tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post4744481763800764137..comments2023-10-21T05:31:04.705-05:00Comments on Merle Widmer's PEORIA WATCH: Intelligence GatheringMerle Widmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788275198834985986noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-91614417116408447932008-03-05T09:54:00.000-06:002008-03-05T09:54:00.000-06:00This isn't 'nam, there are laws. When you break t...This isn't 'nam, there are laws. When you break the law, you get sued.<BR/><BR/>I think I've got Merle figured out: He's an old-timey authoritarian fascist--power and control are more important than the laws of men. Thank God the youth of this country are a bit more reasonable than the generation shuffling off this mortal coil.AdamBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14625655604759074752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-38031616907651019992008-02-25T16:01:00.000-06:002008-02-25T16:01:00.000-06:00Merle,I find myself agreeing with you much of the ...Merle,<BR/><BR/>I find myself agreeing with you much of the time, however this is not one of those times.<BR/><BR/>"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin<BR/><BR/>A person shall be safe from unreasonable searches and seizures, and no warrants shall be issued without probable cause. 4th Amendment (paraphrased)<BR/><BR/>A person shall not be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. 5th Amendment (paraphrased)<BR/><BR/>For sure these RIGHTS make it harder to find the bad guys. However, if our intelligence agencies had not been dismantled by former and current administrations we probably would not be having this debate. And, this is precisely why we must know who is entering and leaving our open border country. I would also wager that if a Democrat President had come up with the same unconstitutional wire tapping business, you would be blogging bloody murder. I had hoped you were not such a partisian person.<BR/><BR/>Also, the examples you cited in your post (except popssibly the gun issue) are privileges - big difference.<BR/>The Constitution does not grant people any rights, with the exceptions of the right to vote and a republican form of govrenment, rather it limits the government from trampling on these rights.<BR/>WIth this post, you are essentially playing into the mindset of the Socialist/Communist agendas that I know you adamantly abhor. I have so much more to say on this subject, however I am afraid that I may offend you, if I haven't already.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-57902278163860422542008-02-24T17:27:00.000-06:002008-02-24T17:27:00.000-06:00You doubt that innocent people are being spied on ...You doubt that innocent people are being spied on doesn't matter. It only matters if that spying can be done legally. If you think there are situations in which secret/warrantless wiretapping (and similarly heinous surveillance) is necessary, then those situations should be precisely and clearly described in law. All such violations of personal liberty should be disclosed after the fact for the purpose of oversight.<BR/><BR/>The private companies I spoke of are not showing "loyalty to their country", as you put it, nor should that be desired. They should show loyalty to the PEOPLE, their customers, the citizens of the country. Given valid, legal authorization, of course AT&T should facilitate wiretapping for our government. They should NOT, however, cooperate with illegal requests.<BR/><BR/>For the record, I think tort attorneys are generally something between leeches and parasites. The ACLU has a mixed record, in my book; they are often in the right, but they do step into PC-ville too often. If you want to pin me as a supporter of a particular lobbying/legal group, I'd be proud to be identified as "a staunch EFF guy".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-74455971775397884862008-02-22T20:02:00.000-06:002008-02-22T20:02:00.000-06:00History will tell. If there ever is another major...History will tell. If there ever is another major terrorist strike in the U.S. that you are not a victim. As Jonah Goldberg says don't sweat the big stuff. I doubt any total strangers are listening to any telphone converstions in Peoria except maybe CLOSE friends of the Islamic now awaiting trial.<BR/><BR/>Better you reread what I said and most sensible and knowledgeable people are saying.<BR/><BR/>If you insult the private companies showing their loyalty to our country you must be a friend of the tort attorneys who are suing them. Or a staunch ACLU guy?Merle Widmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04267875223386924271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-17460262432789388652008-02-22T18:31:00.000-06:002008-02-22T18:31:00.000-06:00My blood is boiling after reading this post. You a...My blood is boiling after reading this post. You actually think that not only should strangers be allowed to listen to your every phone call and inspect your every packet, but that private corporations who assist those wiretapping sons-of-bitches in committing felonies should be pardoned??<BR/><BR/>I never took you for a coward, until now. Some people (not me, but plenty of neoconservatives) say the "terrists" hate us for our freedom. Well, the hatred can stop now. The authoritarian mini-despots running our country (on both sides of the aisle) are doing their damnedest to remove our freedoms one by one... anything to let them consolidate their own power.<BR/><BR/>The dichotomy is not freedom vs. security, it is liberty vs. control. We are losing our liberty, Mr Widmer, and you have endorsed it. Shame on you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com