Can I just point out a Democrat praising the intelligence community, so that we can move past these stupid arguments that Democrats don't want the US to fight terrorism?

Wow, a lot of tumbleweed in threads highlighting the successes of our intelligence community . . .

There's a surprise.

surprisingly since yanno, bush appointed the heads of these departments, youd think theyd be jumping for joy to blame him for this

What's to say? They did their job, and well apparently.

Wow, that really makes me want to post.

Maybe just to say it was done w/o tapping phones or tracking bank records.

Senator Schumer is the wrong example to use in this case. Chuck Schumer has repeatedly bashed President Bush for his surveillance program and has gone as far as calling him an "imperialist" president. But watch Chuck cry when New York City's terrorism budget is cut. Sorry Chuck, but you can't have it both ways. Hell, the story about the plot to blow up the NYC transit system only bolsters his case.

The story also just goes to show how vital the government's surveillance program is and that Democrats need to stop wetting their pants about it. Would they rather have the NYC transit system blown up? Or would John "Cut and Run" Murtha want no surveillance while terrorist cells in the US plan out their acts to kill Americans on a mass scale. Eliminating the surveillance would be raising the white flag during the War on Terror.

Little Wing started like you too. Now he thinks before he paraphrases what Rush said yesterday.

That's a cheap shot. Schumer's "praise (ie.) this is one instance..." is well taken. The point is...what proactive surveillance measures does he, or any other Democrat support? I'm not trying to be a jackass, I really want to know because I've asked the question NUMEROUS times and have yet to recieve a direct answer.

I don't listen to Rush Limbaugh. I think he is an ideologue who supports the GOP no matter what. There are many issues that the GOP supports that I don't.

I can give you a direct answer, Purple Hawk.
The answer is that the Democrats, as a majority, have not supported any of the proactive surveillance measures that have come to light (thanks to The New York Times).
Now don't get me wrong - I am all for personal freedom and I don't want the government tapping my phone or reading my mail. The fact is is that these are targeted programs and the overwhelming majority of Americans are excluded (spare the NSA program, which is just phone records - not tapping).
The Democrats like to have hissy fits when they hear about, say, bank records being investigated and then the Liberal Media goes into overdrive and makes the public think that the government is rifling through everyone's ATM transactions. Nothing could be further from the truth, but the truth is not what the Democrats want people to know. They are content to make the President and his Administration out to be a great evil that is a threat to all Americans. Again, nothing could be further from the truth. In the end, all that President Bush and his Administration is guilty of is protecting the American people from terrorists.

There seems to be a lot of average americans that have the inside scoop these days. I wish I was being made aware, in a clear cut convincing manner, of exactly how these programs are being applied.

Let me ask you this - don't you think we should place our confidence in the government (not just the President, but the House which has oversight over these programs) and let them do their jobs? Why do we need to know every aspect of what our government is doing to combat terrorism? And in revealing such information, who does that ultimately benefit - the general public or the terrorists?

I don't think we need to know everything. However, when something does come to light that seems a little shady..my skeptical nature take over. I'm just saying that making a statement like "Couldn't be farther from the truth" says that you absolutely know the truth. To a casual observer of current events, the information that was revealed shouldn't come to a shock to terrorists. Tracking bank accounts, tapping phones, monitoring phone records...If I were a terrorist I would assume these things were being done and take the proper precautions. I don't doubt that you know more about this subject than me...I just pop in here from time to time in an effort to hopefully learn a thing or two.

I know the direct answers, I'm just looking for an admission. If they were to offer their world view, they'd be politically finished. But it's surprising, and pretty embarrassing, that you can't get a direct answer to simple questions from the average social activist though.

Anyways, the point of this thread is to dispell the notions that the left is unconcerned with terrorism. I (as well as the majority of America) have yet to be convinced.