The NSA and "The President's Program" to spy on Americans.
Last week, the Judiciary Committee held an important hearing. That hearing should be the beginning of the process of congressional oversight into what has been called “the President’s program.” This is a domestic spying program into emails and telephone calls of Americans without a judge’s approval, apparently conducted by the National Security Agency. Having participated in the hearing and reviewed the transcript of the Attorney General’s testimony, I understand the fear that this Administration is engaged in an elaborate cover-up of illegality. I urge them to come clean with us and the American people (click on title).
Energy Independence
Energy independence is top issue for voters (click on)
Remember, Carville and Greenberg are professional campaign advisers. They get paid to get people elected - not to offer feel-good nostrums. So when they tell you that their polling and focus groups around the country show that "reducing dependence on foreign oil" is voters' top national security priority, you know that this issue has finally arrived. The party that captures it most credibly will be rewarded.
Securing Our Nations Borders
It has taken from September 11, 2001 to NOW to get a Port Security Bill and that only occurred because the 'reality' of American Ports was realized through an alarm sent out that foreign investors could potentially, even if unintentionally, compromise our country's security and safety.
FIVE YEARS FOR A National Security Ports Bill.
FIVE YEARS.
And ONLY because the USA Public 'figured it out' NOT because Bush gave a damn in the first place.
FIVE. Count them.
One - 2001 to 2002
Two - 2002 to 2003
Three - 2003 to 2004
Four - 2004 to 2005
Five - 2005 to 2006
FIVE FLYIN' YEARS
West Coast harbors welcome national port security bill (click on)
WASHINGTON - West Coast ports that handle much of the nation's shipped goods - and which are considered prime terrorist targets - praised a law signed Friday that aims to reinforce the safety of the 11 million containers entering the country each year.President Bush signed the SAFE Port Act that aims to prevent terrorists from smuggling a nuclear bomb or other weapons in cargo containers from overseas.
"Our seaports are a gateway to commerce, a source of opportunity, and a provider of jobs," Bush said. "Our ports could also be a target of a terrorist attack, and we're determined to protect them."
Bush said the new act requires radiation-detection technology at 22 of the nation's busiest ports by the end of next year. In addition, background checks and credentials will be required for workers at the nation's 361 ports.
The bill is "a great step forward in enhancing port security," said Jim McKenna, president and CEO of the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents 75 shipping companies doing business on the West Coast.
Immigration
With the new leadership in Mexico our southern border we share with that country will be flooded with the impoverished.
Mexico president-elect unveils reform plan (click on)
In a speech before politicians and businessmen, President-elect Felipe Calderon stressed the need to join the club of the world's fastest-growing economies. He said his plan - which will be open for public consultation starting Thursday - will provide the long-term roadmap Mexico has lacked in the past.
The new Mexican President is a clone of George Walker Bush and why there was a separtist movement following the election. Supposedly, all that has been worked out now. I don't buy it. But, according to Mr. Calderon, Mexico is the next China with help from a 'road map.' The question is, do the 'catch all' phrases actually solve Mexico's poor economy OR will it simply drive more Mexicans over the border of the USA?
Creating a sensible immigration policy that also allows workers from Mexico to meet legitimate labor needs in the United States will not be solved simply by building a fence on the border.
But congressional action before the recent recess to begin building a fence on part of the border just might help break the deadlock in Congress.Clearly, border security is a necessary part of any solution. But we agree with President Bush that a far more comprehensive program is needed.
It should include:
? Border security.
? Enforcement of immigration laws, especially with employers who help create illegal immigrant problems by knowingly hiring illegals.
? A well-regulated guest-worker program that provides labor U.S. businesses want, at competitive wages so that American workers are not excluded.Critics of a guest-worker program have complained that the only reason immigrants get so many jobs is that they will work for less. In some cases that is true.
A wall by any other name (click on)
That the moves come just before next month's U.S. mid-term elections is more than just coincidence. Republicans have been accused of playing politics with the border-security measures in an attempt to win the support of conservatives.
Canadians will be offended by the moves, but given the U.S. obsession with border security since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, they were probably inevitable. U.S. President George Bush has at least consistently condemned talk of a physical barrier. That's something. A Berlin Wall type of structure would be like a slap in the face.
Airport Security
Airline security is a top priority among local law enforcement (click on)Law enforcement personnel listen Thursday to a presentation by Mark K. Tabor (right) of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration regarding airport safety. The training is in anticipation of the a new airline tentatively scheduled to begin in November at Ozark Regional Airport.
Identity Theft
The Identity Theft Scare (click on)
Identity theft is getting a lot of attention these days -- from news stories about missing laptops and lost data to television commercials for fraud prevention and credit monitoring services. Congress has held hearings, and members have issued forecasts of an impending plague of identity theft. Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), in a statement typical of many of his congressional colleagues, said that "Social Security numbers and date-of-birth information are pure gold in the hands of identity thieves, who quickly convert them into credit cards and cash equivalents to perpetrate massive frauds."
When a laptop was stolen from the home of a Department of Veterans Affairs employee this year, newspapers across the nation editorialized about the dangers facing the people whose data were on the computer. The Post alone published more than 40 stories and wrote that "26.5 million veterans were placed at risk of identity theft." The VA notified all 26.5 million of them and asked Congress for $160.5 million to cover the cost of one year of credit monitoring for the veterans.
The security of America and Americans doesn't rely on spying on them, but, more insight and competency of our legislators. Even with a full compliment of Republicans in the House and Senate, Bush still could not get the job done. Why? Because Bush is not a legislative President, he is a figure head and political icon to his his base. The FISA Court was specifically designed for the purpose of seeking action against questionable activity that could endanger the lives and well being of Americans. Bush broke the law. He places himself above it and then lies about it until he is caught. He is a criminal. I don't care what any corrupt authority says, there was a far better way to enhance an established law in this country. It's call legislation and it's constitutional.
