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You choose: Civil liberties or safety? by James P. Pinkerton
Newsday ^ | December 29, 2005 | James P. Pinkerton

Posted on 12/29/2005 9:01:59 AM PST by Nicholas Conradin

This will be remembered as the year in which mass surveillance became normal, even popular. Revelations about the Bush administration's domestic eavesdropping rocked the civil liberties establishment, but the country as a whole didn't seem upset. Instead, the American people, mindful of the possible danger that we face, seem happy enough that Uncle Sam is taking steps to keep up with the challenges created by new technology. Ask yourself: Do you think it's a bad idea for the feds, as U.S. News & World Report mentioned, to monitor Islamic sites inside the United States for any possible suspicious radiation leaks?

(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: homelandsecurity; patriotleak; pinkerton; spying
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To: Protagoras

"Do you think the forth amendment is important?"

I used to program in FORTH. I don't think it supports amendments.


81 posted on 12/29/2005 11:14:07 AM PST by MineralMan
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To: FreeReign
Well said.

As already pointed out, and agreed to by the author, it was not well said.

Our Constitution is not a libertarian document.

Actually, most so called "libertarian" principles are the same ones as the constitution's.

82 posted on 12/29/2005 11:14:22 AM PST by Protagoras (If jumping to conclusions was an Olympic event, FR would be the training facility.)
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To: markman46

"are saying that almost every type of Comm is monitored?"

I'm not saying anything, except that I worked there. That's really all I'm allowed to say.


83 posted on 12/29/2005 11:14:49 AM PST by MineralMan
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To: MineralMan

Sorry, I think the reference sailed over my head if it was concerned with computer programming. :^(


84 posted on 12/29/2005 11:16:08 AM PST by Protagoras (If jumping to conclusions was an Olympic event, FR would be the training facility.)
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To: lugsoul
If you don't want Hillary, or someone like her, to have unfettered surveillance capability, then you shouldn't be complacent about this President having it.

It would be reasonable for a CIC -- even Hillary -- to minitor conversations with Al Qaeda without a warrant.

It would be unreasonable for a CIC -- including Hillary -- to monitor other conversations without a warrant.

What's the problem?

85 posted on 12/29/2005 11:16:19 AM PST by FreeReign
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To: jmc813

My civil rights arent hindered so the question is moot.
Do you own firearms?
***

Does the Patriot Act authorize the seizing of citizens' guns? Has the president threatened to do that?


86 posted on 12/29/2005 11:19:33 AM PST by NCLaw441
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To: ATOMIC_PUNK
All the current hullabaloo concerning the so called WOT aside, I think the comment "This will be remembered as the year in which mass surveillance became normal, even popular" has merit.

How many times were you under surveillance so far today?

87 posted on 12/29/2005 11:19:48 AM PST by Protagoras (If jumping to conclusions was an Olympic event, FR would be the training facility.)
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To: Protagoras
As already pointed out, and agreed to by the author, it was not well said.

The above is well said.

Actually, most so called "libertarian" principles are the same ones as the constitution's.

Yes there are libertarian principles in the Constitution. The Constitution is not a libertarian document.

88 posted on 12/29/2005 11:21:03 AM PST by FreeReign
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To: lugsoul

You said: If you don't want Hillary, or someone like her, to have unfettered surveillance capability, then you shouldn't be complacent about this President having it.
***

The problem with this sort of analysis is that most people wouldn't want Hillary to have ANY power, which would support a constitutional amendment eliminating the presidential powers now possessed. How about looking at it from the other end of the barrel-- With what sort of person should we entrust these wide-ranging powers? Not Hillary, not a dem of any kind, save perhaps Zell Miller or Joe Lieberman.


89 posted on 12/29/2005 11:23:24 AM PST by NCLaw441
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To: Protagoras

Sorry. You referred to the "forth" amendment, when you meant the "fourth" amendment. Just a joke.


90 posted on 12/29/2005 11:24:17 AM PST by MineralMan
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To: cvq3842
It's a question of how much liberty, how much security.

No, its a question of living by, and upholding the Constitution, or 'reforming' our system of government so its primary goal ISN'T the protection of INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
91 posted on 12/29/2005 11:26:43 AM PST by hedgetrimmer
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To: FreeReign
The above is well said.

Your opinion is noted about the wording, but I disagree with your opinion. On factual matters, it is also incorrect.

Yes there are libertarian principles in the Constitution.

Right, further, most are.

The Constitution is not a libertarian document.

The following are also true;

The Constitution is not a communist document.
The Constitution is not a fascist document.
The Constitution is not a Republican document.
The Constitution is not a democratic or Democratic document.
The Constitution is not a socialist document.

92 posted on 12/29/2005 11:28:57 AM PST by Protagoras (If jumping to conclusions was an Olympic event, FR would be the training facility.)
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To: brothers4thID

The government protects LIFE LIBERTY and PROPERTY for INDIVIDUALS, as defined by the US Constitution. Your liberty IS infringed, when the government allows itself to infringe on the liberty of others. Your duty as a citizen is to make sure that the government infringes on no one's rights and that the law and justice prevail. Maybe more citizens need to get involved, instead of leaving their 'protection' up to the government.


93 posted on 12/29/2005 11:29:44 AM PST by hedgetrimmer
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To: MineralMan

Oh,,lol,,thanks. I didn't notice it the second time either.


94 posted on 12/29/2005 11:29:59 AM PST by Protagoras (If jumping to conclusions was an Olympic event, FR would be the training facility.)
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To: Beckwith
Onlt the paranoid and criminal need worry.

It is the duty of all citizens to protect the rights of others, just as they expect their rights to be protected. No good citizen should be cavalier about such grave events.
95 posted on 12/29/2005 11:32:03 AM PST by hedgetrimmer
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To: FreeReign
What's the problem? The problem is that you only 'know' what conversations are being monitored without a warrant because someone tells you what is being monitored without a warrant. I'm guessing you probably believe those who claim that only conversations with suspected terrorists are being monitored. You probably believe it because you trust the people telling you that. Would you believe it if Hillary were telling you that?

Oh, for the record, I don't believe it now, either. Someone on behalf of our government - I think it was a guy subbing for McClellan - said that we are only listening in on people with a history of bombing churches, trains and weddings. Well, if there are folks here with that history, I'd hope we'd be getting arrest warrants, not monitoring phone calls without a warrant.

And if everyone being monitored is a bad guy, it is no problem to get a warrant. I'm glad you prefer having a shift supervisor make the call as to who can be monitored and who can't, but the FISA court is about as unobtrusive as due process could possibly be.

96 posted on 12/29/2005 11:32:49 AM PST by lugsoul ("Try not to be sad." - Laura Bush)
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To: hedgetrimmer

I agree that we need to abide by the Constitution, of course.


97 posted on 12/29/2005 11:33:18 AM PST by cvq3842
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To: NCLaw441
"With what sort of person should we entrust these wide-ranging powers?"

No one. The way the Founders intended.

98 posted on 12/29/2005 11:34:26 AM PST by lugsoul ("Try not to be sad." - Laura Bush)
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To: MineralMan

in other words if you told us anything you'd have to kill us. ;)


99 posted on 12/29/2005 11:39:34 AM PST by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
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To: Protagoras
Your opinion is noted about the wording, but I disagree with your opinion. On factual matters, it is also incorrect.

No. I understand your opinion. What you call "facts" is just your opinion. I think your opinion is wrong too.

Yes there are libertarian principles in the Constitution.

Right, further, most are.

The Amendments are libertarian. Most, are the unalienable rights that we hope to best protect. Now look passed the libertarian amendments. See the procedures of the Constition. Now read again the comment by that poster that I responded to.

The comment was well said.

The Constitution is not a libertarian document.

100 posted on 12/29/2005 11:40:36 AM PST by FreeReign
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