State of the Union - Patriot Act Foul-up
During the State of the Union Address, something cool happened.
His speech went as follows:
“…For years, we have used similar provisions to catch embezzlers and drug traffickers. If these methods are good for hunting criminals, they are even more important for hunting terrorists.”
Now there was some applause here, mostly from the Right side of the house–from the conservatives/Republicans. He then went on to say…
” Key provisions of the Patriot Act are set to expire next year.”
Before he could get his next sentence out, the Democrats slowly began to erupt into applause. I thought this said something very important about the differences in ideals between the Republicans and the Democrats. I am all for tracking down terrorist and capturing them, but not at the price of my civil liberties. I am reminded of something:
“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
- Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759.
It is just as important today as it was then to preserve our rights as free Americans.
Bush’s speech continued:
” The terrorist threat will not expire on that schedule. Our law enforcement needs this vital legislation to protect our citizens - you need to renew the Patriot Act. ”
President Bush, I simply disagree.
Immediately after he got these words out of his mouth, the camera went directly to the Attorney General John Ashcroft, the man behind the Patriot Act.
January 21st, 2004 at 8:03 am
C’ mon, ramdac, you sound like you work for the ACLU. Your civil liberties are not being violated, other than the occasional Privacy of files you have nothing to worry about. I can see some flaws in the Patriot Act, but I can see a lot of good as well. How much our the legislation in this county falls under that category.
January 21st, 2004 at 9:53 am
I don’t even like the ACLU. They’re a bunch of special interest lawyer A-holes.
I’m not a communist either.
I think the patriot act allows our government to subvert due process. In doing so, it allows them to violate privacy and civil rights indirectly.
The end doesn’t justify the means.
I agree that the patriot act has some good, but I also see a lot of bad as well.
January 21st, 2004 at 10:19 am
You I was kidding about the ACLU, I just knew that would touch a nerve. I just know you have hammered this act, and I just dont feel that it is as bad as you make it out to be.
January 21st, 2004 at 1:30 pm
Paraphrase: “America doesn’t need a permission slip to defend itself…” -Dubya (respectively)
I loved that. I laughed. I didn’t cheer - it made me laugh and spit food on the carpet.
I realize this is slightly off topic but at least in this thread it’ll get responded to.
January 21st, 2004 at 3:00 pm
I agree. We don’t need a permission slip to protect ourself. That was probably his way of telling the American People that we didn’t have to have sign-off by the United Nations to do what we’re doing.
However we need a permission slip anytime our rights are being squandered.
January 21st, 2004 at 3:02 pm
Joey, I knew you were kidding. If I didn’t think you were kidding, I’d have driven down there and kicked yer butt! heh.
January 22nd, 2004 at 12:30 pm
Ah Bro, I’m Your Huckleberry.
I also Laughed when he dropped the permission slip line on us. I thought it was hilarious.
January 22nd, 2004 at 12:30 pm
I know this is kind of on-topic, but something tells me that as good as their intentions are with the Patriot Act, it’s going to come back and bite everybody in the rear someday in a very unpleasant way.
January 22nd, 2004 at 5:25 pm
Joey, did you spit too? As soon as he said it I had a flashback to second grade raising my hand to ask “for a slip” so that I could go potty…
Be proud of me, remembering things from second grade is a big accomplishment… lmao
Lillie - somehow, I agree. Female intuition is a strong thing, and I just have a gut feeling you’re right.
January 22nd, 2004 at 5:54 pm
I came here looking for information on VGA card RAMDACs and found this. I agree with you completely. I think it’s a load of ass…to put it vulgarly and succinctly. I can’t wait until either A) Bush is out of office and someone with a modicrum of intelligence presents themselves or he is assasinated by crazy Iraqis (I’d applaud them until the sun went down and came back)
I miss our natural forests, human rights, and a government I could trust. Our current state of government scares me…Lord knows what they’d do to a dissenter…
January 23rd, 2004 at 7:55 am
Brandy, that is funny, when he said that I was thinking about the 5th grade trip to Vicksburg.
Greg, There has been very few administrations that are trustworthy. Government will never to good stewards of our money. Clinton got lucky because our economy was at record highs, but we wont mention trust and the Clintons in the same sentence anymore. As a Republican, if the Democrats want me to seriously voting for someone other than Bush, then Dean and Edwards dont need to be the Canidadtes.
No disrespect just disagreement, Greg
I do agree Bush has made some bad decisions.