Guardian of freedom?
Thomas Jefferson said," The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." Unfortunately, the Bush administration has been cavalier about the value of freedom-- trespassing on such American values as due process, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. Examples include the excesses of the Patriot Act as well as the "freedom of expression areas" --enclosed pens for opponents, blocks away from the President's appearances, while supporters are allowed nearby. Shouldn't all of America be a "freedom of expression area"?
Bush has called Antonin Scalia his ideal Supreme Court justice. The Supreme Court is the ultimate guardian of freedom in America. Here's how Scalia treats freedom of the press.
Update: Scalia has decided to change his policy and allow tape recording of his speeches. But his denial of responsibility for the seizure of the reporters' recorders rings false. It seems unlikely that the US Marshals would have insisted on confiscating reporters' recorders without a directive from Scalia. The reporters were in the front row of the auditorium and contested the Marshal's request, so it is impossible that Scalia did not realize what was happening. If Scalia did not agree with the confiscation of the recorders, why didn't he stop them? Why were the recorders returned erased?
