After the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks, Mohammed Irshaid and many other people in this country were arrested and thrown into prison cells for no other reason than they were of Arab descent.

Irshaid is a middle-aged man with a wife and three young children.

After the attacks, bumper stickers appeared on many vehicles with the phrase "We stand united."

And for the briefest moment of time after the attacks, the entire world stood as one.

The darkness of fascism is closing in on Americans.  They must seek out the light of truth -- and they must go to the light -- to stop the madness.

Folks at the White House stay pretty busy these days just trying to untangle the lies George Bush keeps telling every time he opens his mouth. For example, back in April 2004, Bush explained to a cheering audience and an unchallenging press corps in Buffalo about "eavesdropping" on Americans -- "When you think 'Patriot Act,' constitutional guarantees are in place when it comes to doing what is necessary to protect our homeland, because," he said earnestly while leaning over the podium, his hand on his heart "--because we value the Constitution."

I have always had strong political opinions. Throughout my life I have written letters and editorials, posted on blogs, passed out materials and worked on elections. In November of 2000 I went into shock. I didn't come out of it until Dean woke me up to `take back our country'. We all know what happened next.

Perhaps we have gotten the government that we deserve. There is no doubt that "Freedom isn't free." However it's not just some anonymous member of the military that needs to pay the price. It is you. And me. No exceptions and no exemptions.

Bush has not only confirmed his use of domestic spying without a warrant, but vowed that he will continue, despite deep concerns from legal scholars, senators, and anyone who has a lick of sense.

For those on the far right, the real danger is those traitors at the New York Times and the leakers who actually revealed what our glorious leader was up to, or something like that.  Bush is leading the chorus.  

"My personal opinion is it was a shameful act, for someone to disclose this very important program in time of war," the president said. "The fact that we're discussing this program is helping the enemy."

Is it?  Is it helping "the enemy," Mr. President?  Because, you know, the enemy already knew that the NSA could monitor overseas calls.  Heck, that's part of the agency's charter.  So what, exactly, is it that the reports have revealed?

Why, Mr. President, did you break the law?

Yesterday Senator Dianne Feinstein released a Congressional Research Service report answering the question:

Limitations on Congressional Access to Certain National Intelligence

By virtue of his constitutional role as commander-and-in-chief and head of the executive branch, the President has access to all national intelligence collected, analyzed and produced by the Intelligence Community. The President's position also affords him the authority - which, at certain times, has been aggressively asserted - to restrict the flow of intelligence information to Congress and its two intelligence committees, which are charged with providing legislative oversight of the Intelligence Community. As a result, the President, and a small number of presidentially-designated Cabinet-level officials, including the Vice President - in contrast to Members of Congress - have access to a far greater overall volume of intelligence and to more sensitive intelligence information, including information regarding intelligence sources and methods.

Apparently including intel on his own citizens.  I feel ever so much better now.  After all, the Constitution is "just a piece of paper."  

Ok, this is a commentary by Doug Thompson @ Capitol Hill Blue, via LeftCoaster.  Be nice if he sourced the rant, but worth reading for the comedy value alone:

GOP leaders told Bush that his hardcore push to renew the more onerous provisions of the [Patriot] act could further alienate conservatives still mad at the President from his botched attempt to nominate White House Counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court.

"I don't give a goddamn," Bush retorted. "I'm the President and the Commander-in-Chief. Do it my way."

"Mr. President," one aide in the meeting said. "There is a valid case that the provisions in this law undermine the Constitution."

"Stop throwing the Constitution in my face," Bush screamed back. "It's just a goddamned piece of paper!"

". . .  and he stamped his foot so hard into the ground that his whole leg went in. He then was so angry that he pulled so hard to get his leg out and he split himself in two then disappeared!"  [Rumpelstiltskin]

Life imitates art.

I've been seeing discussion of Texas' alleged anti-gay-marriage amendment, and a couple people have already pointed out that it has a slight wording problem. But if you sit down and think about it, there's more than one problem here.