Just a heads up: PATRIOT Act Call In Day Jan 25

[Nutmegger]

The Bill of Rights Defense Committee and dozens of other organizations are asking everyone who is concerned about civil liberties to call their Senators and Representative as Congress prepares to reauthorize controversial portions of the PATRIOT Act. Find out how to join in this momentous effort.

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Please phone both your Senators and your Representative. Ask your members of Congress to work for a PATRIOT Act reauthorization bill that truly preserves free speech and privacy, and that restores checks and balances, including judicial review and much greater congressional oversight.

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Other suggested talking points:

Prevent the FBI from “fishing” through our private purchase, medical, and library records by requiring a statement of fact linking persons whose records are sought to a terrorism investigation.

Allow businesses and libraries to pose a meaningful challenge to a FISA Court order or a National Security Letter demanding customer records.

In light of warrantless wiretapping of domestic email and phone communications authorized by the president, make sure there are sufficient privacy safeguards and oversight on all parts of the PATRIOT Act involving the executive branch (which includes the Department of Justice and the FBI).

Protect our first amendment rights by removing a proposed provision that would subject anyone who protests in cordoned-off areas at presidential appearances to prison sentences up to 10 years.

Eliminate proposed new death penalties from the reauthorization.

I’m not fooled by the administration’s fear-mongering or its arguments that there are partisan differences on these issues of security and liberty. Americans conservative and progressive know that our actions must be constrained by the rule of law, the Constitution, and checks and balances.

Now that we know the president has secretly authorized illegal, warrantless wiretaps, and the FBI and the Pentagon have spied on peaceful protest groups, Congress must immediately stop those actions and hold much more detailed investigations over the whole Patriot Act (not just the sunsetting provisions) before reauthorizing any part of the Patriot Act.

Although the Senate reauthorization bill is insufficient, it is a much better starting point than the House version or the Conference Report.

While I’m concerned about terror, if America becomes a fear-ridden police state, the terrorists will have won, so we must protect our fundamental rights and privacy above all.

Please work with your colleagues in Congress to take charge of the debate about how to protect us from terrorist threats without jeopardizing our civil liberties.

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How to make a call:

Capitol switchboard: Dial 202-224-3121 and ask the operator to connect you (24 hours a day) or
Find your senators' and representative's direct phone numbers at http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/.

Let's do this people!

http://bordc.org/threats/call-in.php

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. What's a patrito?

[Nutmegger]

2. LOL, edited. n-t

:rofl::rofl:

[peacebird]

3. I'll be phoning

Warner - 224-2023
Allen - 224-4024
Goode - 225-4711
Moran - 225-4376
Davis 225-2491
Frist 224-3344
Reid 224-3542
Pelosi 225-4965
Hastert 225-2976

I keep asking the repugs if they are AMERICANS or Republicans first.

Will the politicos be happy to be told by * that they are utterly powerless? I think that is one way to talk about this - balance of power. Checks and balances. No one is above the law.

Ask how they feel about * issuing a "signing statement" on the anti-torture amendment stating that he could still order torture.

sigh.

[Nutmegger]

4. A kick for the midnight oil crowd. n-t

:kick: