Like It Is

Like It Is
by Ted Lang, Columnist

September 4, 2002

Columnist Ted Lang I don't usually watch ethnic-oriented shows; I simply don't believe in them. Let's face it - I'm one of those grumpy old white guys who love and cherish the "dead white guys." I'm disgusted that our former republic is now a run-of-the-mill democracy, where minorities rule through the magic of "tyranny with manners," as Charleton Heston accurately defines political correctness.

So no one was more surprised than I was at the fine, informative and entertaining interviews on the September 1st ABC show, "Like it is." The show is hosted and produced by ABC's Gil Noble, whose two guests were civil rights lawyers: Michael Ratner, president of the Center for Constitutional Rights, and J.L. Chestnut, a principal in a law firm and an African-American 72 years of age.

The topic was the Homeland Security program and its pending legislation promoted by President Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft. I found the political opinion of these two men, a white man and a black man, totally in agreement with that of my own.

Attorney Mike Ratner set the tone when he offered that not a modicum of effort was made by the Bush administration to initiate an in-depth investigation as to exactly what went wrong with America's intelligence, military, and law enforcement agencies to allow such a coordinated terrorist attack to occur on our shores on September 11th. Some preliminary evidence clearly indicates, that the CIA, FBI, Office of the President, as well as individual private sector airlines, were all aware of the impending terrorist attacks. Certain it is that no one knew when and where the attacks would eventually take place, but a tremendous amount of information existed and was available.

The reason nothing was done to prevent 9-11 was pomposity, arrogance, and the resultant incredulity of "government officials." Both Ratner and Chestnut agreed on this. Ratner continued to focus on this breakdown of intelligence and the anticipated preparedness that could have prevented the carnage. He then pointed out, that the reaction of the Bush administration after the fact was infantile at best, and extremely dangerous at its worst, pointing out draconian reaction of Bush in devastating our constitutional rights.

Chestnut was not as forgiving, and I agree with him 100 percent. Chestnut on Bush: "Here's a guy that didn't decide to grow up until he was 40 years old!" Like Chestnut, I simply don't like Bush. Oh yeah, I voted for him, because I thought he would undo the tremendous damage Clinton did to our Constitution, but instead, Bush made matters worse - much worse!

Chestnut offered that he hasn't met one person in Congress that has read through the entire so-called "Patriot Act." Not one! Congress enacted this draconian violation of the Constitution without either reading or understanding it. He says the text references "other laws" in bits and pieces, and the research that is needed to evaluate all these other cannibalized laws would be a monumental undertaking. Congress passed another illegal law in violation of the Constitution. "They are erasing our protections, our checks and balances," offers Ratner.

Chestnut pointed out that it doesn't matter who eventually heads up the huge consolidation of government agencies termed "Homeland Security." "It's not going to work," he offers. He points out that the FBI and CIA competition and hostility towards one another simply goes back too far - it can't be fixed. He cited former President Truman's lament upon realizing his role as Chief Executive, that the president has little power - most resides within the bureaucracy. He offers all that will happen is a huge concentration of rules and laws similar to the unconstitutional mess that is our income tax.

Ratner summarized his views: 1) We should know specifically why we were attacked; 2) We should understand that those around the world hate us because of our international military encroachments predicated upon our hegemonic meddling; 3) We are hated by the Arab world for our alliance and cooperation with Israel. Chestnut offered that you couldn't declare war on terror, just like you cannot declare war on drugs. He effectively rounded out these points by saying: "We must admit that we did bad things, but that doesn't make us a bad people. We shouldn't trust politicians - our strength is in the people." ***

Photo of Columnist Ted Lang courtesy of the author