New York Times' Terrorist's Bill of Rights

Sat, Mar 3, 2007 at 8:49:41 pm PST

It’s a terrorist’s Bill of Rights, brought to you by the editors of the New York Times: The Must-Do List. (Hat tip: JammieWearingFool.)

Apologize to the world, set all terrorists free so they can realize their full potential, and then everything will be peace and flowers again.

The language is completely indistinguishable from the kind of ugly moonbat rants you’d find at Counterpunch, Crooks and Liars, or Common Dreams.

The Bush administration’s assault on some of the founding principles of American democracy marches onward despite the Democratic victory in the 2006 elections. The new Democratic majorities in Congress can block the sort of noxious measures that the Republican majority rubber-stamped. But preventing new assaults on civil liberties is not nearly enough.

Five years of presidential overreaching and Congressional collaboration continue to exact a high toll in human lives, America’s global reputation and the architecture of democracy. Brutality toward prisoners, and the denial of their human rights, have been institutionalized; unlawful spying on Americans continues; and the courts are being closed to legal challenges of these practices.

It will require forceful steps by this Congress to undo the damage. A few lawmakers are offering bills intended to do just that, but they are only a start. Taking on this task is a moral imperative that will show the world the United States can be tough on terrorism without sacrificing its humanity and the rule of law.

Today we’re offering a list — which, sadly, is hardly exhaustive — of things that need to be done to reverse the unwise and lawless policies of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.