While I am probably one of the last persons Mitt Romney would sit down for a one on one with, it could happen. If it did happen, I have a lot of questions I would like to ask him. And I know what the first question would be.
That question would surprise a lot of people.
What is it?
The question would not be about taxation. Nor would it be about the debt, the deficit or even spending.
My question would be this. If you are elected President, what will you do to stop the use of drones here in America? What are you going to do to stop the government from spying on American citizens?
George Orwell in 1984 wrote, “big brother is watching.” He was off by less than 30 years.
Today, for the first time, military forces of the United States are being deployed in the borders of this nation to spy on our own citizens. The government now uses drones routinely over American skies. Not only is the Federal Government in the drone business but state and local governments are getting in the drone business too.
Recently the Air Force released a document that says if military drone operators see something interesting, they can apply to a military judge or their commander for permission to search private property.
Excuse me? What the hell happened to the Constitution?
What the Air Force says it is doing is not passing along information to civilian law enforcement authorities. They are going to investigate themselves!
This is absolutely insane.
While I am as big a supporter of the military as anyone, any military member who authorizes such a search of civilian property or any military member who carries out a search of civilian property should be immediately prosecuted.
There is no excuse for this.
The military exists to protect the nation from external threats. They are not a law enforcement agency. In fact, there are specific laws on the books that prohibit the military from doing just that.
There is at least one Congressman who gets it.
Congressman Jeff Landry added an amendment to the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act that prohibits the use of evidence gathered by a drone in a criminal prosecution unless the government first obtained a warrant as the Constitution mandates. Landry’s amendment also specifies that the 2012 NDAA does not prohibit the Writ of Habeas Corpus for anyone who is entitled to file such a writ.
While there are many things we need to be worried about, the cavalier use of drones and the wholesale disregard of the Constitutional protections afforded American citizens by the Obama Regime is startling.
Kudos to Jeff Landry for standing up for the Constitution.
Does Mitt Romney stand for the Constitution?
That is the first question I would like to ask him, if I ever got the chance.
Tags: barack, constitution, drones, jeff, landry, mitt, obama, romney
Permalink Reply by Chas Jones on OUR current government has been trampling and violating OUR constitutions [federal AND State] for decades, if not longer. We must be vigilant and MUST reverse this.
Permalink Reply by Chas Jones on We The People need to TELL the government what IS and IS NOT permissible, not the other way round!
Permalink Reply by Debrajoe Smith-Beatty on Yes, Chas you are 100% right. They are our paid political servants.
Permalink Reply by hunter60 on I think the distinctions between "civilian police" and the military are eroding at a frightening pace, as you state former military UAV operators will be hired by LE. I am in the business of providing police with technologies and tools to perform their functions. The use of military technologies for police work is increasing at a frightening rate. The increasing militarization of SWAT and police forces in general should be a major cause for concern here in the U.S.. Intentional and accidental shootings of citizens are on the increase, some of the worst offenders in weapons related accidents and covered up accidental shootings are LEOs. I know of one department that has had numerous accidental discharges because of unsafe weapons handling practices. It is a well known fact that former elite military personnel often hire out to train LEOs especially those on SWAT teams. Add that to the fact that, in my opinion, fully 50% of those who are issued badges and guns, shouldn't be mowing your lawn and you have a real recipe for disaster. LEs reach is increasing with the increasing power of our out-of-control government and we are seeing the beginnings of an emerging police state.
How does this relate to the use of drones you might ask? Simple, just as the current military technologies are being abused or misused and the Patriot Act, CALEA, NDAA, FISA, Municipal Wide camera systems, and dozens of other legislated intrusions into the lives of private citizens are being abused, so will the use of drones be abused. Let me ask you this, why would a civilian police department in a college town of less than a 100,000 require a .50 Cal. sniper rifle, an armored car, or for that matter MP-5s or HK-416s in full auto? The SWAT team that uses these may get one real callout a year. One! On that callout they will be withdrawn as unnecessary or will be cancelled enroute 99.999% of the time.
I find this statement both naive and disturbing, "Granted, the 4th amendment will fall in a big gray area, those who will operate these drones hold or held security clearances meaning they were the best in their professionalism and trust and respect for the rule of law, especially the Consitution." The fact that UAV operators are professional does not guarantee anyone that they will respecte the "rule of law" when law enforcement is operating extra-constitutionally and the Police Dept. signs their paycheck, the UAV operators will do what they're told. The 4th amendment should never become a "gray area" are you kidding, everyone on this site should be concerned about the 4th Amendment.
Drones will not replace squad cars, in fact they are likely to create an increased police presence as the ability for surveillance improves and more resources are required to investigate leads generated from drones. The next logical step will be for Police unions and officers to call for arming the drones to protect our heros on the police forces in the U.S.. At that point we will have arrived a fully recognized Orwellian police state.
No thanks!
Permalink Reply by Thomas Angle on Does Mitt Romney stand for the Constitution?
Like any other politician, only If it benefits him.
Permalink Reply by Joyce Foster-Konya on As long as Obama is in the WH...that would be worrisome. They have evil ideas and evil agenda's.
Once someone else is in the WH as President...this could be a good thing. If there are Radical Islam training camps, as we have heard, all over the country and they threaten us or start a war....the drones will track them down and they can blast them to smitherines!!!! We have to remember that we have enemies here in the US that would like to kill us.
One of my questions would be....would you erase President Obama from the list of Presidents that have served here in the US? He's illegal and served under a fraudulent name and fraudulent SS#'s.
Permalink Reply by Doug Kolonia on You are 100% right on this. The EPA is also using drones...crazy. Pretty soon the skies will be full of drones and they will be finding us via our smart phones. If we don't stop this now our freedoms will be gone. One the drone program is fully implemented it will never go away.
Permalink Reply by Billy Bowlegs on I think I will set my Moon Shine Still out on the Front Porch, with it's floral arrangement of dead plastic plants, and dare the hell out of anyone to touch it.
That is a proceless heriloom.
Permalink Reply by Thomas Angle on Heck fire it up in your back yard. The feds have no Constitutional authority to stop you.
Permalink Reply by joana briggs on Follow that with quiz type questions to find out if he knows the Constitution. Many stand for many things and know not what they stand for.
Wouldn't have to ask Ron Paul that question.
He'd have it shut down so quick it would make your head spin.
Permalink Reply by Norman Zink on RP would say it's a states rights issue.
RP is not the only Constitutional conservative. He is a fat cat self serving politician.
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