here's the one thing the Democratic Congress should NOT fix

[leftofthedial]

the imperial powers granted to the President in the Patriot Act, The Military Commissions thing and whatever the one was that killed posse comitatus.

We should keep those in place until 2008 when we get a Democratic President elected. Then he or she can use them to great effect against the true "terrorists," the repuke party and their allies.

[Salviati]

1. Bullcrap

I don't want ANY president to have those powers, regardless of whether they have a (D) or an (R) after their name.

[leftofthedial]

2. Once Justice is done

then we fix it

[Salviati]

3. That's what all tyrants say

"Once the need for these powers is gone, we will relinquish them"

The problem is, once we give them the power, even with the best of intentions, there's always just one more need... just one more thing to do.

There's a saying about absolute power. It's extended in a good quote from the Dune series of novels "Power attracts the corruptable" Wielding these powers is a greater responsibility than I expect any leader to live up to, and more than I want to give them.

We can obtain justice without resorting to injustice, and it is imperitive that we do so.

[Kelly Rupert]

6. Yeah. And once we free ourselves from the threat of terror

we'll drop the PATRIOT act. :eyes:

[Psephos]

8. If you think power lust is confined to just one party, you need to take Psych 101

There's only way to prevent the abuse of power, and that's to keep it out of politicians' hands as much as possible.

Peace.

[roguenkatz]

4. You obviously

are higher than anything in the sky. There is NO WAY anyone in their right mind would allow ANY leader of whatever stripe those powers EVER.

[Kelly Rupert]

5. No. Incorrect. Horrifyingly incorrect.

NO American government should EVER have the power to use the State against the loyal opposition. Ever. Ever. Ever. EVER. NEVER NEVER EVER.

We should not endorse a dictatorship of Democrats any more than we would one of Republicans. Get off your power trip.

[Wiley50]

7. FYI, Warner Military Apprpriations bill of 2007

is the third one you were trying to think of.

It gives Chimpy the power to commandeer state national guards
without the approval of that states governor
and use them inside the US
It violates Posse Comitatas