Mother Mary Rants

At his first confirmation hearing, Samuel Alito included in his opening remarks the statement, “No person in this country, no matter how high or powerful, is above the law, and no person in this country is beneath the law.” This statement is either stupid or frightening. If everyone is on the same plane as the law, then no one is subject to the law; the law becomes irrelevant.

Presumably, Judge Alito meant to convey the idea that, despite Emperor Bush's frequent assertions to the contrary, even he does not have the right to suspend any law he chooses in the name of fighting “terrorism” — particularly when the Pentagon is redefining “terrorism” to include nonviolent protests of the war in Iraq.

But he may have meant that, since everyone is on the same plane as the law, everyone IS the law. Meaning that, just like Mr. “l'état, c'est moi” Bush, I too have the right to ignore any law I choose, so long as I claim to be fighting terrorism or evil. I too have the right to imprison anyone I choose, without habeas corpus or even access to the law. I too may torture with impunity, as long as I find a good Newspeak euphemism. After all, I am neither above nor subordinate to the law — just like Mr. Bush.