Backing Bush

NY Sun ^ | August 17, 2007 | Russ Smith

[IrishMike]

One of the more absurd complaints leveled against President Bush during his tumultuous tenure in office is that, in combating terrorism, he's eviscerated the Constitution. This hysteria is not confined to critics in the blogosphere or strident left-wing magazines such as the Nation but is found, as well, in mass-market newspapers and magazines. A citizen who reads, in a vacuum, editorials and oped columnists in the New York Times, say, might believe that since September 11 America, led by the Bush administration, has become a police state.

The latest round of hyperbolic arguments offered by anti-administration partisans concerns the acquiescence of Congress to put off for six months any revisions to Mr. Bush's allowance of wiretapping of telephone calls that are suspected to contain discussion of possible terrorism.

Newsweek's Jonathan Alter, writing in that magazine's current issue, claims that Mr. Bush has "betrayed his oath to defend the Constitution," and what's worse, from his point of view, is that Democrats were too politically frightened to oppose him.

Hardly anyone would disagree that the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which is badly outdated, needs overhaul; it's the extent of the changes that has Democrats in a dither.

Mr. Alter begins his column: "I hate to sound melodramatic about it, but while everyone was at the beach or ‘The Simpsons Movie' on the first weekend of August, the U.S. government shredded the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, the one requiring court-approved ‘probable cause' before Americans can be searched or spied upon."

The author's essay is a role reversal of sorts: On election night in 2000, Mr. Alter, perhaps sleep deprived, was seen on MSNBC in the wee hours fairly ranting that Vice President Gore was cheated and should be granted the presidency because he won the popular vote.

[KantianBurke]

“One of the more absurd complaints leveled against President Bush during his tumultuous tenure in office is that, in combating terrorism, he’s eviscerated the Constitution.”

Oh he’s eviscerated the Constitution alright - CFR anyone?

[eastforker]

Has anyone else noticed we are no longer taxed on our health care premiums deducted from our paycheck? Also, Income taxes are way lower than in the past.

[Non-Sequitur]

Has anyone else noticed we are no longer taxed on our health care premiums deducted from our paycheck?

That was for self-employed. I don't remember ever paying taxes on premiums I pay for my health care I get through work.

[IrishMike]

“Congress must accept responsibility for undermining the democratic values that separate this nation from the terrorists that Mr. Bush claims to be fighting.”
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9-11 didn’t happen ?
We are not at war with al qaeda ?
W is ‘claiming’ to be at war ?
These guys are way out there -

[econjack]

Should Senators Clinton or Obama replace Mr. Bush it's entirely reasonable to speculate as to whether the current opinion makers who insist this president is "shredding" the Constitution will apply the same standards to his successor.

Anyone who can fog a mirror can get this speculation right.

[eastforker]

Short memory, in the past you were first taxed on your salary, then the deductions began.That was true for hourly employees, may have been different for salaried personnel.

[Uncle Miltie]

I think I was the last person who supported Bush, and he lost me on immigration. I don’t think Laura supports him any more.

[what's up]

Nonsense.