Actually, wiretapping is a good thing. That is exactly how the U.S. was able to rescue that FARC’s captors in Columbia. Without wiretapping, it would never have been possible.

Nancy, you should have a seat, lest you get the vapors. Hyperbole much????

If it such a terrible time for civil liberties, how did your letter appear?

Mr. Jones -
Ms. Reeeves’ letter appeared because -
after all, isn’t the StL P-D a commie pinko gay-lovin’ liberal George-hatin’ anti-American ACLU-lovin’ rag, fit only for the bottom of the birdcage and to poison young folks’ minds?
Oh yes - and to pay for this forum…

The funny thing is many people will rant about the second amendment being a sacred amendment. Their reasoning is that the individual owning guns keeps the government from becoming oppressive, for the individual owning guns will give provide a militia that balances out the power of the federal government.

Yet many if not most of these people are willing to give up the right to privacy in their communications in defense of the federal government. Before the first gun was loaded, before the first minuteman stood on a green, before the first shot was fired, it was thought that gave form to the reason for doing the first three. The thought to gain popular support had to be communicated. If there were phones in the 1760’s and 70’s and the British were allowed to wire tap without a warrant then the American Revolution could have stopped before it began and the 4th of July would have just been another work day.

Mr. Maher

A very good description of the Post-Dispatch. You finally got it right.

Nancy Reeves:

“This is in conflict with our precious Constitution. This is indeed a terrible time for civil liberties in America.”

Oh it’s not so bad Nancy, so far, my rights haven’t been affected any more by the Senate Bill than my dog’s appetite. Don’t be too quick to say that my dog has nothing to do with the subject, he has everything. He’s a car chaser with absolutely no idea of what to do with it if he catches it, just like your and your civil liberties.

I shall place a classified ad for a new proof reader tomorrow. The former one, an unprincipled and disloyal baggage named Hilda failed to correct the first “your” in my last sentence to “you.”

War is a temporary state of emergency. Because Congress has not technically declared war [in many many decades], our current situation is not temporary, but rather another fixture of life in the US. If you think you’ve been untouched rights-wise, think about the joys of air travel and reconsider.

There are 2-sides to this non-state of war: rights erosion and a never ending conflict b/c we pussy-foot around rather than grind the enemies into the earth.

Iconoclastic,

There was a poem once written describing someone who only worried about liberties that effected him it went as follows:

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

It was written by a Lutheran Minister,Martin Niemoller, shortly after being released from Buchenwald concentration camp.

Is someones opinion less if they believe the second amendment protects the right to own guns but does not own a gun themselves?