While Americans put on party hats and lift their glasses in celebration, President George W. Bush has quietly--or not so quietly--turned the full force Presidential power against freedom of the press in America.
From the New York Times (but widely reported):
Justice Dept. Opens Inquiry Into Leak of Domestic Spying
By SCOTT SHANE
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 - The Justice Department said today that it had opened a criminal investigation into the disclosure of classified information about a secret National Security Agency program under which President Bush authorized eavesdropping on people in the United States without a court warrant.
Happy New Year, America! President Bush has just turned the Justice Department into his own personal police force. Their first mission: intimidate America's free press, silence dissent.
"For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, For auld lang syne!"
(...cut Constitution into confetti...toss out window...)
More from Scott Shane's sobering article:
The investigation apparently began in recent days following a formal referral from the agency regarding the leak, federal officials said on condition of anonymity.
The program, whose existence was revealed in an article in The New York Times on Dec. 16, has provoked sharp criticism from civil liberties groups, some members of Congress and some former intelligence officials who believe it circumvents the law governing national security eavesdropping.
So, let me see if I can follow alll the complexities, here....
The New York Times reports that the President was abusing his power to spy on Americans and then the President uses the Justic Department to investigate the New York Times for treason.
Everybody with me?
Shane's article continues:
President Bush and Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales have vigorously defended the program as a legal, critical defense against terrorism that has helped prevent attacks in the United States. They say the president's executive order authorizing the program is constitutional as part of his powers as commander in chief and under the resolution passed by Congress days after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks authorizing the use of force against terrorists.
Trent Duffy, a White House spokesman, told reporters in Crawford, Tex., where the president is on vacation, that Mr. Bush did not request the investigation.
"The leaking of classified information is a serious issue," Mr. Duffy said. "The fact is that Al Qaeda's playbook is not printed on Page One, and when America's is, it has serious ramifications."
The president last week denounced the leak of information about the program in strong language, saying: "My personal opinion is it was a shameful act for someone to disclose this very important program in a time of war. The fact that we're discussing this program is helping the enemy."
What's that you said, Clarernce? The New York Times is 'helping the enemy' are they? Sounds awfully fishy to me. Good thing our super duper independent Justice Department headed by company man Alberto Gonzales is on Johnny-on-the-job to investigate.
Don't look, now, George Bailey. That's not Zu Zu's petals in your pocket, that's the shredded pieces of the United States Constitution.
Mr. President Bush has just mobilized the Justice Department--which he so patiently stacked with cronies who owe him his life and career--to attack freedom of press in America, and to intimidate citizens from questioning his illegal use of power.
Pop the champagne! Ring in the New Year!
It's definitely time for a stiff drink.