by Michael Leon

Those longing for an accounting of Bush's historic abuse of power may get their wish.

In Salon, Tim Shorrock has uncovered new modes of state surveillance of Americans, and revealed documents contemplating "a potential investigation of the White House that could rival Watergate."

Breaking new ground on the government's programs monitoring Americans to be used in a declared national emergency, Shorrock reports on programs "designed for use by the military in the event of a national catastrophe, a suspension of the Constitution or the imposition of martial law."

Some excerpts:

See Original Post

Yesterday, I went up to Bloomer, WI with my parents to talk about Thailand at a retirement home. On the way, we decided to stop at Culver's along Highway 53 to have some lunch. I saw a man sitting in a booth that looked fimiliar--I had to do a double-take, but I was certain it was Senator Feingold. My mom and dad concurred when they joined me at our table. I almost approached him and let him know that I appreciate his stance on FISA, but he seemed to be enjoying his ButterBurger a LOT. I am not sure if anyone else in the restaurant recognized the Senator--if they did, they allowed him to enjoy his 4th of July weekend "off the job".

It is always cool to see national figures in the Chippewa Valley; it is doubly cool to see them at such an everyday spot. Keep up the good work Senator Feingold!--I'll treat you to some custard next time I see you.

Update: CCR Produces Analysis of Landmark Supreme Court Decision

via mal contends
The Supreme Court decision (in Boumediene v. Bush /Al Odah v. United States) is a historic affirmation of the principle of habeas corpus (in Latin, "you shall have the body"), and a rejection of the acclaimed right of the tyrant, George W. Bush in this instance, to imprison another with no sound recourse for the accused; in these cases, the detained prisoners at the U.S. base at Guantánamo.

Habeas corpus refers simply to the right of the accused to go before an impartial judge and challenge the rationale behind the denial of his/her liberty.

Update: CCR Produces Analysis of Landmark Supreme Court Decision

Update: FBI Response to The Progressive Article Alleging the FBI Authorizes InfraGard Members to “Shoot to Kill” [- this is what is called a long non-denial denial -]

Lee Rayburn, one of the most engaging radio hosts in America - The Mic, 92.1 FM (Madison, Wisconsin) - talked to an acquaintance some months back who told him that a U.S. government agency was involved in deputizing businesses' principals in a secret program to be activated in the event of a national emergency.

Rayburn has an ear for a good story; and the source seemed credible, so he mentioned the bare facts on his morning radio show broadcast out of Madison.

Rayburn said he wondered about the facts and treated the matter with due skepticism; but he was disturbed by one aspect: The alleged civilian shoot-to-kill with immunity element of the program. Smells like ... fascism.

Just a disgusting display of University of Florida cops tasereing a 21-year-old college student for asking a series of intelligent questions of Sen. John Kerry regarding the 2004 election and regarding Greg Palast's book, 'Armed Madhouse'. Watch this video.

True to his 2004 campaign form, Kerry let the assault go unchallenged.

A truly disgusting display. Watch this video.

I would like to know how we can support Andrew Meyers.

###

The comments and e-mails of right-wing readers are often revealing of the authoritarian mind and its views on government and liberty generally.

In response to the piece "Jose Padilla and America’s Descent into Fascism," one reader concludes that calling for the U.S. government’s observance of Constitutional protections of American citizens (Padilla in this instance) and recognition of the Geneva Convention's codification of human rights is to be equated with an endorsement of Padilla’s ideology (whatever that may be) and my sentiment that Padilla is some kind of freedom fighter.

"I'm really happy your 'freedom fighter' Jose Padilla is gonna rot in prison for the rest of his miserable life," writes one reader.

I have no interest in Padilla’s ideology, but an abiding interest in his rights.

American FascismFind a friendly forum in Miami and secure a jury with lamebrains willing to believe the government's ever-changing story on Padilla (the latest was conspiracy, the catch-all charge used when the government is forced away from specific criminal charges), and you get a guilty-by-association verdict that purportedly justifies trashing the Constitution and politically benefits Bush in the short-term, while driving this man insane after torturing him for some three years.

No mention or material evidence presented during trial of a plot to launch a dirty bomb, the rationale by which Bush declared that this American was an enemy combatant with no rights under the Constitution or Geneva Convention.

Just the "conspiracy" charges, and all the prosecution had to do is convince a jury in Miami that because he is a converted Muslim who visited Afghanistan, and touched a pamphlet, he is per force part of a conspiracy. It's ludicrous, though I thought even this jury would wake up.

Different verdicts would likely have come in NY, LA, SF, Chi, or Madison, or anywhere in New England.

This will end up ultimately in the SC (maybe Scalia will vote to overturn), but by then Bush will be out.

Update: Push for security camera policies in Madison (June 11, 2008)

Now, I feel safer.

Charles Savage at the Boston Globe online writes that the "US doles out millions for street cameras (and that) local efforts raise privacy alarms."

In the last month, cities that have moved forward on plans for surveillance networks financed by the Homeland Security Department include St. Paul, which got a $1.2 million grant for 60 cameras for downtown; Madison, Wis., which is buying a 32-camera network with a $388,000 grant; and Pittsburgh, which is adding 83 cameras to its downtown with a $2.58 million grant.

$388,000? And we want to make a downtown a surveillance zone.

Writes Savage:

The Department of Homeland Security is funneling millions of dollars to local governments nationwide for purchasing high-tech video camera networks, accelerating the rise of a "surveillance society" in which the sense of freedom that stems from being anonymous in public will be lost, privacy rights advocates warn.