The abuses of power include disregard for fundamental principles of American democracy -- separation of powers and our system of checks-and-balances; politicization of the justice system; grotesque acts of torture; disregard for international laws and institutions; and violations of fundamental civil rights and liberties at home and abroad. President Bush left the White House, but many of these problems remain. Already, in two court cases, the Obama Administration has advanced Bush Administration arguments that national security concerns as advanced by the Executive prevent courts from examining government actions. Now, and for the foreseeable future, we as a nation must fight to reclaim and preserve our fundamental values of liberty and justice, and ensure that the unprecedented power grabs of recent years don't set a dangerous precedent for the future. We must stop the erosion of our Constitution. We must recapture the flag. |
