What About the 4th Amendment?

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

Good Morning Bloggers! I admit that I avoided the news recently having spent some time out in the great outdoors enjoying the Western US, but unfortunately the news isn't very encouraging upon my return.

The worst news I came across this morning was in the New York Times where it is reported this morning that President Obama has quietly decided to continue the Bush policies of indefinite detention of terror suspects without charges - the unilateral disavowing of habeas corpus. Justice, law and the idea that all people are innocent until proven guilty seems to matter less and less these days.

We thought we voted for change, but I'm beginning to see that we were fooled in some areas.

The Obama Administration has decided to ignore Democratic leaders and the majority of the Democratic Party in a spurious claim of authority to hold "combatants." They claim - just like the corrupt Bush Administration - questionable authority under congressional legislation passed after the 9/11 attacks to detain people for national security purposes.

Bush detained Americans and foreigners for eight years while our judicial branch abandoned its responsibilities. We voted for Obama to end such practices, but unfortunately it seems we were duped. In some critical areas it turns out that "change" was just a sales pitch, a political lie to be chanted in stadiums, to motivate fools like me/us who still choose to believe in something bigger than ourselves.

To say that I'm let down is an understatement. Let's hope the judiciary comes through, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

As a civil libertarian, I think the whole situation remains out-of-control. The majority of Democrats voted for Obama to reinstate habeas corpus and the rule of law. I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure Obama didn't mention that he favored indefinite detention during the campaign. I wonder who the hell we voted for, but I also seriously question whether Hillary would have been any different.

I'm beginning to think all politicians are willing to deny us our basic 4th Amendment civil rights. It's pretty damn scary.

Ordinary Americans, especially Republicans, never seem to understand why civil liberties are important. Most seem to feel that as long as they're not doing anything wrong, it's not a problem. Unfortunately, that is very naive and represents a slippery slope. Americans must consider the broader consequences of allowing our civil liberties to erode.

Justice Department reports show that "sneak-and-peak" warrants (another result of post 9/11 legal tweaks) are not being used to fight against terrorism but over 90% are being used against American citizens to catch common criminals. Why is that a problem you ask?

It's a problem because this country has done an excellent job compartmentalizing its civilian police forces from federal law enforcement. Those firewalls have kept America's government out of ordinary American lives for over 200 years.

If those firewalls begin to crumble, which many civil libertarians believe is the case, than we are exposed to all kinds of potential injustices. It may all begin with terrorism, but it could lead to all kinds of domestic intrusions.

Just think of the potential. What about religious zealots/Republicans? There's no doubt they would love to use private information obtained in bedrooms to abuse politicians and power in order to legislate morality. Don't forget, they are the ends justify the means crowd.

Unless we take it more seriously, random abusers of government authority could make J. Edgar Hoover look harmless, wielding personal dirt to blackmail those in power or out.

A lack of strong and enforceable civil rights laws puts America on the path to becoming an abusive police state, where local, state and federal law enforcement can work together to control all levers of power. Without strong laws, a strong judiciary and a strong press, who knows where it all may lead.

Politicians and law enforcement may ultimately work together to change the face of American domestic security. Big brother could be just a few years away. You may think I'm sounding paranoid, but the same thing has happened across the globe and through the ages. Why would we be immune?

You may think we're safe, but as fear [of a dangerous world] becomes ingrained in society, most experts agree the potential for abuses of power [at all levels] increases dramatically.

Think about it. Secret surveillance everywhere and anywhere, intruder-like home searches without your knowledge, monitoring your mail and communications, and even the removal of your personal possessions and DNA to check it at a lab without your knowledge. Does that sound like the America you know? It should, since it's the America of today.

It was the America created by George W. Bush and the Republicans.

The American people clearly voted for change. President Obama was supposed to deliver that change. Instead, we're getting more of the same. To those who link I'm overreacting, I would suggest you consider the history of most societies who took such things lightly. There's no doubt, world history is on my side.

What you may call paranoia I call nothing more than a healthy knowledge or perspective on world history and those who abuse power. We must remember the wisdom of the ages: if we forget the past we're doomed to repeat it, and knowledge is always power.

I beg you to take our civil liberties more seriously. Fear of attack is causing us to forget what is truly important. President Obama and our Democratic leaders must be forced to remember why we voted for change. We cannot allow them to continue the policies of the Bush Administration.

We Americans must risk death by attack rather then forfeit our civil liberties to a government capable of unwarranted surveillance, searches, seizures and abuses.

We should be patriots and be willing to die for our beliefs. Let's put the firewalls back. Stop being afraid of everything, even terrorism. Fight for our individual freedoms. Do not accept a permanent state of war. I beg you to join me in demanding a return to habeas corpus, real warrants and privacy protections.

Thursday's Political Rant - Michael

PS - As always, I encourage you to use the TAKE ACTION section of this blog to either email and/or call your elected representatives and/or the Obama White House. Thank you!

In Fear of Muskrats

Hello Bloggers! There have been many great thinkers talking about the poor state of politics today, but the best and most recent was an op-ed by Frank Rich in yesterday's New York Times, where he discussed far-right fanatics in a way that put a lot of things into perspective for me. Thank you Frank!

He does a great job of showing the right-wing's lack of moral fiber when it comes to issues like domestic terrorism and political consistency. He points out historic examples where their radicalism and willingness to court violence - especially when they disagree with the Democratic opposition - surges far beyond mere political paranoia.

He talks about the "simmering undertone of violence" in our politics today. That is something I feel strongly about too, and wish more mainstream politicians - especially Republicans - would talk about. Their angry assault-weapons-carrying-nut-jobs are a real threat. Instead, they brush them off as honest, harmless patriots. It's obviously more serious.

The right-wing penchant for violence is clear to most of us. We lived through eight years of Bush and other Republicans talking and acting like great patriots - true lovers of freedom and democracy, but the truth is far less simple. They act differently when out of power. Some seem willing to take power when out of power.

The Republicans seem to have plenty of enemies. Al-queda, Iraqi Sunnis, the Taliban, Europeans, the French, and Democrats. The list goes on and on it seems. They question everybody's loyalty, or at least those who disagree with them. Who but Republicans would actually go so far as to question the legal status of a legally elected Democratic president? I can see questioning the election itself, but the man's birth certificate? What the hell is wrong with them? Let's face it, there are no limits to their political paranoia.

Frank Rich does a great job of describing the Republican inconsistencies of the past. He talks about how they have created an atmosphere of fear, where even the Secret Service feels militarily threatened by the right-wing nuts. Short of the radical Black Panthers back in the sixties, I can't remember guns being wielded at rallies. As far as I know Code Pink never carried guns. Purses maybe.

It's clear that most Republicans are tribal in their politics. They're only happy if their tribe is in power. If not, they see themselves more as the provocateurs, or worse, saboteurs. Possibly even political terrorists?

There is plenty of evidence. Congressman Wally Herger (R-CA) of Northern California had one of his constituents scream out "I'm a right-wing terrorist" at one of his rallies last week. Supposedly the Republican crowd applauded loudly in support while Congressman praised the individual for being a great patriotic American. That is scary people, and it's happening more and more.

Even the Bush Homeland Security Department issued security threat assessment reports warning of a rise of "violent right-wing extremism" once "Obama takes power." Sounds like foreshadowing to me. Subsequent assassinations and attempted assassinations have proven those warnings correct. Despite Republican demands for departmental apologies, we Democrats are more concerned about who will be next.

Whether it's FOX "News," Michael Savage, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Neil Covuto, Michael Steele, Glen Beck, Sarah Palin, Ann Coulter, Laura Ingram, or so many others, the right-wing is out-of-control and threatening the left with violence and retribution on a daily basis these days.

It doesn't even seem to matter how many times we play their own words back to them, since they always deny they said it. Truth be damned.

The blogosphere is rife with it too. Right-wing bloggers scream bloody murder anytime the left wants to do anything the majority supports. The lies begin shortly thereafter and ultimately cloud the issue so much nobody knows their ass from a hole in the ground when the dust settles. My favorite is when they claim Democrats have no right to spend federal money, since "lefties" don't work or pay taxes according to them. They really believe it too. What a bunch of tards!

Since Bush left it's become clear that all money belongs to the right. They don't want us to spend ANY money. NONE! Despite our desire to improve fiscal responsibility in government, the Republicans allow us no flexibility. Everything must be revenue neutral these days - a standard the Republicans never held while in power.

It's true the deficit ballooned over a trillion dollars in the fiscal year since Bush left office (the bulk of it spent by Bush himself), but that number pales in comparison to the $7 trillion or so Bush spent during his eight years in office - perhaps more, since most hasn't been tallied yet. It's pretty clear the Republicans ruined the country, and now they want us to go against our election promises and plans, lower taxes for the rich, pay the bills (btw, impossible when you lower taxes on the rich), and shut the bloody hell up.

Sorry assholes, that's not going to happen. IF the Democrats grow a pair, we're going to fix what you people broke, and you're going to pay your FAIR SHARE for a change!

The waste and ruin of past Republican administrations be damned, for it seems all that matters to the right-wing is how to keep the left from spending any money or changing any policy until they get back into power. They don't want to work with us, just prevent us from working. Once they regain power, all bets are off once again.

It's incredible! Their arrogance is outrageous! Their ignorance profound.

We Democrats are trying to solve real problems affecting real Americans. Incredibly, instead of cooperation, the Republicans and their militia are trying to shut down our efforts by ANY and ALL MEANS necessary. They even talk about armed revolt. It's true. It's a frequent discussion on the Sean Hannity shows - TV and radio. It's often when that fat-sack-of-shit-toe-sucker Dick Morris joins him. I swear, that man is a human-swine hybrid. He makes me sick.

Frank Rich also talks about the the Democratic backbone issue we discussed here last week. Rich says that it "would be shameful...if they [Democrats] catered to a decimated opposition party that has sunk and shrunk to its craziest common denominator." My God I agree with that statement. He goes so far as to call the Republicans a "paper muskrat" denying them the more impressive "paper tiger" status. I would say they're more of a PAPER RAT!

In the end Frank Rich lays out a very good case for why we need to stop playing games with them. They're not worth our time. We need to acknowledge the political climate and start talking about what is right. If we keep compromising with Republican demands, who now only represent the "whites in Dixie and the less populated West," and negotiating like idiots, then we deserve to lose.

Speaking of toughness, Barney Frank seems to be the only one with enough melon balls to fight back these days. Let's be more like him people! :)

It's time to put Reaganomics to rest. It never worked! It's time to start talking about how well government-run programs work, and how the Republicans are lying to the American people. It's time get off defense and back on offense people! Obama and the Democrats need to remember who put them in power, and stop being afraid to talk about solutions from a Democratic perspective.

Monday's Political Rant - Michael

Evidence that Bush and "Hands-Off" Republicans are Responsible for Crisis

Hello Bloggers - It's a subject that I've been debating both on this blog and in real life with my Republican friends for a VERY long time. Who caused the economic crisis that we're experiencing today?

Most of my Republican friends think it's the Democrat's fault. They usually blame Clinton and the deregulation of the late nineties. Of course, they don't acknowledge that those changes were the result of Republican legislation, a strong Democratic opposition, and ultimately executive or Clinton compromises.

They also like to blame everything on Fannie and Freddie Mac, and the Democrats lack of legislative oversight. Again, they refuse to acknowledge the role of Republicans in the EXECUTIVE branch who were actually responsible for that oversight. There were plenty of regulations available to the EXECUTIVE branch to prevent what happened.

The whole Fannie/Freddie argument is absurd when you look at the laws and regulations in place at the time. Feel free to try and debate it, but it's accurate when you do the research.

So, why am I bringing it all up again, and why is this a RAVE and not a RANT? Because The New York Times/Herald Tribune has published a FANTASTIC - very long and very thorough - new article that does a very good job of describing what went wrong, and describes what I've always said, that GEORGE BUSH AND HIS LACK OF OVERSIGHT is what caused most of the problems. It describes the events in excruciating detail, and does a very good job of placing the blame mostly on BUSH and his "hands-off philosophy.

"We can put light where there's darkness, and hope where there's despondency in this country. And part of it is working together as a nation to encourage folks to own their own home." — President George W. Bush, Oct. 15, 2002

The Times describes how "there are plenty of culprits, like lenders who peddled easy credit, consumers who took on mortgages they could not afford and Wall Street chieftains who loaded up on mortgage-backed securities without regard to the risk. BUT the story of how we got here is partly one of Bush's own making, according to a review of his tenure that included interviews with dozens of current and former administration officials."

The paper adds that "his conviction that markets do best when let alone" coupled with the fact that he "pushed hard to expand homeownership, especially among minorities, an initiative that dovetailed with his ambition to expand the Republican tent — and with the business interests of some of his biggest donors" is very interesting. It adds that "his housing policies and hands-off approach to regulation encouraged lax lending standards."

If you want to learn more, visit the article. I don't have much to add. I've been saying this for over a year now. I've been one of the few screaming about the crisis, even BEFORE it hit the news. Just ask many of my friends. In earlier posts on this blog I described how alarmed I was by the TYPE of mortgage companies that hit the market after Bush. To those paying attention, it was obvious that rules were lax and the market was bloated. Something had to go wrong.

Unfortunately, it went even more wrong than I thought. I never dreamt it would be this bad. The really sad part is the way my Republican friends never want to take any responsibility.

They continue to blame the borrowers (personal responsibility despite corrupt lenders and unmanageable rules governing paperwork), the Democrats (Fannie and Freddie caused everything, despite all the evidence to the contrary), and a few bad lenders (right, a lack of oversight and Wall Street's resale market had nothing to do with it).

I don't bother arguing with them anymore. I don't think they'll ever take responsibility for anything, much less ALL THE DAMAGE THEY CAUSED OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS! I just hope those in the middle, the independents and the moderates, learn about what happened, and point the finger of blame where it belongs most, on GEORGE BUSH.

It was his ridiculous hands-off philosophy as president that made him the WORST PRESIDENT IN HISTORY! What a STUPID way to govern. As I always say, thank you so much for electing such MORONS, and for getting us into this mess. For God's sake, TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY!

George Bush, and many other "hands-off" Republicans like Gramm and Delay, are responsible. They've caused so much pain and suffering, and yet they're such narcissistic psychos they'll never know the damage they caused. We beg you, please learn from your mistakes, and don't inflict them on us anymore.

Monday's Political Rave #1 - Michael

PS - The White House has published a lengthy rebuttal to the New York Times cover story. I read it, and, like most of their crap, it seems far less convincing with far fewer citations than the Times article.

Using their usual tactics, they call the Times article "gross negligence." In my opinion the Bush Administration is both GROSS and NEGLIGENT in the way they always attack the press.

Well Mr. Bush, it isn't working these days. People know that you're to blame, and that you're also a scoundrel and a liar. Let's see you talk yourself out of this one in the history books.

Political News: More Bush Lies Exposed

Hello Bloggers - It's sad, but true. Bush lies!

I like to point out how they often change history for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes it's spontaneous, and sometimes it's to cover past lies. Either way, it's still pretty disgusting. Future Republicans might want to learn something from his mistakes.

Here's a New York Times article detailing some good examples of changing the facts about the Iraq War to sort out history Bush style. It would appear they added and subtracted coalition partners at will. The coalition, in effect, was whatever the Bush Administration wanted it to be. What a surprise!

Enjoy - Michael

Call to Action: Make Sure You're Registered to Vote NOW!

Hello Bloggers - The New York Times is reporting today that tens of thousands of voters have recently been removed from voting rolls or blocked from registering in at least six swing states - they might even have done it where you live. It is being called a serious violation of federal law.

The report said it identified apparent problems in Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Nevada and North Carolina. It allegedly breaks federal law that requires states to leave voter rolls intact within 90 days of a federal election. Incredibly, in states like Colorado, it's being reported that voter roles have decreased since 2004 despite very high voter registration by Democrats. Read the whole article here.

Please make sure you're registered NOW! Visit the National Association of Secretaries of State's non-profit voter website HERE to confirm your registration. I did. If you can't find yourself, please go and register IMMEDIATELY!

Thursday's Political Call to Action #1 - Michael