I am not familiar with BDS- are there documented symptoms? Is it similar to the symptoms where otherwise seemingly intelligent and logical people buy every line of crap the White House spews without thought? I think some of the suicide bombers question their own faith more than the lemmings who regurgitate whatever sound bites they heard from O’Reilly or Coulter question this administration.

Have you read the USA PATRIOT Act? Admittedly, I have not read it cover to cover. I have read it enough though. Here is a sad fact- the majority of our elected officials who voted to pass the Act to begin with did not read it first. They were passing the “idea” of tightening security in the wake of 9/11 without reading the Act to see just what they were giving up.

The abuses resulting from the PATRIOT Act are too many to enumerate in a blog post comment. The issue of indefinitely detaining “enemy combatants” or “persons of interest” without charging them with a crime, providing legal counsel, or allowing them a trial by a jury of their peers stands out as a serious abuse. The administration’s attempt to circumvent the legal system with military tribunals was declared unconstitutional. Ignoring the 4th amendment and eavesdropping on the communications of law-abiding citizens is another abuse.

Don’t get me wrong- I agree that my post is emotional. I find the whole issue quite passionate and I wish more people would. I don’t plan on digressing into politics much, if at all. It is not the focus of the site. Besides, the debate over the Bush administration is like a debate over religion. Both sides have already made up their minds and nothing constructive comes out of the debate. No amount of logic or evidence sways the faithful.