freeman