The exception proves the rule

I am a bit of a slow learner, I wondered for years about the saying " It's the exception that proves the rule", not quite understanding that the meaning is ABOUT the exceptions.  Torture, warrentless search, CIA terrism and 'free speach" zones are now our rule of law.  All is left to us is to try to avoid being one of the exceptions.

 Veteran '66-68

by Roger (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 393 comments) on Sunday, October 28, 2007 at 11:30:50 AM
 

Another worst case scenario

There is a further connection that has not yet been made. I attended the anti-war rally in SF and was inspired by the large turnout and the great diversity of the participants. But all of this activism is just fine with the powers that be, unless it begins to translate into direct action. The anti-war movement in the 60s and the civil rights movements began to gain notice and influence only when they went on the offensive with direct action and civil disobedience. We're no where near that stage yet. But what will happen if and when the struggle moves in that direction? Why, the invocation of the "Patriot Act" and the detention without "habeus corpus" of protesters as "enemy combatants" of course. The government now has in its arsenal repressive arrows it never had before in its quiver, the ability to arrest and detain indefinately those it deems enemy combatants. It doesn't take much of a leap to imagine the government declairing those who actively resist perpetual war as enemy agents, cum enemy combatants. Throw a few activists in the clink as enemy combatants, ramp up the xenophobic hysteria and you get a worst case scenario, but we've seen one worst case scenario after another come to fruition.

by Dennis Etler (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 7 comments) on Sunday, October 28, 2007 at 1:18:44 PM
 

Ich danke Dir, mich an diesem Film erinnert zu haben.

Thanks for reminding me to go see this film. It had been on my list, but I somehow forgot about it. I'm going to rent it on DVD later today.

I agree entirely with the concern you raise here, but wonder why you phrased it like this:  "Is the official position of the Bush administration, the Republican Party and Republican Pundits that the fourth amendment is a cute idea not to be taken seriously?..."

The gutting of the FISA law in early August was not just a "Republican" action. Though it's true that most Democrats voted against it, enough Dems voted for it to ensure its passage. And as we have often reference to in discussions of the war funding issue, the Democratic leadership in both houses can control which bills come to the floor for a vote. Furthermore, in the Senate, 41 senators can filibuster anything; while in the House, a simple majority can defeat anything.

The Democrats, therefore, were far from fighting the gutting of FISA with every means at their disposal. They did not publicly argue that it represented a potential STASI-like encroachment on 4th Amendment freedoms. Therefore, isn't it somewhat unfair to portray the warrantless wiretapping as strictly a "Republican" initiative? Wouldn't it be more accurate to say Republican -- with Democratic complicity?

by Richard Mynick (2 articles, 3 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1232 comments) on Sunday, October 28, 2007 at 1:32:16 PM
 

Almost

Perhaps it would be better to rephrase as Republican policy with tacit initial acceptance by Democrats and the greater public. The hysteria brought on by 9/11 caused people to accept a lot that they ordinarily would not.

Over the last few years, people have been going back about a lot of things and saying, "Wait a minute... what did we do here..."

by Steven Leser (228 articles, 49 quicklinks, 34 diaries, 1647 comments) on Monday, October 29, 2007 at 11:59:00 AM
 

I have to thank you again Re: "The Lives of Others"

As it turned out, I did indeed watch the DVD last night, prompted by your article's reminder. And I completely agree that it was an unusually powerful film -- subtle, intricate, thrilling, & increasingly relevant to our own situation. A terrific movie. My pulse is still racing from it!

The very last scene was incredibly brilliant, I thought -- so understated, yet such a great way to tie the characters together; to illustrate the humanity of the Stasi man; to establish a connection between him & the author, though they'd never really even met. It gave me goose bumps.

by Richard Mynick (2 articles, 3 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1232 comments) on Monday, October 29, 2007 at 9:20:46 PM
 

Unfettered Access

To establish complete political control, a group must have unfettered access to communications. The Republican Party knows full well that they can spy on and cripple communications of any political opponent(s) in America. The Watergate break in was just a small sample of those activities. And that brought down a president. The excuse that this is for the sake of national security is and always has been a red herring.  Since 9/11, the Congress has been quite willing to revise FISA law to facilitate going after terrorists. 

by Pat Williams (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 82 comments) on Sunday, October 28, 2007 at 9:21:11 PM