[mysterio]

How did such a short sighted man ever become Attourney General? Why does Ashcroft want to declare martial law without actually declaring martial law? And what if Janet Reno had presented this legislation? I am unhappy with the views of this justice department on the Constitution.

[FenianOfEire]

I thought Solzhenitsyn already wrote about the consequences of this type of legislation... "Gulag Archipelago"...

The first one was passed without the necessary vetting process, due to the heavy handedness of it's sponsors and beneficiaries, and the fact that all who opposed it were labled and blamed for the fresh wound of Sept. 11(who gained the most? by the way...). This is a power grab, and the citizenry has been duped by "Patriot"ism.

When the next attack hits, and for some reason they always do right before rigid anti-terrorism legislation is passed, this will pass just as easily, and with just as much consequence for the future of our republic...

terror bill pending, OKC, terror bill passed, RAND corp writing terror bill, 9-11, terror bill passed, terror bill leaked/pending... you do the math

[taxed2death]

How the hell can sombody spout off about the Constitution when GWB is practicing selective law enforcement by NOT protecting our borders? It kinda relegates that piece of paper to the roll of being a$$wipe. Has anyone seen a conservative President out there we can vote for next time around? This one's a phoney.

[Founding Father]

Welcome to George Bush's world--why drag it out--go ahead and give me my number and implant it for me. Will you control my thoughts too?

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

But it only affects terrorists!

Does anyone still have the FBI list of who is a terrorist?
As I recall, most FReepers fit one category or another.

Carrying a pocket Constitution was one sign, an NRA sticker was another. Big cars, small cars, trucks, and bikes could all be terrorist's choice.

[BenR2]

Ashcroft disappoints me.

[Mulder]

Washington warned about organizing the political system into parties. For several years, I thought he was wrong since I belived the two-party system to work.

I know longer believe that to be the case. Both parties, at least at the top, believe in an expansionist government that does not recognize individual Rights. Just look at the parties over the last 50 years. The only time there was any real difference was in the early-to-mid 80s and in 1994.

I think that Washington's warning is being played out before our eyes. Legislative proposals are no longer judged on their merit, but who proposes them. If a demoncrat proposes A,B, and C, it's "bad". If a Republican proposes A,B, and C, it's "good".

That either means that people are stupid, or that a lot of them really do want a totalitarian police state, just so long as "their guy" is running it.

[Vast Buffalo Wing Conspiracy]

GIBSON: Right. But why do you find this so personally threatening? They're not going to come after you or me.

Ha ha! Translation: "I'm alright Jack; they'll come for you and me last, because we're beautiful people; besides, who cares if a few rednecks, towelheads, or left- and right-wing "extremists" lose their civil rights, get imprisoned for decades without being charged or tried, get tortured or deported, etc? Our job is to knuckle under, not to stand up for anything."

[Dan from Michigan]

I never thought we'd get Janet Reno pt II as AG here.

To say I'm disapointed in Ashcroft is an understatement.

[FenianOfEire]

NAPOLITANO: Well… none of this has been proposed. It was just leaked over the weekend. It is an 80-page document.

S.22 Justice Enhancement and Domestic Security Act of 2003 (Introduced in Senate)

That's the title.

[alpowolf]

This bill is quite a grab-bag, isn't it? Something for every statist, Republican or Democrat!