Ashcroft's publicity tour taking heat

[zakur]

From this story - Ashcroft Criticized for Talks on Terror (http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/22/politics/22PATR.html?ex=1062129600&en=50f99fb2dc325414&ei=5 062&partner=GOOGLE):Representative John Conyers Jr. of Michigan, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, told Mr. Ashcroft in a letter that he should either "desist from further speaking engagements" or explain why they do not violate restrictions on political activities by government officials.

Mr. Conyers said that the speeches in defense of the USA Patriot Act, as the antiterrorism law is known, appeared to conflict with Congressional restrictions preventing the use of Justice Department money for "publicity or propaganda purposes not authorized by Congress." He said they might also violate the Anti-Lobbying Act and its restrictions on grass-roots lobbying on legislative matters.Legitimate complaint, or sour grapes?

[arcticpenguin]

How would you expect Ashcroft to know fine points of the law like that, he's only Attourney General.

[jj]

Why am I reminded of the use of antiterrorist powers to attempt to coerce Texas legislators?

This administration is completely insane now. They are violating the law left and right, between trying to usurp the constitution wholesale, use antiterrorist powers to conciously and willfully interfere in political matters, create lists to intimidate judges, and now using government funds to expressly put forth an extremist totalitarian political campaign.

When will they use the military to stop Gray Davis? Enquiring minds want to know.