Posted on 02/16/2008 7:27:21 PM PST by jdm
In his radio address today, President Bush blasted the House Democrats for failing to extend the Protect America Act that authorizes terrorist surveillance.
Good morning. At the stroke of midnight tonight, a vital intelligence law that is helping protect our nation will expire. Congress had the power to prevent this from happening, but chose not to.
The Senate passed a good bill that would have given our intelligence professionals the tools they need to keep us safe. But leaders in the House of Representatives blocked a House vote on the Senate bill, and then left on a 10-day recess.
Some congressional leaders claim that this will not affect our security. They are wrong. Because Congress failed to act, it will be harder for our government to keep you safe from terrorist attack. At midnight, the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence will be stripped of their power to authorize new surveillance against terrorist threats abroad. This means that as terrorists change their tactics to avoid our surveillance, we may not have the tools we need to continue tracking them — and we may lose a vital lead that could prevent an attack on America.
In addition, Congress has put intelligence activities at risk even when the terrorists don’t change tactics. By failing to act, Congress has created a question about whether private sector companies who assist in our efforts to defend you from the terrorists could be sued for doing the right thing. Now, these companies will be increasingly reluctant to provide this vital cooperation, because of their uncertainty about the law and fear of being sued by class-action trial lawyers.
For six months, I urged Congress to take action to ensure this dangerous situation did not come to pass.
Andrew McCarthy has more: When the Clock Strikes Midnight, We Will Be Significantly Less Safe.
>>“The president could have sold me on it by promising the act would never be used to spy on American citizens with out constitutional protections. As it is, I don’t trust the government enough right now to see this authorized.”
Interesting logic. I believe in the constitution and want it upheld and therefore you call me a communist.
There seems to be two conflicting views on this thread. Those who are genuinely concerned over extraconstitutional powers concentrated in the executive especially in light of the virtual blind eye to the MASSIVE illegal alien problem, and those who buy into the hyperventilating finger pointing Mutt and Jeff routine that is our current political party system. I personally have a very difficult time believing that our very national existence hangs in the balance by a single piece of legislation, when the southern border with the narco-terrorist nation of Mexico might as well be a 2000 mile long welcome mat. Doesn’t compute.
pinko/s<<
Interesting logic. I believe in the constitution and want it upheld and therefore you call me a communist.
My apologies. Next time I will post the traditional (sarcasm) tag rather than the /s as apparantly you missed it.
If the President had any gumption, he’d have named names.
Or rather, one name: Nancy Pelosi.
The votes are there in the House to pass this bill inn the Senate’s version, but “Stretch” won’t let it come to a vote.
Her irrational hatred of the President will be our country’s downfall.
Sorry, but that is not true. I wish it was. Go read the speech. The words Democrat or Democrats appear nowhere in the speech.
President Bush referred to "the Congress" several times but he never leveled a charge at the Democrats.
And he should have.
>>pinko/s<<
Interesting logic. I believe in the constitution and want it upheld and therefore you call me a communist.
My apologies. Next time I will post the traditional (sarcasm) tag rather than the /s as apparantly you missed it.<<
It sounds like I’m the one who should apologize -looking back you should not have needed the tag. I’m sorry I misunderstood.
>>There seems to be two conflicting views on this thread. Those who are genuinely concerned over extraconstitutional powers concentrated in the executive especially in light of the virtual blind eye to the MASSIVE illegal alien problem, and those who buy into the hyperventilating finger pointing Mutt and Jeff routine that is our current political party system. I personally have a very difficult time believing that our very national existence hangs in the balance by a single piece of legislation, when the southern border with the narco-terrorist nation of Mexico might as well be a 2000 mile long welcome mat. Doesn’t compute.<<
There is also a short term versus longer term concern.
In the short run, cheap illegal immigrant labor is tempting much like the security of having the government monitor all our phone calls and bank records.
But over time those illegal immigrants have great costs and great risks and I remember previous government excesses. How many Ruby Ridges and Wacos will there be when future administrations have access to everything we say and do in private?
I understand the temptation to take a short term view but we do so at a long term peril.
“It sounds like I’m the one who should apologize -looking back you should not have needed the tag. I’m sorry I misunderstood.”
No problem, have a great day.
You got that right. I have nothing but contempt for these insane nitwits. My biggest regret is that our side refuses to aggressively go after these traitors. There is nothing good about a RAT.
Absolutely. The Republicans should have the Dems so on the ropes they can't see daylight.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.