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Bill of Wrongs: The Executive Branch's Assault on America's Fundamental Rights
Throughout her long career of “afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted,” the cause closest to Molly Ivins’s heart was working to protect the freedoms we all value. Sadly, today we’re living in a time when dissent is equated with giving aid to terrorists, when any of us can be held in prison without even knowing the charges against us, and when our constitutional rights are being interpreted by a president who calls himself “The Decider.”
Ivins got the idea for Bill of Wrongs while touring America to honor her promise to speak out, gratis, at least once a month in defense of free speech. In her travels Ivins met ordinary people going to extraordinary measures to safeguard our most precious liberties, and when she first started writing this book, she intended it to be a joyous celebration of those heroes. But during the Bush years, the project’s focus changed. Ivins became concerned about threats to our cherished freedoms–among them the Patriot Act and the weakening of habeas corpus–and she observed with anger how dissent in the defense of liberties was being characterized as treason by the Bush administration and its enablers.
From illegal wiretaps, the unlawful imprisonment of American citizens, and the undermining of freedom of the press to the creeping influence of religious extremism on our national agenda and the erosion of the checks and balances that prevent a president from seizing unitary powers, Ivins and her longtime collaborator, Lou Dubose, co-author of Shrub and Bushwacked, describe the attack on America’s vital constitutional guarantees. With devastating humor and keen eyes for deceit and hypocrisy, they show how severe these incursions have become, and they ask us all to take an active role in protecting the Bill of Rights.
In life and on the printed page, Molly Ivins was too cool to offer a posthumous valedictory (or even to take a victory lap for her many triumphs over inane, vainglorious, and addlepated politicos). But in Bill of Wrongs, her final and perhaps greatest book, the irrepressible Molly Ivins really does have the last word.
From the Hardcover edition.
Ivins got the idea for Bill of Wrongs while touring America to honor her promise to speak out, gratis, at least once a month in defense of free speech. In her travels Ivins met ordinary people going to extraordinary measures to safeguard our most precious liberties, and when she first started writing this book, she intended it to be a joyous celebration of those heroes. But during the Bush years, the project’s focus changed. Ivins became concerned about threats to our cherished freedoms–among them the Patriot Act and the weakening of habeas corpus–and she observed with anger how dissent in the defense of liberties was being characterized as treason by the Bush administration and its enablers.
From illegal wiretaps, the unlawful imprisonment of American citizens, and the undermining of freedom of the press to the creeping influence of religious extremism on our national agenda and the erosion of the checks and balances that prevent a president from seizing unitary powers, Ivins and her longtime collaborator, Lou Dubose, co-author of Shrub and Bushwacked, describe the attack on America’s vital constitutional guarantees. With devastating humor and keen eyes for deceit and hypocrisy, they show how severe these incursions have become, and they ask us all to take an active role in protecting the Bill of Rights.
In life and on the printed page, Molly Ivins was too cool to offer a posthumous valedictory (or even to take a victory lap for her many triumphs over inane, vainglorious, and addlepated politicos). But in Bill of Wrongs, her final and perhaps greatest book, the irrepressible Molly Ivins really does have the last word.
From the Hardcover edition.
214 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
32 people are currently reading
488 people want to read
About the author
Molly Ivins
37 books145 followersAmerican newspaper columnist, political commentator, and best-selling author from Austin, Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
January 25, 2008
Many years ago, Ivins promised a friend that she would give a speech per month, for free, in some small town in America, in defense of free speech. This book, which turned out to be her last book, was going to celebrate those common people who decided to stand up and be counted. Watching what has happened to the Bill of Rights, America’s Supreme Law of the Land, due to the “War on Terror,” the book’s focus changed.
Jeff and Nicole Rank (she works for FEMA) were arrested on the grounds of the West Virginia state capital and thrown in jail, while local, state and capital police discussed who had jurisdiction over them. They were released, and just before their trial was to start, the city of Charleston dropped all charges. Their crime was to wear anti-Bush t-shirts to a Bush campaign rally to which they had gotten legitimate tickets.
Vice President Cheney was working a crowd in a Colorado shopping mall. Steve Howards walked up to him, told Cheney that he thought Cheney’s Iraq policy was reprehensible, and walked away. For that, he was handcuffed in front of his young son, and charged with assaulting Cheney. The charges were later dropped.
The authors also look inside the Dover, Pennsylvania school board, where religious fundamentalists attempted to introduce “intelligent design” into the biology curriculum. After a long trial, and a judicial ruling strongly in favor of evolution, the fundamentalists were voted out of office in the next election. Also included is the story of the four librarians from Connecticut, who refused to comply with a National Security letter, demanding records on use of a public library computer on a certain day.
This is a gem of a book. It does a fine job showing the size of the holes that the "war on terror" has put in the Bill of Rights, and it is also a very easy read. It is very highly recommended.
Jeff and Nicole Rank (she works for FEMA) were arrested on the grounds of the West Virginia state capital and thrown in jail, while local, state and capital police discussed who had jurisdiction over them. They were released, and just before their trial was to start, the city of Charleston dropped all charges. Their crime was to wear anti-Bush t-shirts to a Bush campaign rally to which they had gotten legitimate tickets.
Vice President Cheney was working a crowd in a Colorado shopping mall. Steve Howards walked up to him, told Cheney that he thought Cheney’s Iraq policy was reprehensible, and walked away. For that, he was handcuffed in front of his young son, and charged with assaulting Cheney. The charges were later dropped.
The authors also look inside the Dover, Pennsylvania school board, where religious fundamentalists attempted to introduce “intelligent design” into the biology curriculum. After a long trial, and a judicial ruling strongly in favor of evolution, the fundamentalists were voted out of office in the next election. Also included is the story of the four librarians from Connecticut, who refused to comply with a National Security letter, demanding records on use of a public library computer on a certain day.
This is a gem of a book. It does a fine job showing the size of the holes that the "war on terror" has put in the Bill of Rights, and it is also a very easy read. It is very highly recommended.
March 1, 2025
In the months to come as our domestic stability erodes and global standing continues to evaporate, I’ll return often to this dense, brilliant read by the late, great Molly Ivins. Filled with horrifying court cases of just how far the government was willing to go after 9/11 to abuse its power in the name of patriotism, it sure seems to me that it was just a practice run compared to the stakes today. To be able to look back and realize even John Ashcroft knew a bridge too far when he refused to cross it is to appreciate that the despicable display the world was subjected to today is only the beginning.
Saddle up.
Saddle up.
January 26, 2009
A fast read that will leave you outraged. The trouble with outrage, of course, is what to do with it. I think there is a danger now to trust a new administration will fix everything. But I would bet there is a great deal of institutional inertia. The ongoing efforts of the Secret Service to silence dissent in the name of protecting the president seems particularly insidious to me. Anyone got suggestions for affecting such policies?
The most appalling cases, of course, have more to do with invalid detention than free speech per se. Especially holding someone as a material witness against oneself, which seems to me a rather textbook violation of the fifth amendment. This is scary stuff and worth learning.
The most appalling cases, of course, have more to do with invalid detention than free speech per se. Especially holding someone as a material witness against oneself, which seems to me a rather textbook violation of the fifth amendment. This is scary stuff and worth learning.
February 25, 2008
Bill of Wrongs is the last book that Molly Ivins wrote (with co-author Lou Dubose), and while not as funny as Shrub or as flippant as Bushwhacked, it is just as, if not more, important as those two books.
This book is a clarion call for all those who care about the values upon which the United States of America was founded: freedom, equality, and justice. Through a number of case studies, the book explains in stark detail just how much damage has been done to the very fabric of our Republic.
Molly, we miss you!
This book is a clarion call for all those who care about the values upon which the United States of America was founded: freedom, equality, and justice. Through a number of case studies, the book explains in stark detail just how much damage has been done to the very fabric of our Republic.
Molly, we miss you!
June 27, 2008
Excellent journalism on the Bush demolition of the U.S. constitution.
November 6, 2012
Bill of Wrongs, subtitled The Executive Branch’s Assault on America’s Fundamental Rights by Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose is the final book that Ms. Ivins wrote prior to her untimely death from breast cancer on January 31, 2007. Ms. Ivins, a large woman in many ways was perfectly suited for the state she hailed from, Texas. Only a state as large as Texas could contain the spirit, humor and zest for life she had. And only Texas was large enough for her passion for people, good government, and respect for the Constitution.
I first learned of Molly when I overheard a review of her first book, Molly Ivins Can’t Say That, Can She? on NPR. I was intrigued and laughed out loud over some of the passages in the book describing the Texas legislature. She started her career as a journalist covering Texas politics, and she had a way of phrasing the goings-on to paint vivid and often humorous portraits of the events and personalities. She eventually became a nationally syndicated columnist covering national politics. I read her columns as often as I could and bought her books as each would come out.
She, and Lou Dubose, a colleague from the Texas Observer, co-wrote two previous books together: Shrub: The Short but Happy Political Life of George W. Bush, which covered his career through his governorship of Texas, and Bushwacked: Life in George W. Bush’s America, covering his career as President. Both of these books focus on Bush and his band of renown pointing out the mistakes, misstatements, and misuse of power. The current book, Bill of Wrongs, although an indictment of the Bush administration’s policies involving the War on Terror, is more a collection of people’s stories. In particular, people unjustly treated by the programs Bush’s administration put into effect, usually with the assistance of Congress. Most of these stories involve the Patriot Act and other results from the attack on 9-11.
The book opens with the story of Nicole and John Rank, who decided to protest the war in Iraq during a Bush speech on July 4, 2004. They had tickets for the speech, but the tickets were revoked and they were imprisoned. Although freed, they still faced criminal charges and a trial. This also impacted Nicole’s job at FEMA. Their problems and their legal battles provide a real eye-opener for the cause of “free speech” in America. The second chapter looks at the creation of free speech zones in communities, especially Crawford TX, Bush’s adopted hometown. These zones are created to control protests, and often are far removed from speech sites. Chapter Three looks at the rights of the media in protecting sources.
Chapter Four, although about the Establishment Clause and the presence of religion in our lives, specifically focuses on the battle over the introduction of Intelligent Design in the science curriculum at a high school in Dover PA. The eventual case, Tammy Kitzmiller, et. al. v. Dover Area School District, et. al. became a landmark trial in the movement to discredit evolution and introduce Intelligent Design, a euphemism for creationism, into schools. The judge, a Bush appointee, ruled against the school district and went further in declaring that Intelligent Design is not science. This fight will not, of course, go away. In fact, this case has been the subject of a recent PBS Nova program: Intelligent Design on Trial.
Other chapters include stories of people subject to secret searches by the FBI without warrants, librarians who are required to turn over records of books checked out and then forbidden to tell anyone that this had happened, treatment and confinement of prisoners in Guatanamo Bay, and surveillance and warrantless wiretaps. All of these issues should concern us. In giving up a little of our freedom for security, we may be traveling down a road to a land of fear that becomes a police state. This is not what we want, I’m sure.
I am reminded of a commentary that comedian, George Carlin, made when I saw him on November 3, 2007. In discussing rights, he said he felt either we had no rights or a right to anything. In this context, he was particularly concerned with whether our rights are God-given. He felt we should be free to do anything we wanted. He definitely did not think we had any God-given rights. And in this I agree. However, we do have certain rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution. The reason for the Bill of Rights, and eventually the other amendments, is to prevent the Federal, and, through the 14th Amendment (depending on Supreme Court interpretation), State Governments from taking those rights away. These are man-given rights. Unfortunately, that does mean that men can take them away. I think the overall point of this book is that it is up to each of us to make sure that doesn’t happen. And, in particular, during times of crisis, we should be even more vigilant in securing and protecting these rights.
This is a relatively short book filled with stories of people caught in the Government’s fight over the War on Terror, the first amendment and religion. I found it to be a very quick read. In many ways, it reminded me of another book, by Nat Hentoff, a writer about jazz, but also our rights. His book, Living the Bill of Rights, published in 1998 also consists of stories of people who fought the Government. Another book by Hentoff, The War on the Bill of Rights and the Gathering Resistance, deals specifically with the effect of the Patriot Act. If the reader is interested in this topic, these books would be wonderful additions to Bill of Wrongs. I highly recommend Bill of Wrongs, both as a collection of cautionary tales and as a legacy to the person Molly was.
A final story: As I mentioned earlier, I first heard of Molly Ivins when her first book was published in 1991. I kept up with her career through her columns; her second book, Nothin’ but Good Times Ahead; her third book, You Got To Dance With Them What Brung You; Shrub: The Short but Happy Political Life of George W. Bush along with her other works. In March, 2000, I was on my way to San Antonio TX with my father to see my grandfather. Knowing Ms. Ivins lived in Austin, I had tried emailing her to see if she’d be willing to autograph my books, but had not heard back. However, I took the books with me just in case. Stopping to gas up in Austin, I found she was listed in the phone book. I called and although she had company, she invited my father and I to come to her house. We did and had a wonderful visit in which Molly signed all my books. She really did have a heart and spirit as big as all Texas. She will be missed.
I first learned of Molly when I overheard a review of her first book, Molly Ivins Can’t Say That, Can She? on NPR. I was intrigued and laughed out loud over some of the passages in the book describing the Texas legislature. She started her career as a journalist covering Texas politics, and she had a way of phrasing the goings-on to paint vivid and often humorous portraits of the events and personalities. She eventually became a nationally syndicated columnist covering national politics. I read her columns as often as I could and bought her books as each would come out.
She, and Lou Dubose, a colleague from the Texas Observer, co-wrote two previous books together: Shrub: The Short but Happy Political Life of George W. Bush, which covered his career through his governorship of Texas, and Bushwacked: Life in George W. Bush’s America, covering his career as President. Both of these books focus on Bush and his band of renown pointing out the mistakes, misstatements, and misuse of power. The current book, Bill of Wrongs, although an indictment of the Bush administration’s policies involving the War on Terror, is more a collection of people’s stories. In particular, people unjustly treated by the programs Bush’s administration put into effect, usually with the assistance of Congress. Most of these stories involve the Patriot Act and other results from the attack on 9-11.
The book opens with the story of Nicole and John Rank, who decided to protest the war in Iraq during a Bush speech on July 4, 2004. They had tickets for the speech, but the tickets were revoked and they were imprisoned. Although freed, they still faced criminal charges and a trial. This also impacted Nicole’s job at FEMA. Their problems and their legal battles provide a real eye-opener for the cause of “free speech” in America. The second chapter looks at the creation of free speech zones in communities, especially Crawford TX, Bush’s adopted hometown. These zones are created to control protests, and often are far removed from speech sites. Chapter Three looks at the rights of the media in protecting sources.
Chapter Four, although about the Establishment Clause and the presence of religion in our lives, specifically focuses on the battle over the introduction of Intelligent Design in the science curriculum at a high school in Dover PA. The eventual case, Tammy Kitzmiller, et. al. v. Dover Area School District, et. al. became a landmark trial in the movement to discredit evolution and introduce Intelligent Design, a euphemism for creationism, into schools. The judge, a Bush appointee, ruled against the school district and went further in declaring that Intelligent Design is not science. This fight will not, of course, go away. In fact, this case has been the subject of a recent PBS Nova program: Intelligent Design on Trial.
Other chapters include stories of people subject to secret searches by the FBI without warrants, librarians who are required to turn over records of books checked out and then forbidden to tell anyone that this had happened, treatment and confinement of prisoners in Guatanamo Bay, and surveillance and warrantless wiretaps. All of these issues should concern us. In giving up a little of our freedom for security, we may be traveling down a road to a land of fear that becomes a police state. This is not what we want, I’m sure.
I am reminded of a commentary that comedian, George Carlin, made when I saw him on November 3, 2007. In discussing rights, he said he felt either we had no rights or a right to anything. In this context, he was particularly concerned with whether our rights are God-given. He felt we should be free to do anything we wanted. He definitely did not think we had any God-given rights. And in this I agree. However, we do have certain rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution. The reason for the Bill of Rights, and eventually the other amendments, is to prevent the Federal, and, through the 14th Amendment (depending on Supreme Court interpretation), State Governments from taking those rights away. These are man-given rights. Unfortunately, that does mean that men can take them away. I think the overall point of this book is that it is up to each of us to make sure that doesn’t happen. And, in particular, during times of crisis, we should be even more vigilant in securing and protecting these rights.
This is a relatively short book filled with stories of people caught in the Government’s fight over the War on Terror, the first amendment and religion. I found it to be a very quick read. In many ways, it reminded me of another book, by Nat Hentoff, a writer about jazz, but also our rights. His book, Living the Bill of Rights, published in 1998 also consists of stories of people who fought the Government. Another book by Hentoff, The War on the Bill of Rights and the Gathering Resistance, deals specifically with the effect of the Patriot Act. If the reader is interested in this topic, these books would be wonderful additions to Bill of Wrongs. I highly recommend Bill of Wrongs, both as a collection of cautionary tales and as a legacy to the person Molly was.
A final story: As I mentioned earlier, I first heard of Molly Ivins when her first book was published in 1991. I kept up with her career through her columns; her second book, Nothin’ but Good Times Ahead; her third book, You Got To Dance With Them What Brung You; Shrub: The Short but Happy Political Life of George W. Bush along with her other works. In March, 2000, I was on my way to San Antonio TX with my father to see my grandfather. Knowing Ms. Ivins lived in Austin, I had tried emailing her to see if she’d be willing to autograph my books, but had not heard back. However, I took the books with me just in case. Stopping to gas up in Austin, I found she was listed in the phone book. I called and although she had company, she invited my father and I to come to her house. We did and had a wonderful visit in which Molly signed all my books. She really did have a heart and spirit as big as all Texas. She will be missed.
February 24, 2013
"Throughout her long career of 'afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted,' the cause closest to Molly Ivins heart was working to protect the freedoms we all value. Sadly, today we're living in a time when dissent is equated with giving aid to terrorists, when any of us can be held in prison without even knowing the charges against us, and when our constitutional rights are being interpreted by a president who calls himself 'The Decider.'
"Ivins got the idea for Bill of Wrongs while touring America to honor her promise to speak out, gratis, at least once a month in defense of free speech. In her travels Ivins met ordinary people going to extraordinary measures to safeguard our most precious liberties, and when she first started writing this book she intended it to be a joyous celebration of those heroes. But during the Bush years, the project's focus changed. Ivins became concerned about threats to our cherished freedoms -- the Patriot Act, the weakening of habeas corpus -- and she observed with anger how dissent in the defense of liberties was being characterized as treason by the Bush administration and its enablers.
"From illegal wiretaps, the unlawful imprisonment of American citizens, and the undermining of freedom of the press to the creeping influence of religious extremism on our national agenda and the erosion of the checks and balances that prevent a president from seizing unitary powers, Ivins and her long-time collaborator, Lou Dubose, co-author of Shrub and Bushwhacked, describe the attacks on America's vital constitutional guarantees. With devastating humor and keen eyes for deceit and hypocrisy, they show just how severe these incursions have become, and they ask us all to take an active role in protecting the Bill of Rights.
"In life and on the printed page, Molly Ivins was too cool to offer a poshumous valedictory (or even take a victory lap for her many triumphs over inane, vainglorious, and addlepated politicos). But in Bill of Wrongs, her final and perhaps greatest book, the irrepressible Molly Ivins really does have the last word."
~~front flap
This book was harder to read than some of her others were. Her wickedly devastating sense of humor isn't as prevalent as it usually was. Which was probably a wise decision -- these accounts of people caught up in the flagrant abuses of power by the Bush Administration after 9/11 are chilling, and should be a wake-up call, and a call to action, for every American citizen. Humor might have detracted from the severity and urgency of these message, or distracted from the message itself. Laughter, especially a good belly laugh, and make you forget what you were doing before it hit. And this is very serious stuff -- so serious that Molly spent her last months on this earth working on this book.
Although there's a temptation to relegate this book to the unimportant history shelf, since the Bush Administration is done now, we should resist the temptation. The policies and mindsets put in place during that era didn't disappear just because Bush retired to Crawford. There are echoes and direct descendents with us today, and in many ways "they" are still trying to take away our freedoms.
But enough political rant. The book is well researched, well written and critically important. As all of Molly's books are.
"Ivins got the idea for Bill of Wrongs while touring America to honor her promise to speak out, gratis, at least once a month in defense of free speech. In her travels Ivins met ordinary people going to extraordinary measures to safeguard our most precious liberties, and when she first started writing this book she intended it to be a joyous celebration of those heroes. But during the Bush years, the project's focus changed. Ivins became concerned about threats to our cherished freedoms -- the Patriot Act, the weakening of habeas corpus -- and she observed with anger how dissent in the defense of liberties was being characterized as treason by the Bush administration and its enablers.
"From illegal wiretaps, the unlawful imprisonment of American citizens, and the undermining of freedom of the press to the creeping influence of religious extremism on our national agenda and the erosion of the checks and balances that prevent a president from seizing unitary powers, Ivins and her long-time collaborator, Lou Dubose, co-author of Shrub and Bushwhacked, describe the attacks on America's vital constitutional guarantees. With devastating humor and keen eyes for deceit and hypocrisy, they show just how severe these incursions have become, and they ask us all to take an active role in protecting the Bill of Rights.
"In life and on the printed page, Molly Ivins was too cool to offer a poshumous valedictory (or even take a victory lap for her many triumphs over inane, vainglorious, and addlepated politicos). But in Bill of Wrongs, her final and perhaps greatest book, the irrepressible Molly Ivins really does have the last word."
~~front flap
This book was harder to read than some of her others were. Her wickedly devastating sense of humor isn't as prevalent as it usually was. Which was probably a wise decision -- these accounts of people caught up in the flagrant abuses of power by the Bush Administration after 9/11 are chilling, and should be a wake-up call, and a call to action, for every American citizen. Humor might have detracted from the severity and urgency of these message, or distracted from the message itself. Laughter, especially a good belly laugh, and make you forget what you were doing before it hit. And this is very serious stuff -- so serious that Molly spent her last months on this earth working on this book.
Although there's a temptation to relegate this book to the unimportant history shelf, since the Bush Administration is done now, we should resist the temptation. The policies and mindsets put in place during that era didn't disappear just because Bush retired to Crawford. There are echoes and direct descendents with us today, and in many ways "they" are still trying to take away our freedoms.
But enough political rant. The book is well researched, well written and critically important. As all of Molly's books are.
June 11, 2008
God I miss Molly Ivins. A very sane person who knew the importance of just-the-facts reporting, but who was also enough of a stylist who could make you chuckle while you were shaking your head in disbelief.
The first sentence of the book says it all: "I set out to write this book as a cheerful and joyous tribute to all the heroes I have met over all the years, the folks who make the Bill of Rights more than just dead words on an old parchment." This is a collection of reports on the front lines of the battles for the constitution, and even if you are familiar with them, some of the dispatches are will make you shake your head in amazement.
Here are the cases (plural) of people arrested for holding up a banner within a no-protesting zone, not to mention the fellow who had simply walked by the people with the banner. Here are also the librarians who were handed a warrant so secret that challenging it would violate the secrecy laws. Here is the fellow arrested for having a fingerprint found in Spain, despite never having been in Spain (the FBI's reasoning to bridge this disconnect is precisely the sort of tinfoil hat logic that you'd expect).
Here also is the Dover "Intelligent Design" case, with a cast of characters that range from then-Senator Santorum, Tom Monaghan, The Thomas More Law Center, the Discovery Institute, and a particularly illuminating example of how crazy people who shout a lot can make an environment so toxic that they drive away more reasonable people, leaving them in control. (Because Ivins and Dubose do their homework and conducted interviews with the people there, and consequently can name names, this becomes pretty entertaining in an appalling sort of way).
The final chapter, the most outrageous, covers abuses at Guantanamo and the people who tried to get it to stop, not just for the innocent (the case of Murat Kuranz hung on a mistranslation) but also for the probably guilty, who don't need to be tortured to determine their guilt.
Although this could have been a seriously depressing book, Ivins focuses on the people who fought these injustices, the people who were willing to risk arrest, lawyers who worked pro bono, judges who found the laws to be guilty of overreach. All of them are mentioned -- when they can (there are still a couple of John Doe librarians).
This is an important book, not only to offset the talking heads who blithely reassure us that these laws would never be abused, but to celebrate the people who stood up to them.
---
footnote: When I first entered this book on my list, Goodreads had left off one of the co-authors, and the title was significantly altered. Dubose's name is now on, but the subtitle is still wrong and should read "The Executive Branch's Assault On America's Fundamental Rights"
The first sentence of the book says it all: "I set out to write this book as a cheerful and joyous tribute to all the heroes I have met over all the years, the folks who make the Bill of Rights more than just dead words on an old parchment." This is a collection of reports on the front lines of the battles for the constitution, and even if you are familiar with them, some of the dispatches are will make you shake your head in amazement.
Here are the cases (plural) of people arrested for holding up a banner within a no-protesting zone, not to mention the fellow who had simply walked by the people with the banner. Here are also the librarians who were handed a warrant so secret that challenging it would violate the secrecy laws. Here is the fellow arrested for having a fingerprint found in Spain, despite never having been in Spain (the FBI's reasoning to bridge this disconnect is precisely the sort of tinfoil hat logic that you'd expect).
Here also is the Dover "Intelligent Design" case, with a cast of characters that range from then-Senator Santorum, Tom Monaghan, The Thomas More Law Center, the Discovery Institute, and a particularly illuminating example of how crazy people who shout a lot can make an environment so toxic that they drive away more reasonable people, leaving them in control. (Because Ivins and Dubose do their homework and conducted interviews with the people there, and consequently can name names, this becomes pretty entertaining in an appalling sort of way).
The final chapter, the most outrageous, covers abuses at Guantanamo and the people who tried to get it to stop, not just for the innocent (the case of Murat Kuranz hung on a mistranslation) but also for the probably guilty, who don't need to be tortured to determine their guilt.
Although this could have been a seriously depressing book, Ivins focuses on the people who fought these injustices, the people who were willing to risk arrest, lawyers who worked pro bono, judges who found the laws to be guilty of overreach. All of them are mentioned -- when they can (there are still a couple of John Doe librarians).
This is an important book, not only to offset the talking heads who blithely reassure us that these laws would never be abused, but to celebrate the people who stood up to them.
---
footnote: When I first entered this book on my list, Goodreads had left off one of the co-authors, and the title was significantly altered. Dubose's name is now on, but the subtitle is still wrong and should read "The Executive Branch's Assault On America's Fundamental Rights"
September 3, 2020
Over a decade old and this still holds up as a blood boiling depiction of the strip mining of our civil liberties. Among other things, an examination of the patriot act as a singular document where a frightened United States populous agreed to the Faustian bargain of giving up many of their privacy rights for safety. In the hope that post 9/11 it would make them safer. However, the agencies given this newfangled power and many growing pains that resulted in the infringement in developing of new norms around what is acceptable for the treatment of their citizens
December 24, 2007
If nothing else, this book is worth getting as a thank you and tribute to the life of the fabulous Molly Ivins. Ivins, who died of cancer in January 2007 cared passionately about the idea of America and the lives of Americans. She was frequently appalled by what she saw around her, yet never lost her faith in the system and in the good mass of folks out there to make the system work. She also never lost her sense of humor or appreciation for the irony of life.
Fortunately, there is ample reason to read Ivins' last book (co-authored with frequent collaborator Lou Dubose) on its own merits. With Ivins and Dubose's characteristic straightforward prose style, liberally infused with a bone-dry wit, Bill of Wrongs chronicles the Bush Administration's ongoing utter disregard for the Constitution, particularly the protections afforded to everyday folks by the Bill of Rights.
A short book and a quick read, this would be a good alternative to the more analytical John Dean books addressing a similar subject matter for those wanting to be informed and scared in a more homespun voice.
Fortunately, there is ample reason to read Ivins' last book (co-authored with frequent collaborator Lou Dubose) on its own merits. With Ivins and Dubose's characteristic straightforward prose style, liberally infused with a bone-dry wit, Bill of Wrongs chronicles the Bush Administration's ongoing utter disregard for the Constitution, particularly the protections afforded to everyday folks by the Bill of Rights.
A short book and a quick read, this would be a good alternative to the more analytical John Dean books addressing a similar subject matter for those wanting to be informed and scared in a more homespun voice.
November 3, 2008
Frightening and infuriating. Beyond the poignancy of knowing, while reading this book, that Molly Ivins had died of cancer just as it was being completed, the feeling that came through over and over was anger and disgust at the Bush administration's absolute contempt for the Constitution, the rule of law, human rights, human life, and any shred of integrity or decency.
The authors show, in a way that is thorough, systematic, and eloquent, that George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and the people they brought into government with them are a far greater threat to America than Al Qaeda or any foreign country. Bush insists that the terrorists of 9/11 attacked the U.S. because "they hate our freedom." Well, the evidence proves overwhelmingly that whatever motivates the Islamic fundamentalists who attacked us, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Ashcroft, Gonzales, Rice, and our own homegrown "Christian" fundamentalists definitely hate our freedom and have worked to destroy it, using methods that qualify them to be called terrorists in their own right.
Read this book.
The authors show, in a way that is thorough, systematic, and eloquent, that George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and the people they brought into government with them are a far greater threat to America than Al Qaeda or any foreign country. Bush insists that the terrorists of 9/11 attacked the U.S. because "they hate our freedom." Well, the evidence proves overwhelmingly that whatever motivates the Islamic fundamentalists who attacked us, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Ashcroft, Gonzales, Rice, and our own homegrown "Christian" fundamentalists definitely hate our freedom and have worked to destroy it, using methods that qualify them to be called terrorists in their own right.
Read this book.
February 3, 2017
Although the events used as examples happened some years ago, this book maintains its relevance.
Molly looks at the issues of freedom of speech, especially in the areas of public protests, and cites cases where the government got a bit too zealous in suppressing dissent and/or criticism of the President; the draconian applications of the Patriot Act with respect to spying on those suspected of terrorism or ties to terrorists (wiretapping, searches without warrants, Kafka-esque laws that don't allow the accused to be informed of accusations and/or evidence against him, other abuses); the use of "black sites" for interrogation and torture of suspected terrorists; and the efforts of fundamentalists to force the study of creationism ("intelligent design") in a small Pennsylvania school district.
Recommended for the politically aware - the issues discussed in this book still concern Americans today.
Molly looks at the issues of freedom of speech, especially in the areas of public protests, and cites cases where the government got a bit too zealous in suppressing dissent and/or criticism of the President; the draconian applications of the Patriot Act with respect to spying on those suspected of terrorism or ties to terrorists (wiretapping, searches without warrants, Kafka-esque laws that don't allow the accused to be informed of accusations and/or evidence against him, other abuses); the use of "black sites" for interrogation and torture of suspected terrorists; and the efforts of fundamentalists to force the study of creationism ("intelligent design") in a small Pennsylvania school district.
Recommended for the politically aware - the issues discussed in this book still concern Americans today.
February 1, 2008
In 2001 a man carrying a sign saying "Welcome Governor Bush" was arrested for standing on a public sidewalk in view of the newly-installed president's motorcade. This incident happened on the campus of my alma mater, Western Michigan University. I remember vaguely hearing about it at the time, and dismissed it as Republican bullshit I don't agree with but can't do anything about. It took Molly Ivins' book to put things in perspective: this was an outrageous violation of the right to free speech, and it's part of a deliberate pattern of intimidation and oppression. I ignored it because the government has gotten to me, too - a hopeless population does not resist. I still feel helpless to do something about it, but Ivins' stories of ordinary people standing up to government is inspiring me to try.
August 9, 2009
Man, I hate the fact that Molly Ivins is now dead. She was half the reason I kept my subscription to the paper when I lived in Chicago, and this book reminds me why. It's terrifying; it's funny; it makes me want to go out there and become a judge so I can fix everything, but frankly I'm not that good. It does, however, make me want to be damned sure I have a lawyer who's in the habit of calling up every month just to be sure I haven't been thrown in the brig for associating with Pakistanis who know other Pakistanis who know other Pakistanis. Or Iraqis, or Iranians, or whoever else we're mad at a few years from now. Frightening stuff, amazing reporting, and just enough laughter to keep you from weeping. I miss you, Molly Ivins. I'm glad you cranked this one out before you gave up the ghost.
August 23, 2010
I adore Molly Ivins' writing. Sadly, she passed away in 2007, and this is her last book. As always, her sharp wit allowed me to actually enjoy reports of the unbelievably horrible (and unconstitutional and illegal) behavior by government officials over the past 10 years. Ivins is openly, and hilariously, critical of George W. Bush (aka Dub-ya and Shrub) and his administration, and for good reason; I won't to into the specifics because you can read them and become outraged on your own. Read, be appalled, and enjoy!
NOTE: I didn't listen to the audio CD, so I can't comment on whether the narration is good or whatever. This is just the edition that came up on the Goodreads list and I don't know how to change it. I read the paperback edition and it was swell.
NOTE: I didn't listen to the audio CD, so I can't comment on whether the narration is good or whatever. This is just the edition that came up on the Goodreads list and I don't know how to change it. I read the paperback edition and it was swell.
April 16, 2016
This is the last book that Molly Ivins wrote. She died before it was completed. It is definitely written in a tone different from her previous books, more serious and without some of the humor that I learned to anticipate. But the subject of this book is clearly more serious - the subtitle is "The executive branch's assault on America's fundamental rights." There are eight chapters describing prosecutions of citizens by an overwhelming government (local/federal). The prosecutions were chilling in their disregard of citizen rights and the malice behind them. The current Republican primary campaigns (early 2016) seem to reflect similar attitudes and fears.
June 22, 2009
I love Molly Ivins, and she will be sorely missed. This book was her last, but perhaps her most important. It just goes to show us that, as we should know, Democracy is hard work, and requires vigilance from its defenders. We must never forget how dangerous it is to allow people to convince us to sacrifice our basic tenets for any reason. They are what makes us who we are, and our failure to protect them debases our people, our country and our Constitution. I just hope there are others who can do as good a job as Molly Ivins has done reminding us of that fact.
September 10, 2010
I always give Molly Ivins 5 stars because her writing is hilarious and though-provoking and because she questions authority at every turn. And by "authority", I mean G.W. Bush (or Shrub, as she sweetly refers to him). These are well-researched essays on recent violations of our Constitutional rights by the national government, usually aided by local government representatives playing various roles. Ms. Ivins passed away before the book was published, but her co-author brought it to completion. Read it, laugh, and become outraged.
March 4, 2016
One last shot from Molly Ivins, friend of the dispossed, champion of the Bill of Rights, enemy of wealth, power, zealotry and just plain jackassedness. She and Lou Dubose chronicle some of the more egregious violations of the Constitution that Bush and Cheney have engaged in. It reads like a bill of charges for impeachment, only more entertaining.
If you've picked up this book, you probably already know about most of the cases in it, but it would make a good gift for well intentioned but unenlightened friends.
If you've picked up this book, you probably already know about most of the cases in it, but it would make a good gift for well intentioned but unenlightened friends.
September 7, 2008
Is it possible for a book to be both delightful and depressing? I like Molly Ivins and am sad that I discovered her so shortly before her death, but this book is downright sad. I mean, it's snarky and fun, but given the terrible consequences of the injustices she describes in the book, I can't say that I "enjoyed" reading it. You should probably read it anyway though. Just cause. And then vote in Nov.
March 17, 2008
One of her best and tragically, her last--she will be missed terribly since she did such a wonderful job keeping an eye on political misdeeds. This one traces the many ways our civil liberties are being undermined by this administration. The most memorable story concerns textbooks and "The Battle of the Bulge"--you'll have to read it for yourself.
June 21, 2008
Beware! I put this book down after reading the introduction.
I can imagine our first amendment rights have been violated by more then the present President. Or may be not. I don't really know yet.
However, this book written by a Liberal, (which would be ok I guess) uses what we call in our family garbage talk. I'm not reading a book with profanity.
I can imagine our first amendment rights have been violated by more then the present President. Or may be not. I don't really know yet.
However, this book written by a Liberal, (which would be ok I guess) uses what we call in our family garbage talk. I'm not reading a book with profanity.
October 25, 2008
Oh, Molly Ivins, I miss you and your witty insights practically every day. This book is another reminder of what the world lost in January 2007. Fairly frightening stories balanced with humor and strong inspiration to fight all efforts to take away our constitutional rights. Brilliant as always, Ms. Ivins.
February 12, 2009
concise overview of specific examples of the bush administration's encroachment on our rights. the authors not only give examples but include the context of exactly WHY the "loyal bushies" (as they call them) acted unconstitutionally. the most chilling example to me was one man's five year stint at guantanamo for being muslim.
January 15, 2009
Lou Dubose is my father. He's co-written three books with Molly Ivins. Tragically, he had to write all of this book save the intro because Molly was dying of breast cancer and has since passed away.
Molly Ivins was an amazing writer, friend and human being. I wish that she'd been able to collaborate more on "Bill Of Wrongs" than she did. That said, this is my father's finest work to date.
Molly Ivins was an amazing writer, friend and human being. I wish that she'd been able to collaborate more on "Bill Of Wrongs" than she did. That said, this is my father's finest work to date.
March 25, 2010
Oh Molly, how we miss you. This book, despite as much humor as possible, is horrifying. It's preaching to the choir of course, but this choir is appalled anew at the Bush abuse. I was surprised to be reminded she died in 2007 -- could have sworn it was just last year or so. Wish she'd lived to see Obama elected. Anyway, if you're a Molly Ivans fan, read this. I've got a copy.
April 16, 2012
A true tragedy that Ms Ivins passed away, her wit will be missed. This is a systematic study of the abuses of power under the reign of George W. Bush. It is amazing how the very people who think we have a tryanny under Obama supported the very thing under Bush. Can you say hypocrite? This book is full of a totally comical irony that would be a lot funnier if it wasn't so true.
March 13, 2013
Although this is not a new account, Bill of Wrongs is good place to start examining how the US government has eroded the Bill of Rights. Ivins and Dubose are hardly on the right but they raise the same alarms that Republicans make about loss of freedoms - admittedly using different data. In the age of drones, this is an important topic.
June 16, 2017
good book covering Bush administration violations - also interesting material on James Comey, further suggesting his being on the side of the angels vs Drumpf.
I wish all these problems had ended after Bush left office, but alas, there is a lot of work to be done restoring US freedoms.
I wish all these problems had ended after Bush left office, but alas, there is a lot of work to be done restoring US freedoms.
July 6, 2018
This was not an enjoyable book to read as it documented the lengths elected and appointed government officials of all levels will go to to advance their idea of the common good with little or no regard for the law. For in my opinion it is only through law that this nation can achieve and maintain greatness.
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