"Those who would sacrifice essential liberties for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Isn't that what the Department of Homeland Security continues to ask Americans to do--give up liberty like their Fourth Amendment right in order to perform common American traditions like travel? Now we are finding out many of these new Republicans who claim to be Tea Party are pushing for more power for the Department of Homeland Security, including Congressman Billy Long, who recently passed himself off as a Tea Party Congressman by claiming his pocket Constitution is "rode hard and put up wet."
Apparently, the moisture of his sweaty back pocket has removed the Fourth Amendment. Since he got to Washington, Congressman Long has shown the Constitution no love by challenging the TSA and the Department of Homeland Security pat downs of Southwest Missouri's wives and daughters at airports. Rather, Long is showing Big Sis Janet Napolitano the love. Yikes! She's not a real "purty" woman (purty being a Billy Long word) if you know what I mean.
Long has put his John Hancock as one of the co-sponsors of gun grabbing Republican Peter King's new bill, The If You See Something Say Something Act of 2011. While the bill sounds like it is full of good intentions, asking Americans to report to the federal government if they see something suspicious, many fear it is setting up a citizen spy network by the Department of Homeland Security that continues to label patriotic Americans as possible domestic terrorists. Missourians should be well familiar with the MIAC report also known as the Modern Militia Movement Report, which listed Tea Party and conservative activities to profile a domestic terrorist. Remember this is the report that listed pro-lifers and those flying the Gadsden Flag as possible terrorist suspects.
The Modern Militia Movement-Missouri MIAC Strategic Report 20Feb09
Did you know a couple months after the MIAC report was released to the Missouri Highway Patrol, the Department of Homeland Security released a similar report that also noted conservatives and Tea Party types as domestic terrorists?
Well Congressman Billy Long wants to continue encouraging the irrational thinking Janet Napolitano and the others who head up the Department of Homeland Security. As mentioned, he is a co-sponsoring King's bill that will encourage citizens to use guidelines outlined by the Department of Homeland Security to report citizens they believe are suspicious. Such activities like purchasing large amounts of ammo for you hunting rifle at Bass Pro Shops may be seen by some in America as suspicious and therefore may be reported.
In case you haven't been paying attention, Janet Napolitano announced late last year she was setting up a computer network with monitors that will be placed at locations such at Walmart checkout lines encouraging Americans to report other Americans. "If you see something, say something." Of course the idea of government rhetoric constantly broadcasted on a video monitor reminds of George Orwell's fictional country of Oceania in the book 1984, which also encouraged citizens to report other citizens. Of course, both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union also encouraged citizen spy networks.
So what tools is Tea Party fraud Billy Long willing to give Janet Napolitano? How about immunity for American citizens who report other Americans in the courts under "If You See Something Say Something." While immunity sounds noble for those Americans willing to keep their country safe, what about the little boy who cries wolf? What about the big, big Congressman who just over two weeks ago cried wolf? You know, the same Billy Long who had bloggers ask him tough questions during the election, and then after the Gabrielle Giffords shooting handed over an enemies list the FBI in hopes of intimidating the same bloggers. Do you see how this could be abused?
If all someone has to say is they saw someone do something suspicious to get the Department of Homeland Security or the FBI's attention as a possible domestic terrorist without any liability for the claim they make, this could be easily abused. The If You See Something Say Something Act of 2011 offers immunity to those who work with the Department of Homeland Security to make claims.
Other Republicans selling out the Constitution to provide Big Sis this luxury include:
Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA), Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), Rep. Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI), Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL), Rep. Pat Meehan (R-PA), Rep. Ben Quayle (R-AZ), Rep. Billy Long (R-MO), Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA), and Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-TX), all of whom serve on the Committee on Homeland Security. Also joining is Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA).
Still believe Billy Long is Tea Party and a friend of the Constitution and small government? Better think again. He's arm one of the fastest growing sectors of government today--the Department of Homeland Security.
