Todd Anthony: Clueless, or Just Lying?

Through a cross-post at Stop the ACLU, I found yet another spewer of utter inanity by the name of Todd Anthony. Todd has chosen to either advertise his abysmal ignorance or deliberately lie to his readers… it’s not yet clear which.

Todd chooses to bloviate about the Bush administration’s use of warrantless wiretaps, and the ACLU’s opposition to same:

This sham of an institution is now bellowing on about the Bush administration’s NSA electronic surveillance program, stating that the program is 1.) illegal, and 2.) steeped in fear.

So what would the ACLU have the government do? The answer is simple: sit on its collective hands while terrorists plot and foment violence. Let’s apply common sense to their argument.

Here we have the first two turds in Todd’s pile. Warrantless wiretaps carried out against American persons, as defined under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (aka FISA), are indeed illegal. A warrant must be obtained under the provisions of the law. Further, the ACLU has never suggested that wiretaps be halted altogether — only that they be carried out in accordance with the law.

Seriously, do groups like the ACLU realize what they’re doing to this country? Do they realize that they are attempting to completely emasculate us to the point of sheer defenselessness?

Seriously, does Todd expect thinking people to buy his bullshit? Since when does obeying the law equate to “completely emasculat[ing] us to the point of sheer defenselessness”? This one hysterical shriek pretty much destroys Todd Anthony’s credibility, all by itself.

Here’s the issue: the National Security Agency (NSA) can monitor phone calls, primarily, originating from persons outside the United States with known or suspected links to Al Qaeda. THIS is what the ACLU is challenging.

False. What is being challenged is the use of wiretaps without the legally required warrants. Stop lying, Todd.

Ultimately, its far-left groups like the ACLU that would contend that a war on terror even exists… Essentially, the ACLU lacks the creativity to realize that the country has entered a new stage in its existence. Thus, because of this war, which they and other like-minded activists deny, they cannot fathom that the scope and breadth of the government has changed.

Um, Todd… When exactly has the ACLU denied that a war on terror is underway? What? Can’t hear you, Todd…

That’s right. The ACLU has never made any such denial. Stop lying, Todd.

The government instead must resort to tactics that can potentially fall in the gray area between right and wrong.

That’s not what is at issue here. The problem is that the Bush administration is deliberately violating the law. FISA requires a warrant for any wiretap that is carried out against US persons.

But obeying the law simply isn’t high on Todd’s list of priorities. Why not? One reason: As far as Todd is concerned, the terrorists have won. They have terrified Todd so badly that he has allowed his fright to overcome his own sense of right and wrong. The Todd Anthonys of this country clutch their pearls and demand that the government save them from the awful terrorists, and to hell with the law.

The real danger to the future of the United States is Todd Anthony and the millions of cowering simpletons like him — the ones who would see the rule of law discarded in their fool’s quest for absolute security. We have much more to fear from the domestic enemies of a free and law-abiding country than we will ever have from a terrorist with a bomb.

UPDATE 07/26/07 11:06 AM EDT: Ed Brayton has fisked Todd Anthony in excruciating detail.