Ashcroft's terrorist watch--a rant

There was an article today on the op ed page of that noted left wing radical newspaper, The LA Times, by Bill Mckibben, a noted environmentalist, noting how deep the threat of terrorism has embedded itself in our society. Thank heaven we have such an alert gaurdian at work as our illustrious Attorney General, who must have been reincarnated from our last King George's court back in the 16th or 17th century. That would explain so much.

Mr. McKibben pointed out that our 17th century oriented federal cops had resurrected a law passed in 1872 and last used in 1890, which was meant to restrict the activity of "sailor-mongering" by boardinghouse proprietors, i.e., attempting to board or otherwise bother ships prior to them entering port with booze and broad's come-ons to their crews.

As it happened in 2002, two Greenpeace protesters attempted to board a ship filled with illegal lumber from Brazil and hang a protest banner stating "President Bush, Stop illegal logging". Which of course it was. The feds did nothing to stop it from being unloaded in a U.S. Port. Must of had connections somewhere? Either that , or someone was ticked because there was no booze or broads!

The protesters were arrested and spent a couple days in jail, got a small fine and went on their way, which happens all the time. Mr. Mckibben noted that a year later Ashcroft's finest decided to indict Greenpeace under this law with the potential goal of assessing a fine and potential probation, which would presumably restrict the organization's ability to carry on any organized civil disobediance in the future under severe penalty of jailing of officers and seizing of assets.

I wonder what other obscure law is out there just waiting to be twisted and used in the pursuit of "protection" of our great country?
I have no doubt that at this very moment, there is a secret task force hard at work in the bowels of the U.S. Jerkstice Dept trying to figure out how to shut down blog.com and all the radical left wing terrorists pounding out devisive and dangerous drivil supporting Greenpeace on their keyboards on a daily basis. I admit we sent our Greenpeace membership contribution in last year--just in case our name didn't get on the membership list the Feds no doubt have acquired through some secret, terrorist protection clause buried somewhere in the latest edition of the "Patriot" act. Wouldn't want to miss out on my 15 minutes to life opportunity to be interregated by the real pros regarding my geographical link to the terrorists that came out of the San Diego area. ( Oops! Dear Feds, I better explain! Geographically, I only live about 6 or 7 miles north of the city limits of San Diego, and that is my only link.)