Replies

"Congress and Administration that gives me about 75% of what I want, and listen to me on the other 25%"

I can see your point. I am, however, a Libertarian. Watching Bush, who I thought was at least conservative, push forward bills like the Patriot Act --incorporating all of Reno's wish list, like "know your customer" which we defeated during Clinton's admin-- and passed by a Republican Congress are very disconcerting to me.

I see. I guess I can understand it being more then a little favorable to the Libertarian line myself. However, I also understand that in politics you have to give a little to get a little. When I look at the other sides complete disregard for ANY restraint on Government Power (Campaign Finance "reform", Attack on Personals Property Rights, "Gun" Control, Hate Speech codes, Affirmative Actions, "Disability" laws etc etc etc) I find it hard to work up much angst about a war time measure like the Patriot Act crafted to directly address chinks in our national security armor. For example, what possible objection can there be to linking a wiretap directly to a suspect rather then to a particular phone used by the suspect? OR what possible objection can we have to tearing down the Gorelick Wall build during the Clinton Administration years to prevent sharing of information between Intelligence Agencies and Law Enforcement? I understand the need to limit Govt as much as possible, but I also understand the need for that Govt to be able to protect us from people who want to kill us simply because we ARE Americans.

"For example, what possible objection can there be to linking a wiretap directly to a suspect rather then to a particular phone used by the suspect? OR what possible objection can we have to tearing down the Gorelick Wall build during the Clinton Administration years to prevent sharing of information between Intelligence Agencies and Law Enforcement?"

You are a reasoned man. Now I notice you are from MN and I (from NE) just returned from a trip to a friend's home and we shopped till we dropped at IKEA. Hee hee

In response to your question above: Do you recall the statement we used to toss around: "Don't make a federal case out of it"? The upward movement of 'crimes' to the federal level may be necessary in terrorism, but we will live with this for years after terrorism is a forgotten historical fact (God willing).

As the Clinton lovers before us, they passed laws not realizing they would not ALWAYS be in charge. I have always faulted Clinton for not legalizing Marijuana and blame him specifically for the rise in the use of Meth. Prohibition causes the black market to seek easier to make and less likely to detect and more potent products.. ergo METH.. Would you rather have some kids sitting on a creek bank doing Marijuana or Meth?

Okay..