If you were Bush would you wiretap domestic opponents?

[bklyncowgirl]

I'm going to take Bush and the rest of his PNAC pals at their word. I'm going to imagine for a moment that they really believe their rhetoric that by removing dicatatorial regimes in the Middle East that they will usher in an era of peace and stability.

If you believed that the biggest threat to your plans was a disintigration of will to carry on the fight on the part of the American people, would you go after those who opposed you at home?

Would you try to find information that would compromise those leaders of the opposition party who have accused you of untruthfulness and incompetence? Would you be interested in learning what your military commanders really think about their mission--and about you? Would you want to know what leaders of the antiwar movement are up to? Would you be interested in finding out what the media knows that could damage your cause?

Of course you would, because those people represent a greater threat to your plans than Osama Bin Laden and all the suicide bombers in the world.

Now, would you be willing to break the law to do it? I believe that the answer is yes.

That's what this wiretapping is all about. If Bush was not targeting domestic political opponents, military leaders, the media and ordinary American citizens who oppose this war then why would he not have gone through the FISA court to do so? If this program is as limited in scope as they say, then why not obey the law?

The answer seems clear. We have met the enemy--the enemy is us.

[liberal N proud]

1. There is a piece of paper that prevents such actions

or at least it did until bu$h shit all over it. "The Constitution"

The point is he could have done this in legal ways but he wanted to establish his imperial powers and make the Constitution a worthless piece of paper.

[0007]

5. Hell Yes!! If I was junior I'd wire tap every Democratic voter

and tail everyone from the Green Party and throw everyone that ever voted for Gus Hall into prison.


Gus Hall

[HereSince1628]

6. That piece of paper is worthless if the ideas on it aren't enforced

And there is damned little sign of enforcement.

If you haven't noticed, the Specter hearing is a rigged game. Gonzales is only going to discuss what he claims is a revealed program. His no comment comments have made it clear that there is another secret authorization of a different secret program that is conducting spying on domestic to domestic communications, which must also meet Constitutional and statuatory muster but which Gonzales refuses to talk about.

Consequently, it is frighteningly evident that the piece of paper with our rights and the checks and balances that guard against despotism in the US is being completely ignored by the Bush administration.

If he didn't make the Hitlerian he at least believes it: the Constitution is just a piece of paper.

[HereSince1628]

2. I fear Bush sees political opposition as threats to the GWOT

and through his convoluted thinking as threats to American security.

He has talked about political opposition giving comfort to the enemy so many times I am convinced he thinks all opposition is part of 5th Column efforts to support the enemy here at home.

If, indeed, he does think that way, it follows pretty directly that he would aim at least intelligence gathering operations at such "threats."

[Jose Diablo]

3. Would I wiretap domestic opponents?

Sure, most people would if they could and get away with it. That's why there are pieces of paper with laws wrote on them, to stop people from doing what they want at the expense of others less powerful.

The purpose of laws is to keep people from doing things that harm the community. It's called civilization. Pretty basic really.

[annabanana]

4. straussian logic

end justifies means

break eggs to make omlets (huh- not so good for the eggs)

[depakid]

7. Why not?

There's no opposition party!

The Dems have rolled over and/or eventually lost EVERYTHING- every nomination, however corrupt and inept- every significant piece of legislation- no matter how irrational, destructive or counterproductive. Typically without even putting up the pretense of a fight.

The Whitehouse denies documents over and over- and the Dems do nothing, Vilsack even comes out and virtually supports Bush's illegal spying! It's pathetic.

So why the fuck shouldn't he? Bush won't be held accountable. He's never been held accountable for anything in his life.

Under the circumstances- If I were Bush, I'd do it FOR SURE. I'd do worse than that- I'd blackmail and blacklist just like J. Edgar Hoover. And I'd pile up big money just like a petty dictator.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. There is no question that if Gonzo prevails, that further abuses

are more likely.

[Hubert Flottz]

9. No, I'd just go after the Quakers and the Mullahs!

I might even check out a few Nudist Camps and look for WMDs!

Hell the bastids raided the trash can in Jay Rockefeller's office didn't they?

[Wetzelbill]

10. If I was Bush I'd be an idiot so I don't want to even entertain the idea

But yeah, I'd probably wiretap opponents and make it look like I had an excuse to do so somehow.

[tecelote]

11. Bush has proven he is able to restrain himself time and time again.

No way would he step over the line, never mind break the law.

Remember, he speaks to God regularly.

Who can question such integrity?

[izzie]

12. Is the pope etc. etc.

This Bush does just as he wants about every thing it seems.

[Vinca]

13. Bush can do anything he wants . . . can't he?

We ought to be grateful he lets us stay in the country. Not that we're going to want to after 3 more years of this.

[sweetheart]

14. What, are you some kind of communist.

:-)

yoooo commie, pinko, coot
foolish tootsie tootle snoot
yoooo evil evil ommunist,
macarthy sees a communist,
and herbert hoover too,
they watch you on the loo,
they know the weight of your shit,
they know the special keys you click,
Credit card bills, financial chance,
federally wondering rates advance,
Nothing above the law they say,
'specially when republicans play,
make war at people at home,
as it were a free fire zone,
recording terrorist kooks they say,
show their hand to prove fair play,
as they're neocon liars lie anyway,
stupid citizens are we,
to not arrest these liars we see,
right now, justly, straight away,
before they bring further decay.