Bush is dismantling the Constitution

Merely on the basis of what George W. Bush says, Boyce Clark wrote on Feb. 10 (“George W. Bush: Address proved he’s a man of integrity”) that Bush is “a man of integrity,” has high approval ratings and asks, “What more could we ask of our Commander-in-Chief?”

First, we could ask that our commander-in-chief be elected, not selected by five conservative cronies on the Supreme Court. We could ask for a president who doesn’t just talk about environmental protection and corporate regulation, while gutting those very laws and not enforcing existing policies. We could ask for a president that believes government is an institution of the people, rather than a business that works in secrecy as a subsidiary for his family and friends. We could ask for a commander-in-chief that will not unilaterally withdrw from treaties, diminish civil liberties at home, ignore international law, disregard world opinion, or further expand an undefined, undeclared war. We could ask for a president who will think outside his party’s ideological box, not simply pursue the same regressive agenda because his approval ratings are high.

On Feb. 13, letter writer Keith Welker took the conservative penchant for demonizing dissent and rewriting history to an extreme (“Leadership: Bush makes up for Clinton mistakes”). Reading like talking points from the Republican National Committee, he rails against those who are destroying “the liberty and freedoms we enjoy.” However, it’s Bush, officials like John Ashcroft, and establishment powerbrokers who are wrapping themselves in the flag while destroying our liberties. The terrorists brought down the Twin Towers; Bush Inc. is dismantling the Constitution and the ideals we supposedly represent.

And if Mr. Welker thinks Bush and Cheney aren’t using Sept. 11 and the war on terrorism for political purposes – or to distract us from Enron and the rest of their shady dealings – as the clich goes, “I’ve got a bridge to sell you.”

Everett