President Bush is one of the winners of the 2006 Jefferson Muzzle awards, given by a free-speech group to those it considers the most egregious First Amendment violators in the past year, for his wiretapping program.
Since 1992, the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression has celebrated the birth and ideals of its namesake by calling attention to those who in the past year forgot or disregarded Mr. Jefferson’s admonition that freedom of speech ‘cannot be limited without being lost.’
I’m reminded of two other quotes by the founding fathers:
“Those that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” – Benjamin Franklin
“If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.” - James Madison / 4th president of the USA