So 9/11 Means it's OK to Spy on Americans? By Molly Ivins

[kpete]

So 9/11 Means it's OK to Spy on Americans?
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2005-12-22 15:42. Media
By Molly Ivins

Uh-oh. Excuse me. I'm so sorry, but we are having a constitutional crisis. I know the timing couldn't be worse. Right in the middle of the wrapping paper, the gingerbread and the whole shebang, a tiny honest-to-goodness constitutional crisis.
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country: Damn the inconvenience, full speed ahead. On his own, without consulting the Congress, the courts or the people, the president decided to use secret branches of government to spy on the American people. He is, of course, using 9/11 to justify his actions in this, as he does for everything else — 9/11 happened so the Constitution does not apply, 9/11 happened so there is no separation of powers, 9/11 happened so 200 years of experience curbing the executive power of government is something we can now overlook.

That the president of the United States unconstitutionally usurped power is not in dispute. He and his attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, both claim he has the right to do so on account of he is the president.

Let's try this again. The president is not above the law. I wish I thought I were being too pompous about this, but the greatest danger to our freedom always comes when we are scared or distracted — and right now, we are both.


This is the same pattern we have seen with Bush when it came to the Geneva Conventions for handling prisoners and to using torture. Not only does he consider himself above the law, he has surrounded himself with people who keep inventing perverse readings of the Constitution to justify him. Makes it especially nice to hear him go on about the importance of bringing democracy to Iraq.


http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/5915

[Loonman]

1. You say tomato, I say tomah-to

You say Reichstag fire, I say....

[BreweryYardRat]

5. ...your user name is appropriate.

Bush does need to be punished for this, though.

[shraby]

2. Ya gotta love Molly Ivins.

She certainly tells it like it is.

[GrumpyGreg]

3. Well said! n/t

[PDJane]

4. Ms. Molly

Is a national treasure. Her columns are on my must-read list too, along with Karen Kwiatkowski.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

6. It's a very old approach

This is a well-written, well-timed message... thanks Molly... the approach of the current administration reminds me of an Aesop moral: "Any excuse will serve a tyrant"

[ktowntennesseedem]

7. Welcome to DU!!!

:hi:

[Jeffersons Ghost]

8. thanks ktowntennesseedem

I like your quote, "A society that will trade a little liberty for a little order will lose both, and deserve neither." - Thomas Jefferson... Did you know Franklin is also credited with that quote in slightly different words? I posted a Seuss parody using Bush somewhere around here called "How the Grinch Stole Freedom." Actually I'm too new to start topics on a board but a reader who seemed to like it posted the fun piece... I hope it gives everyone a christmas smile or two.

[kpete]

9. welcome Jeffersons Ghost