« Phone, fax, email, and be a PITA | Main | Peter Principle in action »

January 29, 2006

"...the principle of a nation of laws and not men."

In politics you must always keep running with the pack. The moment that you falter and they sense that you are injured, the rest will turn on you like wolves.--RA Butler

I read that quote today on Google.

In today's Republican "wolf eat lamb" politically disciplined goosestep march, its especially courageous to see conservatives who are willing to revolt:

These Justice Department lawyers, backed by their intrepid boss Comey, had stood up to the hard-liners, centered in the office of the vice president, who wanted to give the president virtually unlimited powers in the war on terror. Demanding that the White House stop using what they saw as farfetched rationales for riding rough-shod over the law and the Constitution, Goldsmith and the others fought to bring government spying and interrogation methods within the law. They did so at their peril; ostracized, some were denied promotions, while others left for more comfortable climes in private law firms and academia. Some went so far as to line up private lawyers in 2004, anticipating that the president's eavesdropping program would draw scrutiny from Congress, if not prosecutors. These government attorneys did not always succeed, but their efforts went a long way toward vindicating the principle of a nation of laws and not men.

The entire piece is a fascinating read, well worth your time. I excerpted this section mostly because what I've highlighted in bold text.

This is the crux of the progressive concern with the Bush Administration.

Since the beginning of Bush's presidency, the Administration has been skirting the edges of ethics and legality. From the ethically questionable closed door energy policy meetings, the cherrypicked intelligence regarding Iraq to the unconstitutionally illegal domestic spying, Team Bush has pushed law and ethics to the brink in favor of their political power agenda.

They've run their political machine roughshod over anyone who gets in their way. Those that speak up..whether they've been loyal conservatives or hardline liberals, all are cast into the same pit as "traitors" to the war President.

That's why the filibuster of Alito matters so much. Its a stand..albeit slow in coming. Even though its highly unlikely to keep Alito off the court, it demonstrated a willingness to look the wolves in the eye..to be sheep no more.

The few courageous conservatives who stand for what is right are especially laudable. It takes a great deal more to stand up to your own. And when you know its futile..when you know they'll try to tear you apart and ruin you..that's the gutsiest of all.

Progressives should be embracing these men and women who stand up for our nation of laws. While we may have our ideological differences, these people are doing what's right.

I'm taking the time today to personally email these people and thank them for their service to our country. While they might not be fighting overseas in the military, what they're doing is as brave and as honorable.

Posted by Carla at January 29, 2006 10:43 AM