The Antisocial Socialist

If you blinked, you might have missed the assertion by the US Justice Department that foreign citizens who change planes at airports in the United States can legally be seized, detained without charges, deprived of access to a lawyer or the courts, and even denied basic necessities like food. According to Mary Mason, senior trial lawyer for the US government, Maher Arar, a Canadian who was deported to Syria and tortured, had no protection under the Constitution, even though he was being held in a Brooklyn jail.

Pay attention. This looks like another one of our civil liberties getting flushed down the toilet. The Canadian media, with the exception of the Globe and a snippet on CBC this morning, aren't talking about it very much.

On a lighter note, I went out to hear Crazy Strings, a Toronto bluegrass band, at the Silver Dollar last night. Quote of the evening, from one of the band members:

"Toronto in the summer is like being wrapped in a warm, comfy sleeping bag. That someone's peed on."

EDIT: By the way, you guys, Bush is being indicted.* Do your part by spreading the word.

* No, he's not, obviously. But it's the funniest meme I've seen in awhile.