The day Ander voted to destroy our 4th Amendment rights to privacy, his office issued this news release. It's kind of long, but I didn't want to be accused of quoting our esteemed representative out of context. Crenshaw Welcomes Passage of Terrorist Surveillance Bill
FISA Compromise Reached and Approved
by Congress after Long Delay
(Washington, DC) – Today, 125 days after the Democratic Congress allowed America's terrorist surveillance abilities to expire, Congress passed bi-partisan Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) legislation that restores and modernizes our Nation's ability to keep Americans safe from potential terrorist attacks.
That's a whopper, Ander. Neither the Democratic Congress, nor anyone else allowed America's terrorist surveillance abilities to expire. The 30-year-old FISA law, had been doing an adequate job until it met up with George Bush. The FISA law had not expired, it merely needed to be enforced.
Congressman Ander Crenshaw said, "The government was trying to regulate cutting edge surveillance technology with decades old legislation. It was time for a FISA makeover."
"It is the number one responsibility of the federal government to protect its citizens. I have consistently fought to ensure our nation has every possible tool to keep us safe from terrorist threats. While I am disappointed that it took so long to restore and strengthen these tools, I am pleased that we were able to work together and reach a compromise."
No, Ander, according to your oath of office, your number one responsibility is to protect and defend the CONSTITUTION. The Bush administration is the biggest terrorist organization our Constitution has ever seen.
The legislation was the latest effort to overhaul the 1978 FISA law – which sets procedures on overseas and domestic electronic surveillance. Due to new communications technologies developed since the first FISA law, this bill required a complete overhaul and modernization of surveillance rules.
Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Michael McConnell asked Congress to update the FISA legislation, making it "technologically neutral." He also requested that warrantless surveillance of suspected foreign terrorists be allowed when they are communicating with individuals within the United States.
The delay in passage was due to a political battle over whether or not telecommunications companies who provided the government information immediately following the attacks of September 11, 2001 could be sued retroactively. There are currently over 40 suits being filed against these companies who voluntarily worked with the government. The bill passed today, adds appropriate liability protections for such companies.
What's a little lawbreaking among friends and donors? And the public never gets to know the extent of the violations of our privacy, who was spied on or why or what the information is used for and who has access to it. And why won't the Bush administration show Congress proof of terrorist attacks that have been thwarted by this illegal spying?
"Protecting America is a responsibility that I take very seriously. There are radicals around the world who are actively planning attacks against us and we must be proactive in our efforts to stop them. This legislation strengthens our ability to do just that," added Crenshaw.
Oh, yeah, Ander? If you're all into "protecting America," then when are you going to serve in Iraq or send your family members? Not that attacking Iraq had anything to do with "protecting America" in the first place.
You just have to wonder if Ander is delusional. Ander, like a good representative of the Bush administration, insults his actual constituents in FL-4 with these distortions, exaggerations, misinformation, and outright lies.
Let's show Ander the door this year. Please donate to Jay McGovern, a worthy candidate for FL-4.
