But let me first respond to your initial statements. If ever you want to debate with another person, usually it is best to use facts that support your statements rather than personal attacks. Using facts at least would show you know something of what you are speaking rather than displaying that you are a person who succumbs easily to political “spin” and fear mongering. As far as dark secrets, I have none, however I do have 2 children that I would love to leave a nation of liberty to.

As far as terrorism, this country has contributed to it’s fair share of it around the work. When we put our nose in another country’s government by covert coups and the like, well that’s terrorism!

As far as the Constitution, during those early years, our young nation was attacked quite a bit. We almost lost to Britain if you can remember your early American history, if you did get a chance to study that in school.

FISA is an old piece of legislation from the 70’s. It authorizes wiretapping through a FISA court, meaning if the government needs to follow someone, which they have done in all but 5 cases, the government would furnish the telecom industry with warrants to do so. It has served our nation in all previous investigations quite well. You can research Richard A. Clarke’s statements online for further information on FISA and what it has done for yourself. Judging by your personal attacks and ignorance on this issue, it is probably best that you do that yourself.

The recent FISA addition was presented in Congress by Jay Rockefeller, Democrat of West Virginia. Rockefeller added to the FISA legislation a telecom immunity clause. This is because the telelcom industry is currently facing many lawsuits for illegal tapping on Americans. See their warrantless wiretapping makes some of the acts of Watergate legal, corporate spying on newer corps legal, incumbents listening in to opponents legal. Basically without a warrant, they can listen to anyone for any reason and just call it suspicion of terrorism.

Now as far as terrorist attacks, let’s not use the shot gun method and fear mongering for false arguments. The government was warned about 9/11 before the attacks and did nothing. That has clearly been proven throughout all the media over the past years. Illegal wire tapping had nothing to do with that situation, either discovering it or stopping any more of it. Wiretapping did nothing to bring intelligence that the original legislation couldn’t have done. The government had the intelligence about 9/11 and did nothing. I’m sure you have had a chance to at least turn on C-Span at some point to view these facts.

For some background, check into heavily telecom funded Jay Rockefeller and you will see he is being flushed with the telecom industry money. You must be intelligent enough to understand that different industries do this for “favors”.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A06E2D7123EF933A15753C1A9619C8B63
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/11/29/telecom_lobbying/index.html
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/09/22/telecom_immunity/
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/10/dem-pushing-spy.html

Yes this nation needs protection, but when you consider that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, that Al Qaeda was never there until we brought them the opportunity, that we destroyed Afghanistan and then left without aiding in rebuilding and allowing Al Qaeda and the Talliban to walk right in there again, an intelligent person would have to begin asking questions.

If the wiretapping were truly used to find terrorists, then they can get a warrant from the court and do their job. I’m not sure exactly why there would be a reason to just let the phone companies tap lines without some regulation.

If we continue to strip away at our Constitution at the hands of an out of balance government, then we are truly not a Republic any longer. And if all you do is listen to the TV news, you are grossly misinformed.

God bless, J