enator Gordon Smith voted to expand the Powers of the Executive to conduct warrantless wiretaps. My letter to the Senator expressing concern for his priorities with our consitutional rights is below the fold.
On Friday, just before the Congressional Summer recess, you performed your duty as an elected representative in the Senate and cast a vote to make changes in the FISA law.
As you approach a new election season and new challengers have announced to contest your seat, I am sure that your vote in this matter merely reflects the hurried and pressured nature of the end of the session.
How else can it be explained that you voted for warrentless domestic surveillance to be conducted based on the "sole authority" of Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez. How else can it be explained that the level of "proof" required to initiate this surveillance is a measure called "reasonably believed". How else can it be explained that the only checks and balance you approved to protect Constitutional Rights are between the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence both of whom are in the same executive branch.
When your constituents ask how well you performed your duty as George Washington defined it, to "... pour legislation into the senatorial saucer... to cool it," what will you say?
As a constituent, I am sure that you will welcome the opportunity to stand tall and proudly vote for the Constitution and the rights of all American Citizens to 4th Amendment Protections when this legislative travesty sunsets six months from now.