We MUST ask - Why is Bush Spying on Democrats

[WestHoustonDem]

Thom Hartmann nails it:
July 10, 2006 newsletter (available at http://www.thomhartmann.com/commondreams.shtml)

Reclaiming The Issues: "Why Is Bush Spying On Democrats?!?"
by Thom Hartmann

Every time Democrats and progressives speak out about George W. Bush's spying on Americans without mentioning that he may also be spying on Democrats, they're playing into Karl Rove's "National Security Frame" and actually strengthening Republican electoral chances in November.

To short-circuit this, Democrats need to invoke the ghost of Richard Nixon.

If they don't, even Pete Hoekstra's new revelations that there are even more as-yet-unreported secret spying programs that Bush has been hiding from Congress will be used by Rove to say to average voters, "See? We're really looking out for you!"

The Bush administration doesn't deny it has been spying on Americans - they brag about it. They're listening to our phone calls, reading our emails, and looking at our bank transactions. They're gathering databases about our medical records, what we charge on our credit cards, and where we travel.

When Democrats point out that this is illegal without a court order, Rove simply floods the airwaves with Republicans who say, "We're doing it to protect you!"

The average American doesn't think this all the way through, and the Rovian frame seems pretty commonsensical. In fact, it's at the heart of the right-wing rant.


Thom Hartmann is a Project Censored Award-winning best-selling author, and host of a nationally syndicated daily progressive talk show carried on the Air America Radio network and Sirius. www.thomhartmann.com His most recent books include "The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight," "Unequal Protection," "We The People: A Call To Take Back America," "What Would Jefferson Do?" and "Ultimate Sacrifice." His next book, due out this autumn, is "Screwed: The Undeclared War on the Middle Class and What We Can Do About It."

More at link...

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EDIT: COPYRIGHT. PLEASE POST ONLY 4 OR 5
PARAGRAPHS FROM THE COPYRIGHTED NEWS SOURCE
PER DU RULES.

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Once again!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

Many of us have been pointing this out pre-11/2/04. That was before it was "known". It never seemed to dawn on anyone that Rove's "brilliant" strategy might have had significant 'inside information'.

[Epiphany4z]

2. why is he

spying on republicans? is another good question.

[liberal N proud]

4. The repukes response to that one: It is OK because he is keeping us safe

They are that damn dumb

[azurnoir]

5. No , they think we are

that stupid. When they say they're keeping US safe the public is supposed to think they mean the American people, what they really mean is the Republican Party.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. An old entry from my DU journal...

Although we have been doing our best to maintain secrecy on this issue, you may soon be hearing that the National Security Agency has been eavesdropping on the domestic communications of American citizens without warrants. This should not concern you, as it is just one more way in which we are defending you against terrorists. If you are a good, right-thinking American, you have nothing to fear. If you are a domestic terrorist, however, we will soon know everything about you—who you are, where you go, what you do, and whom you talk to.

You may be wondering just what a domestic terrorist is. Well, tree-huggers, liberals & peaceniks are domestic terrorists. They are actually the most pernicious variety of terrorists threatening America today. They are especially dangerous because they seek to overthrow the government by darkly sinister, so-called "peaceful" means, such as trying to mislead large numbers of people into voting against the President and the Republicans. If the communications of any group need to be monitored, then surely our government needs to listen in on these evil and subversive people in order to discover and thwart their nefarious plots. Among the most successful of our operations in recent times was the electronic surveillance of the traitorious Kerry campaign in 2004. Armed with knowledge of their innermost secrets, we were able to neutralize every one of their electioneering strategems, and were always able to counter their vicious attempts at veracity with well-timed disinformation.

So remember, if you want to maintain your standing as a loyal American, it is vital for you to distance yourself from Democrats, liberals, environmentalists, despicable altruists, and anyone who shows signs of sympathy with any of these groups. Never hesitate to report these unsavory people to the authorities. Be aware that if, for some mistaken reason, you actually befriend or talk to one of these people, or if you ever speak out in a way that even remotely suggests that you are in sympathy with them, then the Government will have no choice but to add you to the Enemies list. Pay heed to what a White House spokesman so wisely said a few years ago, and "Watch what you say, watch what you do!"

[gully]

6. THIS is what domestic spying has ALWAYS been about. It's not about

"protecting americans" which CAN be done via the courts. It's about POLITICS.

[tomreedtoon]

7. The right question: why is he BOTHERING to spy on Democrats?

Especially when they are so willing to support him and his policies, and not challenge the elections that brought him to power?

"We don't mind if Our Great President spies on us, we love him!"