Heh, these intrusions of civil liberties existed long before Sept. 11. The federal law enforcement agencies could deprive anyone of life (Ruby Ridge, Waco), liberty (Free Kevin!), or property (ATF and DEA siezures) without any due process, trial, "producing the body", or even charging a person with a crime. Even after the fact, the law enforcement officers were not fired, or even reprimanded. Most were promoted.

It is nice to see the noisy Left finally realize this, but it is a shame to see them think that this is unique to the current administration. These acts (and the laundry list of new "powers" in the PATRIOT act) come from the beauracratic federal law enforcement apparatus, completely seperate from any elected or appointed official. If the president was Hilary Clinton, those people would be there, and the list would be the same.

Of course, when these abuses were pointed out in the 90's - we were conspiricy-hunting backwoods trailer trash with an unatural hate for Bill Clinton. Heh.

I am realizing that the best situation for guarding against a tyrannical government is having a republican president - then the left leaning media and pressure groups will actually pay attention to the abuses that are there under any administration, instead of covering up for their guy. People are actually paying attention, and that is really helping. Watching the FBI get thwarted after all of these years make me feel a lot better for the future.

-Donut