July 9th, 2008 marks the day that fear has won.

[Javaman]

When the tools of tyranny win out over the process of reason, we as a nation can say goodbye to our rights.

From this time forward a person who has a conflicting opinion against our government, has a conflicting view point, has a voice that needs to be heard which is direct opposition to the platform by which our government stands, will be marked.

This has nothing to do with terrorism, nor has it ever had anything to do with our safety. It has always been about control and power. The control of message and the power to put down.

Our newspapers, TV news and most of the major news websites are controlled by the right wing.

Now more than ever the term "Democratic Underground" proves poignant. It will be the blogs and the voice of the people that will carry the message forward.

Today, our elected officials failed us; once again. Our freedoms drip away. Our rights are marginalized and treated as after thoughts. We have a nation of people that now fear our government.

I'm truly saddened by todays vote, for now the future of our nation, to me, is very uncertain.

May whatever gods, faiths or beliefs have mercy on our souls. For we were give a great responsibility by the founding fathers to shepherd this nation via the constitution. And we have failed.

[wtmusic]

1. I need some time off.

I consider myself politically active but I put a hell of a lot of time into shutting down this FISA bill.

Calling, faxing, talking to friends, talking to strangers.

Really takes the wind out of one's sails. I know I can get excited about politics again, but I can't think about it right now.

[Hydra]

2. This may well be the final nail in the coffin

Or maybe it will come later this week when Congress ok's the attack on Iran.

Either way, this is a bad week for Liberty and a major holiday for Bushco.

[mmonk]

3. Fear is the tool of tyrants and the road to the irrational.

[ForrestGump]

4. I think this could be expanded to claim that

just about every day that unAmerican legislation was passed -- and there has been an awful lot of it since 9/11 -- has been a day when fear won. Fear and greed, usually. In recent years, more than ever, one has quite blatantly been used to fuel the other in this country.

In fact, maybe "Fear and Greed" should replace "E Pluribus Unum," maybe with a chickenhawk replacing the eagle in the coat of arms of the United States, in the interests of Truth In Advertising.

[TheWatcher]

5. The Haunting Words of John Adams ring loudly across the landscape this day.

"Posterity, you will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it."

"If you do not, I shall repent it in heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it."

We could have done better.

We SHOULD have done better.

I think it is safe to say, days like today are NOT what the Founders meant, nor what they fought for.

[LSK]

6. I thought that happened on October 25, 2001

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00313


:shrug: