Yesterday Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner sent the following letter
to Eric Holder, Attorney General of the United States
“As the author of the Patriot Act, I am extremely troubled by the FBI’s interpretation of this legislation. While I believe the Patriot Act appropriately balanced national security concerns and civil rights, I have always worried about potential abuses. The Bureau’s broad application for phone records was made under the so-called business records provision of the Act. I do not believe the broadly drafted FISA order is consistent with the requirements of the Patriot Act. Seizing phone records of millions of innocent people is excessive and un-American.”
I
too have been a supporter of the Patriot Act but the present interpretation of
the law is wrong and if necessary should be amended to limit the power of the
National Security Agency (NSA) to monitor domestic calls and internet in the
United States. If I post something on this
blog it’s for the world to see. However,
who I call and for how long I call is my business! The same is true for my email and my searches
on Google or other search engines. I have no problem with the NSA monitoring calls
or emails from the United States to other countries or calls or emails coming into
the United States from other countries.
But, short of probable cause the government should not be able to monitor
domestic communications within this country.
This
is not a partisan issue. I find it hard
to believe that I stand with the ACLU, The New York Times, Al Gore, and Oregon Senator
Ron Wyden on this issue. I find it more
comforting that Kentucky Senator Rand Paul,
lawyer & radio commentator Mark Levin and Judge Napolitano also stands with
me on this issue.
It
is becoming clear to me that the Federal Government of the United States is out
of control. Neither the President or Congress
is able to take control of the large bureaucracy. The President needs to give
up his job of “Campaigner in Chief” and sit in the Oval Office and run the government.
The Congress of the United States needs to create less laws and government and
limit the rule making authority of the bureaucracy.
There is no greater supporter of the War on Terrorism than I
am. In fact, I even acknowledge we are
WAR on terrorism but I also do not trust big government and there must be check
on government power and constant vigilance by free men and women to guard our
freedom. We must draw a line and make a stand!
Jonah Goldberg in his column today said it best:
No, I don’t have much confidence in this administration. But I don’t have an abundance of confidence in government generally. That’s one of the things I love about America: The default position is to be skeptical of government, no matter who’s in charge.
