What can I say Paradox? As a fellow traveler who believes in the late Great Experiment that was our constitution, I can only watch, aghast at the meek submission of most "good Americans" to the literal rape of their constitutional rights. I too am guilty of tiresomely pointing out to all in earshot that millions have struggled and even died to protect the same rights being surrendered to such vile, used colostomy bags like Cheney, Addington, Perle, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz et al. Holdover criminals from 4 of the past 5 Republican "Administrations".
Of course, the corporate owned, "infotainment" media are largely responsible for lying, obfuscating and distorting "conventional wisdom" so that undiligent citizens are completely ignorant of what's really happening and therefore, not effective at self-rule.
It's very interesting that 3 of the 5 Gore v Bush "justices" are members of The Family The same quasi-religious organization to which Al Gore, Hillary Clinton and apparently, most Republican "leaders" belong.
Until we focus on the underlying forces, both theocratic and wealthy, twisting our society toward fascism, symptoms like the utterly illegal search and seizure of personal property, i.e. personal information, will continue and accelerate. Democracy (in America) has never stood on shakier legs than at this point in time. NO politician is strong enough to rescue us from our fate. I actually like Obama and have some hope for his Presidency. I am certainly not DEPENDING on his character to save our democracy. This is a job for We, the People.
Keep up the good despair, Paradox. Many of us share it. Perhaps, some day, we'll all open our windows and shout out, "We're mad as Hell and we're not going to take it anymore!" We can always dream, cant we?
Posted by DeminNewJ at August 9, 2008 09:56 AMCheney is totally in our fucking shit. Duh.
I'm no longer interested in thoughts about this phenomenon.
I want to destroy it.
What shall we do about his prick's power to define our world?
Where in the world did this fucking "no fly" list come from?
Why doesn't anybody say why?
Even the kool kids with power don't ask .. everyone accepts it
when Teddy K got detained .. even he accepted the notion of legitimacy of this list and madnesss
this is raw power testing its limits - we are its limits
how bout if laptop detainees screamed and made a scene, every one .. think this bullshit would stop?
our choice .. organize or die .. Prez Cheney keeps throwing down the gauntlet and laughing at humans..
Posted by Sharkbabe at August 9, 2008 10:39 AMFirst off, the 'Homeland Security' (God, how I hate the sound of that) and the 'patriot Act' need to be dismantled. With each new act, pushing the envelope even further, we are enabling the dream of the New World Order members. We are literally up against those who would enslave us, take over the world's valuable resources, and rule with an unforgiving heart. By the time we take to the streets, it may be too late. In fact, it may be too late already.
Go read information on the goal of the secret society of the Skull and Bones, aka, Brotherhood of Death. It is laid out in plain site for anyone to read and understand. World rule = The New World Order.
Evil reigns where good men do nothing.
Posted by Judith at August 9, 2008 12:17 PMAhem. Maybe this is a start.
Posted by idiosynchronic at August 9, 2008 02:01 PMASUS has a VERY inexpensiven ($450), VERY small and light laptop that looks perfect for travel. It has a 20 GB HD, 1 GB RAM, three USB ports. It is available at AmazonIt comes with Linux, but you can install Windows XP on it if you prefer, but for that you would need an external CD drive). So, just install the OS and whatever applications you use, and put data on USB thumb drives that you conceal somewhere in your undergarments or wherever. I am thinking seriously about getting one of these before my next trip if only because when I get pissed off I have a really hard time keeping my mouth shut, and I am claustrophobic and cannot stand to be in enclosed places.
Posted by Shirin at August 10, 2008 01:11 AMPS forgot to mention that the ASUS laptop has both ethernet and wifi - two essential items for Modern Living.
Posted by Shirin at August 10, 2008 01:14 AMPPS I would totally be up for openly challenging this whole pile of bull****, but only if I could be confident that I had plenty of company, which I am not. Therefore, I must be more passive in my resistance.
PPPSSSS: One could also pack one's laptop in one's checked in luggage, of course, although that entails a risk that it will be lost with one's luggage.
Posted by Shirin at August 10, 2008 01:22 AMOh, Doxie, I weep too, for everything. But if we protest, we'll get tasered and DIE. Americans are a hardy lot and we will all do something apropriate one of these days to GET BACK at these thugs, but we're too busy right now, working on our tans and grilling recalled beef.
Isn't anyone going to discuss John Edwards Clintoning? Surely this new sex-Onica is far more IMPORTANT than anything else.
When is Bush's love child going to emerge? Where is his secret lover?
Posted by Philly Buster at August 10, 2008 04:25 AMPhilly Buster, you mean the gay prostitute "journalist" who went to the White House a lot?
Posted by gay veteran at August 10, 2008 11:57 AMSo? I wonder when the DHS will expand their "border search" exception to the 4th Amendment to include all laptops and other items at airline security on domestic flights? After all, the signs already say everything carries is "subject to search."
And where to they catalog, store, and index the searches they are making already?
Posted by Nobody at August 10, 2008 12:31 PM