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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTurley in WAPO: 10 reasons the U.S. is no longer the land of the free
These countries also have constitutions that purport to guarantee freedoms and rights. But their governments have broad discretion in denying those rights and few real avenues for challenges by citizens precisely the problem with the new laws in this country.
The list of powers acquired by the U.S. government since 9/11 puts us in rather troubling company.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-the-united-states-still-the-land-of-the-free/2012/01/04/gIQAvcD1wP_story.html
Also, link to article on Turley's website (in case you hit a paywall at WAPO)
http://jonathanturley.org/2012/01/15/10-reasons-the-u-s-is-no-longer-the-land-of-the-free/
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Response to msanthrope (Reply #1)
Luminous Animal This message was self-deleted by its author.
Luminous Animal
(27,310 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)The utter lack of specifics is what makes articles like this nearly useless for serious discussion.
Sure, Turley must feel good when commenters tell him that this is a 'great' article. And I think he raises great issues, but ultimately, this is a lazy exercise in rhetoric.
A good article on these issues would mention the specific laws that cover each issue.
A GREAT article would discuss the mechanisms of each law, and how there were wrongly applied.
An OUTSTANDING article would tell us what to do about each issue.
Because he fails to discuss the specifics, Turley then relieves himself from the responsibility of offering a solution. For example, on his first issue, 'Assassination of US Citizens' he speaks about how terrible it is, but he doesn't bother to analyze WHY this is perfectly permissible under the US Constitution. He doesn't discuss the AUMF. He doesn't discuss the War Powers Act. He doesn't talk about the specifics of al-Awlaqi's situation. Instead of telling us HOW to stop this, he hand-wrings.
Which is great--except for one thing....it excuses the inaction of certain Congressional Heros Running for Office who claim to be anti-war.
He doesn't hold anyone accountable for failing to bring a resolution in Congress to end the AUMF. He doesn't hold Congress accountable for passing veto-proof legislation. Congressional action, Mr. Turley well knows, is from where all the power for his top 10 list derives.
Sure, let's blame the 'government' but fail to hold accountable our most directly-elected representatives--the Congress.
Poorly written article by a law professor who should know better...but perhaps doesn't, per Justice Reggie Walton.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)forget this bit of distortion:
Why is Turley still pushing this lie?