Number One: Because of the "Patriot Act", you have no idea what's happening. Pretending you do seems presumptious. People do not seek nor are they given powers such as the "Patriot Act" to not use them.

Number Two: The Holocaust started with the German Legislature giving the leader the right to hold anyone he wanted for as long as he wanted, incommunicado, and to do it without telling a soul. Suspended Civil Rights in the name of "national security". Looked a lot like the "Patriot Act".

That's essential to a totaliarian regime. Happens when the legislature or parliament is on the side of the leader.

Number Three: Next you forget about laws, treaties and human decency when dealing with prisoners. After all, what can they do about it? Nothing. Your own citizens have lost their rights.

Number Four: Start demonizing a minority. Selectively pick "bad" acts, and act as if they are representative of all. Believe your own propaganda.

And so on.

And GWB is only 3 years into his term. Other leaders didn't get this much power this fast.

And it was always given to them in the name of "national security".

Oh, yes. Overriding it all. Tell anyone who questions this process at any point they are "full of shit". Find someone else to agree "they're full of shit" and give each other "high fives". Find another one who agrees "they're full of shit" and get more intimate.

That answers everything. There's really nothing you can say to the person who uses the ultimate weapon, "you're full of shit!!"

Some of us quake in anticipation of being told we're "full of shit". After all, it's probably not a nice thing to be called. And it is only used by reasonable people who have decided to not use logic, reason, or facts, but have decided to keep those secret, and just say "you're full of shit".

Arf