Documenting the tatters

The former Constitution of the United States - the one we've fought for and died for and sworn allegiance to for generations, the one that Duhbya twice perjuriously swore to preserve, protect, and defend - lies tattered by his usurpations. Here are a few comments on the remains:

• Preamble - not abrogated except for the "ordain and establish" part, oh, and the "we the people" part - Cheney says so?
  
• Article I, Section 1 (exclusive legislative power) - illegal permanent bases, TIA, Don Young, McCain loves Big Brother
  
• Article I, Section 5, paragraph 2 (member discipline) - Don Young (a remedy, not a violation)
• Article I, Section 6, paragraph 2 (emoluments) - end of "fourth branch"
  
• Article I, Section 7, paragraph 2 (lawmaking powers) - Don Young
  
• Article I, Section 8, paragraph 1 (common defence) - bases again
  
• Article I, Section 8, paragraph 11 (war powers) - Iran
  
• Article I, Section 8, paragraph 14 (regulation of the military) - bases again (maybe a stretch)
  
• Article II, Section 2, paragraph 2 (treaties) - Iraq status-of-forces, AUMF pretext
• Article II, Section 4 (VP in executive) - Cheney's evasions
  
• First Amendment (press freedom) - Wikileaks, NSA surveillance
  
• First Amendment (petition for redress) - state secrets, more state secrets
  
• Fourth Amendment (warrants) - too much for Ashcroft, surveillance, data mining, FISA, telecom immunity, NSA surveillance, TIA, FISA and Yoo, McCain loves Big Brother
  
• Fifth Amendment (takings) - civil forfeiture (predates Duhbya's reign)
• Fifth Amendment (right to grand jury) - internment of legal resident
  
• Fifth Amendment (due process) - internment of legal resident
  
• Eighth Amendment (cruel and unusual punishment) - not-torture, Mukasey on waterboarding
• Twelfth Amendment (residency and electoral votes) - first evasion
  
• Fourteenth Amendment (equal protection) - Bush v. Gore, profiling
  

Last updated: December 4, 2008