House intelligence bill would add police powers

[Rose Siding]

House Republican leaders introduced legislation Friday that grafts broadened police powers onto a plan to reform the nation's intelligence gathering agencies.

Like a bill passed earlier by a Senate committee, the proposal adopts recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission for establishing a national intelligence director and center for counterterrorism.

But it also calls for new police powers that would, among other things, set federal standards for state driver's licenses and step up inspections of travelers to the United States.

Democrats and some Republicans said the additions needlessly politicized what had been a remarkably bipartisan effort in the Senate, dimming prospects that a bill would be signed before the November elections.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/chitribts/20040926/ts_chicagotrib/houseintelligencebillwouldaddpolicepowers

[napi21]

1. I have no problem with setting Fed standards for DL licenses.

If you've lived in multiple states, you'd understand why this is a good idea. I can tell you from personal experience that it's easier to get multiple licenses in some states than in others, Some are much more easily forged, etc.

Did they specify what "step up inspections of travelers to the US" means? I can't object or agree without knowing what the plan is.

[atreides1]

2. Just Like Identity Papers in Germany

There is a question of states rights involved here, if this one piece isn't resisted than who's to say what the Repigs will try next?

Besides not all of us live in multiple states, my wife is active duty USAF and she has a PA license which is perfectly legal here in Arizona, just like it was when we lived in Hawaii.

Let the states maintain their own hold on DL's.

[grasswire]

5. why have drivers licenses used...

...as a means of tracking citizens?

Why capitulate to this system at all? If you want a national identity card, just have it, and leave the subterfuge of connection to the drivers system out of it.

Personally, I am opposed to drivers licenses and license plates. There is already a number on the vehicle -- the VIN. Why have license plates with separate numbers? Merely for purposes of taxation and tracking citizens.

The alternative? A driver is issued a certificate of competency, which he may display as desired to show that he is able to drive. Not used for purposes of identification. No database is kept.

Stop allowing government to hide its intentions behind "licensing" and "public safety."

[Zorra]

3. More republikan legislation to further centralize big government,

and increase police powers so that big brother can be present in our bathrooms and bedrooms.

Is there any more doubt that the republikan party has become the party of huge centralized governmment, limited rights, freedom, and civil liberties, police state restrictions and regulations, and complete, frivolous fiscal irresponsibility?


This legislation sucks. Patriot Act 2 America is becoming like early nazi Germany thanks to republikans. Republikans really are nazis. They really are.

Either we vote them out en masse in November, or we will live in a full-on totalitarian fascist police state within a matter of 2 years.

I am not willing to trade my liberty for false security. I'd rather take my chances with a terrorist than have republikan fascists control every aspect of my life as an individual.

Dennis Hastert is a seriously dangerous fascist. If you examine what he has done as a legislator, it becomes obvious that he is an enemy of liberty in America.

[2Design]

4. I am not willing to trade my liberty for false security

that is an important statement

when they say do you feel safer - I don't
they inspect air travel but nothing else
they have finger printing to start tracking the world's populations
they are on a bigger agenda and don't care who they trample to get there

[Democat]

6. The Republicans say they believe in power for the states, but not really!

More right wing lies and flip flops.

[UpInArms]

7. funny that this should be coming up now

there was an interesting editorial about "lists"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x75619

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2004/092004/09262004/1513710

excerpt:

Where are we headed with all this? This doesn't sound like something that could be happening in America. This sounds more like Communist Russia, China or Nazi Germany.

Will there come a day in the not-too-distant future when those on Washington's terrorist list will be denied a driver's license?

Will FBI agents start coming to homes in the middle of the night questioning those on the list? (Oops. That's already happening.)

Will there come a time when people on the list will just start disappearing? When you start down a tyrannical path, sometimes it is hard to stop.