(FL Senator Bill) Nelson Decries Spying in U.S.

[seafan]

Published Saturday, December 17, 2005
Nelson Decries Spying in U.S.

By Julia Crouse

LAKELAND -- U.S. Senator Bill Nelson on Friday sharply criticized the use of military intelligence to spy on Americans and others inside the country.

snip

Only law enforcement agencies -- from the local police department through the FBI -- are allowed to spy on Americans. And then only with a warrant from a judge.
The military broke both laws, first by spying, and then by not having judicial authority, Nelson said.
"The one thing that makes us different, America different, is that we have and protect civil liberties," he said.

Nelson in the past has spoken out on the Senate floor and in a letter to Pentagon officials against a proposed program, called Total Information Awareness, that would have allowed the government to compile databases of information, including driver licenses, bank statements and medical records.
That program was halted.

But Nelson said last month that he was concerned that new homeland security legislation could be a vehicle for employing the Total Information Awareness system.

snip

Nelson, who serves on the Senate's Armed Services Committee, also wrote a letter to the Pentagon asking officials to step forward and take responsibility for their actions.
"We are a nation of laws, not men," he said. "We operate by a rule of law; we're not ever going to give that up."

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051217/NEWS/512170354/1004

[Protagoras]

1. But we can't just beat our chest about it...

we have to actually DO something now about it. Where is the motion for impeachment or the call for arrest?

[Lochloosa]

2. With no credible candidate running against him in Florida

My Senator can actually speak his mind.

And his opposition this time....are you ready....Katherine Harris:rofl:

[Cha]

3. And cruella probably

thinks it's just fine to spy on Americans..as long as it isn't her we're spying on.

[lumpy]

4. Bush burns the US Constitution.

It seems flag burning is more of a crime.