My (Republican) roommate came home this evening and told me he was listening to KLBJ 590, a local radio station in Austin, Texas and was distraught to learn that police had ARRESTED people at a KLBJ party (employees' party I believe) which was at a hotel. Some people were drunk and dancing on tables acting very silly. The hotel staff had NOT complained, but the police arrested some of the revelers because the police (paraphrasing here) "had reason to believe that the people they arrested MIGHT do something illegal later in the evening" (such as drunk driving). This was INSIDE the hotel, mind you, and NO ONE was getting into a car.

According to my roommate, when the chief of police was questioned about why this happened he answered, "We did it because we can."

I told my Republican roommate (who is very testy when it comes to defending Republican politics and I have to be careful what I say not to offend his sensibilities) that this kind of thing is happening as a result of the Patriot Act. He disagreed. He said he didn't think Bush would approve of this.

It's all right. The truth will out, and truth endures no matter what. (smile)