Sunday, December 18, 2005
Spy Games
Well, finals are over, and everything's back to normal. And just in time for the massive shitstorm.
So, Bush has authorized programs to have both the NSA and the DOD spy on civilains for a variety of reasons. He has overseen these programs for the past three years. And not once during this time did he think it would be good to try and get a warrant, or anything that could possibly put him in the legal right.
Am I angry? Fuck yes. Am I disappointed? I have been for a long time. But am I surprised? No. Bush's administration has been a cavalcade of scandals, lies, and solipsistic self-indulgence. A war with a motive that changes weekly? Sure. An escort/paid GOP mouthpiece in the press room? No problem. Spending the budget like a drunken businessman in a titty bar? Hey, we need the extra mansions. Outing a CIA agent for personal reasons? That'll teach the bitch. Fiddling while New Orleans floods? Oh, they're all poor, so who cares?
This is not unprecedented. Still, it doesn't make it any less horrific. What Bush has done here has crossed the line between "I'm trying to do what I can to protect America" to "I don't like you." When you're spying on fucking Quakers, you need to be slapped upside the head with breakneck velocity.
One last thing. I know the phrase "worse than Watergate" gets tossed about with semi-regular frequency in the pundit arena and the blogosphere. Well, guess what? This is worse than Watergate. Watergate was Nixon using his cronies to gather information on his political opponents. This is Bush using the US intelligence community to gather information on anyone who looks at him funny. Impeach the fucker now.
So, Bush has authorized programs to have both the NSA and the DOD spy on civilains for a variety of reasons. He has overseen these programs for the past three years. And not once during this time did he think it would be good to try and get a warrant, or anything that could possibly put him in the legal right.
Am I angry? Fuck yes. Am I disappointed? I have been for a long time. But am I surprised? No. Bush's administration has been a cavalcade of scandals, lies, and solipsistic self-indulgence. A war with a motive that changes weekly? Sure. An escort/paid GOP mouthpiece in the press room? No problem. Spending the budget like a drunken businessman in a titty bar? Hey, we need the extra mansions. Outing a CIA agent for personal reasons? That'll teach the bitch. Fiddling while New Orleans floods? Oh, they're all poor, so who cares?
This is not unprecedented. Still, it doesn't make it any less horrific. What Bush has done here has crossed the line between "I'm trying to do what I can to protect America" to "I don't like you." When you're spying on fucking Quakers, you need to be slapped upside the head with breakneck velocity.
One last thing. I know the phrase "worse than Watergate" gets tossed about with semi-regular frequency in the pundit arena and the blogosphere. Well, guess what? This is worse than Watergate. Watergate was Nixon using his cronies to gather information on his political opponents. This is Bush using the US intelligence community to gather information on anyone who looks at him funny. Impeach the fucker now.
