NationStates Jolt Archive

What'd you do to my mail, Mr. Prez?

WASHINGTON -January 5th, 2007 - The Republican sponsor of a postal reform bill called on President Bush yesterday to explain why he used it to claim he can open domestic mail without a search warrant.
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine questioned Bush's controversial Dec. 20 "signing statement" in which he stated if there were an emergency he wouldn't need a warrant to open letters. The bill he signed into law that day, co-sponsored by Collins, requires search warrants for mail.

"It is my hope that the administration will clarify its intent with this recent statement," said Collins, a GOP moderate.

The former Senate Homeland Security Committee chairwoman added that she has long had concerns about Bush's broad use of signing statements that attempt to reinterpret laws passed by Congress.

Sources: YahooNEWS/OcceanNEWS©2004-2007
my2cents: Maybe Bush should declare Mrs Collins to be an "Illegal Combatant" :D

I predict in x years, declassified FBI records will reveal Collins will have regularly had her mail searched

I'm pretty sure his intent is rather obvious...

...in an "emergency" the government won't need a warrant to open mail...

I dunno, it just seems to me his intent is to slowly open up all forms of communications enjoyed by America to scrutiny whenever the government pleases.

Gotta love the US Government.
"So Mr. Bush, why are you going through people's mail?"
"Er...terrorists...Russians...Mohammed Al-Fayed....Saddam from beyond the grave...er.."

I'm pretty sure his intent is rather obvious...

...in an "emergency" the government won't need a warrant to open mail...

...And if a seated President uses some pretext to declare the entire duration of his or her Presidency an "emergency"? What then?

...And if a seated President uses some pretext to declare the entire duration of his or her Presidency an "emergency"? What then?

Hah...then we have a rather large problem on our hands. I wasn't declaring my support for this action, just merely pointing out that his "intentions," which Collins wishes to find out, are rather ridiculously clear. Bush thinks the government should be able to open mail at first suspect, instead of having to go through the search warrant process. Now obviously that leads the entire nation down a rather slippery slope...but I don't see what Collins needs made clear.

I wasn't declaring my support for this action, just merely pointing out that his "intentions," which Collins wishes to find out, are rather ridiculously clear.

I understood, I thought I'd just pose the question anyway.

I'm pretty sure his intent is rather obvious...

...in an "emergency" the government won't need a warrant to open mail...
Next signing statement will make Bush president for life in an "emergency."