James Nagy – 4/5/06

This page was last updated on April 5, 2006.

‘Only silence brings shame’; James Nagy; Beaver County Times; April 5, 2006.

You probably recall most of Mr. Nagy’s letters are simply vehicles to bash Republicans in general and President Bush in particular. This letter continues the trend.

For most of my information regarding the NSA terrorist surveillance program, see my critique of the editorial entitled “The rule of law.”

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“If virtue is the only legitimate goal of freedom, perhaps we deserve to be subjugated by President Bush’s reign of terror.

“How can we as a nation allow our elected representatives to think themselves above the law? Contrary to Truman’s adage, in a democracy the ‘buck’ stops with the people.

“A call to censure the president has been brought forward by U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, U.S. Rep. John Conyers and others.”

[RWC] Consider this. While Republicans tried to bring Mr. Feingold’s resolution to a vote, Democrats maneuvered to stop that vote from taking place.

“With such a charge, we should expect our representatives and senators to do what is right and true irregardless of the consequence. To vote ‘no’ on censure is to deny the truthfulness of the charges. To acknowledge the truthfulness of the charges and still vote ‘no’ on censure is to side with the president in defiance of the Constitution and assert that Congress itself is above the law.”

[RWC] Apparently listening to the arguments for and against the program does not constitute “what is right.”

“If the people ignore a ‘no’ vote on censure, they are themselves in the same bind. We may not like it one bit, but silence is consent. Everyone who merely agrees that the charges are true needs to voice that opinion to their elected officials at the nation’s capital. Failing to uphold the law has a cost.

“When it falls on us to defend the Constitution, we are at risk of bearing all the consequences if we fail to act. Virtue needs to be voiced. Only silence brings shame.”

[RWC] You probably noticed Mr. Nagy didn’t describe the charges. Here’s why.

Mr. Feingold wants to censure President Bush for authorizing the NSA to intercept communications between suspected terrorists abroad and their accomplices inside the U.S. Ignoring partisanship, most people believe this program makes sense. It’s useful to know that immediately after he submitted his censure resolution, Mr. Feingold fled the Senate floor so he didn’t have to debate his resolution.

As noted in the critique referenced above, some people believe the program is illegal while others believe it is legal.

While some people in Congress claim the terrorist surveillance program is illegal, these same people are tripping over themselves to make the program legal. In other words, these people are saying, “if the program isn’t legal now, it should be.”

Therefore, Mr. Feingold (and Mr. Nagy) wants to censure President Bush for doing what just about everyone believes is the right thing to do.