(And it didn't work out well then, either.)
I check the NYT at the end of the day, and see this wonderful piece of news. The FBI is interviewing known political protestors before the Republican Convention next month. They claim it is legal to do this, and that they are focused only on "possible crimes, not political dissent" at the convention, and that they have no intention of coercing anyone into not protesting.
Yeah, right. If the FBI showed up at my door to ask me what I was doing next month, I don't think I would take that as a gentle question. Rather, I think I would be fearful of my civil liberties, not to mention my life, liberty and ability to pursue happiness. (Just to use a phrase I heard somewhere, once or twice.)
I know Bush likes to have his campaign events/photo-ops with people who won't ask any sort of remotely threatening questions, but we are talking about the whole of New York City here: if the people want to protest, they are going to.
It's a democracy. You have to let them, no matter how much it might mess up your pretty pictures.
Posted by baltar at August 16, 2004 05:22 PM | TrackBack | Posted to Politicseven if i concede, and i might, that the Patriot Act paranoia is somewhat overstated, that in many respects (most respects german to average joes) it just amplified existing law, there is still a larger question of the climate, noxious to freedom of thought and debate, created by that legislation and other executive rhetoric and action since 9/11 -- a climate that has so skewed the debate that this news is _anything_ short of SCANDALOUS. there ought to be an outpouring of rage, but of course there isn't.
nevertheless, just as our foreign policy creates the ideal conditions for recruitment of terrorists and all but guarantees our ongoing failure to satisfy this week's stated objectives, this sort of nixon-era gestapo crap is going to backfire. i think if they're not careful this is going to be like the DNC in '68. and i can't even say for certain whether i think that's a bad thing.
Posted by: joshua at August 17, 2004 10:23 AM | PERMALINKI think, at this point, that a backfire would have to be a good thing. I cannot remember a time where the partisan rancor has been higher, nor a time where the need for bi-partisan action on a range of critical issues (foriegn policy, nuclear proliferation, social security, the deficit, etc.) higher. The quicker we can make changes in the executive branch, the quicker we can actually begin work on solving a host of critical issues.
The funny thing is that the change does not have to be a Democrat, but it sure can't be any of todays Republicans. Give me any of those folks who were running for Prez back in the 80s (Kemp, Dole, McCain) and I think I'd be almost as happy as a Democrat winning (though happier than a Kerry win).
But anyone is better than Bush.
Posted by: Baltar at August 17, 2004 11:18 AM | PERMALINK