“The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.”  Henry VI, Part 2.

The Shakespearian rollercoaster that is the Bush 43 presidency took a marked turn recently.  While Bush has been decrying “activist judges” for years now, only recently has the administration made a concerted effort to remove the scourge that is the unelected adjudicators of liberty.  The Attorney General’s most recent comments, proclaiming that there are “…inherent limits that make an unelected judiciary inferior to Congress or the president,” are only the latest salvo in the administrations attempt to neutralize the law.

At the same time they are suggesting that their co-equal branch of government is inferior, the administration has also tightened the reins in other areas.  Circumventing Congress to hire and fire US Attorneys at will has also imperiled the judiciary system.  In the same way that intelligence was filtered prior to the Iraq invasion, this administration is attempting to create it’s own reality.

Then too, anyone who chose to dissent or ask the tough questions was painted as a coward, an appeaser, and as unpatriotic.  Today, the adminstration’s hitman, Cully Stimson, was forced to apologize for last week’s remarks, saying “Regrettably, my comments left the impression that I question the integrity of those engaged in the zealous defense of detainees in Guantanamo.” 

Which comments could those be, maybe it’s when he stated in response to a question regarding the pro bono nature of the cases, “It’s not clear, is it? Some will maintain that they’re doing it out of the goodness of their heart – that they’re doing it pro bono, and I suspect they are.  Others are receiving monies from who knows where and I’d be curious to have them explain that.”  Even though any money beyond scale is donated to 9/11 charities. 

Shakespeare’s line at the top, was in response to Jack Cade’s exclamation of what he would do with his power, stating “And I will apparel them all in one livery, that they may agree like brothers, and worship me their lord.”  It certainly seems that it is the intent of this President to clad us all in one livery, the unquestioning religious right, making all agree that if they aren’t with us, they are with the terrorists. 

Whether or not Bush wants us to worship him like a God; well, it’s a little early to know that for sure.  But just like Jack Cade, Bush knows that if he wants to hold onto his stolen power, he must firstdestroy the lawyers who could stop him.
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