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OrlandoMary
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Sieg Heil!
By DOUG THOMPSON
Apr 6, 2005, 07:42
The ugly face of fascism appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday
It appeared twice: With Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and again with FBI Director Robert Mueller as both demanded Congress not only reauthorize the rights-robbing USA Patriot Act but expand the ability of the federal government’s goose-stepping storm troopers to invade the privacy of Americans and ignore the protections of the Constitution.
"Now is not the time for us to be engaging in unilateral disarmament" on the legal weapons now available for fighting terrorism, Gonzales said, adding that the most controversial provisions of the Patriot Act have “proven invaluable in fighting terrorism and aiding other investigations.”
The key phrase here is “other investigations.” Although the Patriot Act was rushed into law to fight terrorism, the Justice Department under former Attorney General John Ashcroft and now Gonzales sees nothing wrong with using the act to go after anybody for any perceived crime. Ashcroft, a religious zealot, deployed the powers of the Act in several unsuccessful attempts to prosecute American citizens for selling dirty books and videos.
"It's important that these authorities remain available," Gonzales added. [more]
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_6539.shtml
OrlandoMary
www.maryschneider.us
By DOUG THOMPSON
Apr 6, 2005, 07:42
The ugly face of fascism appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday
It appeared twice: With Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and again with FBI Director Robert Mueller as both demanded Congress not only reauthorize the rights-robbing USA Patriot Act but expand the ability of the federal government’s goose-stepping storm troopers to invade the privacy of Americans and ignore the protections of the Constitution.
"Now is not the time for us to be engaging in unilateral disarmament" on the legal weapons now available for fighting terrorism, Gonzales said, adding that the most controversial provisions of the Patriot Act have “proven invaluable in fighting terrorism and aiding other investigations.”
The key phrase here is “other investigations.” Although the Patriot Act was rushed into law to fight terrorism, the Justice Department under former Attorney General John Ashcroft and now Gonzales sees nothing wrong with using the act to go after anybody for any perceived crime. Ashcroft, a religious zealot, deployed the powers of the Act in several unsuccessful attempts to prosecute American citizens for selling dirty books and videos.
"It's important that these authorities remain available," Gonzales added. [more]
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_6539.shtml
OrlandoMary
www.maryschneider.us