A threat from Bin Laden (possible debate)

[CapeCodTenor]

I just found this story about Bin Laden's threat and it brought up, in my mind at least, the whole wire tapping issue going on right now. Knowing that there is this recent threat from Bin Laden, could you (you, used in general, the public), justify the continuation of the wiretappings? And of course on the flip side of all this, if the wiretappings were to stop and a terrorist attack happened here in America, would you (again used in general) want the wiretappings to start up again? Just a thought. Here's the link...BBC

 

[CathrynRose]

I didnt have a problem with the wiretaps the first time around. Certainly dont have a problem with it now.

I find it hard to beleive that everyone feels these wiretaps are *new*. Do you honestly think it never went on before??? It just happened to get leaked.

 

[CathrynRose]

I just found this story about Bin Laden's threat and it brought up, in my mind at least, the whole wire tapping issue going on right now. Knowing that there is this recent threat from Bin Laden, could you (you, used in general, the public), justify the continuation of the wiretappings? And of course on the flip side of all this, if the wiretappings were to stop and a terrorist attack happened here in America, would you (again used in general) want the wiretappings to start up again? Just a thought. Here's the link...BBC

AND - you posted looking for comments and opinions, whats yours????

 

[jimmiej]

I don't have a problem with the wire-tapping. It should continue for now.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

AND - you posted looking for comments and opinions, whats yours????

Sorry about that... I totally forgot to give my opinion. First off, I realize that there are/were reports that stated Clinton, Bush 41, Reagan and Carter used these wiretappings before, so therefor nothing new. However, I asked this because this seems to be such a heated topic right now.

As for my opinion, I don't have a problem with it and wouldn't mind it continuing. I understand that this brings up the whole privacy issue, but the President isn't trying to do this for personal gain. I've actually heard reports on talk radio that since this has come out, disposable cell phone purchases have gone up considerably. I've tried to locate a story for this so I can link it, but I've no bee successful. So I'm for it.

 

[wvrevy]

Yes, by all means...the closer we can come to 1984 where Big Brother knows everything that we do and say, the better off we'll all be. Who needs the fourth amendment, anyway ? Why...I'd be too scared to go out in public if it weren't for the good, just government of George Dubya Bush watching out for all them evil-doers !

[/sarcasm]

Yeah...um...no. Thanks. I think I'd like to keep the constitution the way it is.

 

[CathrynRose]

I've actually heard reports on talk radio that since this has come out, disposable cell phone purchases have gone up considerably. I've tried to locate a story for this so I can link it, but I've no bee successful. So I'm for it.

I heard this as well - A Target reported a hundred + re-charge cell phones purchased...

Lemme look for it ( a few minutes are going to pass, but you wont notice)

Found one... Im amazing *sigh* : http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=3808042

 

[transparant]

I didnt have a problem with the wiretaps the first time around. Certainly dont have a problem with it now.

I find it hard to beleive that everyone feels these wiretaps are *new*. Do you honestly think it never went on before??? It just happened to get leaked.

Ditto!

 

[CathrynRose]

And I question how many people are making international calls using words like bomb, kill, murder americans, or other the things they'd be listening for, to be so dang worried about their "constitutional rights". I generally dont make calls like this, do you?

I highly doubt they'd continue listening to Aunt Midge in Poland, talk about her fudge recipe. They know who they want to listen to, and why.

Talks (i.e. debates) such as these makes me see so many people wanting to have their cake and keep on eatin' it....

 

[Disney Doll]

Yes, by all means...the closer we can come to 1984 where Big Brother knows everything that we do and say, the better off we'll all be. Who needs the fourth amendment, anyway ? Why...I'd be too scared to go out in public if it weren't for the good, just government of George Dubya Bush watching out for all them evil-doers !

[/sarcasm]

Yeah...um...no. Thanks. I think I'd like to keep the constitution the way it is.

Then I assume that if the government stops wire-tapping and another terrorist attack occurs, that you would not be jumping on the bandwagon of people who will be blaming the government for not knowing, right?

 

[olena]

The price of gold just shot up as a result.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

I heard this as well - A Target reported a hundred + re-charge cell phones purchased...

Lemme look for it ( a few minutes are going to pass, but you wont notice)

Found one... Im amazing *sigh* : http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=3808042

Thanks for posting this...apparently my research skills are lacking. Thanks again for posting this.

 

[Disney Doll]

Yes, by all means...the closer we can come to 1984 where Big Brother knows everything that we do and say, the better off we'll all be. Who needs the fourth amendment, anyway ? Why...I'd be too scared to go out in public if it weren't for the good, just government of George Dubya Bush watching out for all them evil-doers !

[/sarcasm]

Yeah...um...no. Thanks. I think I'd like to keep the constitution the way it is.

And I can safely assume that, when another terrorist attack occurs, that you will not be jumping on the bandwagon of people who will be angry at the governemnt for not knowing, because your 4th Amendment right was protected by not having wiretapping.

 

[wvrevy]

There is a secret court, right there for easy use, that can, will, and has issued subpoenas for just such cases. There is no reason at all to avoid that court unless you were trying to do something that you knew you could not get a subpoena for.

As for your "logic" that it will somehow stop a terrorist attack...yes, it may. And stopping all gun sales will stop gun deaths...and stopping all alcohol sales will stop drunk driving...and stopping all free speech will stop all kinds of nasty things from slander to hate speech to riot incitement.

So...just how many of your rights are you willing to give up before you stop cowering in fear of the .00000001% chance that you could die in a terrorist attack ?

 

[Free4Life11]

I find it hard to beleive that everyone feels these wiretaps are *new*. Do you honestly think it never went on before??? It just happened to get leaked.

That's what I think too!

 

[Mom2be]

I didnt have a problem with the wiretaps the first time around. Certainly dont have a problem with it now.

I find it hard to beleive that everyone feels these wiretaps are *new*. Do you honestly think it never went on before??? It just happened to get leaked.

I don't have a problem with wiretaps either - when they are done legally. Thus far the question is what Bush LEGAL in the actions that he took. If they are illegal then I'm sorry I have a HUGE GIGANTIC problem with the POTUS doing something illegal. Much like lying under oath

There is a way to do wiretaps LEGALLY as long as they are done within the letter of the law you will not hear a complaint from me. The problem is Bush didn't seem to think the system of checks and balances between the executive branch and judiciary branch were all that important.

~Amanda

 

[Free4Life11]

Found one... Im amazing *sigh* : http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=3808042

Uh oh I have a prepaid cell phone....

 

[Mom2be]

And I can safely assume that, when another terrorist attack occurs, that you will not be jumping on the bandwagon of people who will be angry at the governemnt for not knowing, because your 4th Amendment right was protected by not having wiretapping.

Assume away - I didn't jump on that bandwagon the last time, nothing would change this time.

As for how many conversations on the phone do I have that contain words like "bomb" "Terroris" blah blah blah - I actually have quite a few. But my friends and I tend to talk politics and therefore those words aren't exactly foreign in my conversations. I guess I should be tapped then?

~Amanda

 

[Puffy2]

I just found this story about Bin Laden's threat and it brought up, in my mind at least, the whole wire tapping issue going on right now. Knowing that there is this recent threat from Bin Laden, could you (you, used in general, the public), justify the continuation of the wiretappings? And of course on the flip side of all this, if the wiretappings were to stop and a terrorist attack happened here in America, would you (again used in general) want the wiretappings to start up again? Just a thought. Here's the link...BBC

Here's a thought...perhaps if the Bu$h administration had been more concerned with doing a complete job in Afghanastan (instead of the halfass job that they did) and perhaps if they had actually thought it was important to hunt down and kill Bin Laden (instead of claiming stating that the Bush Administration is no longer concerned with him) , we would not have had another tape from the SOB today.

So the way I see it, it's the Bu$h administration's lack of will and continual blundering that increasingly puts America in harms way. And I fail to see how allowing them to take anymore FREEDOMS away from the Ameircan people will improve the situation.

New Leaders, Real Change, Skilled Global Diplomacy - that's what America needs.

 

[Puffy2]

There is a way to do wiretaps LEGALLY as long as they are done within the letter of the law you will not hear a complaint from me. The problem is Bush didn't seem to think the system of checks and balances between the executive branch and judiciary branch were all that important.

Ditto. What I can't wait for is when they actually get a list of the wire taps...who wants to bet that there will be a string of political enemies of the Bu$h adminstration on that list (with no connection to the war of "terror")?