How the Bush Administration is Crushing Dissent...

[Vyan]

From Conyersblog:

I also read about Bush's speech before the VFW where he had the temerity to question the tone of the debate on Iraq. After he misled us into war, he simply has no standing to determine what type of dissent "brings credit to our democracy." Come to think of it, after Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004, he shouldn't be sermonizing about democracy at all.

It's interesting how Bush deins to lecture us on the proper method of debate, while attempting to use the Secret Service, Pentagon and FBi to Crush Dissent by Anti-War and Environmental Activists.

Bush wants to create the new criminal of "disruptor" who can be jailed for the crime of "disruptive behavior." A "little-noticed provision" in the latest version of the Patriot Act will empower Secret Service to charge protesters with a new crime of "disrupting major events including political conventions and the Olympics." Secret Service would also be empowered to charge persons with "breaching security" and to charge for "entering a restricted area" which is "where the President or other person protected by the Secret Service is or will be temporarily visiting." In short, be sure to stay in those wired, fenced containments or free speech zones.

Vyan

[Loonman]

1. Good one, Conyers

I like him.

[murdoch]

14. Bush says

I will smash those who disagree with me!

[Jeffersons Ghost]

15. yep...

good stuff on your post... instead of Der Fuhrer sermonizing, how about I let Plato gave a short sermon to the spin-tyrant from Book 1... here's some select passages from a study I did on the Republic:

In Book 1 of The Republic, Thrasymachus says, "I declare justice is nothing but the advantage of the stronger" Robbery and violence generally represent injustices but when practiced wholesale by rulers becomes justice, because it serves the interest of those stronger rulers. In this approach, since the rulers do not obey the laws they impose on citizens, they are essentially unjust but still able to claim they are just, in a sense. At one point, Thrasymachus says, "You will understand it more easily, if you consider the perfect injustice; one which makes the unjust man most happy and makes those who are wronged but unwilling to be unjust miserable."

According to Thrasymachus, tyranny is a type of wholesale plunder but if a citizen commits theft or violence, they will face disgrace and punishment. When someone robs or commits atrocities against a whole nation and then reduces them to slavery, however, the people will eventually forget ugly names like tyrant, theft or violence, only to call him fortunate, in spite of his unmitigated wrongdoing.

To Thrasymachus a tyrant is happy and fortunate because he breaks the rules of justice he imposes on the weak. What a weak citizen calls "justice" is essentially slavery and the strong do not obey those rules. Machiavelli evolved a whole philosophy from this part of the book.

[formercia]

2. John Conyers speaks the Truth.

[cyberpj]

3. I am SO TIRED of John Conyers having to speak ALONE.

I know he's not truly alone - he has other progressive house members with him - but the big name Dem senators should be DEEPLY ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES.

[Loonman]

4. True, they need to back John up

Instead of worrying about the polls and their 6 figure salaries.

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. Black Americans are not invited into the dollar-filled inner circle

of good old boys, which I worry also includes the majority of Democrats, considering how valiantly they fought when the elections were stolen out from under their feet.

[cyberpj]

11. Yep. DLC Dems = "Beltway Democrats" = Repulican Lite. nt.

[rodeodance]

5. The sponser, Specte,r can not see what all the fuss is about (see below).

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/12/AR2005121201448.html
ACLU Opposes Patriot Act Provision
Secret Service's Reach Questioned

By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 13, 2005; Page A03

The American Civil Liberties Union raised objections yesterday to a little-noticed provision of the latest version of the USA Patriot Act bill, arguing that it would give the Secret Service wider latitude to charge protesters accused of disrupting major events including political conventions and the Olympics.

But Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), who sponsored the provisions, and his aides said the concerns are misguided. The changes are meant to clear up legal confusion about the Secret Service's role at major events and to ensure that venues are fully secure before the president or other top officials arrive, they said.
"I'm a little surprised at the concern," Specter said in an interview, adding later, "The venue needs to be subject to their jurisdiction to make sure it's okay."

The measure is the latest point of contention in a GOP-approved conference bill that would make permanent most parts of the Patriot Act anti-terrorism law and would renew two other provisions for four years. A bipartisan group has vowed to fight the proposal, and several lawmakers proposed legislation yesterday that would give Congress an additional three months to negotiate.

[rodeodance]

8. here is the bill's language.

The bill adds language prohibiting people from "willfully and knowingly" entering a restricted area "where the President or other person protected by the Secret Service is or will be temporarily visiting." The measure also applies to security breaches "in conjunction with an event designated as a special event of national significance," according to the bill.

Penalties for such violations would increase from six months to a year in prison.

[Vyan]

9. Here's the question....

would this possibly apply to Camp Casey in Crawford, Texas -- or protests outside the White House?

Vyan

[NoLongerRepresented]

7. How long will we put up with this?

If there ever has been any justification for impeachment, this administration deserves it!
disruptor --- The behavior described is the VERY behavior that the first amendment was designed to protect! Ever a very brief perusal of the writings of the time of constitutional debate would prove this without question.

[u2emit1]

10. crushing dissent

Hi - first post for me on this forum - looks good...

Way I see it here in the UK, Bush has no right to speak of democracy, darkly laughable he should do so in fact...he conspires to permit and empower a level of new world order hegemony that is injurous to the human spirit, he shields 'his people' from choice at every opportunity.. he and his mind set need to be replaced..

not only is dissent overtly crushed but the depth of the debate itself is heavily watered down in the media - thank god for the potential of the internet

[Little Star]

12. Welcome to DU

I haven't been here that long myself if you don't count a year or more of lurking. I agree with your assessment of the shrub 100%! I would also mention that Tony's just as bad. Damn I can't stand either of them.

[newyawker99]

16. Hi u2emit1!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[f-bush]

13. It's very important that we .........

..............remain vigilant and go after shrub and his thug friends each and every time they want to curtail our civil liberties. Shut this country down if we have to!