How did Ayaan Hirsi Ali go from a devout Muslim to a conservative critic of Islam? Can the Democrats restore the liberties we've lost in the Bush era? Is "support our troops" Bush-speak for "don't give them health care"? Read about these stories and more in this issue of Rights & Liberties.

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The Editors

Will Democrats Restore Our Liberties Stolen in the Bush Era?
By Ari Melber, AlterNet
Repealing the Patriot Act, ending warrantless wiretapping, restoring habeas corpus -- have Democratic leaders figured out that these are winning issues in the aftermath of Bush's power grab? Read more »

Fought for America? Bush Still Won't Give You Health Care
By Eric Haas, Rockridge Nation
Subjecting veterans to the profit-maximizing health insurance industry leaves our moral debt unpaid. Read more »

Dissent and War: Judge Blocks Second Trial for Watada; High-School Protesters Face Expulsion
AlterNet
Two tales of protest and punishment during an illegal war. Read more »

Spying Parents: When Worrying Becomes Stalking
By Ellen Goodman, Washington Post Writers Group
New technologies are allowing parents to take watching their children to creepy, new heights. Read more »

Christian Right Threatens to Ditch the GOP If the Nominee Is Like Giuliani
By Rob Boston, Church and State
James Dobson and Religious Right allies threaten to dump the Republican Party if the presidential nominee fails "family values" test. Read more »

A Vote for Mukasey Is a Vote for Torture
By Amy Goodman, King Features Syndicate
If a U.S. citizen, soldier or official were waterboarded somewhere overseas, would Americans hesitate for a moment to call it torture? Read more »

Iraq Vets Banned From Veteran's Day Parade
By Steven Reynolds, The All Spin Zone
If they can't honor Iraq War Veterans, then they need to quit the job of running these parades. Read more »