Keith is right and have we mutated into sheep?

Tonight, as was looking through the Crooks and Liars webpage, there was another link to a very satirical, but nevertheless, mindful comment by MSMBC's Keith Olberman. Somehow I think that he and I are twins separated by birth, because he says what I think. Of course, he does it much better than I do .... before I post the link to the short video, please bear with me ...

More than three years ago, after then Secretary of State Colin Powell gave his indictment of the Saddam Regime in front of the United Nations, I spoke to now ex-friend about what the ex-general had to say. I remember that at one point I broke out in tears and said something to the extent of "they might as well throw the Constitution and Bill of Rights away", I had no idea then how true this has become today. This ex-friend became just that after my outburst, now I just call her a misguided Kool-Aid drinker or sheep, because that is what I think she and fellow Kool-Aid drinkers have become.

In the name of fighting the war on terror(ism), it seems that the majority of the American populus has become a herd of sheep, willing to go and be slaughtered and at the last moment of not getting their word into a court of law starting to wonder what has happened to them and why. The changes have been subtle, to subtle to notice for most, those driven by the fear card that this admistration plays so well, the lies that they have told about Democrats wanting to be attacked again, the lies that they have told to get the nation's finest into Iraq, calling those who happen to disagree with this President traitors, America-haters and Appeasers ...

Now, the Senate has rushedly passed a bill that deals with the Geneva Convention (and that the President has still not signed into law yet), in as such how it DOESN'T apply or how this President sees it fit to interpret the new bill to keep us safe. Sorry, waterboarding someone is not going to keep me safe when the one being waterboarded just says anything that comes to his mind to end his or her ordeal, thus leading to convaluted "evidence obtained" that most likely will be completely useless. Really, torture does not seem to be a useful tool to obtain useful information for the most part. But again, people bought is and felt safer. Bah-Bah.

Then The Writ of Habeas Corpus, the right to see the evidence against oneself when thrown into court, is out of the window. A right for each citizen, yes citizen, because even citizens can be declared terrorists by this President, is gone, bye bye Bah-Bah. When I asked people about this, whether they don't find it frightful that this could happen to them, the answer usually is "no, I am not a terrorist." True, but just the thought that any President, whether Republican or Democrat, can hold so much power as to be able to throw our "rights" away, the answer is still no, because it keeps them safe. Bah-Bah.

Is this about stifling dissent at all costs? I am not sure. I am just reminded of the words of a friend of mine last year when she said that considering the current political climate, she would be fearful to have MFSO meetings at her house, because she didn't want someone infiltrate the group. I have heard others who want to go to political rallies but are fearful of being watched. Thus, dissent appears to have been suffocated at its roots, never mind the fact that this nation was found on the basis of dissent, but apparently, now I wonder what we have to fear more, a terrorist attack or disagreeing. I am sorry, but when even only a minority in a free country is fearful about being critical, than this country or its society is not free anymore. When we are worried about exercising the 1rst Amendment Rights, we are not free anymore. Didn't Bush say that OBL "hates us for our freedoms"? But who is taking the freedoms away? Is OBL winning yet, by having a proxy doing the job for him?

Sorry, I am angry and bitter about all that. This President swore to protect the Constitution but with the stroke of a pen will be managing to do away with one of the most important rights that distinguishes a free society from lets say, North Korea or Cuba or some African Dictactorship. But then again, what is one to expect from a man who thinks that the Constitution is nothing "more than a piece of paper" and who says that he is "in charge of the Federal Government"? Mr. Bush, read the Constitution, you are only in charge on one branch of government. You have managed to maybe keep us safe, but if we are afraid to speak, we have lost, if we are afraid to be critical thinkers, we have lost. We can't be afraid to speak, but most are. Anyone want lamb for dinner?

Anyway, here is the link to Keith, he is amazing, in his commentary, I believe he is right too. Thank you Keith, keep up the great work. http://www.crooksandliars.com/ If you can't get to the link this way, go to CrooksandLiars.com, then in the search bar type in Keith Olberman and look for the video titled "Why does Habeas Corpus Hate America?" Enjoy and cry a few tears while at it, I did.