As you guys know I am a member of the Daily News editorial board. Even though they are the anonymous voice of the editorial board, I do at times take extra time in crafting specific editorials that I feel are of utmost importance and share them with you -- like this one.
Months ago, when it was leaked that the NSA was tapping into phone conversations without a warrant, the president assured the nation that the program was limited to a very small number of people - those who made international calls and were suspected of terrorist activity. Now we know the president wasn't completely forthcoming. We now know that the NSA was secretly collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans
Unfortunately for us, our elected representatives in Washington have been negligent in the most important of their duties - acting as an agent of checks and balances to ensure that this administration, or any future administration, always works within the bounds of the law and our Constitution. Our men and women are dying in the name of democracy, we should not be undermining that which they are fighting for here at home.
Checks and balances are an important part of our system of government. Our leaders must help to expose the truth and breadth of the program, Citizen Hunters deserve that.
Sign a petition asking for a full investigation. And call your Senators and ask for the same. (Here's a great contact link for anyone whose senator is actually on the Intelligence Committee.)
Here is something for all you Citizen Hunters. If you want to make a huge statement against wire tapping, try setting up a Skype account:
http://www.skype.com/helloagain.html
It uses VOIP technology and their coding system prevents eavesdropping. Best thing about it is that it is free to talk either member to member or now, even by calling regular phone numbers in the US and Canada.
Posted by: D.J. at May 19, 2006 09:08 AMWhy bother? All these programs, have been around since the mid 90's, and honestly is not an invasion of privacy. You do not own the information, the phone companies do, and they own can do what they want with it.
The NSA is reading e-mails, but only looking at what number called who, why is this an issue, if you don't have anything to hide, and don't have the right not for the information to be withheld.
Posted by: John Quigley at May 19, 2006 09:37 AMOf course the President wasn't "forthcoming". It's called intelligence and frankly, in this day and age I don’t want the NSA sharing what they do with the public.
If you have nothing to hide why do you care if there is a record of what numbers you call? Basically we’re bogging down U.S. intelligence agencies with answering questions and attending hearings over stupid issues. Someone please tell me who has been harmed by them having this information. Wouldn’t you rather have them spending their time tracking terrorists rather than answering questions about phone records that haven’t harmed any of us?
The whole "NSA Scandal" is bloated nonsense put out by the main media to pump up the ratings! What do I care if the feds have a list of phone numbers that I call? And let's be clear, they ARE NOT listening to my conversation or yours, unless you just happen to be speaking to Al Qaeda.
...then, I do want them listening.
"Now we know the president wasn't completely forthcoming. "
That might be the understatement of the year.
Posted by: Jack Davis at May 22, 2006 08:16 PMThey are keeping track of numbers called, not keeping tapes of phone calls. Rather than calling the president "less than forthcoming" I would suggest your research is "less than professional."
Posted by: RIch at May 23, 2006 01:58 AMIf you are doing nothing wrong why worry? Stop giving the terroist all the advantages!
Posted by: joe at May 23, 2006 08:50 AMI don't trust W and his minions to have this info. Judging on those characters past record, they will use the info to track voting patterns, purge voting rolls, and God knows what else. Very shady folks and I wouldn't put it past them to do this sort of thing. W and his folks are makig me more and more libertarian/progressive everyday. Count me as one Republican that will not be voting for that party for a long long time. Consitution yes. GW and his gang No Way!
Posted by: BW at May 26, 2006 07:55 PMWe do own our thoughts and words. It does not belong to you or to anyone else. What you say Mr. Quigley was reminiscent of the Communist apparatchiks (am I spelling this right JQ?) who believed that The State, in all her "wisdom", was protecting The State from the insidiuous capitalistic forces. You are and your ilk are no different, content to lie safely in the arms of The State. We know how your experiment ended. I refuse, as well as the vast majority of Americans, to be like the communist and surrender our freedoms to The State you so vehemntly trust. Or are you just angling for a position within The Party. Like I said, I am growing more Libertarian/Progressive as the days march on, leaving JQ and psuedo State-Worshipers behind to wonder whatever happened to the Conservative/Republican movement. I'll tell you what happened..W happened, and I will never vote for State Worshippers again. This country belongs to patriots, not apparatchiks or their dupes....and my voice belongs to ME!
Posted by: BW at May 27, 2006 11:38 AMWe do own our thoughts and words. It does not belong to you or to anyone else. What you say Mr. Quigley was reminiscent of the Communist apparatchiks (am I spelling this right JQ?) who believed that The State, in all her "wisdom", was protecting The State from the insidiuous capitalistic forces. You are and your ilk are no different, content to lie safely in the arms of The State. We know how your experiment ended. I refuse, as well as the vast majority of Americans, to be like the communist and surrender our freedoms to The State you so vehemntly trust. Or are you just angling for a position within The Party. Like I said, I am growing more Libertarian/Progressive as the days march on, leaving JQ and psuedo State-Worshipers behind to wonder whatever happened to the Conservative/Republican movement. I'll tell you what happened..W happened, and I will never vote for State Worshippers again. This country belongs to patriots, not apparatchiks or their dupes....and my voice belongs to ME!
Posted by: BW at May 27, 2006 11:39 AMhttp://hagen.milan.jp/ http://hroft.milan.jp/ http://hedin.milan.jp/ http://hervard.milan.jp/ http://rakot.milan.jp/ http://merlin.milan.jp/ http://hagen.milan.jp/ http://hroft.milan.jp/ http://hedin.milan.jp/ http://hervard.milan.jp/ http://rakot.milan.jp/ http://merlin.milan.jp/
Posted by: rakot at July 26, 2006 10:39 AMhttp://www.alprazolamonlin.freeforumhosting.net/index.php Alprazolam online Buy alprazolam Cheap alprazolam Alprazolam Alprazolam online pharmacy Alprazolam xanax Buy alprazolam online Alprazolam side effects Alprazolam effects side xanax 3.28 alprazolam buy anxiety alprazolam alprazolam drug
Posted by: Cheap alprazolam at August 5, 2006 06:29 AM