Joe P. to Verizon: Can You Hear Me Now?

Wow (0.00 / 0)

And wow.

And yet, his words make perfect sense to a lot of people.  That's what's truly scary.

Didn't he win or come near winning a recent Asbury Park Press online poll as most likely candidate for Congress?

---

by: Jim33 @ Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 15:20:05 PM UTC

Verizon and You are the same according to Jersey Joe. (0.00 / 0)

Verizon is a multi-billion dollar corporation.  Yet, THEY are being oppressed because people expect them not to just turn over private information without asking any questions.

A recent Frontline episode pointed out the problems with this approach.  All of the visitors to Las Vegas over a holiday weekend had all of their calls monitored.  There never was any terrorist activity.  Yet, if someone was looking to blackmail a person, they would have an easy way to do it.  This administration has shown a complete lack of understanding that trust is important in security.  When you move the threat colors to match your poll ratings, that isn't national security.  That is just looking out for #1 and using our tax dollars to do it.

---

by: Creed Pogue @ Sun Feb 17, 2008 at 00:58:35 AM UTC

The Bush Administration is Just Covering Its Ass... (0.00 / 0)

...nothing more.

This debate isn't really about national security; it's about the Bush administration "requesting" illegal wiretaps and telcos "complying" with that illegality. Period.

If there were to be law suites against the telcos and the truth came out; it would be clear that they were complicit in an illegal policy promulgated directly by the Bush administration.

The existing laws allowed immediate wiretaps with NO waiting period pending a review for proper cause by the FISA court.

Democrats have been bullied and cowed by this "national security" line of bs for years now.  

The fact is that the Bush policies have done more to harm the national security of our nation in every way and at every level than any one of our obvious enemies.   Just about all that the Bush administration has done in reaction to 9-11 has put a big smile on the faces of Osama Bin Laden et al.

Congressional Democrats have to find the courage to stand up to the bullying lying and corrupt tactics and agendas of the Bush administration and of it's Republican supporters in Congress.

It seems that they may have taken a positive turn in that direction.  http://blog.wired.com/27bstrok...

The Protect America Act, a temporary but expansive warrantless spying bill passed by Congress last summer, will likely expire Saturday at midnight, a casualty of a battle between President Bush and House Democrats over amnesty for phone companies that aided his secret, warrantless spying program and how much of that program should be legalized. The House leadership announced there will be no more votes before the long President's Day legislative break.

The bill's expiration is largely symbolic, but demonstrates that House Democrats are willing to fight Bush on anti-terrorism policies, where fear-mongering rhetoric had previously cowed their opposition.

Though Republicans charge that the expiration will endanger national security, no wiretaps or dragnets will be forced to stop and the government will retain longstanding surveillance powers.  

Additionally, any broad domestic surveillance of emails and phone calls started under the expiring act can continue for another year, and new targets can be added such programs without getting a court order.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) laid the blame for expiration at the White House's door and said the House wanted extra time to protect Americans' rights.

"We are committed to protecting the American people and protecting the constitution," Pelosi said. "We will continue to work with the Senate to produce a [Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act] bill that does both."

The American people are not stupid; if and when the Democrats find their courage; this national nightmare is over.   Let's all urge all of our New Jersey congressmen to stand up against the criminal Bush administration and for the US Constitution!!!

---

by: Nick Lento @ Sun Feb 17, 2008 at 01:38:39 AM UTC

An Action We Can All Take... (0.00 / 0)

Senator Patrick Leahy says...

Demand a House-Senate conference to produce a fair FISA bill!

There's still time to fix FISA and do it the right way -- providing the balance we need to protect national security, preserve civil liberties, and refuse retroactive immunity to phone companies who went along with Bush-Cheney Administration lawbreaking.  But I need you to join me in speaking out, right now, to make sure we get a fair FISA bill.

http://ga3.org/campaign/fisa?r...

I added the following to the form letter that they'll send out to our congressional representatives:

PLEASE show some courage and stand up to the bullies who will try to frame all who protect our Constitution as somehow being "weak on terrorism", or weak on "national security".   Don't be bullied; don't be afraid to do what is right.

This is an issue that can NOT be compromised away; the freedom and the future of America is at stake!!!

---

by: Nick Lento @ Sun Feb 17, 2008 at 06:57:35 AM UTC

Fourth Amendment? Constitution? (0.00 / 0)

Didn't the unitary executive remove those hurdles to his ability to decide for all of us?
The "Decider," with help from his capos on the Supreme Court all but erased the Constitution.
That "god damned piece of paper," as it was so eloquently described by Herr Bush, was turned into toilet paper by Antonin (Tony The Fixer) Scalia when he single handedly stopped the Florida recount in 2000.
Let's have no more foolish talk of Constitutional guarantees.
Certain inalienable rights? Rubbish.

Restore democracy and the Constitution for which it stands.

---

by: The Wizard @ Sun Feb 17, 2008 at 14:28:32 PM UTC