I am not sure why everyone is arguing about Democrats and Republicans. The current and past spying activity has more to do with generating fear for the purpose or creating an industry where a profit can be made from making the cowardly and the meek feel safe and secure.
With all the security that this country has in place, it is odd that there is always someone of authority telling us why we need to be worried about some future possible tragedy, and why they need to infringe upon our freedoms for our protection. Soon they will protect us right into a dictatorship.
The difference is that when Clinton did it, he got warrants. Let me say that again. The Clinton Administration applied for and got warrants! I don’t care if the FBI, NSA, CIA or whoever wants to spy on someone, but I do care if they don’t do it by the laws set up. And for those of you who will point out that sometimes operations need to happen quickly…that’s fine, but then you go back in the 72 hour window and get your damn warrant.
no system is perfect but when you start having to go to judges for the ok to defend you have turned over the workings of government to unelected individuals usually put in their judgeships by a political party. i have seen good judges but i have seen some really bad ones and they are scary with the power they wield. we are then one step short of having our country run like the muslim ayatollahs run their countries-by religious dictatorship.
observation…I’m not 100% sure about the Ayatollah comment. The whole purpose of having a court / appeal system with judges is that you avoid too much power in the hands of one person. In order to perform a search or tap a phone, you have to show cause. In addition, FISA warrants are virtually never declined. I can’t remember the exact number, but it’s something like 9 out of 20,000.
With regards to the comment about countries run by religious dictators…well as a born again christian, our current president has funded religious groups with public funds and been highly influenced by evangelical movements. The political power and influence of the fundamentalist christian movement has never been stronger, and quite frankly, the rhetoric and message of some of the christian fundamentalist leaders mirrors the messages put out by Terrorists.
DG, How about you give some examples of how christians mirror muslims? Would it include anythiung like chopping heads off, or women being being forced to wear clothing to hide their faces and bodies, or women being forced into marriages? How about stoning people to death? Womens’ genitals being mutilated? Any cases of people blowing themselves up in the name of Jesus or God? Please let me know where Christians have mirrored people of the muslim faith?
I’m sorry but that is not correct. “…in fact, the NSA had been monitoring private domestic telephone conversations on a much larger scale throughout the 1990s – all of it done without a court order, let alone a catalyst like the 9/11 attacks.”. 60 minutes – Feb. 2000. (Hardly a right-wing mouthpiece)
I was afraid this would happen. I even hesitated to type it because I knew what would come back, but here goes..I did not state that christians in general were comparable to terrorists that happen to be muslims. I used the qualifier “some” just for this reason.
The point was that intolerance, whether coming from christian or muslims is a huge problem. I have heard evangelicals preach hatred and intolerance towards gays, atheists, feminists, socialists, etc. Comments that have gone as far as saying that gays and feminists were the reason for God ALLOWING 9/11. Every bombing of US clinics that perform abortions is perpetrated by Christians. Every time a doctor that performs abortions is murdered or assaulted, it’s by Christians. These acts are rarely discussed and condemned by the likes of Falwell, Robertson, etc. In fact, read the comments made by Jerry Falwell after 9/11 happened.
No one…NO ONE thinks we should be lenient on terrorist or ignore the threat they pose, however hate speach is not exclusive to muslim terrorists.
You’re entitled to your opinion, BUT, I’ve NEVER been in a house of faith that preached that we should kill doctors that perform abortions or bomb abortion clinics, nor have I ever been around a Christian that espoused that belief. I personally believe this is a significant distinction.
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Actually, with the collapse of the USSR many documents have come out indicating that there was extensive infiltration of our State Dept by Communists.
Here’s a question for everyone; what is the connection between Joseph McCarthy and the House Un American Activities Committee?
Joseph McCarthy was just ahead of his time by several years. Oh Joe where are you now!
I am not sure why everyone is arguing about Democrats and Republicans. The current and past spying activity has more to do with generating fear for the purpose or creating an industry where a profit can be made from making the cowardly and the meek feel safe and secure.
With all the security that this country has in place, it is odd that there is always someone of authority telling us why we need to be worried about some future possible tragedy, and why they need to infringe upon our freedoms for our protection. Soon they will protect us right into a dictatorship.
Scott,
The difference is that when Clinton did it, he got warrants. Let me say that again. The Clinton Administration applied for and got warrants! I don’t care if the FBI, NSA, CIA or whoever wants to spy on someone, but I do care if they don’t do it by the laws set up. And for those of you who will point out that sometimes operations need to happen quickly…that’s fine, but then you go back in the 72 hour window and get your damn warrant.
no system is perfect but when you start having to go to judges for the ok to defend you have turned over the workings of government to unelected individuals usually put in their judgeships by a political party. i have seen good judges but i have seen some really bad ones and they are scary with the power they wield. we are then one step short of having our country run like the muslim ayatollahs run their countries-by religious dictatorship.
observation…I’m not 100% sure about the Ayatollah comment. The whole purpose of having a court / appeal system with judges is that you avoid too much power in the hands of one person. In order to perform a search or tap a phone, you have to show cause. In addition, FISA warrants are virtually never declined. I can’t remember the exact number, but it’s something like 9 out of 20,000.
With regards to the comment about countries run by religious dictators…well as a born again christian, our current president has funded religious groups with public funds and been highly influenced by evangelical movements. The political power and influence of the fundamentalist christian movement has never been stronger, and quite frankly, the rhetoric and message of some of the christian fundamentalist leaders mirrors the messages put out by Terrorists.
DG, How about you give some examples of how christians mirror muslims? Would it include anythiung like chopping heads off, or women being being forced to wear clothing to hide their faces and bodies, or women being forced into marriages? How about stoning people to death? Womens’ genitals being mutilated? Any cases of people blowing themselves up in the name of Jesus or God? Please let me know where Christians have mirrored people of the muslim faith?
I’m sorry but that is not correct. “…in fact, the NSA had been monitoring private domestic telephone conversations on a much larger scale throughout the 1990s – all of it done without a court order, let alone a catalyst like the 9/11 attacks.”. 60 minutes – Feb. 2000. (Hardly a right-wing mouthpiece)
I was afraid this would happen. I even hesitated to type it because I knew what would come back, but here goes..I did not state that christians in general were comparable to terrorists that happen to be muslims. I used the qualifier “some” just for this reason.
The point was that intolerance, whether coming from christian or muslims is a huge problem. I have heard evangelicals preach hatred and intolerance towards gays, atheists, feminists, socialists, etc. Comments that have gone as far as saying that gays and feminists were the reason for God ALLOWING 9/11. Every bombing of US clinics that perform abortions is perpetrated by Christians. Every time a doctor that performs abortions is murdered or assaulted, it’s by Christians. These acts are rarely discussed and condemned by the likes of Falwell, Robertson, etc. In fact, read the comments made by Jerry Falwell after 9/11 happened.
No one…NO ONE thinks we should be lenient on terrorist or ignore the threat they pose, however hate speach is not exclusive to muslim terrorists.
You’re entitled to your opinion, BUT, I’ve NEVER been in a house of faith that preached that we should kill doctors that perform abortions or bomb abortion clinics, nor have I ever been around a Christian that espoused that belief. I personally believe this is a significant distinction.