Posted on 05/20/2015 11:35:51 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
Appearing on Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier, presumptive Republican presidential candidate Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker gave Americans their first preview on where a President Walker would stand on civil liberties issues such as NSA spying authorized by the highly controversial Patriot Act.
Baier pushed Walker to give a “yes” or “no” on whether or not he would reauthorize the controversial NSA spying program by asking him whether or not he would vote for it if he were currently a sitting Senator. Walker, responding with typical political rhetoric, never actually answering Baier’s question, but instead said, that the meta-data collected was necessary and access to it was needed.
Earlier in the month, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the NSA spy program is illegal.
This puts Walker at odds with declared conservative candidates Senators Rand Paul and Ted Cruz. Although Cruz did once vote to re-authorize the Patriot Act, he now seems prepared to stand against the upcoming re-authorization vote. Paul, the most staunch opponent of NSA spying in the Senate, is preparing to filibuster the upcoming Patriot Act re-authorization vote.
I support the bill that Cruz authored which is being advanced by Mike Lee. That Bill replaces the Patriot Act and removes the most egregious parts concerning the NSA.
Cruz’s record is that he champions the Constitution. He won the landmark 2nd Amendment case and a Religious Freedom case before the Supreme Court, as well as seven other Supreme Court cases.
He is the only person in the race who has a 100% rating as a Conservative.
We really need to see a Congress that starts voting for freedom instead of more surveillance and more restrictions and always less freedom. That process of freedom starts out by voting to maintain our rights.
The other thing we need is a government that actually holds those entrusted to protect us fully accountable when they do screw up. Why was no one held accountable after 9-11? Had it been diverted the world and USA would look much different. Our government allows too much internal CYA instead of full transparency.
I agree with you that Cruz has an excellent record as a conservative. But that doesn’t justify supporting an exception to the Bill of Rights, just because of his fear of a terrorist attack.
There is always a reason to make an exception to our fundamental constitutional guarantees. I remember that many conservatives supported Bush when he denied basic constitutional rights to suspected terrorists as well as members of the general public because he felt it was necessary to combat terrorism. I think most are embarrased by that now.
We should remember why these rights are guaranteed under the constitution, Our nation’s founders knew the dangers of a tyrannical federal government, and they put these fundamental guarantees in there to protect us. Let’s respect their wisdom.
What part of the USA Freedom Act, specifically, do you believe violates the Bill of Rights? I’m interested because I recognize the need for agengies to be able to track the movements of terrorists, but I, too, am concerned about retaining our rights.
Honestly I don't have a candidate at this point, but Cruz and Walker are neck-and-neck. Cruz's 500% increase in H1B works impacts my industry and is cause for concern.
These two are the best of an imperfect bunch.
Walker/Cruz '16
“If you want to live in a police state, move to one.”
What makes you think I don’t already live in one? Not that I want to but according to the law here I am not allowed to burn a cardboard box outside even though I live on eight acres in the country. That is just one indication that tells me I already live in a police state. Also I cannot legally drill a water well to furnish my water without state approval and even with their approval I cannot connect that same water supply to two dwellings on the same property. Sounds kind of like a police state to me. I could go on but I have other things to do now. I will simply close by asking, if this ain’t a police state how will I know when it becomes one?
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