Cottie concurs

'Stador read my post on the heinous legislation passed last week and said this:

You know, I'm getting a real Germany circa 1934 vibe off this whole situation. I've always wondered if I'd have been one of the smart Jews who got out of Dodge while there was still time. This is starting to look like one hell of a wake-up call.

BTW, read this. It sums everything up
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/092906J.shtml

I did read it. Good article. Here's my favorite part:

By writing this essay, I could be deemed an "enemy combatant." It's that simple, and very soon, it will be the law. I always laughed when people told me to be careful. I'm not laughing anymore.

In case I disappear, remember this. America is an idea, a dream, and that is all. We have borders and armies and citizens and commerce and industry, but all this merely makes us like every other nation on this Earth. What separates us is the idea, the simple idea, that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are our organizing principles. We can think as we please, speak as we please, write as we please, worship as we please, go where we please. We are protected from the kinds of tyranny that inspired our creation as a nation in the first place.

That was the idea. That was the dream. It may all be over now, but once upon a time, it existed. No good idea ever truly dies. The dream was here, and so was I, and so were you.

Am I joining the tin foil hat brigade? No.

But I agree with the author that this law is terrible and wide open to abuse. The idea that America could become a fascist dictatorship cowed into submission by threats of terror was the stuff of Sci Fi. But I'm not so sure any more. I had to pinch myself when I saw that this law was passed. I can't believe that any responsible American could support this. Terrorism is a threat, but the loss of our liberty is not necessary to combat terrorism and even if it were is too high a price to pay.

What are we fighting for? I thought we wanted to spread freedom and democracy throughout the world. And yet that oft repeated talking point sounds like so much doublespeak today.

2 + 2 = 5

Congress - What the hell are you thinking?

Oh, I know, you're trying to get re-elected...

Last week, Congress passed a bill that allows the President & Secretary of Defense to define anyone they want as an "enemy combatant" – including US citizens - and denied detainees the right to challenge their detention (habeas corpus) in a Federal Court. They also awarded the right to coerce testimony as long as the method used don't constitute a "grave breach" from the Geneva Convention. (What does that mean? The President gets to decide.)

Now, let's say that you trust President Bush. What of future Presidents? How could they use this tool to silence their political enemies?

I am disappointed with the entire Congress and in particular John McCain. This is a travesty for American democracy. I hate the terrorists and want to see them caught as much as the next guy. But this just isn't necessary to effectively fight a war on terror. You can't tell me that if we have habeas corpus, the terrorists will win. Its a false choice.

This is America and we have a system of checks and balances. Our Constitution and whole system of government were designed to prevent one branch of government from seizing total unchecked power. Congress has failed in its job to check the President and has abdicated its authority.

No matter who you are - Republican, Democrat, Independent, or Raelian, you should be concerned about this. This is a bad law passed out of political weakness. We can only now all pray that the Supreme Court strikes this down as it has previous moves by the Administration in this vein.