"To those who scare peace-loving people with phantoms of lost liberty, my message is this: your tactics only aid terrorists, for they erode our national unity and diminish our resolve. They give ammunition to America's enemies, and pause to America's friends."
- John Ashcroft December 2001
Thus were many of us introduced to the systemic fear mongering and intimidation that was to become a hallmark of the Bush Justice department and indeed their whole approach to citizen control through fear.
True to form, as Ashcroft gave his farewell speech in the hallowed halls of the Heritage Foundation in Washington this afternoon, he gave dire warning of the consequences of loosening the tight grip on the reins of Freedom that this administration is establishing on it's people.
From CNN
" In a stinging parting shot at administration critics, Attorney General John Ashcroft on Tuesday warned of serious threats to public safety and security if Congress fails to restore stiff sentencing guidelines and does not renew portions of the Patriot Act.
...
"He was especially blunt in his view of the 5-4 Supreme Court decision that dealt a blow to federal sentencing guidelines.
"Last month's Supreme Court ruling that federal judges are not bound by sentencing guidelines is a retreat from justice that may put the public's safety in jeopardy," Ashcroft declared. "Which of our daughters, wives and husbands -- are we willing to sacrifice to return to revolving door justice."
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"The attorney general issued equally dire predictions if Congress allows provisions of the Patriot Act to expire later this year. The Justice Department points to the Patriot Act as providing key tools in the war on terrorism.
...
"Ashcroft's final speech was loudly applauded by the audience in the auditorium of the staunchly conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington.
Ashcroft was introduced by the organization's chief legal strategist, former Attorney General Ed Meese, as a man who "served with dignity, integrity and excellence."
Well, John, you can rest easy knowing that your replacement is just as committed (if not more so) to continuing apace in your assualt on Freedom and peace-of-mind. May you rot in hell.
But I have to admit, I never thought I would look back nostalgically on Ed Meese's tenure at Justice.