Jan
02
2006
Joseph Loconte of the ultra-right Heritage Foundation had an op-ed published in today’s New York Times. The entire column was rather ridiculous, but one passage in particular made me laugh outloud…
Democrats who want religious values to play a greater role in their party might take a cue from the human-rights agenda of religious conservatives. Evangelicals begin with the Bible’s account of the God-given dignity of every person.
You read that correctly. Religious conservatives believe that every person has God-given dignity. Unless, of course, that person happens to be gay, female, non-white, or non-Christian.
Jan
02
2006
Jon Carroll does an excellent job of explaining the logic employed by the right in today’s San Francisco Chronicle…
Why does the president have the power to unilaterally authorize wiretaps of American citizens?
Because he is the president.
Does the president always have that power?
No. Only when he is fighting the war on terror does he have that power.
When will the war on terror be over?
The fight against terror is eternal. Terror is not a nation; it is a tactic. As long as the president is fighting a tactic, he can use any means he deems appropriate.
Why does the president have that power?
It’s in the Constitution.
Where in the Constitution?
It can be inferred from the Constitution. When the president is protecting America, he may by definition make any inference from the Constitution that he chooses. He is keeping America safe.
Who decides what measures are necessary to keep America safe?
The president.
Who has oversight over the actions of the president?
The president oversees his own actions. If at any time he determines that he is a danger to America, he has the right to wiretap himself, name himself an enemy combatant and spirit himself away to a secret prison in Egypt.
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