Invasion of the Body Snatchers
By John Constantine

In my practice I've seen how people
have allowed their humanity to drain
away- only it happens slowly, instead
of all at once. They didn't seem to mind.
     -Dr. Bennell (McCarthy), Invasion of the Body Snatchers

We got some more questions for the right wing over here at Hellblazer central.  We used to hear a lot of reports during the Clinton administration about the Jack Booted Thugs of Janet Reno's Justice Department (JBTJRJD).  In the wake of the Oklahoma City Bombing, we had Waco, Ruby Ridge, Elian Gonzalez.  I remember the absolute uproar over File Gate in the Clinton department.  Imagine!  Hillary Clinton having unlimited access to FBI files!  Think of the damage her and her minions could wreck on the enemies of liberals everywhere!

Still reading?  Okay, then.  Explain to me why you're pushing so hard to remove just about every limit that was placed on our executive branch from abusing their power?  Do you really believe there's not going to be a Democrat in the executive branch someday?  Are you really telling us that there's never going to be someone sitting in the presidency that you don't vehemently disagree with?

Let's flip the tables.  Let's say that Hillary does run for 2004.  Let's say she wins by a landslide.  It's happened before - remember the last time a Bush ran for re-election.  So she steps into office and what's the first thing she's going to do with all those brand new powers the last administration has ensconced not only in law, but in tradition?  Are you going to seriously say that you wouldn't be petrified with terror at what she's going to do to the NRA when she settles in and starts flexing the muscles of the PATRIOT act?   Think about how cool it will be when the Democrat appointed as Attorney General starts getting wire taps on the Christian Coalition, because they've been associated with the Anti-Abortion groups.  Pro-Life groups, because they have blown up abortion clinics and assassinated abortion doctors in the past, have now been labeled as international terrorists thanks to the laws passed during the previous Bush administration.  Suddenly, all the assets of the religious right become frozen merely because some appointed minion of Hillary signed the order - without Judicial oversight, of course.

Let me just say here that I would be equally horrified by such a scenario.  But there's something all you right wingers have to explain to me here.  Either you seriously believe that there's never going to be another Democrat in charge again, or you seem to have completely lost your minds.   I can't explain it otherwise.

Either way, you're screwed.  Although I'm a Democratic, I believe in the democratic process.  That means sometimes the Republicans win, and sometimes the Democrats win.  No one is always right, and no one is always wrong.  Call me a wishy washy wimp if you want, but I'm not so sure of my beliefs as the right seems to be.  Sometimes this belief that you're absolutely right is certainly an advantage.

For example, when you go to war

You want a person of action when you're at war.  You don't want someone whimping out and not being decisive.  Granted.  But doesn't history teach us about not just a danger of megalomaniac tendencies, but an almost guarantee that this power will be abused?  Are you seriously telling those of us on the other side of this argument that only the right people will hold the reigns of the unprecedented powers you have so freely given up?  Are you really telling us that there are ample restraints on the PATRIOT act's powers that you would feel totally comfortable giving to Hillary Clinton?  Or are you telling us that the Democratic party will become a permanent minority party?  You really believe in a one party system?  Unbelievable.

I've argued many times on message boards with you of the right wing about whether the president can declare war without a declaration of thus from Congress.  According to all of you other there on the right, as well as the legal consul of this administration, the answer is a resolute YES!  The president has the right to defend the United States of America.  In any way he sees fit.  Bush has the absolute power to attack Iraq - or any one else - in the pursuit of the War Against Terror.

Well, okay.  I guess this is the way you people think things should be run.  These are the sacrifices you're all willing to make.  Hmmmm.  You keep telling us on the left that we're all crying that the sky is falling and that we should really get over it and get a message together.

Well, okay.  I guess we'll get a message together and we'll get a leader.  Maybe we won't get it for 2004.  We may not have our act together by then.  But by 2008, we'll have something scraped together - maybe Hillary.  Sure we'll have to endure 6 more years of absolute - or near absolute - republican control over the government.  Personally, I think it'll be a gas to see the American people choose Hillary Clinton over whatever you guys can scrape together for your ticket.

And then you're going to start screaming like stuck pigs.

Like a thief in the night, someday the Democrats will take over the body of the Government.  And all the sudden the good old days of Bill Clinton will seem like a starry eyed dream.  Think you're going to be able to pull all that impeachment crap  on Hillary like you did on Bill?

You must be completely insane.

Everyone keeps saying that we traditionally give wide deference to the executive branch in times of war.  Well, what about the deference to the constitution?  Wait.  I know, I must have misread it.  It's defer the constitution, not defer to the constitution.

Keep it up guys.  If we don't slip into one party totalitarianism rule by the Bush family, someday we'll have a Democratic regime.  Let's hope you're all right, and the constitution hasn't been shredded.  I guess the acid test will come when you are behind Hillary one hundred percent in the war on terror.  Considering how you've been bludgeoning it over the heads of the Democrats, it'll be interesting to see how you deal with it.  How much more whiny, shrill you can sound?  How much lower you can stoop in name calling?

Cause the War On Terror ain't gonna end any time soon.   And sooner or later, the Democrats are going to be back.

November 24, 2002