Sept. 11, 2003 - 21:35 MDT

THE WONDERING JEW

More Power

In the Rocky Mountain News this morning is an article by David E. Sanger of The New York Times. Titled, "Bush Power Play."

Quoting in part. "President Bush on Wednesday called for a significant expansion of federal law enforcement powers under the Patriot Act." "Using the eve of the second anniversary of the Sept 11 terrorist acts, he argued that his administration is winning the war on terrorism but that unreasonable obstacles in the law still impede the pursuit of terror suspects."

Mr. Sanger goes on, "Specifically, Bush proposed:

Permitting federal law enforcement agencies to issue "administrative subpoenas" in terrorism cases without approval of a judge or grand jury.

Expanding the federal death penalty statutes to cover more terrorism related crimes.

Making it harder for people suspected in terrorism-related cases to be released on bail."

And Mr. Sanger states, "Currently, in most cases, investigators have to apply for a subpoena in front of a judge or the Foreign Intelligence Survelliance Court."

Of course there is much opposition ongoing to many of the provisions of the Patriot Act now and what Bush is asking for increases the opposition. Mr. Sanger cites some of those people and organizations and his last paragraph cites something said by the other side. "One Republican strategist, who is close to the White House, said that Republican polling finds that support for expanded federal powers against terrorism remains strong."

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Of course Republican polling will show what the administration wants it to show. And we "are winning the war on terrorism"? In Afghanistan, and Iraq ? Is it the same way we are winning our war on drugs ? In other articles I have read recently our government has already used their "Sneaky Search" tactics in some instances. They can search any thing they want to and the people who have been forced to let the feds search are forbidden to reveal to the persons under federal queasiness that they have been searched. Bank accounts, library - bookstore records - actually anything the feds wish to poke into they can do it and make sure the ?Suspect? never know about it.

As I have mentioned before, it looks to me as if the government can fish around in anyone's records or personal possessions for any or no reason at all and not be responsible to any one or group, and not have to justify what they do.

Back to Mr Sanger's article, "Bush also said Congress must allow judges to deny bail for terror suspects. Judges have that power with some drug offenses, and Bush argued that, "this disparity in the law makes no sense." "If dangerous drug dealers can be held without bail in this way, Congress should allow for the same treatment for accused terrorists," he said.

(If dangerous drug dealers can be held without bail." Are they already convicted of crimes ? And those 'dangerous drug' dealers don't just disappear of the face of the earth. It appears to me that even with things as they are today most any average Joe can be assumed to be suspicious by any fed and hauled to an unknown site, bail denied, no subpoena or administrative subpoena in place of a real subpoena and just disappear if the feds so desire.

The framework for a dictatorship is being built bar by bar it looks to me. And maybe this administration would never try for such a thing I worry about who might get into office and use those very laws to establish their own dictatorship. I do sincerely hope that I am wrong and than no one or organization ever does such a heinous thing. I worry about the welfare of our children, their children, their children's children -- on into the future.

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Today our dearly beloved Frank's funeral was held with some of the members of the Voluteer Fire Department attending and was laid to rest at Fort Logan National Cemetery with two naval members in full uniform, white gloves and all who went through all the formalities in a beautiful manner. The folded flag was presented to the eldest a son. Now his remains are finally at rest and I am sure he is with his beloved wife.

Late this afternoon the, for want of a better term, "scheduler" for our HMO called and set up the surgery date for Heather's gall bladder surgery. It will be the 23rd of this month - barring further delays. Her surgeon will be the surgeon who did her lumpectomy, a doctor she has great faith in. He has been keeping track of her progress from that surgery as well.

Maybe I should do like the pres - and be grabbin' for More Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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