Topic: Presidential Campaign 2008
Ron Paul Introduces American Freedom Agenda Act Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul of Texas introduced a bill in the House of Representatives four days ago that would protect many of the freedoms that have been undermined by the Bush Administrationby Walt Thiessen
(libertarian)
Friday, October 19, 2007
Texas Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ron Paul introduced legislation in the House of Representatives this past Tuesday that would counteract some of the worst abuses of the Bush administration against individual rights in America and abroad. Entitled "American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007," the bill is wide-sweeping in scope. Among the protections included in the bill are that it would:
repeal the Military Commissions Act of 2006
prohibit the admittance of evidence obtained under torture or coercion in both civilian courts and military tribunals
prohibit acquisition of intelligence that contravenes the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
grant standing to Congress "to file a declaratory judgment action in an appropriate Federal district court to challenge the constitutionality of a presidential signing statement that declares the President's intent to disregard provisions of a bill he has signed into law because he believes they are unconstitutional."
prohibit all officers and agents of the United States from engaging in kidnapping, imprisonment, and torture abroad based solely on the president's judgment that the person is an enemy combatant
protect journalists' rights to publish information acquired from the executive branch, with the only exception being when there is a "direct, immediate, and irreparable harm to the national security of the United States."
prohibit the use of secret evidence to designate a foreign individual or organization as a terrorist or terrorist organization.
Obviously, given the current nature and makeup of Congress, this bill isn't likely to get out of committee. However, by filing the bill, Dr. Paul can now make it a focal point of his campaign to show that he, alone, of all candidates for president from both major parties is committed to restoring individual rights as well as restoring America's credibility in the eyes of the world.
Now the question becomes: how will he use this new issue? Will it be a focal point in his TV ads? Will he include it in his stump speech? Will the grassroots machine that has grown up from nowhere over the past year take it upon themselves to push the bill?
The bill draws its text primarily from the American Freedom Agenda, a conservative organization formed by former Reagan Administration official Bruce Fein. It is devoted to protecting and defending individual liberties.
What's really interesting is that the proposal is very similar to another plan proposed by the American Freedom Campaign, a progressive organization with similar aims to the AFA. The leading co-founder of the organization is none other than Wes Boyd, who also co-founded MoveOn.org, the famous political action committee of the Left. What makes this really interesting is that even though the AFC's version didn't get introduced, one of their other founding members, Naomi Wolf wrote a stirring endorsement of Dr. Paul's bill, showing just how much appeal the Paul campaign has to both the Right and the Left.
Regardless of how it's used, the only mistake Dr. Paul could make is to not use it at all. That's a mistake I do not expect him to make. So the question becomes: how effective will it be in acquiring broader support in the 76 days left before the Iowa caucuses convene in January 2008?
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The views expressed in this
article are those of Walt Thiessen only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Walt Thiessen is
solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an
employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
This actually isn't anything new to Dr.Ron Paul for he is a stickler for the constitution and the civil liberties of all americans. The patriot act is not patriotic in any way shape or form for it has stripped every right americans have without having any evidence you have even commited a crime, how is it possible in america that we can be arrested without being told what are charges are, where we are being taken and we do not have the right to an attornet or a trial? what country is this China? Russia? all of these things can happen to any one of us based on nothing but suspicion, that my friends is extremely dangerous.
We need to restore our liberties and rights does anyone even know that the only true rights we have left at this moment is freedom of relegion? YES THAT ALL WE HAVE LEFT UNDER THE PATRIOT ACT.
I hope that Ron Paul continues to sweep the nation as he has in 17 of the last 32 straw polls which actually represent real people that have to leave the house and vote.
Ron Paul 2008
Is there any doubt in peoples minds that this man stands for our Freedom? HE IS committed to restoring individual rights as well as restoring America's credibility in the eyes of the world.
"the only mistake Dr. Paul could make is to not use it at all"
100% in agreement.
Lets Hope he does USE it in his speeches, talk about doing what you preach.
Everyone donates $12, even if you’ve given before, to the Ron Paul HQ at www.ronpaul2008.com
Ron Paul’s HQ will post our info online. Our Name / State we reside in / Our pledge to vote in our State Republican primary. This will prove that our campaign has the largest grassroots support of any candidate!
If we can’t raise enough money and get enough people to commit, Ron Paul won’t win, no matter how popular he is on the net
Doom and gloom over the state of Congress does nothing. Writing your congressperson asking them to support this bill can do plenty! They know it's up to you whether they keep their seat next session. There's an official web portal to find and contact your representative:
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Go there, then spread the word to everyone you know.
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