Whistleblower
Benjamin Franklin wrote: “They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserves neither liberty nor safety.”
Russ Tice, former National Security Agency officer was one of a dozen sources for “The New York Times” story on NSA’s eavesdropping program. Tice reported a crime, which the president didn’t want the American people to know about. The crime was that Bush violated his oath of office by failing to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. By not using the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, Bush conducted himself as if he is above the law and that the Constitution’s checks and balances don’t apply to him.
Bush claims that Tice’s actions are shameful. In 2004, Bush reassured the nation: “Any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires a court order. Nothing has changed. When we're talking about chasing down terrorists, we're talking about getting a court order before we do so. It's important for our fellow citizens to understand, when you think Patriot Act, constitutional guarantees are in place when it comes to doing what is necessary to protect our homeland, because we value the Constitution.” Humbug! Bush’s actions are shameful because he had personally approved domestic spying without involving the surveillance court in 2002.
Tice feels his action are not shameful because he reported a crime, and he’s not worried about the leak investigation, because he hasn’t revealed any classified material. It may not be true that eavesdropping program is limited to people with contacts that are considered dangerous to us. Tice wonders; why wasn’t the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court used?
Former Republican Congressman Bob Barr said, “The President has dared the American people to do something about it. For the sake of the Constitution, I hope they will.”
After shutting down the domestic spying investigation Senate Republicans caved in to political pressure from the White House by proposing a compromise bill, which they claim will provide "very rigorous oversight" of Bush's no-warrant domestic surveillance program. The bill would allow Bush to authorize wiretapping for up to 45 days without seeking a warrant. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has been in place to accommodate emergency eavesdropping, but it was too much of a hassle for this arrogant regime.
Bush committed a crime and broke the law, but this Republican controlled Congress responded by creating a new law without holding anyone responsible. Again, we are expected trust that Bush will not violate the new law.
Russ Tice lost his job, because National Security Agency officers don’t have whistleblower protection. Congress would be considering a whistleblower protection law, if they weren’t Bush’s bootlicks.
Russ Tice, former National Security Agency officer was one of a dozen sources for “The New York Times” story on NSA’s eavesdropping program. Tice reported a crime, which the president didn’t want the American people to know about. The crime was that Bush violated his oath of office by failing to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. By not using the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, Bush conducted himself as if he is above the law and that the Constitution’s checks and balances don’t apply to him.
Bush claims that Tice’s actions are shameful. In 2004, Bush reassured the nation: “Any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires a court order. Nothing has changed. When we're talking about chasing down terrorists, we're talking about getting a court order before we do so. It's important for our fellow citizens to understand, when you think Patriot Act, constitutional guarantees are in place when it comes to doing what is necessary to protect our homeland, because we value the Constitution.” Humbug! Bush’s actions are shameful because he had personally approved domestic spying without involving the surveillance court in 2002.
Tice feels his action are not shameful because he reported a crime, and he’s not worried about the leak investigation, because he hasn’t revealed any classified material. It may not be true that eavesdropping program is limited to people with contacts that are considered dangerous to us. Tice wonders; why wasn’t the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court used?
Former Republican Congressman Bob Barr said, “The President has dared the American people to do something about it. For the sake of the Constitution, I hope they will.”
After shutting down the domestic spying investigation Senate Republicans caved in to political pressure from the White House by proposing a compromise bill, which they claim will provide "very rigorous oversight" of Bush's no-warrant domestic surveillance program. The bill would allow Bush to authorize wiretapping for up to 45 days without seeking a warrant. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has been in place to accommodate emergency eavesdropping, but it was too much of a hassle for this arrogant regime.
Bush committed a crime and broke the law, but this Republican controlled Congress responded by creating a new law without holding anyone responsible. Again, we are expected trust that Bush will not violate the new law.
Russ Tice lost his job, because National Security Agency officers don’t have whistleblower protection. Congress would be considering a whistleblower protection law, if they weren’t Bush’s bootlicks.
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