Senate Rejects Extension of Patriot Act

[Sonwatcher]

By JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer 12 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The Senate on Friday rejected attempts to reauthorize several provisions of the USA Patriot Act as infringing too much on Americans' privacy and liberty

 

[bandaid kid]

By JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer 12 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The Senate on Friday rejected attempts to reauthorize several provisions of the USA Patriot Act as infringing too much on Americans' privacy and liberty

So now the paranoids wil havve to find something else to get upset with.

73

 

[Highlander_821]

Were the thousands of Americans whose lives were destroyed by Sen. Joseph Mcarthy paranoid?

Were the thousands of anti-war protestors who made it onto Nixon's "enemies list" paranoid?

Today we are now hearing that Bush, in 2002, illegally authorized the NSA to spy on American citizens, in blatant violation of US statutes prohibiting such acts. And the NY Times, that bastion of liberalism, sat on this story for a full year, in the name of "national security." Liars. What a bag of snakes!

That's not paranoia, that's fact. You guys can whistle past the graveyard, and live in your fantasy world, and love up on Bush all you want, you are traitors for supporting his criminal acts.

 

[bandaid kid]

Were the thousands of Americans whose lives were destroyed by Sen. Joseph Mcarthy paranoid?

Were the thousands of anti-war protestors who made it onto Nixon's "enemies list" paranoid?

Today we are now hearing that Bush, in 2002, illegally authorized the NSA to spy on American citizens, in blatant violation of US statutes prohibiting such acts. And the NY Times, that bastion of liberalism, sat on this story for a full year, in the name of "national security." Liars. What a bag of snakes!

That's not paranoia, that's fact. You guys can whistle past the graveyard, and live in your fantasy world, and love up on Bush all you want, you are traitors for supporting his criminal acts.

So where did I write anything regarding Bush? Hmmm???? I don't believe I've written anything pro or con regarding the man and whatever he's done or not done on this forum.

Anyone who does not buy into your beliefs is a traitor, huh? My political beliefs, such as they are, are none of your business and I have absolutely no need to defend them or even state what they are to you. What you think of my beliefs is not anything I'm going to concern myself with.

 

[Highlander_821]

"Anyone who does not buy into your beliefs is a traitor, huh? "

No, I didn't say that. Anyone who supports Bush is a traitor, because he is obviously a criminal.

And just because you haven't specifically said anything about Bush, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know where you are coming from politically from the context of your many posts in this forum, so you can just pipe down with your false indignation. Do you deny that you voted for the man?

 

[C2]

One thing I believe is that the patriot act never affected me directly, nor do I expect it ever would have...unless it stopped another attack.

 

[CHARLEYMARBLES]

So just who did you vote for highlander? Let me guess you voted for the GUN GRABBER gore ? So you would have let yourself be disarmed so the gov. could have just done whatever they wanted to ? think before you speak please.


Chuck

 

[bandaid kid]

"Anyone who does not buy into your beliefs is a traitor, huh? "

No, I didn't say that. Anyone who supports Bush is a traitor, because he is obviously a criminal.

And just because you haven't specifically said anything about Bush, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know where you are coming from politically from the context of your many posts in this forum, so you can just pipe down with your false indignation. Do you deny that you voted for the man?

It's none of your busienss.

 

[Sonwatcher]

Today we are now hearing that Bush, in 2002, illegally authorized the NSA to spy on American citizens, in blatant violation of US statutes prohibiting such acts

Uh oh -

Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005 10:10 p.m. EST

Clinton NSA Eavesdropped on U.S. Calls


During the 1990's under President Clinton, the National Security Agency monitored millions of private phone calls placed by U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries under a super secret program code-named Echelon.

On Friday, the New York Times suggested that the Bush administration has instituted "a major shift in American intelligence-gathering practices" when it "secretly authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on Americans and others inside the United States to search for evidence of terrorist activity without [obtaining] court-approved warrants."

But in fact, the NSA had been monitoring private domestic telephone conversations on a much larger scale throughout the 1990s - all of it done without a court order, let alone a catalyst like the 9/11 attacks.

In February 2000, for instance, CBS "60 Minutes" correspondent Steve Kroft introduced a report on the Clinton-era spy program by noting:

"If you made a phone call today or sent an e-mail to a friend, there's a good chance what you said or wrote was captured and screened by the country's largest intelligence agency. The top-secret Global Surveillance Network is called Echelon, and it's run by the National Security Agency."

NSA computers, said Kroft, "capture virtually every electronic conversation around the world."

Echelon expert Mike Frost, who spent 20 years as a spy for the Canadian equivalent of the National Security Agency, told "60 Minutes" that the agency was monitoring "everything from data transfers to cell phones to portable phones to baby monitors to ATMs."

Mr. Frost detailed activities at one unidentified NSA installation, telling "60 Minutes" that agency operators "can listen in to just about anything" - while Echelon computers screen phone calls for key words that might indicate a terrorist threat.

The "60 Minutes" report also spotlighted Echelon critic, then-Rep. Bob Barr, who complained that the project as it was being implemented under Clinton "engages in the interception of literally millions of communications involving United States citizens."

 

[Highlander_821]

Two wrongs don't make a right, Sonwatcher. I learned that in kindergarten, maybe you were absent the day they taught that?

"Clinton did it too" is not a valid defense for these criminal acts. This is supposed to be a nation of LAWS, not of men. The President is never above the law, under any circumstances, not even if we are in a "War on Terror." Even if a state of war was a justification for this kind of thing, no formal state of war exists, only congress can declare war, and they have not done so. The congressional resolution authorizing use of military force in Iraq was not a formal declaration of war. But like I said, even a formal, declared state of war does NOT vest the power to violate US law in the executive, so this is clearly illegal, unconstitutional, and very, very dangerous.

The treasonous bastard is going to get away with it, but that doesn't make it right.

 

[Sonwatcher]

I didn't say anything about your ignorant assumption. I was just posting that it just came out that Clinton also did the same. Nothing to do with 2 wrongs just added news. You need to tame yourself down and quit jumping to conclusions about other peoples motives.

 

[Highlander_821]

I didn't say anything about your ignorant assumption. I was just posting that it just came out that Clinton also did the same. Nothing to do with 2 wrongs just added news. You need to tame yourself down and quit jumping to conclusions about other peoples motives.

Ahhh, bullsh*t! You neocon bush-lovers always go to the Clinton thing whenever you KNOW your boy is in trouble. To hell with you and your stupid posts, always backing that scumbag.

This has nothing to do with Clinton, so go stuff it, jackass.

 

[Sonwatcher]

Highlander,
You have emotional problems. The news about Clinton was just released. I just shared the news goofball. I personally don't go along with unwarrented eavesdropping. But as far as your imbosile comments I just sit back and wonder if acting like an idiot is something you work at or if it comes naturally. If you can't react with a tone of maturity I think it best to keep your childish comments to yourself.

 

[Peddler]

It's better to be thought a fool,
than to open your mouth and
remove all doubt.

Bum Phillips

 

[Highlander_821]

It's better to be thought a fool,
than to open your mouth and
remove all doubt.

Bum Phillips

Nope, that one was Mark Twain.

I think you just illustrated his point quite well.