Gonzales and the Bush administration have now crossed another line, and maybe now the press will stop being so cowed and realize that they are becoming the next target. It is as crystal clear as it gets that there is no respect for rule of law inside the administration, and given the fact that TIA is still being used by NSA despite Congress shutting down the program in 2003, who's to say that the administration wouldn't defy the Supreme Court, for instance, if ordered to stop the warrantless domestic surveillance, or to stop prosecuting reporters?
Just the mere fact that Torture Czar says that a Constitutional right to a free press, which states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..." is not absolute is one of the most chilling thoughts. The nation's top prosecutor is saying that our First Amendment will be broken by the administration to stop all negative press that tells Americans their rights are being violated. It it a thoroughly heinous act, one that we must react to quickly and efficiently.
Right now, I don't recognize America. The America I know would never allow such haters of freedom to be elected and appointed to office. That's right, haters of freedom. We have shredded the Fourth Amendment with the domestic spying program, the Sixth Amendment in the Padilla case, the Eighth Amendment in our torture of detainees (and make no mistake, Abu Ghraib was not isolated), and now the First Amendment is about to be next. I am, as an aspiring reporter with a college degree, so afraid of what will happen to my dear institution. We are entering the dark age of America, one I fear we will not soon depart. This November's election is the last chance to repudiate and fix the work of these megalomaniacal people. I have never held such low opinions of public officials, and every day, they do something new to accelerate that drop. This is my Alamo. I am now committed to action, what type I don't know yet, but it will be happening very soon, very fast. I cannot tolerate another abuse.
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