Saturday, December 08, 2007
No better way to say it
Than the headline from the Baltimore Sun.
Here come the thought policeThis refers to the passage of Jane Harman's "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act". Lovely title, redolent as much with with mendacity as with poultry manure. And no way to stop it in the Senate, its in Joe Lieberschmuck's Vaterlandsicherheit Ausschuß.
The proposed commission is a menace through its power to hold hearings, take testimony and administer oaths, an authority granted to even individual members of the commission - little Joe McCarthys - who will tour the country to hold their own private hearings. An aura of authority will automatically accompany this congressionally authorized mandate to expose native terrorism.When I was growing up, I saw my country grow up and grow out of any use for Joe McCarthy and HUAC. It pains me deeply to see a Democrat enable the return of that shameful blot on our history.
Ms. Harman's proposal includes an absurd attack on the Internet, criticizing it for providing Americans with "access to broad and constant streams of terrorist-related propaganda," and legalizes an insidious infiltration of targeted organizations. The misnamed "Center of Excellence," which would function after the commission is disbanded in 18 months, gives the semblance of intellectual research to what is otherwise the suppression of dissent.
While its purpose is to prevent terrorism, the bill doesn't criminalize any specific conduct or contain penalties. But the commission's findings will be cited by those who see a terrorist under every bed and who will demand enactment of criminal penalties that further restrict free speech and other civil liberties. Action contrary to the commission's findings will be interpreted as a sign of treason at worst or a lack of patriotism at the least.
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