“It’s just a goddamned piece of paper”

I’ve written before about how I feel about the US Constitution. In short: it’s a definite political line-in-the-sand, and it’s better than many forms of government, but I don’t feel it is worthy of the intense fetishization that most Americans give it.

However, if we are going to change the Constitution, I think we should move more in the direction of justice, liberty, and peace, and not away from it.

George W Bush, on the other hand, wants to move closer to despotism (big surprise). In a recent GOP meeting in the Oval Office, they discussed renewing the more offensive provisions of the USA-PATRIOT act:

GOP leaders told Bush that his hardcore push to renew the more onerous provisions of the act could further alienate conservatives still mad at the President from his botched attempt to nominate White House Counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court.

“I don’t give a goddamn,” Bush retorted. “I’m the President and the Commander-in-Chief. Do it my way.”

“Mr. President,” one aide in the meeting said. “There is a valid case that the provisions in this law undermine the Constitution.”

“Stop throwing the Constitution in my face,” Bush screamed back. “It’s just a goddamned piece of paper!”

So for once, I actually agree with Mr. Bush. It is, after all, just a piece of paper, and is held in too high esteem by most of America. I think changing it is a good idea. Though I am certain we have quite different views on how to change it.

But then again, I haven’t sworn an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States….

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