Redstate

What is the best way to contact my Congressional representative, if I want to be noticed?

crash your car in front of his D.C. office, then say you need help with a "substance abuse" issue (could be Tic-Tacs, it does not really matter). I am sure he will rush to meet with you.

Sorry, it's been a long day and I could not resist.

yes, there is a reason why a raid of a congressional office has never happened in 219 years, because there is a valid constitutional point being made here.  Members of Congress should never have to live in fear that an overzealous Justice Department will raid their offices as a method of intimidation.  It doesn't matter what William Jefferson has done.  I'd say being caught on tape taking $100K and having the FBI find $90K of it in your freezer along with the testimony of the business owner who bribed you and the former staff member who facilitated it is probably enough evidence to put you away for a long time.  The justice department didn't need to do it for ABSCAM or to get Trafficant or Cunningham.  This was at least an overreach and quite possibly an unconstitutional search (if court precedents are any indication) which may actually make it more difficult for the justice department to get a conviction in this case.  This is absolute arrogance on the part of this Attorney General and he should be called on it.

  Florida Congressional Senate Reps, at his web site on drilling for oil off florida and in Alaska.

I did get a reply, but it was the standard Dem Talking points on energy and how we all need to conserve.

In other words the Dem's have no plan than involves any thing other than NIMBY (Not in my back yard).

I cannot believe what I am seeing.  Ted Kennedy and John McCain on the same side.  Pres Bush protecting that crook from LA.  What has happened to the party of Lincoln.  Honest Abe would most certainly be rolling over in his grave if he could see what is happening.

Build a fence.  No Amnesty.  No forgiveness.  No citizenship.  If they want to be citizens, go home and apply for legal immigration.  You have no right to be here.  Rights are only for those who have legal status.  If you have no legal status, you have no rights.  

If the GOP wants my vote, they had better start with fixing the Senate and get rid of Spector.  He is the biggest waist of human potential.  The only reason he is still in leadership is because of the deal he struck to bury the true details of the Warren Omission.  

Your statement that "This was at least an overreach and quite possibly an unconstitutional search (if court precedents are any indication)" would be more persuasive if you would cite the specific language of the United States Constitution or a federal case which supports your position.

I've read the constitution and I can't find it anywhere that states that a congressman's office is  protected territory from search and seizure.

The founding fathers were not stupid.  If they had wanted to create such a right regarding a congressman's office, it would have been easy to insert that language.  But it's not there.

Also, you failed to mention that this "raid" as you call it, was authorized by a federal judge, presumably based upon probable cause.

"I've been thinking at lot about that Kennedy assassination thing... Turns out someone else already did it." -- Bug Eyed Earl, Red Meat

Probably best to attach a campaign contribution check for $2,000 to your letter.

The voters and the Democrats may get rid of Specter for us.

If the Democrats take over Orrin Hatch returns as leader of the Committee's Republicans.  The GOP rules only state a term limit on Chairs.  The Ranking Member is the Ranking Member based on seniority, and that would be Hatch.  Should we manage to regain the Senate in 2008 I would presume Hatch would be eligible to return to the Chair.

How do I get at least written down that "this is the Nth person who called about issue X?"

This guy isn't even a very imaginative Moby, beyond the whole Kennedy conspiracy thing.  Try reading his username backward.

Based on overwhelming evidence in the public domain (and more that is not), a crime has unquestionably been committed. Under these circumstances, there is no special privileged afforded to Congress. This is especially true if law enforcement believes evidence exists that may be destroyed.

ABSCAM, Trafficant and Cunningham? I don't have time to catalogue the differences. However, each case proceeds on it's own merits.

By the way, Sandy Berger hid top secret documents in his pants. Why not include him?Perhaps he can claim some type of executive privileged that his trousers are protected. Ridiculous, really.

They count how many come in on major issues, and how many on each side.  Really.

You'll find the addresses at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov, where you can look up your people.

I was discussing this FBI raid brouhaha with my mother, and she thought of things I hadn't considered.  For example, she pointed out that a Congressional office is likely to have both political strategy documents and (more importantly) lists of political supporters.  She wasn't so much bothered by the FBI raid- she has little sympathy for Congressmen accepting bribes and she trusts the current administration (to be virtuous, she's not so sure about competence)- but she did feel that there were some reasons to be wary, and to require somekind of safeguards for these types of raids.

No-one thinks that Members of Congress should be above the law, but surely the Capitol Police could have been invited to execute this warrant, rather than the FBI? Why even risk the whiff of violation of seperation of powers, when it was easily avoided?

are pwned.

The friend said, immediately, that Hastert did it only because he knows a search of his and other offices is pending. That's how the left is going to take this.

Well if one Salon article is sufficient proof that a judicial nominee is a crook, shouldn't an ABC News piece be sufficient proof that Hastert is a crook?

The way things are going, if the Mapes/Rather jazz had happened today it would be accepted as fact.

I don't speak and read it well.  What the heck did Blanton mean?

As long as it takes place in the Capitol. There anything can be done because there is no fear of even a meek Justice Department upholding the law.

if there's a preponderance of evidence that a court has reviewed an issued a warrant for AND if the court agrees with DOJ that there's a reasonable chance the evidence could be destroyed or hidden Congress does not get protection.  

the constitution whatever else it may say about co-equal branches of government, does not allow the office holder to use his office to cover up criminal action.

Hastert has apparently reached an accomodation with the Justice Department to conduct future searches . . .