From: "John Beamish" 

Entire body of Congress?  I thought that Secretary confirmation hearings
only involved the Senate.  Thanks for correcting me.

My point is still accurate:  the path via which a person becomes Secretary
of Defence in the United States is substantially different from the path
via which a person becomes Minister of Defence in the UK and Canada.

I know for a fact that the electorate has approved of the Minister of
Defence.  The same cannot be said for the Secretary of Defence who has not
been, as the phrase goes, tried in the crucible of an election.

This difference is fundamental and goes to the very heart of our different
forms of government.  The fact that a Minister must be elected means that
s/he has to subject him/herself to questions in the Commons asked by any
other member.  It is something that cannot be ducked.  In the American
system, the Secretary holds press conferences.


"David Blair"  wrote in message
news:3e918dc4{at}w3.nls.net...
> His work is at the behest and approval of not just the president, but the
> entire body of Congress.
>
> I still don't find your point accurate, albeit that he isn't elected.
>
> "John Beamish"  wrote in message
> news:3e918aa9{at}w3.nls.net...
> > I was referring to Rumsfeld.  As I mentioned in a private conversation,
in
> > the British (and Canadian) system the Ministers (equivalent to
> Secretaries)
> > need to be elected.
> >
> > This is important (to me, at least, in this case) because this is
> > frequently -- and, I believe in many ways, accurately -- as Rummy's war.
> >
> > (BTW:  I do recognize that this is, at its most basic, simply an
artifact
> of
> > the different types of political structures.  It is the
"follow-on"
impact
> > that I think is significant.)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "David Blair"  wrote in message
> > news:3e90f49c{at}w3.nls.net...
> > > Get a grip. He was elected. I can't help it if Pain is unfamiliar with
> how
> > > our nation elects its leaders. He's not alone- too many here are
> confused
> > as
> > > well. He's probably with the many who think there is a national
election
> > for
> > > the President.
> > >
> > > There isn't.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "John Beamish"  wrote in message
> > > news:3e90e8d1$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> > > > He has had some scathing comments about decisions taken by the
> unelected
> > > > leadership of your country.
> > > >
> > > > He has had some equally scathing comments about
decisions taken by
the
> > > > elected leadership of his country.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Gary Wiltshire"  wrote in message
> > > > news:rqh19vc32p3a8g5ggbark5r0nri1opdalq{at}4ax.com...
> > > > > Shitting on my country every chance he gets hardly merits
> "courtesy."
> > > > >
> > > > > On Sun, 6 Apr 2003 18:40:44 -0400, "John Beamish"
> > > > >  wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > >As I mentioned in a post a moment ago, public
figures put
> themselves
> > in
> > > a
> > > > > >position where they are subject to parody. 
Why shouldn't we make
> fun
> > > of
> > > > the
> > > > > >others here?  Courtesy.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >"Gary Wiltshire"
 wrote in message
> > > > > >news:lv919vo6smjors85gr15hfgi014vghkjht{at}4ax.com...
> > > > > >> Perhaps if Phil would learn to spell the
name of his PM?  I,
BTW,
> > > > > >> don't call him Pain.  I call him Phingerpainter.
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >> On Sun, 6 Apr 2003 14:00:41 -0400,
"John Beamish"
> > > > > >>  wrote:
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >> >I grew up having to endure a couple
of "ha-ha, that's so
funny"
> > > plays
> > > > on
> > > > > >my
> > > > > >> >name.
> > > > > >> >
> > > > > >> >The recent fascination of renaming
one of the contributors
here
> > > > reminds
> > > > > >me
> > > > > >> >of the first time on Canopus that I
referred to Windoze.
> > > > > >> >
> > > > > >> >I was told, quite clearly, that it
really wasn't appropriate.
> > > > > >> >
> > > > > >> >Neither is the current variation of the game.
> > > > > >> >
> > > > > >> >
> > > > > >> >"David Blair"
 wrote in message
> > > > > >> >news:3e906767$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> > > > > >> >>
> > > > > >> >> "Robert Comer"
 wrote in message
> > > > > >> >> news:3E8FD696.60709{at}mindspring.com...
> > > > > >> >> > I was wondering the same
thing earlier today.
> > > > > >> >> >
> > > > > >> >> >  > somethings up.
> > > > > >> >> >
> > > > > >> >> > It's called war and
disinformation is a common tactic.
> > > > > >> >>
> > > > > >> >> Just read this group and Phil
Pain and you'll get plenty.
> > > > > >> >>
> > > > > >> >>
> > > > > >> >>
> > > > > >> >
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-4