Bush Secretly Lifted Some Limits on Spying in US after 9/11, Officials Say
Bush Vows to Continue Spying on Americans
Cheney Defends Domestic Spying
Cheney says the wiretaps were "part of a concerted effort to rebuild presidential powers weakened in the 1970s as a result of the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War." Perhaps it was fear of abuse such as this that led to those "weakened" powers in the first place, Mr. Cheney.
Rice Fails to Clarify US View on Torture
I'm fascinated by the term "extraordinary renditions". Websters defines rendition as "obsolete" and "the act or result of rendering." Click on that rendering link and you'll find several meanings, but the first definition is "to melt down… to extract by melting… to treat so as to convert into industrial fats and oils…" which seems FAR too appropriate when referring to an action used to facilitate torture. None of the other meanings seem quite accurate in terms of the whole "transfer" or "move" notion that rendition seems to be using, though definition 2 is, admittedly, close. I wonder if anyone was paying attention to this word when they chose it to describe this questionable process.
Senators Seek Probe of Bush's Spying Orders
Conyers Calls for Censure and Investigation of Bush and Cheney
Report of NSA Spying Prompts Call for Probe
"Securing America without Destroying Liberties"
Remarks by US Senator Robert C. Byrd as delivered on the Senate floor.
This one seems kind of anti-climactic after learning that the Pres doesn't give a damn, but I still think it's good news, since it took Republicans joining Democrats in voting against the bill for it to happen.
Senate Blocks Extension of Patriot Act
House Defies Bush and Backs McCain on Detainee Torture
And, then there's this basically unrelated story:
Senate Blocks ANWR Drilling
Which is ALSO good news, as the Senate refuses to cave in to one of those "let's just tack this nasty little bill on to one we know they've GOTTA pass" ploys.
Frankly, I don't care what you say… I've never believed in "the ends justify the means" arguments. And if you have to run the Constitution through a shredder to accomplish your ends, I believe you end up destroying, more thoroughly and completely than any number of physical attacks can, exactly what you think you're protecting.
The arrogance of the Bush administration, and especially VP Cheney, has never been clearer, nor more threatening.
I'm joining the ACLU today.
(All the links above are to the TruthOut.org site, but each links back to its original story from New York Times, LA Times, Reuters, AP, etc. They are legit articles, and not just the rantings of some liberal site, but I'm done apologizing for my news sources. I don't CARE what excuses conservative sources may come up with for these actions. I disagree with these administration policies and no amount of justification and rationalization is going to change that.)
Bush Vows to Continue Spying on Americans
Cheney Defends Domestic Spying
Cheney says the wiretaps were "part of a concerted effort to rebuild presidential powers weakened in the 1970s as a result of the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War." Perhaps it was fear of abuse such as this that led to those "weakened" powers in the first place, Mr. Cheney.
Rice Fails to Clarify US View on Torture
I'm fascinated by the term "extraordinary renditions". Websters defines rendition as "obsolete" and "the act or result of rendering." Click on that rendering link and you'll find several meanings, but the first definition is "to melt down… to extract by melting… to treat so as to convert into industrial fats and oils…" which seems FAR too appropriate when referring to an action used to facilitate torture. None of the other meanings seem quite accurate in terms of the whole "transfer" or "move" notion that rendition seems to be using, though definition 2 is, admittedly, close. I wonder if anyone was paying attention to this word when they chose it to describe this questionable process.
And I'm glad to see that I'm not alone
Senators Seek Probe of Bush's Spying Orders
Conyers Calls for Censure and Investigation of Bush and Cheney
Report of NSA Spying Prompts Call for Probe
"Securing America without Destroying Liberties"
Remarks by US Senator Robert C. Byrd as delivered on the Senate floor.
This one seems kind of anti-climactic after learning that the Pres doesn't give a damn, but I still think it's good news, since it took Republicans joining Democrats in voting against the bill for it to happen.
Senate Blocks Extension of Patriot Act
House Defies Bush and Backs McCain on Detainee Torture
And, then there's this basically unrelated story:
Senate Blocks ANWR Drilling
Which is ALSO good news, as the Senate refuses to cave in to one of those "let's just tack this nasty little bill on to one we know they've GOTTA pass" ploys.
Frankly, I don't care what you say… I've never believed in "the ends justify the means" arguments. And if you have to run the Constitution through a shredder to accomplish your ends, I believe you end up destroying, more thoroughly and completely than any number of physical attacks can, exactly what you think you're protecting.
The arrogance of the Bush administration, and especially VP Cheney, has never been clearer, nor more threatening.
I'm joining the ACLU today.
(All the links above are to the TruthOut.org site, but each links back to its original story from New York Times, LA Times, Reuters, AP, etc. They are legit articles, and not just the rantings of some liberal site, but I'm done apologizing for my news sources. I don't CARE what excuses conservative sources may come up with for these actions. I disagree with these administration policies and no amount of justification and rationalization is going to change that.)
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