Well, Vladimir Putin seems to have a new, more focused agenda since the recent terrorist attack on the school:
...propose legislation
abolishing the election of local governors by popular vote. Instead, they would be nominated by the president and confirmed by local legislatures - a move that would undo the remaining vestiges of the local autonomy already chipped away by Putin during his first term in office. Putin explained his move by the need to
streamline and strengthen the executive branch to make it more capable of combating terror. (emphasis mine)
Much more below the fold...
This sounds like the logic of a man who recognizes that their country is engaged in a war - a war on terror. This sounds like the actions of a man who is a strong leader; someone who makes policy decisions - regardless of what the reaction of his countrymen & women, and regardless of their wishes.
Imagine if, after 9-11, Bush had proposed a stunning new set of legislation, aimed at making streamlining the prosecution for the war on terror. Yes, this new set of laws would do the following...
* Expands terrorism laws to include "domestic terrorism" which could subject political organizations to surveillance, wiretapping,
harassment, and criminal action for political advocacy.
- Expands the ability of law enforcement to conduct secret searches, gives them wide powers of phone and Internet surveillance, and access to highly personal medical, financial, mental health, and student records with minimal judicial oversight.
- Allows FBI Agents to investigate American citizens for criminal matters without probable cause of crime if they say it is for "intelligence purposes."
- Permits non-citizens to be jailed based on mere suspicion and to be denied re-admission to the US for engaging in free speech. Suspects convicted of no crime may be detained indefinitely in six month increments without meaningful judicial review.
Forget that it could threaten the following rights, protected by the constitution...
- First Amendment - Freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and the press.
- Fourth Amendment - Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.
- Fifth Amendment - No person to be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.
- Sixth Amendment - Right to a speedy public trial by an impartial jury, right to be informed of the facts of the accusation, right to confront witnesses and have the assistance of counsel.
- Eighth Amendment - No excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishment shall be imposed.
- Fourteenth Amendment - All persons (citizens and noncitizens) within the US are entitled to due process and the equal protection of the laws.
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link, big adobe file)
So...Bush & Co. did push this set of laws through Congress. Um..well, we are the beacon of freedom for the world. We know what matters in our country - a strong leader with resolve. One who's tough, and goes against the will of the people. September 11th changed everything, didn't it? Our allies have simply followed Bush's lead, and some have even taken it a step further, all in the name of the War on Terror. Let freedom ring.
But hey, at least we know that our vote still counts, right? Right???
Act now, before it's too late