"Domestic terrorists" in the White House

Bush and Ashcroft are seeking to extend the powers of the Patriot Act. On their wish list is the right to hold suspects without bail and to expand the death penalty to include cases of "domestic terrorism." The definition of the latter is wide open, though, since Section 802 of the existing act defines domestic terrorism as "acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any state" that "appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population." So protesters at abortion clinics or Earth Firsters could be tried--and potentially killed--under these proposed additions. Curiously, it could also be used to define the White House insiders who leaked CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity as "domestic terrorists." My, how those in White House flag-lapel-pin brigade would bristle at that. (Links via Cursor).