Obama as Bad as Bush-Cheney | Nat Hentoff | Cato Institute: Commentary

Obama as Bad as Bush-Cheney | Nat Hentoff | Cato Institute: Commentary: "It was Feingold who, in October 2001, was the only member of the Senate to vote against the original Patriot Act as, on the floor, he accurately predicted our greatly weakened privacy, due process and other rights since then."

That shows that he has principal. He didn't "vote against it after voting for it." As Franklin said, liberty should not be traded for safety.

"'No federal agency,' said Congressman Edwards, 'the CIA, the IRS, or the FBI, can be at the same time policeman, prosecutor, judge and jury. That is what constitutionally guaranteed due process is all about. It may sometimes be disorderly and unsatisfactory to some, but it is the essence of freedom.'

The Constitution, Edwards continued, does not permit 'federal interference' with Americans' speech or associations, and other such citizen constitutional rights, 'except through the criminal justice system, armed with its ancient safeguards.' Like mandated judicial supervision -- absent from current Obama administration FBI surveillance guidelines."