Conservatism and Fascism

James Joyner responds to my reader email of yesterday. Yes, he's largely right. But the Bush administration's doctrine of executive power, its disregard for the rule of law, its politicization of the Justice Department, its indefinite abridgment of habeas corpus, its deployment of torture against detainees, including an American citizen, are cause for serious concern. I think James agrees. I also like to publish emails that push envelopes. The only seriously fascistic element in this administration is torture, the mark of fascist regimes everywhere. But creeping authoritarianism is absolutely a threat.