Washington Post: Kucinich Stresses Civil Liberties

[Karmadillo]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25960-2003Dec23.html

In the months after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Justice Department moved swiftly to expand its policing powers, and most members of Congress were eager to enact such legislation. But Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio) took to the House floor in protest.

"Let freedom ring even as we travel through the valley of the shadow of terrorism, for freedom is a sweeter melody," Kucinich said. "Let freedom ring. If freedom is under attack from outside sources, then let us not permit an attack from within."

Kucinich has taken his mantra on the presidential campaign trail in Iowa and New Hampshire. In speech after speech, he accuses the Bush administration of overreaching its authority.

"This is one of the hottest issues in this country right now," he said in an interview. "Americans have a sense their liberty is under attack."

Civil liberties may seem an improbable rallying cry for a presidential campaign. But Kucinich is an improbable candidate for the highest office: a maverick who takes pride in challenging authority. The Bush administration, he tells all who will listen, is encroaching on citizens' privacy rights. "This administration has overreached in the area of civil liberties," he said. "Government shouldn't have that power. It's not consistent with what we are as a nation."

more...

[revcarol]

1. "If the pending proposition before (Confederate) Congress passes,

to put the whole country under martial law, with the suspension of athe writ of habeas corpus, and the President(Davis) signs and enforces it, and the people submit to it, constitutional liberty will go down, never to rise again on this continent, I fear.

Far better that our country should be over-run by the enemy, our cities sacked and burned and our land laid desolate, than the people should thus suffer the citadel of their liberties to be entered and taken by their professed friends." Vice President of the Confederacy, Alexander Stephens.

We would probably already be at this point except for people like Kucinich and Byrd.Remember how Bush said several times that he would like to be the dictator??

Kucinich is the rally point for civil liberties. He is "coalition building" as it says in the article. And that shows LEADERSHIP.

[JohnKleeb]

2. He has been standing up for us in so many ways

One of our best, that Congressman Kucinich, here's to Iowa :toast:

[dpbrown]

3. It's about saving the nation by preserving what we stand for

Our nation is conceived in liberty, not ideology. That's one of the reasons the attack on our civil liberties endangers our nation so much. I'm glad Dennis understands this, and has since before his "Prayer for America" speech in Feb., 2002.

[LWolf]

4. If Americans are truly concerned

about their civil liberties, they will vote for the candidate who fights to protect them. The candidate who actually does the work for them.

To press the matter legislatively, Kucinich has forged an unusual alliance with Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter (R-Idaho), who listened to Kucinich's protest during the initial House debate on the USA Patriot Act.

As Otter recalled, "it wasn't something where we sat down and said, 'Let's work on this together.' Dennis and I both recognized we were of a like mind on the need for protection of civil liberties."

More than a year later the two drafted an amendment to the Commerce, Justice and State spending bill that would prohibit the Justice Department from carrying out the Patriot Act's "sneak and peek" provisions, which allow federal authorities to search someone's home or office without prior notice.

They targeted their natural constituencies, with Otter speaking to the House's Liberty and Western caucuses and Kucinich appealing to the Progressive Caucus. The House approved the amendment, 309 to 118, but it never became law.

Kucinich also has taken on the FBI. He accused the bureau of infringing on civil liberties after the New York Times reported the FBI had collected information on antiwar demonstrators. "I will continue to attend every peace rally possible, and I expect that I will see millions of Americans there standing proudly and openly against these fear tactics," Kucinich said.

[Zomby Woof]

5. ZombyKick

:kick:

[Myra]

6. Just kicking this, now that Patriot Act the Bad Sequel has been passed

In the dead of night...on a Saturday.

Everyone knows about that...right?

[ThirdWheelLegend]

7. No way!

Which bill?

Kick for Dennis also :)

TWL

[DemBones DemBones]

8. I hope those bastards rot in Hell for all their

under-the-radar, midnight acts. They're stealing our country and people don't even know it.