Who on this list is a dangerous criminal, who should be locked up for the crime of treason?

   . Jose Padilla (aka Abdullah al Muhajir)

   . George W. ("Shrub Jr.") Bush

   . John ("Ugly") Ashcroft

The first is the alleged would-be dirty bomber.  A native-born United States citizen, he is being held without charge, without access to a lawyer, without any contact with another human being, in a Navy brig.  The government intends to hold him that way forever.  Or until they change their minds.

The "they" whose minds (we use the term loosely) keep Padilla behind bars are the other two men on the list.  Men who have sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America.  Men who are giving the finger to that oath, and the nation, to further their own political agendas.  In my humble opinion, these two should be locked up, and Padilla set free.

Don't get me wrong, Mr. Padilla doesn't sound like a very nice guy.  He's another in the long list of people I'd just as soon not have as a next-door neighbor (the list is headed by Saddam Hussein and Rich Lowry of the NRO).  However, he is apparently innocent of a crime, as not one shred of evidence against him has been presented in court, and he enjoys the same right that all of us do: innocent until proven guilty.

Should I repeat that phrase?  If I write it 100 times, will the idea sink through into the ovine consciousness of the sheeple of this nation?  Mr. Padilla is INNOCENT until PROVEN GUILTY.

But Bush, Ashcroft, and their cronies have a different idea.  The Constitution is just a load of crap, and easily ignored, to their way of thinking.  Sacred oath of office?  Piffle.  They will do whatever they like, as long as they can sell it to people as part of the package of the fear-mongering and manipulation they call the "War of Terror."  Sorry, "War ON Terror."

So, are these the rules by which this nation will chart its future?  Government officials, elected and unelected, can point their finger at anybody, anybody at all, and say, "We have evidence that Johnny X is a dangerous would-be terrorist.  We will not share that evidence with anyone, because it would compromise the War on Terror.  We've got Johnny under lock and key, and  will hold him indefinitely.  He will not be allowed to communicate with anyone, including lawyers, spouse, parents, children, etc., lest national security be compromised.  You may want to give us your unalloyed applause for our unceasing work to protect the American Way of Life.  And don't forget to vote [fill in party] in November."

Oh, and pay no attention to the fact that each new detainee is announced at a moment when an unflattering spotlight was about to be shown on the self-same government officials.  That couldn't possibly have any relevance.

Is this what is meant by "the rule of law, not of men?"  Silly me, I thought it meant something else.

May I have a show of hands here?  How many think that we can trust Bush, Ashcroft, Cheney, and company, not to abuse their power for personal gain?  Uh huh.  And how many think we can't trust these men any farther than we can throw them?  OK.  At least there are still a few of us who dare to question the hijacking of the nation.

Is Mr. Padilla in fact hoping and planning to build a "dirty bomb?"  I have no idea.  Let's stipulate for the sake of argument that he is.  Since he's "busted," he won't be very effective at the job, will he?  He'll have government guys 'n' gals watching his every move.  His former buddies will likely tell him to buzz off and leave them alone.  He is for all intents and purposes emasculated, if in fact he hates the U.S. as the government alleges.

Thus, Padilla is about as dangerous as what he really is: a petty criminal.  Bush and his friends are something else altogether.

There is a term for what this nation has become: Police State.  The rules are simple: You do your job as usual, and go home at night.  If a knock on the door reveals men who have come for you, you go quietly, without protest.  You don't blather on about "rights;" that's unpatriotic.  You trust your leaders, and never question their motives. Is that clear, little citizen?

And by the way, practice up on that goose-step and the proper salute for your betters, will ya?  Sieg Heil!!