Posted on 07/23/2002 10:13:33 AM PDT by WyldKard
News flash - the feds cannot even process the data they are already receiving, let alone handle the volumes this program would create - and that's only a practical objection to this. There are plenty of mechanisms for people already out and about, in the course of their daily activities, to see if something is going on, without coming up with a way to create millions of warrantless searches by non-law-enforcement personnel. And what makes you think Ashcroft will not be tempted at some point to expand this program away from terrorism into other venues, such as the war on drugs. Remember how that certain road is paved...
You are the blind one if you think that a future administration under a different man will not use this vast expanse of federal power to monitor 'right-wing extremists' (ie Evangelical Christians, gun-owners, pro-life organizations, and homeschoolers). Government has proved time and time again that once a new federal chain has been put in place, it is never removed.
Mark Corallo, spokesman for the Justice Department, says the president as commander in chief can designate anyone an enemy combatant -- American or not, here or abroad. [emphasis mine] "(In this war on terrorism) America is the battlefield," he says, and no congressional statute can override the president's constitutional military authority.
So you wish to give the Justice Department its own pipeline of suspects, and then let them designate someone an enemy combatant and hold them indefinitely without charging them or giving them a hearing before a court of law, and without Congressional overview? That, quite frankly, smacks of totalitarianism.
Meet the new boss....
I see. Can you explain to this pathetic dolt what history has taugh us about policies like this? Can you trust everyone in Governemt to do the right thing? Mind you now, a crime is a crime. By reporting one to law enforcement agencies they are by law required to take action. For example, the meterman is taking his meter readings and notices that you have an illegal cable hook up. So he does his job and reports it. Do you think the police are just going to say forget that it has nothing to do with terrorism? Better yet, a college professor is getting magazines from middle east publications as part of his job. So the mailman notices this and reports this. What do you think the police are going to do? Say forget about it because his last name is Jones?
I am all for properly fighting the war against terrorism. But not at a cost of our Liberties. If things get this bad there are provisions in the law to handle this. In my opinion this is nothing but a huge power grab.
It's people like you who blindly follow without investigating, understanding history and questioning policies like this one who are pathetic and dangerous.
This is OUTRAGOUS! O-U-T-R-A-G-O-U-S! Nothing in the Current Joint Resolution give the President anywhere near this Authority.
Hey, look at the bright side. In 2004, when GW re-signs the "Crime Bill", and many "conservatives" who would have voted for him go to thrid parties, the Democratic president will have all these new toys at his/her disposal. I can't wait!
Please post the entire statement...Thanks
Bingo! More information is not necessarily better and can be counterproductive, as we saw with 9/11. All the data was already there to predict, had been for years. Hell, the government won't even listen to its own bureaucrats and informants. And do you really believe that a meter reader who walked into the basement of an apartment house wouldn't contact somebody if she saw, for example, a box from Iraq with biohazard labels all over it?
What this program has the potential to be turned into is far worse than the benefits. Remember Waco, when Janet and her feds killed the children in order to save them from "child abuse". What would you think about a specific directive from TIPS to federalized peeping toms to be on the lookout for oh, say, people who get regular ammunition shipments and subscribe to right wing magazines like SOF.
Just curious. Do you approve of the power of the IRS to know the source and expenditure of every dime of income you make, and track all your cash expenditures and withdrawals over a certain amount?
Yep! And GW will be one term when he re-signs the "Crime Bill" in 2004. I am beginning to think this is all no coincidence. A "disputed" 2000 election which leaves some bitter today - followed by new laws and programs no "conservative" would have supported if a Democrat was in the Whitehouse - couple this with GW re-signing a bill that conservatives screamed about(and consider the dems say the gun lobby got GW elected) = Democratic president with all these new powers! Damn, I couldn't have written a better script myself.....
President doesn't have absolute military authority over Americans
Well said, FreeTally. I agree.
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