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Leading Conservatives Call for Extensive Hearings on NSA Surveillance; Checks on Invasive Federal Po
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=59381 ^ | January 17, 2006 | Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances

Posted on 01/18/2006 8:10:29 AM PST by Perlstein

Leading Conservatives Call for Extensive Hearings on NSA Surveillance; Checks on Invasive Federal Powers Essential

1/17/2006 6:36:00 PM

To: National Desk

Contact: Laura Brinker, 202-715-1540, for Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances, laura.brinker@dittus.com

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances (PRCB) today called upon Congress to hold open, substantive oversight hearings examining the President's authorization of the National Security Agency (NSA) to violate domestic surveillance requirements outlined in the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

Former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr, chairman of PRCB, was joined by fellow conservatives Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR); David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union; Paul Weyrich, chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation and Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, in urging lawmakers to use NSA hearings to establish a solid foundation for restoring much needed constitutional checks and balances to intelligence law.

"When the Patriot Act was passed shortly after 9-11, the federal government was granted expanded access to Americans' private information," said Barr. "However, federal law still clearly states that intelligence agents must have a court order to conduct electronic surveillance of Americans on these shores. Yet the federal government overstepped the protections of the Constitution and the plain language of FISA to eavesdrop on Americans' private communication without any judicial checks and without proof that they are involved in terrorism."

The following can be attributed to PRCB members:

"I believe that our executive branch cannot continue to operate without the checks of the other branches. However, I stand behind the President in encouraging Congress to operate cautiously during the hearings so that sensitive government intelligence is not given to our enemies." -- Paul Weyrich, chairman and CEO, Free Congress Foundation

"Public hearings on this issue are essential to addressing the serious concerns raised by alarming revelations of NSA electronic eavesdropping." -- Grover Norquist, president, Americans for Tax Reform

"The need to reform surveillance laws and practices adopted since 9/11 is more apparent now than ever. No one would deny the government the power it needs to protect us all, but when that power poses a threat to the basic rights that make our nation unique, its exercise must be carefully monitored by Congress and the courts. This is not a partisan issue; it is an issue of safeguarding the fundamental freedoms of all Americans so that future administrations do not interpret our laws in ways that pose constitutional concerns." -- David Keene, chairman, American Conservative Union

"If the law is not reformed, ordinary Americans' personal information could be swept into all-encompassing federal databases encroaching upon every aspect of their private lives. This is of particular concern to gun owners, whose rights guaranteed under the Second Amendment are currently being infringed upon under the Patriot Act's controversial record search provisions." -- Alan Gottlieb, founder, Second Amendment Foundation

Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances is an organization dedicated to protecting Americans' fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment and ensuring that all provisions of the Patriot Act are in line with the Constitution. For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.checksbalances.org.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

-0-

/© 2006 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: abramoff; aclu; acu; atr; barr; bobbarr; davidkeene; dojprobe; freecongress; gottlieb; grovernorquist; homelandsecurity; norquist; nsa; nsahearings; patriotleak; spying; weyrich
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To: darkwing104
So you are okay with warrantless wiretaps?

I'm not.

21 posted on 01/18/2006 8:34:07 AM PST by conserv13
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To: narby


"This is a good example of how the MSM makes things happen."

The story has been changed from illegal leaks of a Special Access Program during a time of war to abuse of presidential power.

They had the Dems dead to rights had there been arrests around Christmas. Weak response as usual.


22 posted on 01/18/2006 8:36:29 AM PST by Wristpin ("The Yankees have decided to buy every player in Baseball....")
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To: Perlstein
Former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr, chairman of PRCB, was joined by fellow conservatives Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR); David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union; Paul Weyrich, chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation and Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, in urging lawmakers to use NSA hearings to establish a solid foundation for restoring much needed constitutional checks and balances to intelligence law.

According to Overwhelming FR majority, afore-mentioned are ALL TRAITORS and TERRORIST ENABLERS.

Oh well, once Hitlary Klinton is sweared in, the flaws in 'Partriot-Act' would become obvious to everyone.
23 posted on 01/18/2006 8:37:56 AM PST by The_Republican
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To: conserv13
Tell me everything you know about authorized wiretaps of Person in the United States talking to known terrorists overseas?

What is your problem with that?

24 posted on 01/18/2006 8:37:56 AM PST by darkwing104 (Let's get dangerous)
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To: MNJohnnie
Newswire is a Leftist propaganda outlet not a serious source of news.

I don't think you're correct. Newswire prints press releases from anyone who subscribes to their service.

25 posted on 01/18/2006 8:39:55 AM PST by Maceman (Fake but accurate -- and now double-sourced)
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To: bmwcyle

Regain power WHERE? There aint NO way he will get elected to anything in Georgia again. Maybe he can turn gay and move to Atlanta {yeah thats the ticket!}


26 posted on 01/18/2006 8:40:36 AM PST by southernerwithanattitude (new and improved redneck)
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To: southernerwithanattitude

Bob does get that the DEMS paid him back for impeachment. Then he kisses up to them. What is wrong with these people?


27 posted on 01/18/2006 8:42:50 AM PST by bmwcyle (As the left takes to the streets the too many lazy Freeper sleep)
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To: darkwing104

I'm with ya. I'm against Fourth Amendment rights for enemy combatants and thier domestic agents.


28 posted on 01/18/2006 8:43:00 AM PST by Wristpin ("The Yankees have decided to buy every player in Baseball....")
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To: MNJohnnie
They sold out to be part of Al Gores "Liberty Coalition", they are PR Whores NOT Conservatives.

That they did; they threw their 'lot' in with them -- and now the words of Al Gore calling for Bush's impeachment hang on THEIR NECKS.

SOBs.

29 posted on 01/18/2006 8:45:39 AM PST by Howlin
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To: MNJohnnie
They sold out to be part of Al Gores "Liberty Coalition", they are PR Whores NOT Conservatives.

Gottlieb was part of something connected to Gun Grabber Gore?

30 posted on 01/18/2006 8:46:12 AM PST by El Gato (The Second Amendment is the Reset Button of the U.S. Constitution)
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To: bmwcyle

When will they ever learn that lefties do NOT donate $$ to anything.


31 posted on 01/18/2006 8:47:03 AM PST by Howlin
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To: goodnesswins
Conservatism used to be about putting limits on government's power. The conservatives who put out this press release still get it. A lot of freepers don't.

The freepers who want to ignore constitutional checks and balances, in the name of "security," will get a bite in the ass in Hillary becomes president and starts using the unchecked powers they have been so willing to grant to the executive branch.

32 posted on 01/18/2006 8:47:09 AM PST by churchillbuff
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To: goodnesswins
Yes, some of your best buddies might be under surveillance for their conversations with Al Quaeda....right, Grover?

Not yet. The tax guys are lower on the priority list than the 2nd amendment goons.

33 posted on 01/18/2006 8:48:39 AM PST by Cboldt
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To: Perlstein

I can well understand why Grover al-Norquist might have a problem with this, and it has nothing to do with being a "conservative."


34 posted on 01/18/2006 8:49:19 AM PST by denydenydeny ("As a Muslim of course I am a terrorist"--Sheikh Omar Brooks, quoted in the London Times 8/7/05)
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To: Wristpin
I'm against Fourth Amendment rights for enemy combatants and thier domestic agents."""

Problem is, until somebody's convicted, he or she is a "suspected" criminal. That could include anybody who got in the sites of the investigators. If you're for taking away the constitutional rights of suspects - then you're not a conservative. Because conservatives honor, and want to conserve, the constitution. Because they fear how unchecked federal power could be used if the wrong folks got into power - like Hillary. Power without restraint is a Marxist, Soviet concept. Constitutional restraints - including the 4th Amendment - is a conservative concept.

35 posted on 01/18/2006 8:49:49 AM PST by churchillbuff
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To: Howlin
When we were out side of the Murtha and Moran town meeting, the reasonable lefty I was talking to could not believe how much we donate to keep the FR running.
36 posted on 01/18/2006 8:49:57 AM PST by bmwcyle (As the left takes to the streets the too many lazy Freeper sleep)
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To: Perlstein

The only place these "conservatives" are leading us is over a cliff.


37 posted on 01/18/2006 8:50:11 AM PST by beandog (Proud bRushbot)
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To: El Gato

Absolutely. As is Bob Barr -- hell, he was suppose to INTRODUCE Gore's speech on MOnday!


38 posted on 01/18/2006 8:50:11 AM PST by Howlin
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To: churchillbuff
Conservatism used to be about putting limits on government's power. The conservatives who put out this press release still get it. A lot of freepers don't.

Yeah really, these "true conservatives" such as bob barr joining with al agore and moveon.org and singing Kumbya over the evil Bush is the ticket(eyes rolling).

39 posted on 01/18/2006 8:50:12 AM PST by Dane ( anyone who believes hillary would do something to stop illegal immigration is believing gibberish)
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To: denydenydeny
I can well understand why Grover al-Norquist might have a problem with this, and it has nothing to do with being a "conservative."

I can well understand how real conservatives would have a problem with the executive branch performing warrantless searches. It's against the spirit of the constitution, and it puts us in danger if and when Hillary is in the White House.

40 posted on 01/18/2006 8:51:03 AM PST by churchillbuff
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