Safire: Seizing Dictatorial Power

[Jeet Heer]

Safire column is an interesting example of a larger tendency in recent 
years: the fact that the most vocal voices defending civil liberties in the 
United States often come from the libertarian/anti-statist right. That 
certainly is not the case in Canada or (I would imagine) in Europe. Why is 
this the case? Is it just an example of the marginalization of the left in 
the U.S., so that the only arguments that take place are between different 
strands of the right.


>From: "Dennis" <dperrin13 at mediaone.net>
>Reply-To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
>To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com>
>Subject: Re: Safire: Seizing Dictatorial Power
>Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2001 08:55:57 -0500
>
> > But this is the strongest
> > statement I've read against Bush's police state polices -- isn't it odd
>that
> > it come from a right-wing columnist in the New York Times?
>
> > CK
>
>Safire has long shown he has a libertarian streak. He was one of the few
>(perhaps the only) major op-ed voices who opposed the FBI sting against
>Marion Barry, which was, as Safire termed it, police state entrapment.
>(Barry was looking to get laid by the woman who set him up. She practically
>had to shove the pipe in his hands, and suggested that if he partook, she'd
>comply. Here's an excerpt from that sting:
>http://www.monk.com/placestogo/DC/marionbarrycracktapes.html.)
>
>There are many on the right who are very pro-Bill of Rights and pro-citizen
>privacy. Shouldn't come as a surprise.
>
>DP
>

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