Poison pen strikes again

January 05, 2007 by barbara

by barbara

By now, you probably know that George W. Bush, president of the United States of America, signed a new postal reform bill into law on December 20. Then, Junior added one of his infamous signing statements. This one allows him to open people's mail under emergency conditions. "People" would be citizens of the United States. "Open mail" means spying on citizens via intercepting U.S. mail.

The postal bill was written in part to reinforce protections of first-class mail from searches without a court's approval.

"The [Bush] signing statement claims authority to open domestic mail without a warrant, and that would be new and quite alarming," said Kate Martin, director of the Center for National Security Studies in Washington.

"The danger is they're reading Americans' mail," she said.

"You have to be concerned," agreed a career senior U.S. official who reviewed the legal underpinnings of Bush's claim. "It takes Executive Branch authority beyond anything we've ever known."

It's certainly no surprise that Bush's latest sleight-of-hand came during Congress' winter recess. It's one of his favorite times for plucking and bagging civil liberties. Which makes it all the more suspect.

White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore denied Bush was claiming any new authority.

"In certain circumstances - such as with the proverbial 'ticking bomb' - the Constitution does not require warrants for reasonable searches," she said.

Bush, however, cited "exigent circumstances" which could refer to an imminent danger or a longstanding state of emergency.

Critics point out the administration could quickly get a warrant from a criminal court or a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court judge to search targeted mail, and the Postal Service could block delivery in the meantime.

"Exigent circumstances?" Do you believe for one single, solitary moment that Junior crafted that phrase?

"Reasonable searches." That's an increasingly fuzzy concept under this administration. What constitutes "reasonable," and who decides? Whatever happened to our nation of laws, of checks and balances?

There's a bumper sticker out and about that says something like, "If you're not furious, you're not paying attention." We finally have people in Congress who will listen.

Here's a suggested New Year's Resolution, a few days late. In the land of the free and the home of the brave, it is time to speak truth to abuse of power. Frequently, loudly and targeted to people who can do something about this.

For a very long time, I rode the bandwagon of folks who said impeachment would be divisive, counter-productive, damaging. Frankly, I'm beginning to wonder about the wisdom of that perspective.

I don't know much about grounds for impeachment. Blue dress, mass murders. Oral sex, civil liberties violations. Hmmmm. Apparently I need to study up on this. But this much I do know. For six years, George W. Bush has screwed Americans en masse. Crude but apt.

Righteous indignation doesn't cut it, folks. I believe it's time to move beyond slapping Junior's patrician hand. It's time to consider impeachment.

Posted in

Barbara's Blog

buy singulair
order singulair
cheap singulair
deltasone
buy deltasone
buy deltasone online
glucophage
glucophage weight loss
glucophage xr
metformin glucophage
actos glucophage plus
buy glucophage online
cheap glucophage
order glucophage
famvir
famvir 500mg
order famvir
buy famvir
buy famvir online
cheap famvir
premarin
premarin vaginal cream
premarin cream
buy premarin online
order premarin
cheap premarin
lipitor
lipitor grapefruit
generic lipitor
drug lipitor
buy lipitor
cheap lipitor
buy lipitor online
lipitor online
lipitor zocor
lipitor 10
lipitor crestor
lipitor 10mg

buy zyloprim online
cheap zyloprim
order zyloprim
prilosec
prilosec otc
generic prilosec
buy prilosec online
cheap prilosec
order prilosec
prilosec coupon
bunco prilosec
retin a
retin a micro
retin
retin a cream
retin a wrinkle
buy retin a
retin a online
retin a acne
testosterone
low testosterone
testosterone cream
testosterone gel
buy testosterone online
testosterone pill
testosterone for woman
testosterone propionate
testosterone cream for woman
cheap testosterone
order testosterone
tylenol
tylenol 3
tylenol pm
buy tylenol online
cheap tylenol
order tylenol
neurontin
neurontin gabapentin
buy neurontin
drug neurontin
medication neurontin
buy neurontin online
cheap neurontin
order neurontin
plavix
generic plavix
plavix cheap
prednisone
prednisone asthma

book guest org shawn site valium xanax
online purchase valium
purchase valium online
roche valium
valium withdrawal
valium overdose
effects valium
valium effects
cheap valium
valium vs xanax
buy cheap valium
dose valium
valium mexico
dosage valium
diazepam valium
xanax valium
valium pharmacy
advanced book guest valium
side effects of valium and diazepam
drug valium
does in long stay system valium
valium 10
valium for dog
buy overnight valium
valiums
buy valium without prescription
book buy generic guest site valium
4.01 line valium
3.75 discount valium
discount valium
use valium
3.75 order valium
10mg 3.54 valium
buy myblog.de online valium
suicide valium
by valium
valium com
blue valium
3.53 buy valium

xanax
buy xanax
cheap xanax
buy xanax online
buy online xanax
buy line xanax
buy xanax on line
diet pill xanax
online prescription xanax
order xanax
effects side xanax
generic xanax
xanax bar
picture of xanax
online xanax
withdrawal xanax
xanax withdrawal
xanax side effects
xanax prescription
tablet xanax
addiction xanax
xanax addiction
xanax xr
order xanax online
online order xanax
prescription xanax
symptom withdrawal xanax
alprazolam xanax
alprazolam effects side xanax
xanax abuse
abuse xanax
overdose xanax
xanax overdose
dosage xanax
xanax dosage
xanax information
xanax online pharmacy
online pharmacy xanax
does in long stay system xanax