1984

Finally,, a seemly time to use this nihilistic title.

First up: Kevin Drum has discovered that America, does, in fact, have secret laws; as citizens, we are responsible for not breaking these laws; but we are not allowed to know what they are. Ignorance is not a defense. You're probably breaking one of them right now, Craig.


Next: Portions of the set-to-be-renewed Patriot Act include provisions making it a felony crime to protest the President and Vice President. This includes just holding a sign or wearing a t-shirt.

Finally, martial law: The Pentagon is putting together, for the first time ever, a plan for authorizing military actions within the US through martial law. No specific threats are cited, although several what-if scenarios are mentioned. The thing about martial law is that if it's enacted, no one can question the process because, well... they're under martial law. This is why the military has always been restricted from actions within the country.


That's it. Checkmate, game over. Martial law within the next three years and Bush-Cheney-Rove will never be removed from power. That, my friends, is a textbook coup. Never mind all the poor approval ratings, scandals, elections.Shit, they can even hold elections, but with government sanctioned Diebold machines everywhere, do you want to wager on the outcome?


Someone once said that when fascism comes, it will come wrapped in the stars and stripes. Can anyone now look at these coincidences and doubt that the long term ideal of the leaders of the Republican Party have more to do with Orwell than Jefferson?

Does it need to be pointed out how dangerous and ripe for abuse these provisions are? Is it particularly frightening to anyone else that you may be thrown in jail for something you didn't know was a crime.

This is how much damage has been done in 5 years. How much more in the next three, and will there be any incentive for the next administration to undo these first steps?