Day: October 3, 2006

Today in Censorship:

  • Jackass Two renamed…Jackbutt Two? (Via TV Squad.) I haven’t seen it, but from what I understand, the title is probably the least offensive part of the movie. I have to go with TV Squad on this one: Jackbutt sounds much dirtier.
  • Parent petitions school to ban Farenheit 451. A novel about book burning. Yeah, that’s right. (Via Ed Champion.) Not surprisingly, the man hasn’t actually read the book in question. Do you think he’s maybe confusing it with the Michael Moore documentary Farenheint 911? Damn hippies!

Update: As Boing Boing reminds me, the latter is actually even more ironic in that it’s Banned Books Week. Are we sure this isn’t some kind of ALA publicity stunt?

Okay, let’s assume you trust this President. Let’s assume you think he’s made the right decisions and deserves our support1. Let’s assume you’re okay with giving this President the authority his administration says it needs.

Are you willing to hand that authority over to the next President? Are you willing to write a blank check to an administration that might not be so well-intentioned2?

Because that’s what Congress is doing. They haven’t just given George W. Bush the freedom to arrest and torture anyone he wants. They’ve given that freedom to the office of the President. You die-hard Republicans might want to think that over for a minute: is this really the sort of freedom you want to hand over to a Democrat?

Look, I think torture is repugnant and doesn’t work, and I think Congressional and judicial oversight of the President’s actions can only help the war on terror. But even if you disagree with me, the one thing you have to concede is this: George W. Bush won’t be President forever.

Would you give this unchecked authority to someone you didn’t want as your President?

1 I don’t see how you could think that, given his track record, but okay, I’ll accept it for the sake of argument.

2 Again, as far as I’m concerned, this administration is anything but well-intentioned, but okay, fine, whatever.