Democracy in Action?

[dogday]

Democracy in Action?
By Chip Pitts
t r u t h o u t | Perspective

Sunday 12 June 2005

Friday's Congressional hearing on the USA Patriot Act and civil liberties was indeed an interesting experience.

The hearing, called under a special rule by the Democratic minority members, was one of the relatively rare recent opportunities that a diverse selection of Patriot Act critics have had to voice their concerns to Congress, and the only opportunity thus far to begin to highlight the links between the depredations of rights at home and abroad.

It was also unique in ending abruptly in what the New York Times described as "an angry uproar," the Washington Post called "a cacophony of protests," and other news outlets simply agreed was "chaos."

At issue was the USA Patriot Act, portions of which sunset at the end of this year. The President gave yet another major speech urging complete renewal of those provisions last week, and the Senate Intelligence Committee after closed door hearings agreed with him that the law should not only be preserved, but expanded.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/061205X.shtml

[EST]

1. I've watched the "hearing" is its entirety several times.

Such outrageous high-handedness needs to be seen by all. The neofascists will see it as a fully justified put down of the 'libruls,' since they feel the bushogizers were reelected and mandated to do just that. We will see it, no doubt, as further evidence of the very criminal cover up it is.

Hopefully it'll wake a few more of the not quite totally brain dead to the truth.

[FreedomAngel82]

2. It was so disgusting

When Resenbrenner left the room with his aids or whomever they were they were all smiles like little kids who took the ball away at recess. :mad: Simply disgusting! Why don't they like free speech?

[LightningFlash]

3. What are they afraid of?

[EST]

4. Free speech is anathema to totalitarians.

Time and again the r/w head of the moment is put on tv, glowering at the camera and threatening that, "some people had better watch what they say."
True believers don't even see this as a direct assault on human rights - and that, to me, is the danger.

[JNelson6563]

5. I think it's "Democracy Inaction"

actually.

Julie