Wrong Fireworks

On the eve of our great national celebration on July 4, we are seeing a fireworks display that is truly shameful.

July 4 is the founding of our great country, our Revolution against the imposed tyranny of Kings. A day to reaffirm we are a nation of laws, a day to celebrate our freedoms.

The verbal fireworks are coming from the GOP. They want to use the Supreme Court ruling striking down the Bush military commissions as a weapon to fire at Democrats if they don't back President Bush's unconstitutional, anti-Geneva Convention-handling of terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay. Anyone not backing King George, they threaten, they will brand as weak on terrorism.

As the Washington Post points out, conservative talk radio is already in full assault. Rush "Glass House" Limbaugh labeled as "deranged" the comment made by House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), that the court decision "affirms the American ideal that all are entitled to the basic guarantees of our justice system." House Majority Leader, John A. Boehner (R-OH) labeled her comment as advocating "special privileges for terrorists."

It's an old GOP ploy... take a negative event and whip up the base with verbally loaded charges and labels to divert the heat to "liberals," Democrats, or the media. Is the Republican base really so craven that they'll agree that limiting the power of the Executive by insisting he hold to the "basic guarantees of our justice system" is a BAD thing? Are the Democrats so weak that they will cave in to this type of political intimidation?

How much better to take to heart Sen. Lindsey Graham's (R-SC) reasoned approach on how Congress should respond to the Supreme Court.... "This should not be a party fight. I'm a proud Republican senator, but my nation needs both parties working in collaboration with the executive branch to solve the military commission problem, and both parties will be rewarded by the public if we're seen as working for the common good."

Amen!