Beware Washington's Benevolence

The Washington Times ^ | December 21, 2011 | Igor Birman

[calif_reaganite]

But in the 17 years since I became an American, we’ve been averting our gaze as these sacred assurances slowly have waned. With passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, we look away again as Congress exposes Americans to the specter of prison without charge or trial and smothers that basic right of free citizens to invoke the law against their government.

...

But Americans should know that to eyes familiar with tyranny by experience, congressional consent to these broad new powers marks a major milestone on the road to serfdom. Before it’s too late, let us resolve to renew and reinvigorate our vigilance for freedom.

...

Igor Birman came to the United States as a Soviet refugee at the age of 13 and is chief of staff for California Republican Rep. Tom McClintock.

[cripplecreek]

The last thing I want is for Washington to care about me.

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

-CS Lewis

[kenavi]

Would like to hear how a congressman justifies voting for this.

[Venturer]

Or a Senator, 93 out of a hundred voted for it.
Republicans and Democrats.

I wonder what the Supremes will have to say.
If they are our last hope we don’t have much hope.

The last time I read of Habeas Corpus being rejected was when Lincoln came to Maryland and arrested the whole Legislature before they could vote to secede.

[LucianOfSamasota]

Good post!

[Opinionated Blowhard]

There is nothing benevolent about government. It is, at best, a necessary evil (with the emphasis on evil). Every single thing it does, with perhaps the exception of its core military and diplomatic powers, are expanded and corrupted and used to favor those in charge and their cronies. That is why I was so upset with Bush’s “Compassionate Conservatism.” True, some of his programs started off with conservative values, but eventually they were or will be perverted into typical Lib programs. We need a small state, period. At least cut in half in terms of spending. If I had my way, it would be cut by 2/3rds.

[TheBigJ]

(regarding your post, the senate vote changed with a few more opposed second time around)

BUTCHER’S BILL 369

Let this be the motto.

Let this be the high price of treason.

369 against millions of p*ssed off patriots.

369 minority tyrants who deem themselves ruling class.

369 names who voted to violate numerous amendments, Habeas Corpus, Posse Comitatus, and douse the U.S. Constitution in flames, passing the NDAA S. 1867/H.R. 1540 allowing U.S. citizens detained and disappeared by U.S. military on U.S. or foreign soil.

Know their names well. There’s a test afterwords.

Written in blood.

SENATE (86 of 100)
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00230

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (283 of 435)
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2011-932&sort=vote

[Venturer]

I cannot believe it.

My Senator Cardin voted against it. Unbelieveable.

Of course Steny and the Midget Mikulski were all for it.

These 369 people need to be arrested for violating their oath of office to support the Constitution. They should all be impeached.

[Venturer]

I read the list again and even the dipstick Franken voted against it. Hard to believe those Senators and Congressmen sold out America.