posted on June 29, 2002 03:02:03 AM new
Educate yourselves. Research this guy. He's a U.S. congressman - one of three who voted against the patriot bill. Find out why. Read what happened to sleaze that bill through.
I had found one of his speeches describing how this country is rapidly becoming a police state, and became interested. That speech, like many of his are, is too long to transcribe here, but I found the site below to bring. Consider it a teaser, if you like, and if he strikes a chord go find more. Pretty refreshing to find a thinking Republican after all.
posted on June 29, 2002 04:18:20 AM new
A fire ant from South Texas, up to bite the special interests in DC. You have the right to an informed opinion -Harlan Ellison
posted on June 29, 2002 06:53:56 AM new
"One cannot be reassured by believing these courts will only apply to foreigners who are
terrorists."
It did not take long to find application to a citizen by naming him a enemy combatant.
May I point out that the majority of the 1500 arrested after 9/11 were not announced? And this citizens arrest was NOT announced until a month later because they had made the mistake of having civil police arrest him.
It would not surprise me if even now if there are citizens under this unannounced arrest because they will have learned to use members of the armed forces to carry out the initial arrest - entirely bypassing the justice system.
The breach of the Posse Comitatus Act would be no stretch since they are expanding the use of military into airports harbors and power plants rather than use police.
posted on July 19, 2002 08:08:08 AM new
I admire some of his ideas in the link that is posted.
But,like a good Republican he recognizes the need to define the target and that target is apparently an oil line through northern Afghanistan.
He mentions the need to define our target several times as in this statement...
"It is not our job to remove Saddam Hussein- that is the job of the Iraqi people. It is not our job to remove the Taliban- that is the business of the Afghan people. It is not our job to insist that the next government in Afghanistan include women, no matter how good an idea it is. If this really is an issue, why don't we insist that our friends in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait do the same thing, as well as impose our will on them? Talk about hypocrisy! The mere thought that we fight wars for affirmative action in a country 6,000 miles from home, with no cultural similarities, should insult us all. Of course it does distract us from the issue of an oil pipeline through northern Afghanistan. We need to keep our eye on the target and not be so easily distracted."
Does this mean that he supports the oil line through Afghanistan as a rational excuse for our target of this particular country? In other words to hell with the taliban, the rights of women, the next government but keep your eye on the real target which is the oil line?
He voted for the impeachment of Bill Clinton and I don't like that. If you check out his voting record, you will find that he is an independent voter, sometimes even a lone dissenter such as in the case below....but he votes along the Republican party line in many cases.
The House approved the conference report on a bill (HR 3448) authorizing $4.6 billion over two years to bolster America's ability to detect, prevent and respond to chemical and biological attacks. The bill, which provides $1.6 billion in grants to states, awaits Senate action. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) cast the no vote.
The bill expands stockpiles of medicines, such as antibiotics, smallpox vaccines and potassium iodide, a drug to lessen the effects of radiation. A yes vote was to pass the bill.
posted on July 19, 2002 09:30:46 AM new
another question....
"Granting bailouts is not new for Congress, but current conditions have prompted many takers to line up for handouts. There has always been a large constituency for expanding federal power for whatever reason, and these groups have been energized. The military-industrial complex is out in full force and is optimistic. Union power is pleased with recent events and has not missed the opportunity to increase membership rolls. Federal policing powers, already in a bull market, received a super shot in the arm. The IRS, which detests financial privacy, gloats, while all the big spenders in Washington applaud the tools made available to crack down on tax dodgers. The drug warriors and anti-gun zealots love the new powers that now can be used to watch the every move of our citizens. "Extremists" who talk of the Constitution, promote right-to-life, form citizen militias, or participate in non-mainstream religious practices now can be monitored much more effectively by those who find their views offensive. Laws recently passed by the Congress apply to all Americans- not just terrorists. But we should remember that if the terrorists are known and identified, existing laws would have been quite adequate to deal with them."
That statement, "Union power is pleased with recent events and has not missed the opportunity to increase membersip rolls" mentioned along with the military-industrial complex, Federal policing powers, the IRS, drug warriors, anti gun zealots and extremists is propaganda. How is labor union organizing related to what he describes as takers lined up for handouts?
He forgot religion....guess that was too controversial.
