i’ve been feeling overwhelmed recently, so i went from reading community blogs as well as individual blogs, to only reading individual blogs… and this is precisely the reason why:

WHITE HOUSE STOMPS ON OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

As we, the American people, approach the anniversary of our independence from tyranny in 1776, it pays to consider the Bill of Rights threatened by the secrecy-obsessed Bush administration.

Freedom of the press and religion, the right to peacefully assembly, freedom from unlawful searches and seizures have all been endangered by this administration’s reckless conduct in the global war on terror.

The Clinton administration brought us the end to welfare as we knew it.

The Bush administration has brought us an end to the Constitution as we knew it.

We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare, must examine the Bush administration’s excesses, misconduct and unlawful agenda affecting individual liberties and democracy.

To paraphrase Edward R. Murrow, the Bushvolk have defended democracy abroad and denied it at home. They have out-Nixoned Nixon.

In the next few weeks, expect several columns that celebrate our independence by describing our threatened liberties.

Let’s have an open and honest public debate about issues of importance to our national identity.

We should all question why the federal government silenced librarians until after Congress renewed the USA Patriot Act.

Librarians who had wanted to speak publicly or testify before Congress during hearings were prohibited from doing so. They were threatened with federal imprisonment if they did. Once the Patriot Act was renewed, the gag was lifted.

We should question why animal-rights groups, environmental organizations and civil rights interests fall under the label “domestic terrorism.” Since when is People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals equal to al-Qaida?

Since when does telling the public about global warming threaten national security? Expect to learn why this White House considers your phone calls and e-mails the government’s business not yours.

This White House has sought to quell debate by invoking such things as “executive privilege,” “state secrets” and “national security.” It has made the U.S. attorney general, sworn to uphold the Constitution, its lapdog.

It has made citizens fearful of writing signed op-eds and letters to newspaper editors that might get them labeled as subversive or “anti-Bush.”

The Bushvolk are goose-stepping their way into history. They’re trampling the Constitution. They have slandered jurists as “activist judges.” They have misinterpreted Congressional intent and bent and/or broken laws.

Through indefinite incarcerations of people not charged with crimes, they have deprived people of the right to outside legal counsel and privileged communications.

With the oversight of an emasculated Congress, the administration has abused its powers to establish an imperial presidency.

We escaped one King George only to have crowned another.

We can keep America safe and free. We must confront terrorism and resist tyranny.

We, the people, must let freedom ring. To do anything less is to lose America.