Executing the Constitution

So, the Great Dubya is still living up to his promise to execute the Constitution. In yet another blatant move to usurp power and erode civil liberties, Dubya issued a signing statement when he signed the Postal Reform Act that declared that he would follow the prohibition on opening first-class mail without a warrant, but only “in a manner consistent, to the maximum extent permissible, with the need to conduct searches in exigent circumstances. ...”

Of course, Bush’s lackeys noted that the signing statement was no biggie, with Chief Lackey, Tony Snow stating, “All this is saying is that there are provisions at law for — in exigent circumstances — for such inspections. It has been thus. This is not a change in law, this is not new.” This of course raises the question of, “then why bother issuing the statement?”

A number of lawmakers, both Democratic and Republican are not falling for the White House charade. Susan Collins, R-Maine noted, “I was really surprised. There was absolutely nothing in the Postal Reform bill that in any way diminished or changed the privacy protections for domestic sealed mail.” Collins was joined by Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y, “Every American wants foolproof protection against terrorism. But history has shown it can and should be done within the confines of the Constitution. This last-minute, irregular and unauthorized reinterpretation of a duly passed law is the exact type of maneuver that voters so resoundingly rejected in November.”

The big question though, will be whether the benighted citizens among us will see this abridgement of their civil liberties as “Important in Our Quest to Save Our Way of Life from the Evils of Terrorism.” I fear that this will be the case. Too many Americans fail to realize that when we give up our rights, the terrorists win. Yes, the terrorists win.

Be a patriot, don’t let the terrorists and their dupe Dubya win by further restricting our rights.