ACLU’s Full Page Propaganda In NY Times Part II
Posted on January 5, 2006
Last month the ACLU started their full page ad campaign against President Bush over the NSA program. Today they came in for another swing. They continue to try and draw out a comparison of what Bush did by authorizing phone taps on international calls to known terrorists, to what Nixon did back in the day.
Via ACLU
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: media@aclu.orgAnswers Needed as Patriot Act Debate Continues, ACLU Says
NEW YORK — As President George W. Bush continues to push for Patriot Act renewal, the American Civil Liberties Union ran a full-page advertisement in the New York Times today criticizing the president for authorizing the National Security Agency to engage in illegal surveillance of Americans.
The ad, which is the third in a series, quotes the president’s statement that the Patriot Act has clear safeguards to ensure that law enforcement officers need court approval to place a wiretap. The ACLU says such statements contradict President Bush’s approval of warrantless spying on American citizens.
“President Bush has lied to the American public while secretly authorizing government agents to run roughshod over our civil liberties,” said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. “The president’s own actions make it clear that we need additional checks on broad federal powers that threaten the freedom of innocent Americans.”
The new ACLU ad quotes President Bush discussing the Patriot Act on June 9, 2005, stating that law enforcement officers need a federal judge’s permission to engage in electronic surveillance of a suspected terrorist. But, in light of the president’s repeated NSA authorizations, the ad asks, “Why did we bother debating the Patriot Act if President Bush could make up his own rules about spying on U.S. citizens?”
The advertisement, as well as similar ACLU ads that ran in December, compare the actions and words of President Bush and former President Nixon, both of whom denied allegations of illegal spying. The current ad highlights the concerns of John W. Dean, former legal counsel to Nixon: “In acting here without Congressional approval, Bush has underlined that his Presidency is unchecked — in his and his attorneys’ view, utterly beyond the law. Now that he has turned the truly awesome powers of the NSA on Americans, what asserted powers will Bush use next?”
Today’s advertisement follows reports that the Justice Department, rather than investigating the legality of the NSA surveillance, is seeking out individuals who disclosed information on the program. The ACLU has called for the appointment of an outside special counsel to determine whether oaths of office or federal laws were violated through the NSA program
.
So the propaganda continues, as the civil libertarians and liberals join hands to go after Bush.
Bush is excoriated for exercising his Constitutional responsibilities by intercepting and surveilling communications with foreign agents KNOWN to be enemies of the U.S.
That’s not “spying on Americans”. It’s spying on terrorists’ communications, whomever they may be.
And that legitimately scares the bejazus outa the ACLU, especially since it has regularly engaged in active support of terrorists and may well be in a few terrorists’ rollodexes…
Linked at Wizbang
Point Five
» Filed Under ACLU, News, War On Terror
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23 Responses to “ACLU’s Full Page Propaganda In NY Times Part II”
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You’re right… Let’s not investigate possible wrong-doing by the Pres. Think for yourself people. You might not agree with the ACLU as a general matter, but are you actually suggesting that the American people should not ask for honesty and integrity from our leaders? Should we just roll over and the let the Pres do any anything he likes (whether it be legal or not) because you happen to like the guy?
Hey Mary I say give the prez, regardless if he is republican or democrat full power to defeat our enemy, that being terrorism. If you can not see that go live in another country that is not safe from them like Iraq.
The photo link had an error so I couldn’t view the whole page upclose. Mary, the President isn’t doing anything wrong. Investigate all you want: you won’t find what you’re looking for. This doesn’t take away that the ACLU is a sick group with a disgusting agenda.
And if you were a Clinton supporter, please refrain from demanding honesty and integrity from our leaders; lightening might strike.
“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.
We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.” Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1961. Eisenhower knew a thing or two about international struggle and war. I think his words are very apt.
Sorry Pappy, I’m not leaving. This country was founded on the values that I stand for — Freedom of Speech and the right to question my government — especially when my family and loved ones are on the front line.
Mary, you don’t have to worry about your phone calls being listened too unless you happen to be talking to a terrorist.
That is actually not yet proven, Jay. That is exactly the point. The tapping and spying has been happening to innocent people. Take for example the spying on Quaker meeting houses. I am a Friend, and I really don’t like the idea of this government threatening my religious freedom by spying on my church. Is it really that hard to understand?
It would be wise to link to a (downloaded to Stop the ACLU file manager) copy of the PDF (which is also readable in detail) instead of giving these clowns who don’t understand the difference between our hard working Law Enforcement Officers - and Top Secret Crypto cleared NSA employees. No one is going to waste the time to listen to private conversations - even if it were desired - it’s impossible! These calls are from specific terrorist threatening phones - (originating out of country I believe?) Average everyday citizens have nothing to worry about (unless they’ve gotten calls from suspected terrorists and their KNOWN connections!) If you are talking to terrorists and know you are - beware - hope they find you soon! If you are talking to terrorists and don’t know that you are - the “don’t know” will come out in the tapes and THIS could be your safety net as the round the terrorist connection up!
Investigate away!
By carefully and wittingly conflating classes of behaviors in some cases and making false distinctions in others, the ACLU and its ilk seek to tar this president with the “spying on Americans” brush.
While the Clintoonistas get a bye for spying DIRECTLY on Americans for economic and political reasons, quite outside the parameters of any legal authority, Bush is excoriated for exercising his Constitutional responsibilities by intercepting and surveilling communications with foreign agents KNOWN to be enemies of the U.S.
That’s not “spying on Americans”. It’s spying on terrorists’ communications, whomever they may be.
And that legitimately scares the bejazus outa the ACLU, especially since it has regularly engaged in active support of terrorists and may well be in a few terrorists’ rollodexes…
Frankly, I wonder (COMPLETE SPECULATION in absence of any facts to date) is the ACLU’s lwyers aren’t worried that some of THEIR treasonous contacts (again, speculation) with terrorists may not have been monitored.
As I plainly said, I have NO WAY of knowing if this speculation has ANY basis in fact, but you know what they say about a atuck pig…
Oye, I think it must have been Firefox. The ad is showing now. Hmm. I thought maybe the ACLU was ashamed of themselves for a minute there….
Can I get a Heil Dubya?
Will a *CYA* or take-a-hike suffice?
Lobo
great link; scary stuff:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110007760
yours,
http://dicklist.blogspot.com
If America was founded on the principles you stand for, then we’d all be guilty until proven innocent.
That said, I don’t think that anyone is calling for a cessation to any investigation, only that the “outing” of a top-secret NSA program in the NY Times is top priority for investigations, and the dems are merely showing their weakness by harping on the president insteat of the Domestic spy who did this.
ACLU is quoting John Dean?
Former White House counsel John W. Dean III was charged with obstruction of justice and spent four months in prison for his role in the Watergate cover-up.
Laughable.
Has the ACLU been stripped of their tax exemption status yet? The last two years have certainly proven that this group has a blatantly obvious political agenda to help the liberal and democrat cause.
To the “Amy” that is a Friend, have you been acting treasonous? Have you done something that would warrant the fear on your part of the government coming after you?
Are you planning to attack something? Or are you not wanting the government to keep tabs on your becuase you are planning on running for office and don’t want them to out an orgy you may or may not have been at?
If you are not doing anything wrong why would you care if the government knows what is going on outside of your house?
I wouldn’t worry too much; anybody who’s only source of information is the NYT is already lost.
Bottom line: We have NOT been attacked since 9/11. Ooops… I said it.
Another point: How many times were we attacked when Clinton was running things and bombing asprin factories to cover up his LIE under oath, in front of a grand jury?
…hhhmmmm…
Kohbar Towers, African Embassy, U.S.S. Cole, just to name a few, and let us not forget 9/11, though during Bushs’ 1st term, the inaction of the Clinton Admin. and the intell. agencies played important factors in the ability of those hijackers to operate under the radar.
So lets argue about whether or not the govt. is listening to you and your significant other talk dirty to each other on the phone and just let everyone live their life in complete privacy.
Don’t worry, you can browse on all the porno you want, hell you can even go cam to cam with perfect strangers, no one is going to tell your “other-half”, we promise. You can be as nasty and perverted as you want and WE DON’T CARE!
Just don’t drag our kids in it.
I suppose the department stores and convenient stores should watch their backs because they film EVERYONE that walks through their PUBLIC areas.
And if we get attacked then, hey we can impeach Bush.
Because that’s what it’s REALLY about, revenge for the impeachment of Clinton.
Oh and revenge for the 2000 election….Thank GOD for the electoral college.
Was McGovern a terrorist? If so, Nixon is now vindicated. Hoorah!
Does anyone recall how W did not want his personal details revealed in the 2000 campaign?
But ours are just fine for peeking by W.
Can we turn the NSA spying on the Bush family?
Dear Jay,
Have you ever noticed that if a police officer catches a murderer red-handed, he is referred to as the ‘alleged’ murderer.
President Bush has the Constitution right, and DUTY, to protect America from ALL enemies foreign and DOMESTIC. Period.
Yet the newspapers get away with calling what he did ‘illegal’? Sad. No, pathetic.
“The tapping and spying has been happening to innocent people. Take for example the spying on Quaker meeting houses.”
I am sure you have the proof and sources to back that statement. I, for one, would be interested in seeing it.
Mary: “That is actually not yet proven Jay.”
Neither is it proven that he was spying on civillians. Bush does not have to prove his innocence, his accusers have to prove his guilt. That is how our system works Mary. We don’t just assume that because there is an investigation that someone is guilty. Until they prove otherwise, Bush is innocent. I can also tell you as the son of a former NSA agent that while the agency is secrative, and immensley powerful, that these conspiracy theories have agents stationed all over the world laughing themselves to death.
Oh yeah. The president is really interested in my convos. I’m sure he’s just dying to hear what I did today. C’mon people. If you’re doing nothing illegal, why should you care one way or the other. If the President were listening in on my calls, I wouldn’t care. I’m not doing anything illegal. The only people concerned about this are those that are guilty of treason and do have cause to be alarmed.