Land of the Free, sort of...

Just about on a daily basis, I see a story in the media that makes me wonder just how "free" we as Americans really are. From President Bush only allowing Republicans at his campaign events in 2004, to designated "protest zones" when people who are displeased with the president want to let him know, this government goes out of its way to stifle dissent and freedom. Here's one of the latest examples...

A 74-year old man has been arrested for selling "Impeach Him" buttons in Kensington, Maryland. Alan McConnell (left), a retired math teacher, has been selling anti-Bush buttons at a farmer's market for months when officials began harassing him for not having a permit to sell the buttons.

But really, is that what's at work here? A permit to sell freaking buttons? I highly doubt it. What's really at work here is silencing a voice who some smackdass in government views as Not Supporting the Troops.

After town officials warned McConnell about not having a permit, he was also warned that he would be arrested if he returned to the market, even though it is public property.

After defiantly showing up last weekend despite threats from town officials, McConnell was arrested and charged with trespassing. He faces 90 days in jail and a $500 fine, in addition to the $500 fine he received three weeks ago.

Officials said kicking him out has nothing to do with politics but with
fears that the atmosphere fostered by McConnell and his supporters would create a safety hazard. (Mayor Peter Fosselman even cancelled last Saturday's market.)

Phew! Thank GOD we are removing 74-year old men from the streets - their presence and their opinions are safety hazards and a threat to law and order.

Photo from The Washington Post

Bush approval at record low

Bush's approval rating is now at at all-time low for his presidency - 29 percent, which now equals his father's lowest approval rating. In Bush's race to the bottom, he doesn't have that much more to go to equal the lowest approval rating during a modern presidency - President Truman's 22 percent in 1952.

Of course, I doubt Bush will get best Truman, however; surely there are still at least 23 percent of fanatical Republicans in this country who will believe whatever Bush tells them. But, who knows - maybe Bush will go too far for at even least a portion of them.

I'd be remiss to not mention the approval rating of the Democratically led Congress, which is even lower than Bush's. Right now, in the eyes of the public, Congress is doing even worse than the president. Public satisfaction with the job lawmakers are doing has fallen 11 points since May, to 24 percent, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll.

Democrats were given control of Congress to reign in the Bush administration and to end the war. So far, they've done neither. And it's looking increasingly apparent that's not going to change anytime soon.

These ratings prove one thing - Americans are becoming increasingly disenchanted with our government, on both sides of the aisle.

As Crooks & Liars so sagely put it this morning, "It is incumbent upon all of us to make very clear that their approval reading has to do with their lack of action, not fear of it." [Emphasis Mine]

Perfectly said. Most people who I talk to who are unhappy with Congress, and that's just about everybody, say the biggest problem people have with this Congress is that Congressional Democrats are afraid to do anything serious about this administration, for fear that they will be labeled as causing trouble and widening divisions. That's merely Karl Rove's spin machine talking. Sure, Rove and Co. will paint Congressional Democrats with that brush if serious chargers were brought against Dick and Bush, but so what?

Rove's machinations have surly worked beyond his wildest dreams - all he has to do is jump toward the Democrats just a little, and they all jump, just like the skinny, feeble kid on the playground will jump when the bully takes one step toward him. Just unbelievable. I'm working on a separate piece about impeachment that I'll have later tonight or tomorrow.

Top chart via Open Left