[rdavis84]

"Both the House and the Senate bills grant vast powers to law enforcement that have nothing to do with counter-terrorism."

Any body getting the Drift out there?

[steve50]

The war has already destroyed the Bill Of Rights and the Constitution. But don't worry - nothing going on here- move along. Perhaps we should just go buy something.

[Reagan Man]

Many here on Free Republic believe the Bill of Rights has been under constant attack for the last 225 years and I'm of those who agree with that belief. But no one that I know of, in, or out of government, has any plans to kill rights granted by this portion of the US Constitution. Them's fighting words!

OTOH, if you haven't noticed, America is at war against international terrorism. Certain actions by the federal gov't are necessary in order to obtain the intelligence required to fight the war on terrorism. I for one would rather stretch the limits today and thereby protect our rights, freedoms and liberty in the long term.

BTW, the last time I looked, an individual American's "politics, hobbies, and even sexual orientation", are generally not considered behavior that is consistent with law breaking activities. If you have nothing to hide, then you shouldn't be afraid. Those forces fighting terrorism are looking for sympathizers and supporters who are aligned with subversive groups that engage in espionage and/or sabotage within America's national borders and those defenses of our international interests.

This is no time to over react and allow fear to control our lives.

[Jefferson Adams]

Any body getting the Drift out there?

Yep. The death of America is speeding up.

[Aristophanes]

Yeah I get the drift, but seems to me it's more like a rip-tide.

I've been telling people that America as a Constitutional Republic finally succumbed on Sept. 11, when it was replaced by what will eventually be known as Imperial America.

Sad thing is, I don't see any way around it. Our Constitution, weakened and ignored from a long train of abuses dealt out by tyrants like Lincoln and FDR, just couldn't support us any longer. We are left in a position of grasping the new order and thereby defeating terrorism, or simply expiring with a whimper.

America, 1776-2001. Requiescat in pace.