Americans Giving Up Their Freedom For Security
In a recent poll, Fifty-three percent of the respondents said they supported eavesdropping without warrants "in order to reduce the threat of terrorism."
The 4th Ammendment and the laws that deal with terrorist threats require that these wiretaps can only be done with probable cause and with a warrant, making them illegal, and placing Bush in violation of his oath of office. He swore to uphold the Constitution of the US, as every President does before taking office.
This is how it all starts. First a leader claims you are in peril. Then he claims you must give up some of your freedom and rights in order for him to protect you. Soon, he extends that a little further, then a little more. Then you find you have given up more than you ever intended and handed over too much power to the government.
According to the poll, 64 percent said they were very or somewhat concerned about losing civil liberties as a result of antiterrorism measures put in place by Mr. Bush since the attacks of Sept. 11. And respondents were more likely to be concerned that the government would enact strong antiterrorism laws that excessively restrict civil liberties than they were that the government would fail to enact antiterrorism laws.
I'm more concerned that 36% of Americans are NOT concerned about losing their civil liberties. These are American Citizens who do not know the meaning of being an American Citizen.
One example cited by the NY Times, Donnis Wells, 69, a Republican from Florence, Miss., said: "I don't think civil liberties are the more important thing we need to handle right now. I think we need to protect our people."
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." --Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Liberty is always dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have." --Harry Emerson Fosdick
"I prefer liberty with danger to peace with slavery." --Author Unknown
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." --James Madison, speech, Virginia Convention, 1788
"Order without liberty and liberty without order are equally destructive." --Theodore Roosevelt
"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without." --Dwight D. Eisenhower
"If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom." --Dwight D. Eisenhower
By Chris McElroy
More things that just piss me off
The 4th Ammendment and the laws that deal with terrorist threats require that these wiretaps can only be done with probable cause and with a warrant, making them illegal, and placing Bush in violation of his oath of office. He swore to uphold the Constitution of the US, as every President does before taking office.
This is how it all starts. First a leader claims you are in peril. Then he claims you must give up some of your freedom and rights in order for him to protect you. Soon, he extends that a little further, then a little more. Then you find you have given up more than you ever intended and handed over too much power to the government.
According to the poll, 64 percent said they were very or somewhat concerned about losing civil liberties as a result of antiterrorism measures put in place by Mr. Bush since the attacks of Sept. 11. And respondents were more likely to be concerned that the government would enact strong antiterrorism laws that excessively restrict civil liberties than they were that the government would fail to enact antiterrorism laws.
I'm more concerned that 36% of Americans are NOT concerned about losing their civil liberties. These are American Citizens who do not know the meaning of being an American Citizen.
One example cited by the NY Times, Donnis Wells, 69, a Republican from Florence, Miss., said: "I don't think civil liberties are the more important thing we need to handle right now. I think we need to protect our people."
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." --Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Liberty is always dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have." --Harry Emerson Fosdick
"I prefer liberty with danger to peace with slavery." --Author Unknown
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." --James Madison, speech, Virginia Convention, 1788
"Order without liberty and liberty without order are equally destructive." --Theodore Roosevelt
"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without." --Dwight D. Eisenhower
"If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom." --Dwight D. Eisenhower
By Chris McElroy
More things that just piss me off
posted by NameCritic at 9:10 AM
4 Comments:
And I still say you miss the point entirely. The fact is even GW BUSH says he could have gotten a warrant. Then why didn't he do it?
You say special circumstances make it so we have to suspend principles the constitution is based on. I disagree. I believe that the constitution and bill of rights are more important and that a little temporary security does not warrant me giving up any of my rights as a US citizen.
Bush cannot stop terrorist attacks. Isreal has been at it for more years with much of the same technology and a better Intelligence Agency than ours and they can't stop it.
I believe bush has other agendas besides the war on terrorism for his actions. You believe different. Thats ok.
And as far as wanting bush out of office, that is inevitable fortunately.
You mention finding a candidate that can do several things better than bush has.
Nothing could be easier than finding someone who handles healthcare better. The medicare drug program had hidden costs and as you can see hasn't worked out very well and there is still a lot of people without healthcare just like when he took office. no change there.
As far as economy, easy there too. Job creation still slow compared to his projections. Companies still outsourcing jobs at a higher rates than ever. Nothing has been done about NAFTA which I believe cost us jobs. He didn't create it and not saying he did. He just keeps it status quo.
Social Security? Turn it over to Wallstreet? You're kidding right? Even if that were a solution, he can't get it passed, and thats bad for a prez who has never even vetoed one bill.
Balancing the budget was saved for last because it's the funniest thing you said in your post. Bush started with a surplus and put us farther into debt than ANY previous president in the history of the United States.
He increased the size of government not decreased it. You as a republican should be the one pointing that out as a bad thing.
He increased spending, even when you take out all the costs of the war on terror and the war on Iraq, which are still two seperate things no matter how anyone tries to spin it.
I thought republicans were for smaller government and lower spending. You sure bush is one of you?
More things that just piss me off
Orion said "Terrorist suspects are buying pre-paid cell phones in the hundreds and then switching them really fast. So when a warrant comes out to wiretap them, they have switched to a different number and the NSA won't get anything."
Wrong. Think about that statement again. If they bought them, used them once and threw them away, then the NSA still would not have had time to tap the phone warrant or otherwise. Unless of course you think an NSA guy sold them the phone.
Again, Bush's own words. "I could have obtained a warrant, but I don't see the need to do so."
Cheney told republicans this when talking about the issue. "We cannot let constitutional issues get in the way of going after these terrorists."
That is a troubling point of view for a VP to have.
Orion questions me fairly here "You haven't proven Bush's other agendas and you have not proven anything that Bush can be impeached for yet."
I'm going to answer with a question. IF Bush is found to have broken the law on the wiretap issue or on other issues, will you still exhonerate him and excuse it by saying he broke the law "for the right reasons".?
Orion says "I can sense that they are emotional and that you have not done any cognative thinking."
I have obviously done much thinking anbd research if you have truly read my posts. There are many things I could include here on this blog about GW Bush and his family that there is evidence for, but do not because of it's inflammatory nature and the fact that it only goes to background and not directly connected to current events.
Orion said " Just disagreeing with the way someone runs a country is no reason to impeach them."
Breaking the law is. Not upholding the constitution that he took an oath to uphold is. That being said,Bush will not be impeached most likely.
Orion makes an interesting point "That the NSA did nothing more than use probable cause, which is part of the Constitution to do a warrantless search."
That would require some legal research and opinion, that I am not qualified to provide. That is an analogy I hadn't heard yet. Maybe you should email it to bush's speechwriters since they can't seem to explain it as well as you just did.
Orion steps over the line with me here, "Why do you support terrorist suspects,"
Point to a post where I support terrorism or terrorists Orion. If you cannot, I request you retract that part of your statement.
Chris McElroy
Most Wanted Blog
Thank you for the apology Orion. As you said sometimes we get emotional about a topic and words fly.
I'm sorry you find some of my posts inflammatory, but if it makes people think about the issues and post their opinion agreeing or disagreeing then I have done my job well.
As far as arguing about topics, that is part of what makes this country great, not something to be thought of as a bad thing in my honest opinion.
In those countries where everyone is supposed to agree and not speak out against their government, like turkey for example, are not as united as america is although we are allowed to speak out.
We should not give up the things that make this country great just because we got attacked or might again be attacked.
I still believe that we should not alter the way we live to give the terrorists anything to cheer about.
I don't think we should have built a memorial at ground zero. The terrorists view the memorial as a symbol of their victory.
I think we should have rebuilt the towers just as the were before and maybe taller.
That would show them that we can take a punch and not have it affect us for long.
Chris McElroy
http://www.missingchildrenblog.com
Hmmm, if that is such a good argument for the legality of the wiretaps, then why hasn't the bush administration used it?
They cite the war powers act and executive privilege.
Maybe they should hire you. Then of course, you aren't qualified to work for GW.
1. You haven't done him any favors, so he doesn't owe you one.
2. You actually might be qualified.
Chris McElroy
http://www.wholettheblogout.com
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