Dems join in gang rape of Constitution

(10 am – promoted by ek hornbeck)

Republicans have been gang-raping the Constitution since December 12, 2000, when five Supreme Court justices appointed George W. Bush President of the United States. The BushCheney crime family’s brutal assault on the nation’s founding document began immediately, and was cheered on and supported by a Republican-led Congress that whooped in drunken bloodlust every time the administration flagrantly violated the highest law of the land.

The Republican Congress cheered encouragement every time Americans’ civil liberties were violated. The Republican Congress roared approval at every demeaning abuse of the rule of law. They pushed to the front of the mob any time there was an opportunity to have their own crack at the battered, dazed body politic, who couldn’t believe what was happening to it, who couldn’t believe that it could be violated so relentlessly, so repeatedly, so thoroughly, over and over and over again, and no one put a stop to it.

A few Democrats in Congress shouted – from the back of the mob, their voices barely heard – their objection to the ugly scene being played out in front of the world. They tried raising the idea of censure; a few pressed for impeachment of the administration. But given that the members of the crazed Republican mob outnumbered the Democrats, it seemed nothing could stop the rape from continuing until the Constitution was nothing more than a barely-breathing document, a hollow, shattered remnant of its former self.

And all the while, the Republicans who were gang-raping the Constitution smirked and grinned and defied anyone to stop them.

And like the sadistic, sick, abusive rapists they are, Republican fear mongers liked to blame the victim. They said that the Constitution was getting in the way of protecting Americans. It’s the Constitution’s fault that we need to violate the Constitution, they would say. If it weren’t for the Constitution, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion about our violating your constitutional rights.

After nearly six years of such repeated and flagrant violations, a lot of people had had enough of the Constitution’s brutal treatment at the hands of the vile, criminal, power-drunk Republican mob. These people thought the best way to put an end to the gang rape of the Constitution would be for Democrats to take control of Congress. Once Democrats had control of Congress, these people believed, the Constitution would be safe. Once Democrats had control of Congress, these people believed, the violation would end. Once Democrats had control of Congress, these people believed, the Democrats would actually do what members of Congress are sworn to do: protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

The idea was that Democrats, who previously had lacked sufficient numbers to do much more than shout objections from the back of the mob, or maybe occasionally to grab the arm of one or other criminal member of the administration who had just had their way with the law and the Constitution, detaining them just long enough to voice their strong disapproval, would have enough power to put an end to the assault. Until then, it seemed all Democrats could do was to strongly object. “At least we tried,” Democrats could tell themselves and their constituents.  “At least we spoke up.  At least we made an effort to stop it.”  

So a lot of people worked very hard to put Democrats in control of Congress in November 2006. That way, Democrats would no longer have to settle for “trying” – they could actually put an end to the gang rape of the Constitution.

But then the Democratic Congress voted to approve failed to overturn the Military Commissions Act, which gave the administration a free pass on torture. And then the Democratic Congress let the administration ignore subpoenas – a lot of subpoenas. And then the Democratic Congress allowed the BushCheney administration to get away with lying about the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq. And then the Democratic Congress allowed the BushCheney administration to lie about the nuclear threat posed by Iran. And then the Democratic Congress allowed the BushCheney administration to obstruct congressional investigations by destroying or “losing” evidence.

And now the Democratic Congress is about to allow phone companies and the administration to violate the law and the rights of American citizens. And the only possible reason they are doing that is because –

– they want to get in on the rape.

Democrats in Congress want to join in the gang rape of the Constitution.

After we had elected them to Congress believing that they would stop that rape.

But we were wrong.

It seems that what Democrats really wanted was not to gain sufficient strength to wade into the crowd and break up the rape that had been ongoing for six long years – no.

No, it seems that what Democrats wanted was to have sufficient numbers to push to the front of the crowd so they could watch from a better vantage point the repeated violations of the Constitution and the rule of law.

But now, evidently, even that front row seat is not enough.  Now Democrats want to get in on the action.  They want to have a few shots at the Constitution themselves.  They don’t want to look like party poopers, like goodie two-shoes, to their Republican colleagues. Let me prove how tough I am, is their thinking.

Move over, they say – let me have a shot at her.

I am sick.

In his famous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech, Patrick Henry uttered words that underpin his more well-known ultimatum. I believe his words are worth considering today. Now that congressional Democrats have shown their mettle and have told this administration and the world that not only is it OK to illegally wiretap Americans, but that it’s OK to torture, too, all in the supposed name of “keeping America safe,” what Patrick Henry – a true patriot who faced the very real, not imagined, loss of his life, liberty and property – said in 1775 bears reflection today:

Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope.

If we wish to be free — if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending — if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak — unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? . . .

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?

The gang raping of the Constitution that has been taking place for six years under the Bush administration, at every level, by every agency, without exception, was supposed to have been stopped by the Democratic Congress. It has not been. In fact, just the opposite has happened: With the passage of a FISA bill that gives the OK to illegal electronic surveillance on Americans, Democrats in Congress will be active participants in the rape of the Constitution of the United States of America.

Providing amnesty for violations of federal law under FISA serves no constituency save one:

American citizens aren’t asking for it.

Security experts aren’t asking for it.

Even the telephone companies aren’t asking for it.

There is only one constituency that is clamoring for passage of the FISA Bill in its current form: the gang rapists in the BushCheney administration and its cheerleaders, the same group that has violated, over and over and over for seven years now, the Constitution of the United States of America.

And now that loathsome group evidently will include many Democrats.

UPDATED: Thanks to Major Danby in the comments.

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