Governor (Romney) gets behind Patriot Act provisions

[UpInArms]

http://www.thetranscript.com/Stories/0,1413,103~9054~1637278,00.html

WASHINGTON -- Gov. Mitt Romney threw his support behind the controversial Patriot Act here Tuesday, and said occasional infringements upon civil liberties are necessary to protect a populace that has grown complacent in the war against terrorism.

Romney, the co-chairman of the National Governors Association anti-terrorism task force, delivered his remarks to a forum of business and government leaders seeking to diminish the disconnect between the bureaucratic Department of Homeland Security and ordinary citizens.

"To some degree I think we've fallen into a sense of complacency, that (Sept. 11, 2001) was a one-time thing," The Massachusetts Republican said. "We have to recognize we are fighting a different kind of threat that we haven't faced before."

Romney said the Patriot Act, granting federal agents new surveillance powers to fight terrorism, "is a good first step" in the war on terror, and added that only time will tell how much of an infringement Americans will tolerate.

...more...

the good citizens of Massachusetts need to throw this treasonous piece of garbage in the trash!

[MUAD_DIB]

1. The good citizens of Massachusetts

were too lazy to vote for a real Govenor so they voted for great hair and a winning smile instead.

I would like to say that they should get what they deserve, but it woud be better if they just woke up and pulled their heads out of their asses.

[Tracer]

2. Why on earth does Massachusetts elect ...

... Republican governors, when it's a highly Democratic state?

Dunno.

But I DO know that Governor GoodHair has a problem Ñ both the state House & Senate are Democratically controlled.

Furthermore, many towns (including my own) are planning to officially oppose the so-called "Patriot" Act.

And did you see the crowds outside Faneuil Hall last week protesting Asscroft's little non-public Patriot Act Tour?

[Ashcroft Kutcher]

3. Mitt Romney Shit on me.

I want Lowell to pass some sort of anti-Patriot measure so badly. But I am starting to think it will not happen now that out nervous public speaking Governor has put his weight behind it. Booooooooo to you Mitthead.

[saigon68]

4. Buy stock in companies that make wire-tapping equipt

This guy apparently, was elected by a bunch of sheep.

[newyawker99]

18. Hi Ashcroft Kutcher!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[noonwitch]

5. His father must be turning in his grave

Former Michigan Governor Romney was one of the old-school republicans, before they sold their souls to Reagan and the BFEE.

[Chico Man]

6. Mass is going to shit (as least the eastern portion is)

I followed the good lead of Roger Williams and removed myself from that "out of control" state. Good thing.

[indepat]

7. Wonder if Mitt really thinks these expanded powers won't be used

to stifle dissent, to target political enemies, rather than just to ferret out actual terrorists? And will patriotic, law-abiding citizens who happen to disagree with those in power be labeled terrorists? Knowing how the loyal opposition has already been labeled, called unpatriotic and accised of aiding the enemy by merely having the temerity to disagree with W or question one of his policies or actions, surely adding a terrorist label won't be far behind.

[Flubadubya]

8. Especially with dunderheads like Delay at the levers...

Hell, this fool already thought he could commandeer Homeland Security to go after his political enemies, namely, the democratic Texas Senators.

These provisions just invite abuse!

[indepat]

20. Exactly, and they know

it.

[tom_paine]

9. He KNOWS it will eventually be used this way

That's why he and the rest of the Bushevik Capos are quite gleeful about it.

Nothing quite so heady as posessing a $25,000,000,000,000 Empire with unchecked power and immunity from the Rule of Law.

They are drunk with the same brew that Hitler and Stalin were drunk on (though, for the moment and throughout this twilight when vestiges of the Old American Republic protect us, their brew is not yet as strong as those they envy and those who Grandpa Prescott did business with).

[Braden]

10. Mitt didnt win any big cities or towns

he won all of the small towns across the state but lost
Boston, worcester, Lynn, Fall River

We keep electing Republican Governors and one by one they reveal themselves to be total frauds, Mitt is no exception.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

12. Correction: small 'wealthy' towns

of which there are many in Eastern Mass. Romney also lost Lowell, Lawrence, Cambridge, Brockton, New Bedford and many of the smaller mill towns and cities.

Romney makes my skin crawl-those jackasses who voted for him to counter Finneran and the Dems on Beacon Hill thought they were getting a moderate Republican a la Weld/Celluci/Swift. I hope they regret their foolishness.

[hang a left]

11. just sickening.....

[hatrack]

13. Shit Hominy is playing with fire in Massachusetts

I hope Gauleiter Romney is wearing fireproof slacks, because he's going to need them.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

14. Finneran has more power than Romney anyways

I don't like Finneran, but Romney has really put the nail in his coffin by crossing the Speaker of the Mass House.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

21. Finneran will KICK Romney's RUMP back to where....

it came from!!!!

That will teach them reich winger's!!!

[Forkboy]

15. Mitt Robme will be gone

Everyone I know,even the republicans my friend works with,hate him.He will get stomped like a narc at a biker rally next time out.

[regnaD kciN]

16. Does the Massachusetts constitution...

...allow for recalls of governors? If so, I can think of a great "payback time" for California...

[Evil_Dewers]

17. I know this is anecdotal and a huge generalization...

...but I never met a Mormon that I ended up liking. After his resurrection, Jesus Christ revealed Himself to the Native Americans so that John Smith could be lynched, Brigham Young could marry 9 teenagers, the FBI would have a pool of non drinking, non smoking, non caffeine addict stiffs, Oral Hatch could be more annoying than a yappy little dog in the US Senate and a reverse carpetbagger like Mitt could fuck up the great state of Taxachusetts.

[MaineDem]

19. And two states away in Maine...

The Maine Democratic Party issued this statement (not in connection with Romney):

September 9th, 2003
DEFEND OUR BILL OF RIGHTS:
Parts of Patriot Act Are Un-American

The original Patriot Act was passed as an emergency measure just weeks after September 11, 2001. It was drafted in short order with little time for study or discussion, but it was wisely designed to expire in 2005. For many of its provisions, we believe that 2005 isn't soon enough. A number of bills to repeal its various excesses have been introduced in Congress, which we hope will provoke a thorough reconsideration.

But Attorney General John Ashcroft has just completed a cross-country tour to campaign for making the current Patriot Act permanent, and for passage of an even more controversial bill, known as Patriot Act II. He must not be allowed to succeed.

"Our principles and freedoms are what raise our nation high above the Husseins and bin Ladens," said Dorothy Melanson, Chair of the Maine Democratic Party. "Just as we have to increase security at our airports and our borders, we need to protect and preserve the heart of this country, the Bill of Rights."