One Step Closer to Tyranny

[KrazyHorse]

It's not Congress' fault. Americans as a whole have been acting like a bunch of scared, silly children for the last five years. When they start acting like adults again they might get representatives who are willing to stand for something instead of simply fearmongering.

[Victor Galis]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
What was the goddamned imminent danger that they had to sign away our most basic rights!!?!?!?!?!?

The fear that they might not get elected in 40 days time! Clearly the worst possible thing ever. I have no respect left for either party.

You know it's times like these, I don't regret having left the country.

[Victor Galis]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
It's not Congress' fault. Americans as a whole have been acting like a bunch of scared, silly children for the last five years. When they start acting like adults again they might get representatives who are willing to stand for something instead of simply fearmongering.

That's not entirely true. Congress has been acting like a bunch of scared, silly children for fear that they would be voted out. Not one Congressman as far as I can tell had the courage to stand up and tell people that this danger was overblown, and that to surrender the ideals of freedom over this was more than stupid. The Democrats needed a united stance that accused the Republicans of fearmongering, downplayed the terrorist threat, and reminded the nation of the hundreds of thousands of Americans that gave their lives throughout the centuries in wars fought in the name of freedom.

To give up freedoms because we're at "war" with "terrorism" is to spit on the memory of all who gave their lives to stop Hitler.

Even those that voted against this measure seem to lack the vision and courage to attack Republican fearmongering directly.

[Nubclear]

It does appear, however, that American politicians are representing their constituents - the US government is fulfilling its purpose, even if that democratic mandate is for it to slowly dismantle the very institutions that allow people to be represented.

[Victor Galis]

Well... if you see the difference between Liberal values and Democracy, you see the descent into mob rule.

Banana republics with nuclear weapons

[Nubclear]

Originally posted by Victor Galis


The fear that they might not get elected in 40 days time! Clearly the worst possible thing ever. I have no respect left for either party.

You know it's times like these, I don't regret having left the country.

You left the country?

[_BuRjaCi_]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
the most un-American bill ever put before Congress

Don't ecuate americain and democratic.

[_BuRjaCi_]

Originally posted by Victor Galis


That's not entirely true. Congress has been acting like a bunch of scared, silly children for fear that they would be voted out. Not one Congressman as far as I can tell had the courage to stand up and tell people that this danger was overblown, and that to surrender the ideals of freedom over this was more than stupid. The Democrats needed a united stance that accused the Republicans of fearmongering, downplayed the terrorist threat, and reminded the nation of the hundreds of thousands of Americans that gave their lives throughout the centuries in wars fought in the name of freedom.

To give up freedoms because we're at "war" with "terrorism" is to spit on the memory of all who gave their lives to stop Hitler.

Even those that voted against this measure seem to lack the vision and courage to attack Republican fearmongering directly.

I wish Bush wasn't so stupid and you guys would have an inteligent president who would be evily-lovably-schemish (like emperor Palpatine in SW). I mean who dosen't appreciate decades of hard work behind the scenes but to get more power and undermining democracy by dumb luck and general stupidity of politics... That's just sad.

I feel for you people, It was a good democracy wile it lasted I mean 200 years of representitation and more than 80 years of Universal Suff. that's quite an acomplishment. Too bad its coming to and end.

If I wasnt so firm on secularism I'd say:
God bless you people, he knows you need it.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

So, let's see:

48 senators voted for Arlen Specter's failed amendment to preserve habeas corpus for detainees.

But only 34 senators voted against the bill.

That means 14 senators -- including Specter but mostly a whole bunch of spineless Dems -- actually stood up for habeas corpus yesterday, then voted to gut it today.

There's a special ring of hell waiting for those bastards.

Meanwhile, I keep thinking about how lefties as my beloved hippy-dippy alma mater used to characterize all Republicans as fascists, and how the glib inaccuracy of this used to bother me.

It doesn't bother me anymore.

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by DRoseDARs


I'm not sure if you're being a dick towards me or not, but I'll half-agree with this statement. Plus, my USGov't teacher wasn't all that good at it and as added bonus my period had most of my graduating class' screwups in it. Not a fun class...

Christ you lot, (eg, Imran, Kuciwalker), can't you just give the man the answer without being so snotty and condescending? My knowledge of the British legislature is probably comparably weak but it doesn't mean I know nothing - far from it in fact. Imran, you were cool when you were getting laid but now you've regressed. Great pity.

[Arcite]

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly
So, let's see:

48 senators voted for Arlen Specter's failed amendment to preserve habeas corpus for detainees.

But only 34 senators voted against the bill.

That means 14 senators -- including Specter but mostly a whole bunch of spineless Dems -- actually stood up for habeas corpus yesterday, then voted to gut it today.

There's a special ring of hell waiting for those bastards.

Meanwhile, I keep thinking about how lefties as my beloved hippy-dippy alma mater used to characterize all Republicans as fascists, and how the glib inaccuracy of this used to bother me.

It doesn't bother me anymore.

I completely agree. Like WTF?!? is happening?

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
Christ you lot, (eg, Imran, Kuciwalker), can't you just give the man the answer without being so snotty and condescending?

Stupid questions get stupid answers.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
Christ you lot, (eg, Imran, Kuciwalker), can't you just give the man the answer without being so snotty and condescending? My knowledge of the British legislature is probably comparably weak but it doesn't mean I know nothing - far from it in fact. Imran, you were cool when you were getting laid but now you've regressed. Great pity.

What DD said... and btw, is that final sentance the reason you've never been cool?

[Arrian]

Dodd (D-CT), Nay

Lieberman (D-CT), Yea

Why does this no surprise me? Only one Republican nay, by the way: Chafee (RI).

-Arrian

[lord of the mark]

Am I the only one here who doesnt think this will lead to tyranny?

When we captured enemy troops on the field of battle in past wars, they werent extended habeus corpus. We could just go ahead and issues a formal DOW, and call them EPW's, except that then we wouldnt be able to interrogate them, etc.

I sympathize with the poor guy who was at a radical madrassah in Pakistan in September 2001, but who really wasnt an AQ supporter, and got swept up. We should be more careful, cause of the hearts and minds struggle we're in. But I fail to see how such errors and abuses, bad as they are, will lead to the US becoming a bananna republic.

This to me only reemphasizes the importance of a change in the executive in 2008 - to a Dem, or a Republican whose been independent of the admin. So that someone else will have to deal with the difficult security issues facing us, which are REAL, not fearmongering.