# John Ashcroft/Jonathan Turley **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 21, 2002, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842 "2002-08-21T02:12:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Merena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@Merena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merena)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/1 "2002-08-21T02:12:09Z")
One of the current stories making the rounds is the one that attributes Attorney General John Ashcroft with wanting to bring back internment camps for US citizens. The piece, written by Jonathan Turley and published in the Aug. 14 L.A. Times, makes reference to Ashcrofts views on the subject, but in checking the usual sources (Urban Legends, Google, etc., etc., ) I can see only references to Turley’s article itself, not the truth or fiction of whether Ashcroft really said what Turley has attributed to him. Can anyone shed some light on this important issue? Thank you, Sincerely, Ken Merena ---
**Author:** ![Merena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@Merena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merena)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/2 "2011-10-25T00:06:55Z")
Since I posted this question and never got a reply, I have had much time to examine the issue. Time has told us that it was a bogus claim and over the intervening years, I have also learned that most of the hysteria that we see on this score----------------- is just uninformed internet speculation. The lunatic fringe has revived this issue and are claiming that the internment camps are a reality today based on the introduction of HB 645 in the previous congress. The bill was never passed out of committee and yet they rant about it as if the camps are just waiting for civil unrest to develop before Obama puts them into use. Kenneth A. Merena ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/3 "2011-10-25T00:18:00Z")
I wasn’t exactly a fan of Ashcroft as Attorney General, but given[his reaction to the domestic surveilance plan](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/15/AR2007051500864.html) I wouldn’t jump on the lunatic fringe bandwagon, either. ---
**Author:** ![Merena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@Merena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merena)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/4 "2011-10-25T03:36:30Z")
I agree with you, Kunilou. When Ashcroft was in office, I thought he was the worst AG since John Mitchell, but then along came Gonzales and he was even worse. Now we have Eric Holder and he’s the worst of the lot. Glad I moved out of the country. Kenneth Merena ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/5 "2011-10-25T08:02:53Z")
From the Alaska Mental Health bill of 1956 to the closed military bases of the past two decades, the fringes of Left & Right have been claiming that the Powers That Be are just a step away from shipping dissidents to the camps. Some are supposedly being fitted up with mass gas chambers & even guillotines. Oh boy! ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/6 "2011-10-25T08:10:59Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > From the Alaska Mental Health bill of 1956 to the closed military bases of the past two decades, the fringes of Left & Right have been claiming that the Powers That Be are just a step away from shipping dissidents to the camps. Some are supposedly being fitted up with mass gas chambers & even guillotines. Oh boy! > **[Alaska Mental Health Enabling Act | Controversy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Mental_Health_Enabling_Act#Controversy)** > > In December 1955, a small anti-communist women's group in Southern California, the American Public Relations Forum (APRF), issued an urgent call to arms in its monthly bulletin. It highlighted the proposed text of the Alaska Mental Health Bill, calling it "one that tops all of them". The bulletin writers commented: "We could not help remembering that Siberia is very near Alaska and since it is obvious no one needs such a large land grant, we were wondering if it could be an American Siberia." The... > **[The Evidence: Debunking FEMA Camp Myths](https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a12805/4312850/)** > > PM editor-in-chief James Meigs recently appeared on Glenn Beck's FOX news program to debunk conspiracy theories regarding supposed "concentration camps" being built by the Federal Emergency Managem... ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/7 "2011-10-25T08:16:37Z")
Nine years & you never found anything else on the SDMB worth discussing? Wow! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/8 "2011-10-25T14:27:57Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Nine years & you never found anything else on the SDMB worth discussing? Wow! He was busy packing, apparently. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Merena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@Merena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merena)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/9 "2011-10-25T16:07:13Z")
Gee, Friar Ted, why would it bother you what anyone wanted to discuss on any blog? Are you just one of those busy bodies that needs to meddle into everybody’s business? If you don’t like anything posted, why not just ignore it? Kenneth Merena ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/10 "2011-10-25T16:30:08Z")
> [@Merena](#): > > Gee, Friar Ted, why would it bother you what anyone wanted to discuss on any blog? Are you just one of those busy bodies that needs to meddle into everybody’s business? If you don’t like anything posted, why not just ignore it? If you didn’t want it discussed, why did you post your question on a discussion board? ---
**Author:** ![Merena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@Merena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merena)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/11 "2011-10-26T04:31:20Z")
Telemark, I believe you may have misunderstood, if your comment was directed at me. I’m happy with anyone discussing any aspect of my original question or any of the subsequent comments, including Friar Ted’s comments. Kenneth Merena ---
**Author:** ![Merena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@Merena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merena)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/12 "2011-10-29T19:12:43Z")
Does anybody have an opinion as to whether Holder knew about fast and furious prior to his claimed date of knowledge? Kenneth Merena ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/13 "2011-10-29T22:17:41Z")
The tenor of this thread having changed, let’s move it from GQ to IMHO. **samclem** , Moderator ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/14 "2011-10-29T23:37:25Z")
> [@Merena](#): > > Gee, Friar Ted, why would it bother you what anyone wanted to discuss on any blog? Are you just one of those busy bodies that needs to meddle into everybody’s business? If you don’t like anything posted, why not just ignore it? > > Kenneth Merena Making jokes about zombie threads is deeply ingrained in SDMB culture. Don’t take it personally. ---
**Author:** ![Merena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@Merena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merena)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/15 "2011-10-30T01:34:16Z")
SamClem, I’m confused about your wishes as moderator. Please explain what you would have me do. Kenneth Merena ---
**Author:** ![Merena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@Merena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merena)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/16 "2011-10-30T01:35:29Z")
John Mace, I’m equaly confused about your posting. Could you explain what you mean? What is SDMB culture? Kenneth Merena ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/17 "2011-10-30T02:33:22Z")
> [@Merena](#): > > John Mace, > > I’m equaly confused about your posting. Could you explain what you mean? What is SDMB culture? > > Kenneth Merena I doubt I could define the term “culture” better than a dictionary. As for your question to the moderator, your post #4 was a political opinion, which is frowned upon in GQ. GQ is a place for discussion of facts, not opinions. Also, if you’re unfamiliar with the rules, questions about moderator actions are only allowed in ATMB. ---
**Author:** ![Merena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@Merena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merena)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/18 "2011-10-30T15:07:01Z")
John Mace. Thank you for taking the time to respond to my questions. I can tolerate the frowns you refer to with no problem. Most people are too hung up on ceremony anyway and I doubt my transgressions will be earth shattering. Kenneth Merena ---
**Author:** ![Merena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@Merena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merena)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/19 "2011-11-08T07:27:45Z")
I don’t quite know how to create a new thread to address this, but even here it seems apropos because it is yet another example of the apathy of the citizenry and a government agency run wild. A friend sent me this link: [http://www.unelected.org/audit-of-the-federal-reserve-reveals-16-trillion-in-secret-bailouts](http://www.unelected.org/audit-of-the-federal-reserve-reveals-16-trillion-in-secret-bailouts) The article purports to show that the Fed, under Bernanke, bailed out not only U.S. banks, but foreign banks as well, for a total of 16.5 Trillion dollars, with absolutely no accountability to anyone. I have tried to check this story on all the usual debunking sites to no avail. Does anybody have any insight into this? Kenneth Merena ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-jonathan-turley/124842/20 "2011-11-08T08:32:22Z")
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