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Return to Article: Senate passes FISA bill after yearlong dispute

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  Here are some expert comments on the subject:

  They that can give up an essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin, 1759

  I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it. -Thomas Jefferson

  Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add "within the limits of the law" because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual. -Thomas Jefferson, third US president, architect and author (1743-1826)

  Today, as always, the people, no less than their courts, must remain vigilant to preserve the principles of our Bill of Rights, lest in our desire to be secure we lose our ability to be free. -Chief Justice Earl Warren

  The peculiar circumstances of the moment may render a measure more or less wise, but cannot render it more or less constitutional. -John Marshall

  Experience teaches us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purpose is beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding. -Louis Dembitz Brandeis, lawyer, judge, and writer (1856-1941)

  The fetters imposed on liberty at home have ever been forged out of the weapons provided for defense against real, pretended, or imaginary dangers from abroad. -James Madison, 4th US president (1751-1836)

  As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression. In both instances there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly unchanged. And it is in such twilight that we all must be most aware of change in the air - however slight - lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness. -William O. Douglas, judge (1898-1980)

  History teaches that grave threats to liberty often come in times of urgency, when constitutional rights seem too extravagant to endure. -Thurgood Marshall, US Supreme Court Justice (1908-1993)

  Apparently Congress doesn't understand the above quotes because, in passing the FISA, they have broken their oaths to support and defend the Constitution.

  Rich Zellich Posted July 14, 2008 12:45 PM
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  I think it's clear that the during times of war and for national security purposes our county's ability to collect "real time intelligence" is very important for U.S. Presidents, Republican or Democrat alike. (Hence Senator Obama's vote for what President Bush has always believed in)

  Thank God the British have it together and thrwarted the attempted airplane attacks on the United States, back in August 2006. They did this with similar means as our FISA programs. These are intelligence wiretaps to protect the United States. The Government is not looking to prosecute you for any crimes. These intercepts are used to protect our country from future attacks. There are lots of places in the world that lack national security. If you want to move there please don't let us stop you. (Maybe the FARC in Colombia is looking for another hostage if you want to volunteer your services to them.)

  If telecommunication companies did not get limited immunity under this new FISA law they would be reluctant to provide information the the U.S. Government in the future (both Republican and Democrat administrations). I know it's been almost seven years, but WE WERE ATTACKED on 09/11/01! This is/was not a joke or a game. The U.S. Government has an obligation to protect Americans from future attacks. The same people who complain that their rights have been violated will be the first to call for a Congressional investigation if we are attacked like 9-11 again.

  Thank you to all who finally passed this FISA bill and shame on those who made it a political issue when it's always been an American security issue.

  Thank You! Posted July 11, 2008 6:06 PM
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  While short term problems like the economy and the current conflict seem to occupy the minds of many Americans as we enter this electoral season; without a doubt the gravest long term threat to our way of life is the erosion and loss of our Constitutional freedoms, rights, and privileges.

  This vote shakes my faith to the core! If I felt I had ANY better option, I would be smacking the Blue Dogs down with my outrage cast in my vote against ANY who backed this legislation!!

  They're just damned lucky the other side is even worse in its draconian expansion of executive powers and the negation of our rights!!

  I am REALLY curious what they got for selling out our rights!!

  Tip off Posted July 10, 2008 12:53 PM
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  The bill was long over due. Constitutional protections have been expanded and the only folks left in the lurch are those who mean us harm. Hats off to Bush for sticking to his guns and getting a bipartisan bill thru congress. Lame duck I don't think sooooo

  Dan ketter Posted July 10, 2008 11:49 AM
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  This is a sad and dark day in America. Every member of the House and Senate who voted for this bill has legislatively criminalized themselves. Each person is now a criminal and unfit for office, even Obama. McCain, by not voting at all, fares better than the 69 who voted for it. Americans should express their anger and dismay by letting Congress know that they won't get your votes.

  Doug Clark Posted July 10, 2008 8:22 AM
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  I hope if I ever commit a crime I can pay congress to have immunity after the fact. Since this will now basically cancel the 4th amendment, maybe we won't have to worry about terrorism anymore. After all, they hate us for our freedoms. With one more freedom done away with, there isn't as much to hate us about.

  Kurt Posted July 9, 2008 7:00 PM
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  Congress has sold out the American public once again! Hey Dems, what about all that rhetortic on stopping Czar Bush? Yea, right! It just goes to show, DEM/REP, it doesn't matter anymore!

  Don Eiermann Posted July 9, 2008 6:23 PM