New LTTE

[yellowdogmi]

During the annual State of the Union address President Bush said, “Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025.”
You cant imagine my confusion when the day after the President delivered those words his aides Sam Bodman and Alan Hubbard qualified his remarks by saying “that was purely an example”
If that was the only example I had noticed of the President not being straight with the American people I could probably dismiss it, unfortunately there have been other similar occurrences. On September 12th 2001 the President said, “We will not allow this enemy to win the war by changing our way of life or restricting our freedoms.” With that phrase running through my brain I wonder how Mr. Bush can try to justify his domestic spying program. By violating all citizens civil rights haven’t the terrorist won?
Mr. Bush has mentioned that it is a limited program. I ask how limited? He says he is only targeting terrorist. I ask how can we be sure. The only way that we can be sure is if he keeps members of the Joint House Senate Committee on Intelligence informed and apprised of his actions. As I understand his program he has failed to do this citing security concerns. I have a problem swallowing that defense. If our members of the Congressional delegation cannot be trusted with classified information what are they doing there? Mr. Bush appears to have notified some members of Congress but not the ones he was required to.
After unilaterally deciding that the requirements to abide by the FISA law was too cumbersome he assures us that he is within his constitutionally defined powers. The Attorney General has declared that the President has the inherent power to take such action under the constitution. I think his explanation is a phenomenal example of circular logic and completely without a basis in facts. Our founding fathers decided that specific natural rights needed to be enumerated to protect citizens and approved our bill of rights. Since those amendments occurred subsequent to the ratification of our constitution they amend our constitution and should supercede the presidents war powers.
Many times in our past, Presidents have used powers that are not afforded by the constitution and many of those instances have been great embarrassments to our nation.
I am sure that some out there will question my patriotism for this criticism of Mr. Bush and his policies. I think that it is unpatriotic to remain silent while executive over reaching undermines our Bill of Rights. The supporters of this administration will remind me that we are at war and that I am living in a pre 911 world. I say that I will not be cowed by continual fear mongering. That would be an insult to our brave American heritage. Thomas Jefferson said, “The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive… The people are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.” I think this is one of those occasions. Please join me in this defense of our liberty by resisting this abuse of executive power. Please call on your representatives to stop shirking their mandated duty to the constitution and restrain this out of control Unitary Executive.


I could probably use a little bit of group editing before sending it off. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
YD

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Your strongest sentence is:

"I think that it is unpatriotic to remain silent while executive overreaching undermines our Bill of Rights."

All of it is good, but I feel that that is the heart of your argument, and it was quite well put.

[yellowdogmi]

2. Thank you.

I don't know if this one will get published or not but I make it a point to send out at least one a week. Just me trying to counter the repukes.