Now Bush gets tough?
by Jim Babka
February 1, 2004
The President said in his State of the Union that
he wants the Patriot Act to be made permanent.
Much of the act, which has drawn well-deserved
criticism from libertarians and constitutionalists,
is scheduled to sunset in 2005. Originally
legislators passed the act as a temporary,
emergency measure.
It's fairly well-established that George Bush and
Attorney General John Ashcroft care very little
about your civil liberties. They don't care about,
- what the Patriot Act does.
- the Padilla & Hamdi cases.
- the Homeland Defense Department, the
agency that will one day serve as our
KGB.
But now CNS News reports, "The Bush
administration is warning those who plan to
legislate changes to the USA Patriot Act: the
president will veto any bill scaling back key
parts of the Patriot Act."
Now he gets tough!
This veto news is significant.
George W. Bush hasn't vetoed a single bill – not
one.
Now one of two things is happening. Either the
Congress is doing a perfect job of presenting
legislation consistent with Bush's campaign
platform and conservative image, or President
Bush doesn't stand for much of anything.
- When big spending bills came down the
pike, Bush signed them.
- When incumbent protection campaign
finance deform reach his desk, he signed
that too.
- When expansion of the Medicare
entitlement came along, he proudly
signed that as well.
Looks like Bush doesn't really have many core
principles.
And this veto seems to underscore the point.
Here are some other things that are apparently
outside Bush's principles:
- A well regulated Militia, being necessary
to the security of a free State, the right of
the people to keep and bear Arms, shall
not be infringed.
- The right of the people to be secure in
their persons, houses, papers, and
effects, against unreasonable searches
and seizures, shall not be violated, and
no Warrants shall issue, but upon
probable cause, supported by Oath or
affirmation, and particularly describing
the place to be searched, and the persons
or things to be seized.
- No person shall be held to answer for a
capital, or otherwise infamous crime,
unless on a presentment or indictment of
a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in
the land or naval forces, or in the Militia,
when in actual service in time of War or
public danger; nor shall any person be
subject for the same offence to be twice
put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall
be compelled in any criminal case to be
a witness against himself, nor be
deprived of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law; nor shall
private property be taken for public use,
without just compensation.
- In all criminal prosecutions, the accused
shall enjoy the right to a speedy and
public trial, by an impartial jury of the
State and district wherein the crime shall
have been committed, which district
shall have been previously ascertained
by law, and to be informed of the nature
and cause of the accusation; to be
confronted with the witnesses against
him; to have compulsory process for
obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to
have the Assistance of Counsel for his
defence.
- Excessive bail shall not be required, nor
excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and
unusual punishments inflicted.
- All persons born or naturalized in the
United States, and subject to the
jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the
United States and of the State wherein
they reside. No State shall make or
enforce any law which shall abridge the
privileges or immunities of citizens of
the United States; nor shall any State
deprive any person of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its
jurisdiction the equal protection of the
laws.
These used to be your Constitutional rights – but
thanks to Bush and Ashcroft, not anymore.
If the Constitution mattered to the president, his
veto threat would be on the extension of the
Patriot Act, not the repealing of it.