Trekking through the Star Chamber: Autocracy next stop?

Until I heard Ezra Kelin on the Rachel Maddow Show last night, I didn't fully appreciate the significance of the secret court that has been ruling on the applications to spy on, well, everybody. There are bi-partisan bills proposed in both chambers to de-classify the proceedings of this court.

WTF? 

How about bills to *abolish* the damn thing. Out of 34,000 applications from various agencies to spy on whatever, only 11 have been refused. The court only hears one side--the government's side--and all the judges are appointed from the Federal bench by Chief Justice Roberts. Of the 11 judges on the court, 10 were appointed by Republican Presidents. 
How has the court managed to cast such a broad net? By redefining the word "relevant" in the Patriot Act to mean any damn thing the government wants to know. Okay, Tea Party liberty-lovers--it's showtime for you--as well as for a number of waffle-spined Democratic Congresspersons.

I admire FDR & LBJ (with some serious reservations).  I do not admire Reagan or Nixon.   But admirable or not, they were all very strong executives.   How could a strong executive, no matter how admirable, resist using a secret court like what we have now to enhance his or her power?   Always, no doubt, with a good end in mind--that is, his or her mind.  So, why not neutralize a pesky political enemy?  Or even a number of them?  Maybe most of Congress?  

R. 

 

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