Thursday, July 08, 2004
Only the terrorists, huh?
You've got to read this post by Digby about events and times when Big Brother becomes reality.
PATRIOT Act stays in power
Unfortunately, the House just defeated an amendment to an appropriations bill that would have limited the ability of police powers to undertake unlawful searches, such as those on library records. The vote was a 210-210 tie, with a majority needed to accept. The Rethugs held open voting extra time when the initial 15-minute vote showed an acceptance of the amendment. 10 Rethugs were convinced to change votes.
This it yet another sickening defeat for personal rights. It's amazing how the party which claims to defend personal rights is the one restricting which rights can be defended. How anyone's library record could be considered proof of anything is beyond me. While a terrorist may check out a specific book, so do thousands of other people who are simply interested in reading the document. I don't buy that such powers are legal or useful in any way. Boo to the assholes in Congress who consistently defend their own rights and compromise those of their constituents.
This it yet another sickening defeat for personal rights. It's amazing how the party which claims to defend personal rights is the one restricting which rights can be defended. How anyone's library record could be considered proof of anything is beyond me. While a terrorist may check out a specific book, so do thousands of other people who are simply interested in reading the document. I don't buy that such powers are legal or useful in any way. Boo to the assholes in Congress who consistently defend their own rights and compromise those of their constituents.
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Kerry-Edwards in 2004
First off, sorry for the lack of posts lately. This weekend has been hectic with all the tourists in town.
Next, congrats to Sen. John Edwards for being tapped by Kerry to join the ticket as his VP candidate. Edwards was the hottest of the top prospects in the blogosphere, although some of us surely held out idealistic visions of a Kerry-Dean ticket, which was never to be. Edwards is a strong candidate for VP, and will clash perfectly with the crusty skunk Cheney.
Bill Clinton, on The Diane Rehm Show this morning, pointed out that Edwards holds a seat on the Intelligence Committee in the Senate, providing significant support for the ticket's legitimate claim of strength in the area of terrorism and security.
The selection of Edwards throws North Carolina from a solid Bush state to an immediate dead-heat. Bush-Cheney, spending heavily from its pot o' gold, will now be forced to invest significant finances in the NC arena. Hopefully, Kerry will spend time here too in an effort to break the GOP headlock on NC electoral votes. Bush carried the state by almost 400,000 votes (56%-43%) in 2000.
Next, congrats to Sen. John Edwards for being tapped by Kerry to join the ticket as his VP candidate. Edwards was the hottest of the top prospects in the blogosphere, although some of us surely held out idealistic visions of a Kerry-Dean ticket, which was never to be. Edwards is a strong candidate for VP, and will clash perfectly with the crusty skunk Cheney.
Bill Clinton, on The Diane Rehm Show this morning, pointed out that Edwards holds a seat on the Intelligence Committee in the Senate, providing significant support for the ticket's legitimate claim of strength in the area of terrorism and security.
The selection of Edwards throws North Carolina from a solid Bush state to an immediate dead-heat. Bush-Cheney, spending heavily from its pot o' gold, will now be forced to invest significant finances in the NC arena. Hopefully, Kerry will spend time here too in an effort to break the GOP headlock on NC electoral votes. Bush carried the state by almost 400,000 votes (56%-43%) in 2000.
