Todd thinks James Madison, warning us of the effect of war on the polity, was predicting George Bush. One wonders why Todd doesn't pick more obvious examples such as Woodrow Wilson or Franklin Roosevelt. During war both of these presidents and those in their administration explicitly questioned the patriotism of those who differed with their policies. Wilson used the Post Office to shut down periodicals that did not support WWI. He started a propaganda board that put out advertisements and messages in films to whip up support for his war policies. People were jailed for expressing dissent. He openly questioned the loyalty of those who are "hyphenated Americans," namely those of German descent. Both FDR and Wilson used the war to justify great increases in executive power. FDR, as we all know, used executive power to jail 100,000 Americans strictly for their racial background.
What has George Bush done? Has anyone been jailed for their political beliefs? Has his administration shut down any publications? For example, when the New York Times published classified information about surveillance techniques used by the government, the Administration denounced the Times, but has one move been made to actually harm the Times?
No doubt the Bush administration has defended executive power. I have said that while the Bush administration is likely right on the law, it has been imprudent in its defense of executive prerogative.
Do you want to see the abuse of power? Watch the video of the year, coming from sweet and progressive Canada. Here an Albertan, Ezra Levant, who runs a periodical that published the infamous "Danish cartoons" must defend himself from prosecution by the Canadian Human Rights Commission. I note that this same commission is going after columnist Mark Steyn for his book America Alone. In progressive Canada dissent is punished. The government holds trials for those who commit ideological offenses. It threatens with prosecution those who dare to question the progressive orthodoxy of "diversity." But this is ok, because it is in the name of progress. Here's that remarkable video:
Recent Comments