Sen. Craig: Civil liberties more important than Patriot Act provisions

President Bush may have labeled his opposition to renewing portions of the Patriot Act as "inexcusable," but Idaho Republican Sen. Larry Craig isn't making excuses for joining a bipartisan filibuster of the anti-terrorism law.

"We've been cautioned before by our leaders down through history that we should not allow our concern about security to deny us our constitutional freedoms," Craig said Monday, shortly after Bush lambasted the parliamentary blockade of the bill in the U.S. Senate at a White House news conference. "I don't step back from protecting civil liberties and I never will."

Although Bush did not single Craig out by name, he was one of four Republicans who broke ranks in the Senate Friday to join Democrats in filibustering the Patriot Act reauthorization bill, arguing it did not adequately protect civil liberties. Bush did question how senators from California, New York and Nevada could go home and tell their constituents that their cities were safer from terrorist attacks without the Patriot Act provisions.

"The Patriot Act helps us connect the dots," said Bush. "And now the United States Senate is going to let this bill expire. Not the Senate - a minority of senators."

.......

"My disagreement with the president's statement at his press conference is that the ability to connect the dots is still in place," Craig said. "The firewalls are not in that area of the law that's expiring."



http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/ID_PATRIOT_ACT_CRAIG_IDOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-12-20-04-30-16

the honorable Ben Franklin, whose quote bears repeating:

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."

Good to see a repub taking up the fight.

that the actions of this administration are getting more and more blatantly extra-constitutional... and that to blindly follow the administration will later put them at risk of being viewed as putting the interests of blind party loyalty over the constitution and the nation as we know it.

we need to see more conservatives putting up or shutting up...they blather on about the constitution but when push comes to shove the party always takes president...precident

Over 1 million come into this country with out papers each year and is that making us safe or saves rich owners wages? Billions of goods come into this country with no one looking at them because it may upset big business. Really another reason to really feel SAFE. Who is the WH fooling? Please do not tell me that terrorist, if they wished, to come in could not walk into this country or stick a bomb into a cargo box. They must think we are boobs. This is all just a big show to fund money into some friends pockets and get voted into office. And half the voters think it is OK so do as the WH wants and puts this guy back into office. He has now spent all our money and put our children and Grandchild into debt and half the voters have helped him do it. Faith over reason and look at the mess we are in.

on the Constitution of the United States because he just felt like it. It is the act of a tyrant and a dictator. He took an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States. Not to uphold his party loyalty, not to uphold his principles, not to even uphold God's law, but to uphold the Constitution. To uphold a simple piece of paper. He and the rethugs are treating the founding document of the United States like toilet paper.

Sorry for the rant. I was afraid I wasn't clear with my first post.

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ting it from all guns from his 'friends"

and spoke with his local office with whom I'm on good terms with. She said they've gotten a lot of support from folks. I genuinely hope that he can stand the pressure..