To the Voters: Do not give into fear; listen to the whisperings of our Founding Fathers

To the Voters: Do not give into fear; listen to the whisperings of our Founding Fathers

By Mary MacElveen
October 19, 2006

In his latest email alerts, Ken Mehlman (GOP Chair) stated “There is nothing more important than protecting the American people and ensuring that we have the intelligence we need to stop attacks on our homeland. The vast majority of Democrats in Congress did not agree. Shockingly, 84% of the Democrats in the House voted against interrogating terrorists, as did 73% of the Democrats in the Senate.” It is not that Democrats are against any future attacks, these Democrats feel that by trashing Habeas Corpus we have become the very thing that we have been fighting.

I would also like to ask, Mehlman if both he and Bush feel that intelligence is so vital to our nation’s security, then why did Bush ignore the many intelligence reports coming to him prior to September 11th? I feel that is an honest question to ask of, Mehlman.

As I have written recently concerning this issue “Why should we as Americans believe anything that comes from Rice’s mouth? The New York Times reported: "A review of White House records has determined that George J. Tenet, then the director of central intelligence, did brief Condoleezza Rice and other top officials on July 10, 2001, about the looming threat from Al Qaeda, a State Department spokesman said."

In this video: Keith Olberman Proves Condoleeza Rice a Liar: He says something remarkable: "You’re not supposed to relive history, but learn from it."

Just recently, former president Bill Clinton defended his actions in addressing terrorism in a Fox News interview with Chris Wallace who is Mike Wallace’s son (famed Sixty Minutes journalist since its inception). This is what the former president stated “They (the Bush administration) had no meetings on bin Laden for nine months after I left office. All the right-wingers who now say I didn’t do enough said I did too much - same people.”

On the Fox News interview, Clinton kept referring to Richard Clarke, who was a counter-terrorism expert in the Reagan, Bush Sr. and the Clinton administration ... and the Bush Jr. administration until he resigned. Clinton stated of Clarke: “I left a comprehensive anti-terror strategy (with the Bush administration) and the best guy in the country, Dick Clarke, got demoted."

So, Mehlman, do not go blaming the Democrats, but hold your despot of a president accountable for not paying attention to intelligence reports given him prior to September 11th.

Mehlman, also states in his email alert “The Democrats who voted against this bill out of concern for terrorist civil liberties include all of their key leaders in Congress: would-be Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader-in waiting John Murtha, and Senate Democrat leader Harry Reid. Would the Military Commissions Act have ever seen the light of day in a Democrat-led Congress?”

No, Mehlman has it wrong again. All of these Democratic leaders are concerned with the civil liberties that protect us all. As far as it seeing the light of day under a Democrat controlled congress, I would say no since they would have acted like the true checks and balances put forth by our founding fathers. The GOP led congress acts as a rubber stamp for the Bush administration.

Mehlman does remember who the founding fathers are? They are the ones spinning in the graves as this new law was enacted.

Let us also speak of these interrogation techniques that Bush has now been given a blank check that puts this country in the same league with nations such as Saudi Arabia who is known for many human rights violations. I bet you that Saudi Arabia is saying “Welcome to the club”.

When it comes to intelligence gathering through the use of violence which torture is this is what the Innocence Project has written of it “Many factors arise from interrogation that may lead to a false confession, including: duress, coercion, intoxication, diminished capacity, ignorance of the law, mental impairment. Fear of violence (threatened or performed) and threats of extreme sentences have also led innocent people to confess to crimes they did not perpetrate. Given the extremely powerful impact a confession has on case outcome, it is incredibly important to understand the origin of the incriminating statement(s). Legislation requiring videotaping of interrogations aims to prevent and identify false confessions. Legislative action that seeks to prevent false confessions reaffirms a commitment to the search for truth and justice in a criminal case.”

As Bush has now been given a blank check to use whatever means are necessary, will we be given accurate information and intelligence from those we are questioning? The answer is no. If though these interrogation sessions which will use violence to obtain this information, we stand a greater chance of getting the wrong information from these detainees and how will that protect Americans?

Let us also remember that now thanks to the GOP and Bush, Americans that are seen as ‘enemy combatants’ can be hauled off and suffer the same consequences. Due process is now out the window as well as human rights.

When it comes to those that are already in our custody, this is what, Mehlman stated “Republicans in Congress worked to successfully extend this program, and Democrats overwhelmingly voted "No." That’s a very clear difference.” As I see it, yes there is a clear difference. The GOP just trashed the United States Constitution yet again, did away with Habeas Corpus as well as do away with the Bill of Rights in which Olbermann just recently stated is now the “Bill of Right”.

Those Democrats that voted no to the Military Commissions Act heard the founding fathers whispering in their ears telling them “Do not go down this treacherous and treasonous path. Do not hand over power to one man who will but obliterate 230 years of jurisprudence that we have all enjoyed.”

With all of the focus on this one particular bill now law, another bill passed on that day which allows for the warrantless eaves dropping within this country. Yet again, it shows just how drunk with power Bush and the GOP really are. Can you really trust what is heard through this one particular act which may have some Americans hauled off to detention centers with the use of violence hanging over their heads?

Do not give into Bush, Mehlman and the GOP’s use of fear tactics, just sit quietly and let the founding fathers speak to you. They will tell you that this country needs a change in direction and it will not come from the GOP. They will also tell you that should both houses remain in GOP control; we will fall even more down the darkened abyss.

The destiny and fate of what is left of this country now is within your hands and with that said, all I will say is that the GOP must be stopped if we are truly to remain a safe country.

http://www.marymacelveen.com/blog/_archives/2006/10/19/2428824.html