Another LTTE to my RW area newspaper

[leftupnorth]

About wire taps here:
http://www.gaylordheraldtimes.com/articles/2006/01/11/news/opinion/opinion04.txt

It's neocon country around here, so I've gone into the bunker for a few days.

Mr. Zick's letter here:
http://www.gaylordheraldtimes.com/articles/2006/01/09/news/opinion/opinion04.txt

Man, I just re-read that one, what a dumbass!

Anyway, just tooting my own horn again! Feel free to steal ANY of my letter to use as your own.

[ProfessorPlum]

1. Exactly right

Why are these fools so eager to give up their rights? Good letter.

[fasttense]

2. Great LTTE. Keep up the fight. n/t

[meganmonkey]

3. Spreading the word in Michigan!

Well done!!! :toast:

I got a LTTE published in the southern part of the state about the same thing recently:

Pinkerton got it wrong; citizens do mind spying

James Pinkerton's recent column "Maybe We Don't Need All Civil Liberties'' (The Ann Arbor News, Jan. 3) was completely appalling. He claims that most Americans don't seem to mind that the executive branch of our government is spying on its citizens. Thanks to inaccurate reporting and commentary like his, most Americans probably don't realize that this is being done with no oversight.

Thank goodness our Constitution was set up with checks and balances between the branches of government, in order to limit power and protect the civil liberties of American citizens. It is a shame, however, that the current administration is ignoring these fundamental rules. What Pinkerton neglected to mention is that there is a legal process available for the sort of spying the administration has been doing. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court has received almost 20,000 requests for surveillance warrants since its inception, and has turned down only five of these requests. There are even exceptions made for emergency situations, particularly in war time. Yet the Bush administration bypassed this process.

If they were really spying on dangerous, al-Qaida-linked terrorists, I am sure warrants would have been granted. So I can't help but wonder who they were spying on. Political opponents, peace activists, or maybe even you and me? As Benjamin Franklin, one of the founders of our great nation, said: "They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security.'' I don't know what "America'' Pinkerton is referring to in his commentary, but it is neither Franklin's nor mine.

http://www.mlive.com/columns/aanews/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1136821259284680.xml&coll=2&thispage=2

[ProfessorGAC]

4. Nicely Done

It's always important to add those "what makes america great" lines. Then you won't be dismissed as an america hater. Just a conservative loather. And, we should be. They've been provably wrong about everything!
The Professor

[leftupnorth]

6. Thanks for the encouragement, you guys...

Now if only the sheeple would listen.......

Megan - great letter! You keep it up, too!

We definitely need to make sure that we express deep and genuine love of our country and our freedom, even if just to neutralize the "you hate America" argument. Without that, they have nothing...

[Virginian]

5. It is a matter of what degree we will go to protect the nation.

The Bushie cites a poll and then draws a conclusion the poll didn't represent.

Poll1: Do you think we should protect our nation?

Poll2: Do you think we should protect our nation with all technology available?

Poll3: Do you think we should protect our nation using wiretapping?

Poll4: Do you think we should protect our nation using wiretapping without going to a judge to get a warrant?

Poll5: Do you think we should protect our nation by tapping all the phones in the US?

I would say yes to 1, 2 and 3.
I am afraid that if you can tap ANY phone in the US without some form of checks and balances like a warrant, you might as well be tapping ALL the phones in the US. How many Bush supporters would be in favor of that?

I am afraid too many people have too much faith in the "authorities" to do the right thing. To quote Reagan, "Trust, but verify." Trust the authorities, but verify that they are not overstepping the limits to their authority. Some people will because they can.

For those Freepers who say they aren't doing anything on the phone that they are ashamed of, think of it this way: Perverted Justice just caught a Homeland Security employee in its latest web. This man wanted to have sex with a child he met online. Imagine if it were a real 13 year old child and that man having the ability to listen in on all her phone conversations with her friends. Would you want this creep listening to YOUR daughter's conversations?

[BR_Parkway]

7. What a dumbass - you should call him on it - go over to John

Aravosis' site Americablog.com and read about the way you can buy phone records for anyone (he just bought Gen Clarks to show it was really a problem)

Then go buy your local wingnut's and publish them in your next LTTE - lets see where he stands on individual privacy then - he's already said he's got nothing to hide.

[leftupnorth]

8. ooooo good idea

I've got exactly the right person. Thanks for the idea!!

[progdonkey]

9. I like that...

:toast: