Presidents all the same when scandal strikes (Bob Barr turncoat alert)

Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | December 28, 2005 | Bob Barr

[balch3]

Two of the most powerful moments of political déjà vu I have ever experienced took place recently in the context of the Bush administration's defense of presidentially ordered electronic spying on American citizens.

First, in the best tradition of former President Bill Clinton's classic, "it-all-depends-on-what-the-meaning-of-is-is" defense, President Bush responded to a question at a White House news conference about what now appears to be a clear violation of federal electronic monitoring laws by trying to argue that he had not ordered the National Security Agency to "monitor" phone and e-mail communications of American citizens without court order; he had merely ordered them to "detect" improper communications

[balch3]

I don't know what's gotten into Bob Barr.

[jsubstance]

The Constitution? Due process? Ever heard of them?
Bob Barr is right.

[Mr. Mojo]

I don't know what's gotten into Bob Barr.

Nothing new -- the guy joined the ACLU many years ago...

[Phantom Lord]

Johnny Taliban in Afghanistan calling Billy Bomber in Milwaukee to discuss the upcoming bombing of the Sears Tower is to be afforded due process and 4th amendment protection?

[Lockbar]

Perhaps Bob Barr has become the new Smedley Butler of Republican politics.

[jveritas]

The President has the full legal and constitutional right to authorize wire taps of suspected terrorists in the US, citizens or not, and without any warrant. Take your crap to DUmmie Land.

[sabatino28]

Let me ask you this. When you make a call on a cell phone...Is there an expectation of privacy? I do not believe there is as your signal is being transmitted through air for anyone to pick up with a scanner from Radio Shack.

[atomicpossum]

Toupee infection addled his brain?

[weegee]

We shouldn't have cracked Japanese and German codes either?

"Why that's like taking the other team's playbook!"

[jveritas]

I saw your tagline and you are a member and high ranking official of the libertarian party. How can someone be a member of a party that can never win anything? This is an indication of your low political IQ.

[WhiteGuy]

I don't know what's gotten into Bob Barr.

It appears that he has found the courage to get up off of his knees..............................

[COEXERJ145]

Barr went off the deep end a long time ago.

[kcvl]

ACLU - A criminal enterprise.


******


ACLU Announces Collaboration With Rep. Bob Barr; Says Conservative Congressman Will Consult on Privacy Issues (11/25/2002)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON - In a surprise announcement that comes on the heels of news that the outgoing Majority Leader, Richard Armey (R-TX), is considering consulting for the American Civil Liberties Union, the group said today that it also plans to hire conservative firebrand Bob Barr (R-GA) to work on informational and data privacy issues.

"Rep. Barr and the ACLU disagree on many other issues, but we have no doubt that a strange bedfellows collaboration between us will yield great things for informational and data privacy rights," said Laura W. Murphy, Director of the ACLU's Washington Legislative Office.

ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero said that Barr's agreement to work with the ACLU "demonstrates how deeply concerns about personal privacy cut across partisan lines." He noted that the ACLU has "no permanent friendsand no permanent enemies, just permanent values."

"We look forward to working with Congressman Barr in our fight to protect data and information privacy," Romero said.

The ACLU's Murphy said that with both Congress and the White House controlled by the Republican Party, the ACLU must be realistic as it seeks to influence policy in Washington. "If we're going to affect federal policy, we have to have access."

Murphy said Armey and Barr might not be the last of the high-profile hires, adding that the ACLU has been talking to "soon-to-be ex-senators" from both sides of the aisle. "Stay tuned for Democrats and Republicans," she said.

Specifically, the ACLU has been in discussion with Congressman Barr about having him come consult for the civil liberties group in its fight against legislation and public policy enacted after September 11 that violates core conceptions of the right to privacy in America.

Barr would primarily work against controversial "sneak and peek" warrants, which bar simultaneous notification of a search to the person whose premises or possessions are being searched, and other informational privacy issues. The USA PATRIOT Act -- passed in October of 2001 -- facilitated and expanded the use of sneak and peek warrants (also known as "black bag" searches).

The ACLU and Barr found common ground several times during his stint in Congress, including mutual opposition to a national ID, the Justice Department's Carnivore Internet snooping system, the proposed "Know Your Customer" banking regulation, and the controversial Operation TIPS citizen-spy program. Just recently, Barr was able to persuade the House to pass a bill requiring federal agencies to consider the privacy implications of new regulations.

Last week, outgoing Majority Leader Richard Armey (R-TX) told the Associated Press that he too is considering consulting for the ACLU on information and data privacy issues.

[Sister_T]

Yeah. Just ask Mr. Newt when his call to another Republican rep was intercepted and RECORDED by that "doting" little Florida couple who turned over that tape to their DemocRAT rep who then turned it over the New York SLIMES!

Someone reminded Rush of that about a week or two ago.

[neodad]

The MSM and the Dims, and I guess now RINO Barr (probably just bitter because he lost) are counting on the fact that privacy concerning electronics is mostly an illusion. The average American has no idea how open electronic communications are.

[Onelifetogive]

I don't know what's gotten into Bob Barr.

My thoughts (they are worth what you paid for them):

Bush is FAR superior to any Dim on national security, but I don't mind have people to the right of Bush keeping him from moving left. Many of us here on FR are WAY to the Right of most of the GOP. The louder we are the more the GOP will have to move right.

Slamming the GOP for its shortcomings is a fine balancing act. We want to keep it as far right as possible while providing a minimum of ammunition to those on the left.

[TheForceOfOne]

WARRANT HYPOCRISY

http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/60368.htm

Excerpt:
THOSE desperate to undercut a wartime president think they have a real "gotcha" moment with regard to President Bush's decision to allow the National Security Agency to monitor international communications without a warrant. Yet two past presidents allowed warrentless physical searches in domestic situations.

In 1993, the CIA did warrentless searches of the home and office of Aldrich H. Ames — who later pleaded guilty of spying for the old USSR. In 1994, reports the Washington Times, President Clinton authorized warrantless searches to fight crime in public housing projects.

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter's attorney general, Griffin Bell, testified about warrantless searches he and Carter had OK'd against two men suspected of spying for Vietnam.

[jveritas]

Please do not ask him/her any question that requires a political IQ higher than that of a 5 years old kid.

[TXBSAFH]

The truth.

[Blzbba]

"It appears that he has found the courage to get up off of his knees.............................."



He's certainly removed his head from the sand.