When Conservatives Attack Conservatives
Someone sent me a link to this story: Old-line Republican warns ’something’s in the works’ to trigger a police state. It grabbed my attention:
Thom Hartmann began his program on Thursday by reading from a new Executive Order which allows the government to seize the assets of anyone who interferes with its Iraq policies.
Yikes. So, am I a terrorist for even thinking that if the war in Iraq was a Silicon Valley startup, they’d have been laughed out of every VC’s office and never been funded in the first place? Certainly, conservatives are stepping up to defend the new order:
He then introduced old-line conservative Paul Craig Roberts — a former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under Reagan who has recently become known for his strong opposition to the Bush administration and the Iraq War — by quoting the “strong words” which open Roberts’ latest column: “Unless Congress immediately impeaches Bush and Cheney, a year from now the US could be a dictatorial police state at war with Iran.”
Oh, snap! Noam Chomsky must be grinning from ear to ear right now.
“I don’t actually think they’re very strong,” said Roberts of his words. “I get a lot of flak that they’re understated and the situation is worse than I say. … When Bush exercises this authority [under the new Executive Order] … there’s no check to it. It doesn’t have to be ratified by Congress. The people who bear the brunt of these dictatorial police state actions have no recourse to the judiciary. So it really is a form of total, absolute, one-man rule. … The American people don’t really understand the danger that they face.”
Some Americans understand full well what’s been going on – and this problem didn’t start with the Bush administration (and it likely won’t end there, either). This is not a partisan snag – the problem is much, much, MUCH bigger. The Democrats / liberals aren’t going to save your bacon, my friends…
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10 Comments
The Chris Pirillo Show
July 20th, 2007
at 1:33pm
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quikslvr
July 20th, 2007
at 4:39am
It’s already out. You’re behind. Though it’s understandable because this was buried pretty well.
The latest Executive Order from President Bush, which allows the Department of Treasury to freeze the assets of anyone even suspected of threatening the stability of Iraq, and to hand over that power to any governmental body they choose.
With no definition of what constitutes threatening the stability of Iraq (they could define it as donating to peace-encouraging charities, for example), this is an extremely dangerous Executive Order, as it basically undermines the Fifth Amendment.
James Robertson
July 20th, 2007
at 5:26am
I’m not sure that bringing up Roberts is the best example of what you want. He’s a racist, tin foil hat paleo-con. He used to be semi-reasonable back in the 80’s; over the last 15 years he’s swung through Clinton derangement syndrome and Bush derangement syndrome.
Zach
July 20th, 2007
at 6:12am
After the whole immigration debacle I washed my hands of GWB but I still find it funny how everything he does is made into some sort of conspiracy to do something evil. Did you actually read the EO?
So .. for instance.. if your Silicon Valley startup provides material or financial assistance to a person (terrorist?) or organization (terroristS) inside or outside the US whos actions are determined to undermine progress in Iraq be it political or re-constructive they can have their assets seized.
Now, if you read this (and most any other law) throught the shiny veil of some industrial strength tin foil, yes, this will cause us to be a dictatorship in approximately 102.5 days. Or.. you can just read it and not fall off the deep end.
Michael Pate
July 20th, 2007
at 6:52am
The only detail Roberts omitted was whether Bush was doing the bidding of the Freemasons, the Illuminati, the British royal family, or the Vatican. – Ben Roberts @ http://tinyurl.com/39tbjj
Phil
July 20th, 2007
at 9:43am
I’m thinking that maybe you should stick to technology topics and leave politics out of it.
RightOnPeachtree
July 21st, 2007
at 10:05pm
I agree wholeheartedly with Phil. I come to this website for technology info (and I enjoy it for that reason). If this is going to now be a political blog, just let us know and I’ll go elsewhere.
Gene
July 21st, 2007
at 11:22pm
I agree wholeheartedly with Phil.
Some of us have family in harm’s way, fighting for our country. Now is not the time to be badmouthing their Commander-in-Chief. It only emboldens those who wish to harm them. AND us.
ShadowMyth
July 22nd, 2007
at 12:40pm
Why is that Phil? Technological freedom is at stake here to…it is all connected.
anonymous
July 23rd, 2007
at 9:01pm
Phil was blunt but correct.. sorry. Tech is your thing, judging by your close to the post politics is decidedly not.