Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Senator Roberts -- Chairman, Senate Cover-up Committee
Dear Senator Roberts,
I am very disappointed that the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence rejected a proposal by Vice Chairman Sen. John D. Rockefeller to conduct a Congressional review of the NSA warrantless spying program. As Chairman of the Committee, I trust that you can take significant credit for that outcome.
From reading the news, and other research, I estimate that more than 60% of Americans are feeling the way I do. We were really hoping that this time, our Congress would stand up for its People. The President of the United States first told us that "Wiretaps require a court order," and he later admitted on national TV that he had been authorizing and conducting warrantless domestic surveillance activities for nearly four years. One of those statements is a lie, which the president told all of the People.
Senator, do you represent the People of the United States; or do you represent the Secret Police?
I will spare you from the litany of instances I've observed, when you have supported the Administration's subversion of the US Constitution and the Rule of Law. It seems adequate to say that you have a consistent track record of having taken positions that favor the expansion of Executive privilege and power, while taking that privilege and power away from citizens. Your positions regarding warrantless domestic spying, Iraq intelligence, intelligence leaking and torture are contrary to everything I understand about the US Constitution and what it means to live in this country.
I believe that it was Franklin D. Roosevelt who told Americans that "We have nothing to fear, but Fear, itself." And I believe it was Benjamin Franklin who told us that if we gave up our Liberty for security, then we would have neither.
America and the world face a grave challenge from Terrorism. However, to meet that challenge, we need leadership; not governmental fear mongering.
We must play by the rules that have served us so well for nearly 220 years. If we must surrender our civil liberties to protect our national security, then I believe that the terrorists have already won.
As a US Senator, you are sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution, even if many citizens are sufficiently naïve that they would waive their Constitutional rights out of government-inspired fear. Your support for laws and policies that would nullify the Bill of Rights contradicts your Oath of Office, and it undermines the rights of all Americans.
Sincerely,
[jj]
