Steve Kagen: “our Nation has faced many challenges in our history, and none more serious or deadly than our battle against violent…”

“our Nation has faced many challenges in our history, and none more serious or deadly than our battle against violent extremists. Make no mistake, we must do whatever it takes to defend America and keep hostilities from our shores. We must be tough and we must be smart. We have the tough part right, and now more than ever we must be smart. The bill now before the House asks the American people to give up our Fourth amendment rights--without firing a single shot--even when the facts reveal we already have laws to allow intelligence agencies to protect all of us. The Senate-sponsored bills trades our Fourth amendment rights for a false promise of security. It pretends to offer our people the reassurance that the current Attorney General--a man few believe to be honorable or honest--will exercise good judgment in defending all of us. Our Nation has lost faith in this administration's competence, and has lost faith in the ability of President Bush to understand and obey the rule of law. Having lost our faith in this President, we must not lose our constitutional rights as well. We must defend our Nation, and we can continue to do so under the rule of law.”