Constitutional freedoms are not eternal or automatic.

[Kablooie]

The Constitution was a hard fought battle for which many gave their lives.
The guarantees of the Constitution limit the power of our leaders but to those
who seek unbridled power, it is an obstacle to be destroyed.
Many times it has been attacked over the years but each time it has been
successfully defended. Unfortunately it is an entity that periodically needs
a transfusion of human blood in order to remain alive.

If Alito is confirmed, as I believe he will, we will see if he really
is the human battering ram that many expect. A force that digs
deep underneath the very foundation of our Union and threatens to
collapse the levy walls that keep us safe from a flood of unknown
tyrannical forces that rage just beyond.

If this happens and Constitutional controls are not reasserted over our
government leaders as they must be, the people will begin to understand
what freedom is. They will begin to understand that it can be lost. They will
finally see that it is something worth holding on to. Then, I'm afraid, it
will begin. The age old tradition of trading human lives for freedom will once
again become vogue.

I hope that things don't play out this way. Alito may be wiser than anticipated
and keep the Constitution alive. The Constitution may be upheld and be allowed
to cleanse the filth and corruption that is starting to fester about us.
If these things happen we should count ourselves lucky.
For if not, tragic sacrifices must be made on the altar of freedom and our
generation becomes one more bloody, boring chapter in the history books.

Freedom shall not be released lightly.

[Golden Raisin]

1. Alito doesn't have to

be a human battering ram. His simple swing vote will do the job quite nicely as far as Norquist/Rove/Kristol and the PNAC crowd are concerned. I seriously doubt the folks at BushCo nominated Alito without knowing he was reliably in their camp and will vote straight neocon and oppose any progressive legislation/viewpoint. Would love to be proven wrong by Judge Alito but I'm not holding my breath. Hell, the Supremes screwed Gore and appointed Bush WITHOUT the help of another conservative vote!