Let's bash Ash (non-literally)
 

      Ep and I have been toeing the subject on a couple of threads, so I decided to make a place for it. Ashcroft piss you off? Vent here! With most of the politcal views I've seen it may well be preaching to the choir, but maybe it'll make us feel better...

Congrats on your 666th post!

      Heh, yeah, maybe I should have saved it for the xmas thread...

I object to the restriction.:p
BTW- I read "somewhere" that he masturbates and smokes crack in the privacy of his bedroom. :haha:

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/new...dline=Ashcroft's+Patriot+Act+tour+fails+to+calm+critics

The above link points to but one of many stories online telling about Johnny "Holier Than Thou" Ashcroft's recent 'pat myself on the back' tour promoting the goodness of the Patriot Act while urging for the revocation of even more civil liberties. The article notes (as I was similarly regaled last night by an infuriated attendee at the unique Pagan wedding ceremony my wife and I attended) that Mr. Ashcroft has handed down orders to Federal judges to hand out the stiffest possible sentences in all Federal criminal cases. Look for this to mean that more and more of your pot-smoking friends, those hideous red-eyed menaces to society, will be headed for the Big House soon.

Is Ashcroft trying to make criminals of every citizen in this country, or what? And just where the fuck are we supposed to put all these people who would have otherwise plea-bargained their way into Federal probation? The article further notes that Ashcroft has made provisions for any Federal judge failing to mete out the max penalty to be reported to his office, presumably for hand slapping and/or replacement by executioners more in lockstep with his Nazi-like vision of civil obedience.

This guy is dangerous, not just self-righteous. I don't care if I have to vote for a Democratic candidate who is a drooling idiot, I can't be part of re-electing an administration that would give Johnny Sucko a job again.

I'm with xoxoxoBruce, that restriction takes all the fun out of it. On the other hand i'm not in the US so i don't have to worry about people knocking on my door in half an hour.

Keep this post in mind when my body is found in a ditch in bolivia.

Yes, thats what they all want. The theory goes like this: if you make enough laws then everyone is a criminal and therfore can be prosecuted on demand after exercising "rights" objectionable to politicians.

Yer neighbor was just arrested? You didnt know that he was a frequent violator of the Whoreallygivesafuck Act, did you? He is evil and we have served your best interests by shuffling his ass into a chopper blindfolded in the middle of the night.

Now, we want more money to "protect" you from evil no-good-rotten bastards like that, that even you cannot identify, because of civil liberties.

Thats my take anyway.

I on the other hand, would rather W get re-elected and give JA the Texas boot.

"Arnold Shwarzenegger. Finally a candidate who can explain the Bush administration's positions on civil liberties in the original German." --Bill Maher

      Sorry Slang. Doesn't work like that. Bush gave Ashcroft the job. Also, what has he done to curb Ashcrofts overstepping? I may have missed it, but from what I can tell the answer is: nothing. He's doing the job Bush hired him to do. Pushing for all the things Bush won't, but wants too.
      I've been a big believer for a long time that Bush's push to protect gun rights is a false front. They'll go as soon as the other nine have fallen. Perhaps more realisticaly, you can keep your gun as long as you keep your mouth shut. Otherwise you get snipedor arrested for bullshit and lose your guns that way. Either way, you're still screwed.

      Bruce, that quote is freakin' hilarious.

I've heard the gun folks make this arguement. The drug users have a claim to it as well. Everyone who has a complicated Federal tax situation could be added... Its headed that way in health care... food production large and small with FDA and enviro regulation. Toilet flushers... home builders...educators trying to balance state and federal standards with reality... folks who cut or burn wood... downloaders of music...folks who use free speech before an election... people who pick on Johnny

      I've felt that I was going to win the lottery, I'm still broke though.
      I guess he bases this off his 'feeling'. Anybody see any evidence for this 'rise in respect'? 'Cause all I'm seeing is people on both sides of the fence getting nervous about the expanding powers from the patriot act and such. Spooky stuff that. What's even more spooky is an AG that would base his beliefs off of his 'feelings', especialy when he seems to feel that anyone not like him is bad.

The man's like a male Janet Reno.

Mr. Ashcroft, a member of the executive branch, has neither the authority nor, more importantly, the power to issue orders to Federal Judges. If I were an appointed-for-life federal judge, I'd treat such "orders" from a tinpot dictator over in miniluv as particularly low-quality toilet paper.

"Did you really think we want those laws observed?", said Dr. Ferris.

"We WANT them to be broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against.... We're after power and we mean it .... There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals one MAKES them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted--and you create a nation of law-breakers-- and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system Mr. Reardon, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with." --Ayn Rand, "Atlas Shrugged"