The Llano Ledger


Newsletter Text V128

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Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger

*************December 10, 2001************

*****Attorney General Testifies*****

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft faced extremely soft questioning before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. -- Sadly, strong evidence there is no substantive difference between both major political parties. Indeed, Ole' Johnny Boy was handled with kid gloves by senators stumbling all over themselves not to offend his fascist sensibilities and agenda.

Mr. Ashcroft disingenuously and falsely crowed: "The Department of Justice has sought to prevent terrorism with reason, careful balance and excruciating attention to detail. Some of our critics, I regret to say, have shown less affection for details. Their bold declaration of so-called facts have quickly dissolved upon inspection into vague conjecture. Charges of kangaroo courts and shredding the Constitution give new meaning to the term 'fog of war.' Since lives and liberties depend on clarity, not obfuscation, and upon reason, not hyperbole, let me take this opportunity to be clear. Each action taken by the Department of Justice, as well as the war crimes commissions considered by the president and the Department of Defense, is carefully drawn to target a narrow class of individuals - terrorists. Our legal powers are targeted at terrorists. Our investigation is focused on terrorists. Our prevention strategy targets the terrorist threat."

The Attorney General is a liar. Only a handful of well over a thousand foreigners recently incarcerated are suspected of being terrorists or supporting terrorists. Worse yet, The Patriot Act and other supposedly anti-terrorist measures designed to eviscerate civil liberties can be directed not only at terrorists but American citizens as well. To date and as far as publicly known, the "Administration" has only targeted foreigners, egregiously depriving them of Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendment rights. No problem, right? After all, they're only aliens, no? What then when the fascist sitting in the White House is finally exposed targeting Americans? ... Never happen, right?

Continuing to distort reality, Mr. Ashcroft asserted: "We need honest, reasoned debate, and not fear-mongering. To those who pit Americans against immigrants and citizens against noncitizens, to those who scare peace-loving people with phantoms of lost liberty, my message is this: Your tactics only aid terrorists, for they erode our national unity and diminish our resolve. They give ammunition to America's enemies, and pause to America's friends. They encourage people of good will to remain silent in the face of evil."

... Hey, Johnny? Adolph and Benito would have been proud... Anyone in strong disagreement with your fascist agenda and policies not "honest" and "reasoned", sir? Wake up, you jackass. Not all of us are as aggressively stupid as the vast majority of the American public. ... Suspect you and the "President" will be doing the "Old Soft Shoe", however, when outrageous abuse of American citizens by federal goons becomes public, sir. -- And it will, Johnny. Be too late then to do anything, right, General?

Disingenuously worried about foreigners with information remaining silent? What about the American public? Sadly, they've remained gutlessly silent as you and the Nazi occupying the White House executed what amounted to a bloodless coup the day The "Patriot" Act was signed into law. The Founders must still be spinning in their graves. Sadly, the American people remain too stupid to realize what indeed happened.

Disingenuously you lambast your detractors for assuming the worst of government. You bet, Mr. Ashcroft. So did the Founders, you jackass. Precisely why they provided the Bill of Rights to protect the people from tyrants like you and the fascist occupying the White House.

Pointedly, criticism of government officials such as you and the "Chief Executive" IS the American thing to do, sir. Conversely, your evisceration of the Bill of Rights in an outrageous attempt to impose a fascist agenda is quite the opposite. In fact, treasonous, Johnny. Mr. Bush should have already been impeached for failing to honor his oath of office. Aid and comfort to the enemy, General? Isn't that precisely what you've done with passage of The Patriot Act and emplacement of military tribunals no more than rubber stamps for government policy? After all, terrorists will loudly go to their executions complaining with good reason of kangaroo justice. ... But you and "Die Fuhrer" will get your way. That's all that matters, right, Johnny?

Cackling further: "Our efforts have been crafted carefully to avoid infringing on constitutional rights while saving American lives. We have engaged in a deliberate campaign of arrest and detention of law breakers. All persons being detained have the right to contact their lawyers and their families. Our respect for their privacy and concern for saving lives motivates us not to publicize the names of those detained."

Clearly again, the Attorney General is lying. To say the least, habeas corpus has been eviscerated by this unabashed fascist. Over one thousand foreigners recently incarcerated are held on no formal charges and have not been afforded their day in court. Literally only a handful are suspected of being terrorists or directly supporting terrorists. Ashcroft could care less regarding their privacy. He has refused to release their names and alleged charges to cover his sorry ass and that of the jackass enthroned in the White House. ... While some 90% of the aggressively stupid public remain asleep and oblivious of the egregious assault on civil liberties and rights.

Recently, the Attorney General pompously crowed no one has sued in regard to civil rights abuses perpetrated by the "President". Fortunately, that has changed. Earlier last week the ACLU and other civil rights groups finally filed suit. About time. This is not Nazi Germany. ... Supposedly. The people have a right to know who is held, where they are held, what charges they are held on, IF there are any charges, etc.. With the judicial system thoroughly corrupt, it will indeed be interesting to see whether the Constitution including the Bill of Rights will be upheld.

Continuing disingenuously, Mr. Ashcroft asserted: "We have the authority to monitor the conversations of 16 of 158,000 federal inmates and their attorneys because we suspect these communications could facilitate acts of terrorism. Each such prisoner has been told in advance his conversations will be monitored. None of the information that is protected by attorney-client privilege may be used for prosecution. Information will only be used to stop impending terrorist acts and to save American lives."

No, General. You do NOT have the authority to monitor lawyer-client conversations. The Bill of Rights protects attorney-client privilege, you jackass. Telling them ahead of time you have deprived them of that right denies those accused effective counsel. Precisely what you intend, right, Johnny? Fits in with the kangaroo agenda, doesn't it, sir? When will it happen to American citizens, General? Or is that already occurring? Adolph and Benito would have been proud.

Lying further, the Attorney General crowed: "We have asked a very limited number of individuals, visitors to our country holding passports from countries with active al Qaeda operations, to speak voluntarily with law enforcement. We are forcing them to do nothing. We are merely asking them to do the right thing, to willingly disclose information they may have of terrorist threats to the lives and safety of all people in the United States."

... Hey, Johnny? Five thousand sought for "questioning" your idea of a "limited number"? More pointedly, how will they "voluntarily" speak with law enforcement when law enforcement goons have been ordered to question them regarding their visa status and hold them if there are any problems with that status? -- Problems totally unrelated to any terrorism or support of terrorist activity? Is that what you call engendering "trust", General? Hope their attorneys sue your outrageously un-American ass, sir.

Disingenuously testifying further, the Attorney General claimed: "The Constitution specifically delegates to the president the authority to, and I quote, 'take care that the laws are faithfully executed,' closed quote. And, perhaps most importantly, the Constitution vests the president with the extraordinary and sole authority, as commander in chief, to lead our nation in times of war."

Hey, Johnny? It doesn't give the "Chief Executive" the right to essentially suspend the Bill of Rights, you jackass. Equally pointedly, you nor the dolt occupying the White House have "faithfully executed" the law, sir. The supreme law of the land is the U.S. Constitution including the Bill of Rights. You and the "President", however, have outrageously failed to honor your oaths of office to protect and defend those rights.

Equally ominously, consider the following assertion by the Attorney General: "Mr. Chairman and members of this committee, not long ago I had the privilege of sitting where you now sit. I have the greatest reverence and respect for the constitutional responsibilities you shoulder. I will continue to consult with Congress so that you may fulfill your constitutional responsibilities. In some areas, however, I cannot and will not consult with you. The advice I give to the president, whether in his role as commander in chief when at war or in any other capacity, is privileged and confidential. I cannot and will not divulge the contents, the context, or even the existence of such advice to anyone, including Congress, unless the president instructs me so to do...As attorney general, it is my responsibility, at the direction of the president, to exercise those core executive powers the Constitution so designates. The law enforcement initiatives undertaken by the Department of Justice, those individuals we arrest, detain or seek to interview, fall under these core executive powers. In addition, the president's authority to establish war crimes commissions arises out of his power as commander in chief. For centuries, Congress has recognized this authority, and the Supreme Court has never held that any Congress may limit it."

Clearly, this is a fascist attorney general consolidating power for the Nazi securely occupying the White House. It is the function of Congress, particularly the Judiciary Committees of both houses, to exercise oversight of the Executive Branch. Apparently, the Attorney General is arrogantly abrogating that right and duty. ... Not particularly surprising coming from this outrageous Aryan. What is surprising, however, is the gutless silence of the American public.

The Attorney General is on thin ice regarding the legality of military tribunals under present conditions. There has been no declaration of war by Congress. Despite assurances to the contrary by Ashcroft, legal authorities assert Congress indeed has the right to exercise authority over the issue of military tribunals. Regardless of the legalities or lack thereof, tribunals in the past have been no more than a rubber stamp for government policy.

Rules of evidence are far more limited than that available in the judiciary. The accused in a military tribunal have far more limited rights to present a defense. Guilt is determined not beyond a reasonable doubt, but by a preponderance of the evidence. A big difference. Especially to someone about to be executed. Verdicts need not be unanimous, but by a two-thirds vote of military officers obviously beholden to government. Hardly, an impartial "jury". An outrageous example of kangaroo justice quite un-American. ... Or is it readers? After all, American Nazism is okay in times of war, isn't it? ... Why bother with tribunals? Just line 'em up against the wall and shoot 'em. ... Sieg Heil.

Even more telling is the Attorney General's clever approach to "rights": "There are fundamental rights at stake here - and that's the right of the American people not to be abused by war criminals." Hey Johnny? The American people as well as all aliens are entitled to constitutional rights when accused under American law. Whether guilty or innocent, you jackass. Clearly, this fascist doesn't understand what "fundamental rights" are or that they are guaranteed by the Constitution including the Bill of Rights.

Human rights? What the hell are they, right, General? -- And, more importantly, who cares? Should military tribunals be used, we are little better than the enemy who cared nothing for due process. Readers are reminded one man's "freedom fighter" is another man's "terrorist". Example? Assassination of Arabs by Israeli government goons. Another example much closer to home? The saturation bombing of Nazi Germany and the nuclear obliteration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While the United States WAS RIGHT to do so, both actions were acts of terror by definition since innocent citizens were targeted. Again, this country did the right thing. Ultimately, millions of American casualties were spared. So were many Japanese and German lives. It was still terror, however. By definition. Yet, we refuse to admit it.

During questioning by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wa. regarding new surveillance powers she asked: "Who's watching the watchers?" Clearly, no one, Senator. Certainly, not Congress. The Attorney General responded by alluding to a cartoon depicting Santa Claus and a child with Santa telling the kid: "I know when you've been sleeping, I know when you've been awake, I know when you've been bad or good." The child replied: "Who are you? John Ashcroft?" The audience laughed, but the interrogating senator was clearly not amused responding: "I'm not sure everyone in America is laughing at that." That's right, Senator. Pointedly, you and your colleagues could have been far more aggressive in your questioning of the outrageous fascist testifying in front of the committee. Instead, the Nazi was afforded kid gloves.

The arrogance of the Attorney General is quite galling. During the hearing at one point and as discussed earlier in this edition he lambasted those critical of his policies as: "those who scare peace-loving people with phantoms of lost liberty." ... Hey, Johnny? Sounds like propaganda coming from Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union. Liberty has been under attack for the last thirty five years as our great country turned Right Wing and fascist. Freedom had been egregiously eroded long before you became Attorney General. Recent action by the "Administration" since September 11 eviscerating what was left of civil liberties is simply the icing on the cake.

It is not so much what has happened since September 11 that is so offensive to the few of us who value civil rights and liberties. It is what you and the Nazi in the White House will do in the future with The "Patriot" Act, and other unconstitutional measures, against the American public. Sieg Heil, Johnny. Sadly, kangaroo justice reminiscent of the Gestapo and Nazi SS are now embraced by federal goons.

*****Civil Rights Commission Refuses To Seat Bush Lackey*****

That's right. "The Tush" attempted to appoint a fascist colleague, "conservative" attorney Peter Kirsanow, to the Civil Rights Commission but was rebuffed by Commission Chair Mary Frances Berry. She claims there is no vacancy for the "President" to fill. The issue will be decided by the courts. Fat chance she will prevail with the judiciary, clearly biased in favor of the Fascist Right in this country.

The Commission is supposed to be independent and is a watch dog for civil rights. The "President" apparently wants no part of that and is determined to force his will and agenda. Kirsanow is no happy camper, disingenuously asserting he's "saddened by the realization that this body, which is charged with ensuring that the legal rights of all Americans are protected, is acting in a manner that can only be described as lawless." Is that right, Pete? ... Tough, isn't it? Good to see, however, at least a few are beginning to challenge the jackass in the White House, -- regardless of whether or not they prevail in court. ... Hey, Pete? One more thing... Since when are fascists interested "with ensuring that the legal rights of all Americans are protected"?

*****Klee's Kaleidoscope*****

Be sure to click on 'Kaleidoscope V4' on the Maxpages site or 'Kaleidoscope' on the Stormpages site for Harvey Klee's latest edition. This publication is a forum for a diversity of viewpoints. All are encouraged to submit material.

*****Unbridled Fear*****

As strongly asserted in the last 32 editions, gut-wrenching fear generated by the Narcotics Enforcement Team is quite impressive. After all, these Nazi stormtroopers not only outrageously intimidate defendants and their gutless attorneys, but even innocent third parties who have suffered at their corrupt and abusive hands.

Recently, a source came forward with allegations regarding the death of a loved one under exceptionally curious circumstances. Sadly, the survivor got cold feet.

Most pointedly and quite publicly, how in hell do you expect these abuses to end if you don't have the guts to stand up and expose them to the light of day?

Every time a source cowardly runs the other way, the corrupt and abusive sons of bitches win. Every g-ddamned time. Worse yet, another nail is driven into the coffin of liberty.

If you don't have the courage to stand up and do the right thing, why should this writer continue to place himself in physical and legal jeopardy trying to expose the outrageous corruption and abuse?

Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger