August 25, 2003
Ashcroft's Albatross
A spectre is haunting Attorney General John Ashcroft. Indeed, it’s been haunting all of America since October 26th 2001, when it was passed with a hush and a murmer by the fear-stricken Democrats and Republicans in both Houses, and signed into law by the president. It’s the far-reaching Patriot Act. Since then, many have taken the time to read the fine print (and between the lines) of a set of laws that effectively stripped away the 4th (search and seizure), 5th (self incrimination), 6th (due process, speedy trial, confront accusors) and 7th (trial by jury) Amendments. And their anger has begun to weigh heavily on Ashcroft’s neck and shoulders. He is currently going on a public tour in support of the Act. An editorial, Conservative Backlash, has noted that it’s denunciation is no longer a liberal cause, but that conservatives are also joining ranks in their common disgust.
Posted by Stephen VanDyke at August 25, 2003 02:03 PMThe fact that Ashcroft has to do a promotional tour in order to try to raise ANY support for Patriot is fairly telling. The Act is offensive to any sensible person who values their freedom, be they liberal, moderate, or conservative.
Posted by: rev_matt at August 25, 2003 03:38 PMThe Bushes put CEO’s and the like in the administration with the plan to ‘sell’ Americans on anything it wanted to do. They however, forgot the famous words of Lincoln, ‘You can fool some of the people all of the time; you can fool all of the people some of the time; but, you can never fool all of the people all of the time’.
Posted by: DRRemer at August 25, 2003 05:56 PMWe were warned, we were warned before this man was even confirmed that he would be bad for the nation, and it populace. Too much conservatism, based on a foundation of religious dogma is never good for the cause of freedom and liberty. The USA Patriot Act was no doubt lovingly orchestrated by Ashcroft while he sang merry church hems, salivating over all of the wicked people he would lock up in the name of preserving the American way of life.
It’s as if the USA Patriot Act was written by Osama Bin Laden and every freedom hating radical gunning for the U.S. No tears will be shed when the Accidental President and his gang of henchman are banished from Washington and the American people can once again go to the library and exercise their freedom to read what they wish without fear of Ashcroft and the increasingly impudent FBI will call them on the carpet for their choices.
