Yesterday we had
Gonzales' confession that the President knowingly and willfully violated FISA. Once again, before the Senate Judiciary and Intelligence Committees even consider revising FISA, they need to address the fact that the President broke the law.
Senator Byrd has responded by introducing legislation to create an independent commission to investigate the Administration's secret spying program.
In a climate of fear, liberties have been sacrificed time and again under the guise of keeping the Nation from harm. Fear is a powerful tool for manipulation, useful for easing the American people out of their liberties and into submission. When the public is confronted with a situation, real or imagined, that inspires fear, they rightfully look to their leaders for protection from foreboding consequences. The claim of wartime necessity always strengthens a President. And often facts are sealed from the prying eyes of Congress by a purported need for secrecy.
But, Senators have a sworn duty to check executive power in times of crisis or otherwise. We are each bound to defend the Constitution, and the liberties it gives to all Americans, in times of peace and war. History has shown us many times that a climate of fear can take a hefty toll on our freedoms. Worse still, are liberties surrendered in vain, resulting in little added security.
There is no doubt that Constitutional freedoms will never be abolished in one fell swoop, for the American people cherish their freedoms, and would not tolerate such a loss if they could perceive it. But the erosion of freedom rarely comes as an all-out frontal assault, but rather as a gradual, noxious creeping, cloaked in secrecy, and glossed over by reassurances of greater security.
Every U.S. Senator has an obligation to fulfill their Constitutional duty to check executive power. Furthermore, they have just as solemn obligation to their constituents. They need look no further to determine the will of the American people than the latest Quinnipac poll. By a 55-42 majority, Americans believe the government should get court orders before monitoring the phone calls and e-mails of suspected terrorists. Even red state voters want the administration to obtain warrants.
By a 76-19 percent margin, American voters say the government should continue monitoring phone calls or e-mail between suspected terrorists in other countries and people in the U.S., according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. But voters say 55-42 percent that the government should get court orders for this surveillance.
Voters in "purple states," 12 states in which there was a popular vote margin of 5 percentage points or less in the 2004 Presidential election, plus Missouri, considered the most accurate barometer of Presidential voting, want wiretap warrants 57-39 percent.
Red states, where President George W. Bush's margin was more than 5 percent in 2004, disagree 51-46 percent with the President that the government does not need warrants. Blue state voters who backed John Kerry by more than 5 percent want warrants 57-40 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. [emphasis mine]
What's more, 57 percent of those polled are "'extremely' or 'quite' worried that phone and e-mail taps without warrants could be misused to violate people's privacy." It's encouraging to know that the majority of Americans still believe in the rule of law. Too bad they elected a President who doesn't.
Senators, are you listening?
Update [2006-3-2 14:44:34 by mcjoan]: Understand that this 55-42 number comes in the face of a question really skewed in favor of Bush. It starts out with the statement of President Bush, brings in "suspected terrorists" and trails off at the end with the "court order." This was a pretty alert group of respondents.
President Bush says the government can use wiretaps to listen to telephone calls and read e-mails between suspected terrorists in other countries and some people in the United States without a court order. Others say such wiretaps require a court order. Which comes closer to your view?
