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While the FEAR FACTOR is in the news - America goes away
Senator Byrd warned, "American people are being hoodwinked,and
Senate should not go along with this sham!
Todays headlines are full of "spectacular threats" to
the U.S. from Al Queda.
Hogwash I say. Here's the real deal they are trying to "smokescreen" over this time - what's left of ANY of our rights. What will be left to fight for? We hear the word "freedom", but it's pretty much going going, gone. Psy-ops are being used against AMERICANS more than any other country by our own govt to scare us into capitulation. Please take action. Toll free # for all of congress is 1-800-648-3516 Contact your Senator and urge they evaluate, debate, and tread carefully in transferring so much power to the executive. They are voting themselves into irrelevancy. They are voting us into living under a dictatorship. NOTES TAKEN ON SPEECH MADE BY SENATOR BYRD TONIGHT ON SENATE FLOOR, AIRED LIVE ON CSPAN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2002: (comments in quotations are Senator Byrds) Senator Byrd on floor of senate tonight, Thursday, November 14, made another urgent appeal to senators, the American people and media. Byrd was distressed that Senators are being pressured to pass Homeland Security tomorrow, in spite of the fact that the 484 page bill was only released to them this Tuesday, a MERE 49 HOURS AGO! Also, this bill has been, according to Senator Byrd, crafted in secret, senators have not seen the bill, the bill has not gone through the typical committee process, there have been no hearings, no witnesses have been heard in defense of this bill, senators have not had time to read it, senators do not know what is in this bill, as all this was organized behind closed doors without the participation of the Senate! Byrd was particularly upset that senators were being told that Homeland Security has been exhaustively debated over 7 weeks, when in truth the actual bill was only received two days ago. The most alarming find that brought Senator Byrd to the floor was that the bill was injected with new dangerous provisions. For example: It provides for liability for manufacturers on wide array of items, even in cases where they sell equipment or drugs that is knowingly defective, they would not be held responsible unless manufacturer was involved in terrorist act!!!!!!! (WHAT DO THEY PLAN TO DO WITH THIS?? IS THIS CARTE BLANCHE TO USE THEM AS GUINEA PIGS???) It limit liabilities for airline companies that fail to provide for safety standards!!!! It reverses an earlier measure thus allowing corporations to go off shore to evade taxes!!!! In short, states Senator Byrd, it is filled with provisions that would "never, ever get through on their own"!!! (WHOSE homeland are the Bushes trying to secure??? WHO are they REALLY referring to when they say "the American people??? Perhaps, the world order plutocrat internationalists???) Even worse, Byrd finds the bill provides for "A MASSIVE SHIFT of power from Congress to the executive branch"!!! Byrd states that the "massive shift of power...would upset balance" of power. It provides for "expanded authority to executive branch to conduct its actions in secret...protected from oversight of Congress...of media...of American people." It will give "carte blanche" to expand on already pervasive policies of secrecy, including permission to Ashcroft to act in secrecy." And, Senator Byrd added, the danger in giving this Justice Department more secrecy is that "corporate campaign contributors could push new technologies." The bill gives "blanket authority...to exempt existing statutes of federal advisory committees," on which Senator Byrd wondered why the executive branch would be seeking such sweeping powers when the current law already gives him the power to do this on a case by case basis. The real intent of the administration with this bill, says Byrd, is the "administration wants to shield itself from any scrutiny of the Congress, people or media." (AMERICANS AND CITIZENS WORLDWIDE COULD NOT AGREE MORE!!!) Senator Byrd observes that this has been the administration's mission from the first day in office, stating "they have refused to share information...cooperate...release documents even after ordered to do so by courts," and also noting the appointed head of the new department, Ridge, has stonewalled Congress, media, and the public by refusing to come before them answer questions about how Homeland Security would protect the American people. Also, Senator Byrd points out, that this Homeland Security bill will do nothing to protect Americans now, and, that "if the president were serious about Homeland Security we would do more than pass a feel good bill," we would pass appropriation bills, we would invest in immediate protection of American people, and money we be made available now--IF the "whitehouse took shackles off the House and Senate. When it comes to providing for real safety, with the appropriations bills, Byrd notes, then Bush says we are spending too much money on the safety of Americans. Bush continues to block the investment that would truly protect American people from attack today. Senator Byrd argued that "we are fooling ourselves if we think the Homeland Security will provide safety. We should name it "HOmeland Security Delay" as whatever security it may provide would not be for at least another year. The money could be available NOW for protection of our country, rather than LATER in COVERT actions! Byrd concludes "It's nothing but snake oil. It's not enough...Americans will be less safe," if anything, because of massive confusion that comes along with massive restructuring. It is only a "feel good" political move by Bush, says Byrd, which "sounds good, will make a good headline," but it is passing the appropriations bills that would provide for real protection, with money that would be made available now. Byrd concludes this "is the most cynical and potentially most devastating game that any administration has played in my fifty years." He made strong appeal to senators to defeat cloture, at least to have time to know what is in this bill. He demanded that this is no time to "roll over and play dead.' Byrd appealed to his colleagues, asking them to remember that they each swore to uphold the Constitution, to protect its checks and balances, to protect American people and their liberties and their rights. He warned that senators would be going against their oaths if they vote for the bill. Senator Byrd warned, "American people are being hoodwinked, and Senate should not go along with this sham! |
