A DANGEROUS MAN

[Algorem]

http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/editorial/documents/05190678.asp

...Bush’s contempt for the law continues. He recently took administrative action that will, he believes, allow him to ignore the anti-torture provisions that Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona wrote into the latest Defense Appropriations Act.

Never mind that after Bush initially resisted McCain’s provision he pretended ultimately to endorse it. Bush is, after all, a proven liar. He lied to the nation about governing from the center. He lied to the nation about when he made up his mind to wage war on Iraq. He lied to the nation about Iraq’s possession of a nuclear-weapons program and about other weapons of mass destruction. He lied to political opponents like Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts in order to get support for so-called educational-reform legislation. So why should it surprise us that he misrepresented himself when he claimed to join fellow Republican McCain’s attempt to stop US-sponsored torture?

With very little fanfare, Bush has signed an administrative "statement" that says, in effect, that he intends to ignore the anti-terror provision that Congress saw fit to give the power of law...

Ronald Reagan began this dubious practice in the hopes of heading off, or at least mitigating, judicial challenges when the executive branch ignores legislative directives. Bush’s hope is that by saying the McCain amendment might inhibit his powers as commander in chief, he will be free to ignore its provisions. The courts have yet to grapple with this sort of presidential dodge, but his Supreme Court nominee Joseph Alito employed it as a lawyer in the Reagan administration, and we should assume that Alito and his conservative brothers on the court will rubber-stamp its practice.

[FloridaPat]

1. And the Democrats are going to save the Consititution how?

It looks like the only people in the entire US that care about the Consitution and Democracy are us and other on web sites. The MSM sure doesn't care. And the Democrats better start caring, else there will be no democratic USA.

From Bussflash:
http://www.buzzflash.com/analysis/06/01/ana06003.html

"Thank God our current Senate Democrats weren't at Lexington and Concord! They would have run the other way instead of waiting to see the "whites of their eyes" as the lobster coats approached.

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS

If the patriots had held their powder at Lexington and Concord, this nation might still be under a monarchy. (Well, in a way we do still have King George in power, but that's another story.)

This thought comes to mind because the Democrats in the senate are now thinking of "keeping their powder dry" and letting Sam Alito, who believes in unbridled executive branch power (aka, monarchy, dictatorship, etc.) get greenlighted to a seat on the Supreme Court. Forget, for a moment, that Alito is opposed to the fundamental principles of the Democratic Party platform; Alito is opposed to democracy.

Scalito, as he is called, believes in having a Republican president violate the Constitution by simply making a statement giving his interpretation of any law passed by Congress when he signs it. According to Scalito, this Republican presidential interpretation then becomes the law, not the "intent of Congress."

The man who Bush would have join the other absolute power of the Republican executive branch supporters on the Supreme Court came up with this idea while serving in the Reagan Administration. He urged adopting the "executive branch statement of interpretation" quietly and gradually, so it wouldn't draw much press or legal attention."

[Dhalgren]

2. The Bush Fascists have slit America's throat.

We are bleeding to death and no one seems to notice or care. I know that we do, and many more like-minded people, but we all appear to be too afraid to take the next logical step. We either must accept the Bush Dictatorship or we must fight it. Writing letters won't help, calling Democratic leaders won't help, signing petitions won't help, donating money won't help, voting won't help. We have to look deep within ourselves and try and find a scrap or two of Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine; we have to look for our inner Nathan Hale. If not, we will all be headed for the camps...

[asjr]

3. Excellent reply Dhalgren! That should

be our mantra!

[clitzpah queen]

4. Is there only one "next logical step"?

Isn't it more of a next tier of activity, upping the ante -- ie, more civil disobedience, economic boycotts, general strikes -- is it possible to expand on the next tier on our message board?

[Dhalgren]

5. Great idea!

How about a "Resistance Forum"? Or, "Blows Against the Empire"? (That was a very good album, BTW)