"dpr" <%%%**&&@dems.com> wrote in message
news:vms43hngut1e02@corp.supernews.com...

http://rutlandherald.nybor.com/News/Story/33681.html
Dean's comments on civil liberties cause alarm
September 14, 2001
By DAVID GRAM The Associated Press

MONTPELIER - Gov. Howard Dean's call for a

America's civil liberties following this week's

criticised Thursday by a Vermont Law School professor.
"Good God," Vermont Law School Professor Michael Mello

remarks Dean made at a Wednesday news conference. "It's

irresponsible for the leader of our state to be saying

right

now."
Benson Scotch, the head of the Vermont chapter of the

Liberties Union, said it was simply too soon after the

in

the sort of debates Dean called for.
Dean said Wednesday he believed that the attacks and

"require a re-evaluation of the importance of some of

liberties. I think there are going to be debates about

where, what can be printed where, what kind of freedom

have and whether it's OK for a policeman to ask for your

you're walking down the street."
Dean said he had not taken a position on these

meant that specific rights described in the Bill of

amendments to the U.S. Constitution - would have to be

governor

said:
"I haven't gotten that far yet. I think that's unlikely,

haven't gotten that far. Again, I think that's a debate

have."

Mello said Thursday, "the civil liberties Dean seems to

so

blithely, that's exactly what makes us different from

committed these acts.
"It's why they attacked us," he continued. "I think our

they

find so threatening, our freedom and the power that I

directly

from that freedom."
Dean's comments came the same day Transportation

announced new security measures - including more

the

nation's airports. New procedures call for an end to

checks at airports, electronic tickets and other

American travelers had grown accustomed.
Benson D. Scotch, director of the Vermont chapter of the

organization would be very much involved if any of the

for come to pass.
But he said now was not the time. "We have here locally

been our experience nationally that the worst time in

speculate

about our civil liberties is in the middle of a crisis."
Scotch said people need to work through their emotions

everybody, including a governor, has a right to have a

emotions

govern to a greater extent than they will govern later."
He added, "We're at a moment now of extreme tragedy and

And tragedy and sorrow and anger are not good qualities

about civil liberties."

--
If Dean did say those things about the Bill of Rights

dangerous in office as Bush is now.

"dpr" <%%%**&&@dems.com> wrote in message
news:vms43hngut1e02@corp.supernews.com...

http://rutlandherald.nybor.com/News/Story/33681.html
Dean's comments on civil liberties cause alarm
September 14, 2001
By DAVID GRAM The Associated Press

MONTPELIER - Gov. Howard Dean's call for a "re-evaluation" of some of
America's civil liberties following this week's terrorist attacks was
criticised Thursday by a Vermont Law School professor.
"Good God," Vermont Law School Professor Michael Mello said when read

remarks Dean made at a Wednesday news conference. "It's terribly
irresponsible for the leader of our state to be saying stuff like that

right

now."
Benson Scotch, the head of the Vermont chapter of the American Civil
Liberties Union, said it was simply too soon after the attacks to engage

in

the sort of debates Dean called for.
Dean said Wednesday he believed that the attacks and their aftermath

"require a re-evaluation of the importance of some of our specific civil
liberties. I think there are going to be debates about what can be said
where, what can be printed where, what kind of freedom of movement

have and whether it's OK for a policeman to ask for your ID just because
you're walking down the street."
Dean said he had not taken a position on these questions. Asked whether

meant that specific rights described in the Bill of Rights - the first

amendments to the U.S. Constitution - would have to be trimmed, the

governor

said:
"I haven't gotten that far yet. I think that's unlikely, but I frankly
haven't gotten that far. Again, I think that's a debate that we will

have."

Mello said Thursday, "the civil liberties Dean seems to be talking about

so

blithely, that's exactly what makes us different from the murderers who
committed these acts.
"It's why they attacked us," he continued. "I think our freedom is what

they

find so threatening, our freedom and the power that I think results

directly

from that freedom."
Dean's comments came the same day Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta
announced new security measures - including more official scrutiny - for

the

nation's airports. New procedures call for an end to curbside baggage
checks at airports, electronic tickets and other conveniences to which
American travelers had grown accustomed.
Benson D. Scotch, director of the Vermont chapter of the ACLU, said his
organization would be very much involved if any of the debates Dean

for come to pass.
But he said now was not the time. "We have here locally and I think it's
been our experience nationally that the worst time in the world to

speculate

about our civil liberties is in the middle of a crisis."
Scotch said people need to work through their emotions first. "I think
everybody, including a governor, has a right to have a period when

emotions

govern to a greater extent than they will govern later."
He added, "We're at a moment now of extreme tragedy and sorrow and

And tragedy and sorrow and anger are not good qualities to inform a

about civil liberties."

--
If Dean did say those things about the Bill of Rights then he would be

dangerous in office as Bush is now.

Lycergus gave the Spartans laws that made the Spartans the fiercest
fighters in the ancient Greek world. It was the laws of ancient Greece
and ancient Rome and the American Revolution which gave all of the
same their civil and military strength. As these tradtional American
liberties are diluted by corrupt politicians of both political
parties, American economic, military, and political strenght will
decline. It's time to end the American traditonal two party oligarcy
and replace our current political system with proportional
representation rather than our current form of "winner take all" form
of electoral representation.