There are certain things that are fundamental to all Americans. Regardless of political party, the left and the right and everyone in between should be able to agree that our Constitution is sacrosanct. In it are the guiding principles of our country, the rules we live by, and the guarantees of our civil liberty.
Republicans believe it, just like the rest of us. Even Republican politicians. Or they did, once upon a time. Until the Bush administration frightened the hell out of them, they believed, and many still do, that there are certain things that Americans just don't condone. Like torture. Like wiretapping American citizens without a warrant. Like placing one branch of government above the other two.
In this first video, Reagan administration officials stand up for the Constitution, and against George Bush.
It's been almost a year since the Republican congress passed the Torture Bill, one of the most egregious pieces of legislation we've seen in the awful history of the Bush administration. Senator Kerry spoke against the bill and in defense of the Constitution and America's moral authority with this floor speech.
It's not enough to wait until January, 2009, when Bush is gone and hope to see our Constitution restored under a Democratic President. As constitutional law expert Jonathan Turley described it, the loss of our civil liberties is like sand running through our fingers. Once it's gone it's not going to be so easy to get it back.
In case anyone has forgotten what's on the table, I jotted down a few notes last year after Congress decided it's OK to abandon our essential liberties out of fear, about what our Constitution says on the topic.
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Comments (5)
Posted by Connie | August 25, 2007 1:08 PM
Such powerful stuff, Faith. How I would love to see these video clips on Keith Olbermann's first edition of Countdown on NBC this Sunday. Maybe some of those who are still asleep will be shaken out of their slumber in time to save our crumbling democracy.
Posted by Faith | August 25, 2007 1:27 PM
YouTube seems to be down sporadically this afternoon. I just checked the video forum at DU, and their videos are missing as well.
Hopefully, not for long. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Posted by Faith | August 25, 2007 4:22 PM
Interesting Boston Globe (via truthout) story today on JAG reaction to Bush's executive order to allow torture by the CIA.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/082507A.shtml
Posted by Violet | August 26, 2007 9:01 AM
Faith,
what a powerful post. The last video in particular really hits home. I'd love to see it spread far and wide.
Posted by Faith | August 26, 2007 12:39 PM
Thanks, Violet.
As you know, I tend to borrow ideas liberally from a certain Senator's speeches. I also steal some of his stuff outright, but don't tell anyone.
:-)
"Let American be America Again" is a phrase we've heard Sen. Kerry use in the past, and it's one that has stayed with me. In one simple sentence, I think dispair and hope converge, and I believe it describes pretty accurately the Vision this site and others with like-minded views are trying to communicate.
I hope that comes across. We're working on it.