[Welcome, Eschatonians, and thanks to Lord Atrios for the link. I called up Hoyer’s office, and courteously informed the young staffer about the link. And you know what? They didn’t know who Atrios was. So, this is a teachable moment_{MR SUBLIMINAL And be polite, dammit!} to show Hoyer that (a) restoring Constitutional government is good politics, and (b) it’s good to have the blogosphere with you. Why not call his office and do some teaching? (202) 225-4131. Did I mention that you should be polite?*]

Here’s a very interesting speech that Representative Hoyer gave yesterday over at Georgetown Law School.** (I’m not clued into Village mores enough to know if the location is significant, but I’m guessing it is. Heck, it’s the Beltway’s own law school…). Here’s the text of the speech, and some of what he had to say; I’m leaving out the terra-terra-terra ass-covering boilerplate to focus on what’s new:

We also swear an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, and to honor the values and principles that are contained therein for example, the Fourth Amendment right that Americans be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, and the Fifth Amendment right to due process of law.

Honoring the system of checks and balances carefully established by the Framers of our Constitution will make us more, not less, safe. This was the conclusion of those men in 1789 who had just fought a war, and who faced a very uncertain and dangerous future.

[Here follows a long list of abuses and usurpations; essentially, the same critique we’ve been developing on torture, surveillance, the rule of law, abuse of power, et cetera, et cetera.]

Nor have we helped our cause by dispensing with centuries-old legal concepts such as habeas corpus. And, the Administration s penchant for presidential signing statements that assert a right of the President to effectively ignore all or part of the laws he signs must give all of us pause.

It is long past time for effective Congressional oversight and Judicial review of this Administration’s actions.

And now comes something I personally find amazing:  Read more 

It’s ignorant shit like this—on WaPo’s page A01, no less—that’s got our country sliding down the greasy slope toward monarchy. The lead from loyal subject Peter Baker:

By the time He arrived in Prague in June for a democracy conference, Bush was frustrated. He had committed his presidency to working toward the goal of “ending tyranny in our world,” yet the march of freedom seemed stalled. Just as aggravating was the sense that His own government was not committed to his vision.

Gawd, Peter, get up off your knees, wouldja? The government is not “his” government. It’s our government. Do you understand? Is there any hope that you understand?  Read more