FISA bill - Response from my Senator
Posted July 15th, 2008 by jkeehn1
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Dear Mr. xxxxx:
Thank you for contacting me regarding foreign intelligence surveillance. I appreciate hearing from you and would like to respond to your concerns.
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978 provided the U.S. intelligence community with a framework to regulate the collection of electronic surveillance on foreign intelligence targets, while protecting the Constitutional civil liberties of U.S. citizens. FISA was written to distinguish between the collection of information on a physical wire versus collection of signals broadcast in the open air. In 1978, almost all U.S. domestic calls were on a wire and almost all international communications were transmitted via satellites through the air. Therefore, FISA required all U.S. intelligence agencies to obtain a court order to intercept a wire-to-wire communication or any communication transmitted domestically. FISA, however, did not require court orders to intercept and collect wireless communications outside the United States.
On July 9, 2008, Congress presented the President with the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 (H.R. 6304) which modernizes our collection of foreign intelligence. This measure clarifies that FISA’s requirement of prior court approval does not apply to surveillance that is targeted at a person reasonably believed to be located outside the United States in accordance with the bill’s procedures. H. R. 6304 would allow the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence to jointly authorize the targeting of persons reasonably believed to be located outside the United States to acquire foreign intelligence information for periods of up to one year. H.R. 6304 in addition requires prior court approval for surveillance of U.S. citizens who are overseas. H.R. 6304 will provide, upon a certification by the Attorney General, retroactive immunity to carriers that allegedly participated in the President’s Terrorist Surveillance Program. It also provides prospective immunity to participating telecommunications carriers for certain assistance.
Throughout the history of our republic, we have always been concerned about the proper balance between security and freedom. Those who are generally concerned about the power of government to trample on the rights of free citizens when necessity dictates are right to insist on maintaining the individual civil liberties afforded by our Constitution, especially in times of crisis. Keeping our homeland safe from foreign threats is my number one priority as an elected official, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act provides intelligence professionals with the legal authority to intercept communications from foreign terrorist to individuals within our borders. H.R. 6304 represents a balanced approach to target terrorist planning attacks while carefully respecting civil liberties. It is important to understand that the phone records are not used to spy on the lives of innocent Americans, and instead focus on tracking terrorist who want to harm the American people.
We must remember we are at war with a ruthless enemy that has no regard for human life and exploits the openness of our society to harm us at home and abroad. I am committed to defeating terrorist and their actions that would lead to harm and devastation towards our country. I believe H.R. 6304 is a necessary update to FISA in order for us to continue to protect ourselves from these threats. However, having experienced life under a totalitarian regime, I value our Constitutional civil liberties, and I will continue to protect these rights as your Senator.
Thank you very much for sharing your concerns. Do not hesitate to contact me with any additional questions or comments you may have. For more information about issues and activities important to Florida, please sign up for my weekly newsletter at http://martinez.senate.go....
Sincerely,
Mel Martinez
United States Senator
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I got essentially the same B.S. fearmongering response
from my senators as well. My House rep has long since stopped responding to any emails sent to him. As a dedicated neocon, it is evident that he does not entertain any obligation to respond to any of the little people.
what a load of shit. the
what a load of shit. the bottom line is this. if their number one goal is to protect us from this so-called ruthless, murderous force which we cant perceive with even one of our 5 senses, then the answer is clear. get someone elected whose number one priority is liberty and freedom. otherwise it doesnt matter how many bricks you throw their faces, theyre still going to be standing firm on the same busted, broken, ill-conceived platform.
Why is he ignoring the
Federal Reserve system here? Aren't they foreign owned and terrorizing our economy, attacking the core of our Republic? Why not do something about them if he is so concerned with protecting our nation.
"We must remember we are at war with a ruthless enemy that has no regard for human life and exploits the openness of our society to harm us at home and abroad. I am committed to defeating terrorist and their actions that would lead to harm and devastation towards our country. I believe H.R. 6304 is a necessary update to FISA in order for us to continue to protect ourselves from these threats. However, having experienced life under a totalitarian regime, I value our Constitutional civil liberties, and I will continue to protect these rights as your Senator."
"Typical Senator, Deaf Dumb and Blind! The best money can buy."
Ask him if he is so
Ask him if he is so committed to protecting us from these ruthless enemies why has he and his colleagues allowed the borders to remain wide open for 7 years since 9/11? Sorry no credibility there.
Also if they will not be used to spy on citizens then why do they need the authority?
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Awesome - thanks for sharing
The new FISA bills have ambiguous language when it refers to targeting a person "reasonably believed" to be located outside the US.
Constitution Article I Sec. 9 (2) No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
H.R. 6304 Will provide, upon a certification by the Attorney General, retroactive immunity to carriers...
"Bills of attainder, ex post facto laws, and laws impairing the obligations of contracts, are contrary to the first principles of the social compact, and to every principle of sound legislation. ... The sober people of America are weary of the fluctuating policy which has directed the public councils. They have seen with regret and indignation that sudden changes and legislative interferences, in cases affecting personal rights, become jobs in the hands of enterprising and influential speculators, and snares to the more-industrious and less-informed part of the community." James Madison, Federalist Number 44, 1788.
Ex post facto is a Latin term meaning "from a thing done afterward." Ex post facto often refers to a law that applies retroactively, thereby criminalizing conduct that was legal when originally performed.
You should tell him
So where is the bill that gives me one phone call to my senator in the military comisions act and the patriot act. Hard to call your senator from a fema camp. so once that boundry is crossed how would you get help. Actually he already knows this so he can pretend like he'll always be there for you. "HE WON"T"! this is one case where actions don't speak louder than words. I prefer the words wrote down in law that prove I will get help.
My Response to the Senator
I have a few questions I hope you can answer directly.
1. You mention being committed to defeating terrorists. Since terrorism is a tactic which can't be confined to a particular person, country, or even a time period, do you honestly believe you can ever truly "defeat" it? If so, how do you propose to do so?
2. You mention being at war with a ruthless enemy. You also know that this enemy has no regard for human life. If you know so much about our enemy, can you please indentify with clarity who exactly the enemy is?
3. This may be the most important question of all. You say that your number one priority as an elected official is to keep our homeland safe from foreign threats. Please answer which of the following truly holds higher priority for you both personally and as an elected official: safety or freedom?
I eagerly await your responses.
Sincerely,
A very concerned citizen
borders wide open
Please also ask him why the southern border is wide open if terrorism is such a big concern.
re fisa:
JM
I guess if you buy into all the terrorism bs, the the fisa bill fits the bill. I for one don't agree with any of the present administration's war on terror. This bill is just plain unconstitutional! When congress begins to represent the people, then things might change for the better.
"We must remember we are at war with a ruthless enemy that has no regard for human life and exploits the openness of our society to harm us at home and abroad. I am committed to defeating terrorist and their actions that would lead to harm and devastation towards our country."
This guy is a company man, hook, line, and sinker!
Sounds Like he
got his speech from Hitler's play book.
At least you got a response
You got a response...even though it's just propaganda. I e-mailed both of my senators last Thursday and expressed my opinion that the bill is unconstitutional. I asked both to explain to me why FISA is NOT unconstitutional. I'm still awaiting their replies. I certainly did not and do not expect a reply but I'll continue to hound them for an answer .......that I know won't come.
Whitewash
It still expanded warrantless surveilance, and granted immunity to the enablers, effectively removing any objection thay might have had.
Henious
FISA for Terrorism...yeah right
I listen to sports radio in the morning and remember the NBA referee that got busted for gambling and rigging games?
Well, lo and behold, the GOV. has ALL his phone conversations with other referees and gamblers.
The first case of using the FISA to prosecute Americans. I know it won't be the last.
VOTE everyone of those lying bastards out of Congress!
I checked into this
It looks like only the records of the call times and dialed phone numbers are what was gathered, NOT the conversations. Every phone bill (that I know of) shows you the number called as well as the length of time talked. Now, whether or not that information should be kept privatel is another story.
MANNNN
Are we to believe this shit? These lying bastards will stop at nothing. Lying treasonous bastards. HOW ABOUT YOUR OATH TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION? I guess there is no memo when your country goes fascist/communist. It's pretty clear that the house, senate, congress have no power anymore. They have no spine. It's growing increasingly obvious that CONgress has given up all it's power to a dictator and or future dictators ( I am still questioning if the current administration will step down in sept, like it even matters anymore, we will just get another puppet. ) and CONgress is pretending to have the power. Everything this administration wants it gets, even if the MAJORITY of Americans are against it. Congress is smarter than that folks. They KNOW what they are doing. They know that when the SHTF they will be protected from persecution. They are passing these laws to benefit them, to save thier own skin. They KNOW now what they have done to America with the Patriot Act. They ALL should be tried for treason. If you voted for the Patriot Act you should hang from a tree.
Does anyone wonder why ?......
Congress has a lower approval rating than the President? (9%, roughly) I hope all the people polled will recognize that their Congressman is as much of the problem (except for the 14th Congressional district of Texas, and maybe a few others.
)Libera me, let the truth break, what my fears make--Leslie Phillips