August 9, 2006

John Dean

John Dean has the dubious distinction of serving as Nixon's White House counsel during the Watergate crisis.

But, unlike other Nixon loyalists, Dean tried to warn Nixon that something was rotten in Nixonland by telling the commander-in-chief that there was a cancer on his presidency.

In recent years, Dean has emerged as a fair, insightful critic of the Bush Administration. As an attorney, his basis for fault-finding and alarm is the executive branch violations of the rule of law.

Dean writes with credibility and caution. He doesn't jump to conclusions. He looks at the evidence before him and astutely analyzes its legal implications.

His new book, "Conservatives Without Conscience," goes a step further. In it, he awakens us to the threat of a government that is ruled by individuals who are authoritarian in their worldview. This is not true conservatism, he argues, because true conservatism values individual liberty and the Constitution. This is something far more dangerous.

John Dean could have stepped out of the limelight and enjoyed his career and family life. But he didn't because he is a patriot concerned about the future of his country.

He is letting us know how much the rule of law is at risk under the Bush Administration.

For that, he more than deserves this week's BuzzFlash "Wings of Justice Award."

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Nominated by David MacRonald of Graham, NC

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