Monday, December 19, 2005

Wiretaps and Dictators When you have to explain in a press conference that you're not after "some kind of dictatorial position," you're already in trouble.  Like many of you, I'm not surprised that Bush reached for some extra-Constitutional powers to spy on you and me and everyone we know.  I'm surprised that it came out in the New York Times.  I'm surprised that Bush was so aware of how bad this would look that he called the NYT's publisher and executive editor to the Oval Office to beg them not to run the story.  (Kudos to the old grey lady for going ahead anyway, although they lose points for waiting a year.)  I'm surprised that there's a bipartisan backlash, and that the White House is genuinely rocked back on its heels.  I'm surprised and I'm relieved that so many people are furious about this.  We have spent too long in our post-911 haze of fear and trembling.  The old excuse that "they want to kill us" just isn't good enough anymore.  Defiling the Constitution destroys America just as readily as bombs and bullets.  It astonishes me to watch Bush wriggling to get the hook out of his mouth.  In his mind, spying on Americans (and the greater issue, claiming supreme ruling power in the wake of September 11th) was nothing to be ashamed of.  On the other hand, leaking the story to the New York Times was "shameful,"  and the Senate's reaction (refusing to reauthorize significant chunks of the Patriot Act) "endangers the lives of our citizens."  Now, think about that for a second.  Republicans and Democrats voted against the Patriot Act reauthorization.  He has now attacked members of his own party in the same way that he used to attack Democrats.  (Also, it used to work.)  This is a man who has lost control of his own party and his political bearing.  He's slashing out at any threat he sees.  Back in the day, we would have said he was wilding out.  He's swinging at shadows, getting angry instead of thinking about strategy, looking for enemies everywhere.  He's starting to remind me very much of Nixon.  Jon Alter better watch his back.  There is no question that Bush has used 9/11 to justify expanding his own power beyond reproach.  Russ Feingold said it best:  "The president has stated a doctrine that he can just make up the law and create whatever other powers he wants on his own."  He is wrong, he is subverting the Constitution by even attempting this, and he's about to get jumped for it. Don't rest, people.  Bush is in deep trouble.  Possibly legal trouble.  (Notice how Alter carefully inserts the I word into his article.)  But we'll need to keep vigilant.  The boat is rocking, but he's not going down without a fight.  Stay angry, and keep your eyes open. 8:12:47 PM     Speak up!  []