From Your Elected Officials

In the War on Terror, Protecting Liberty is Essential

By U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO)

On the eve of World War II, Franklin Roosevelt reminded our nation 'Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.' President Roosevelt recognized that while we needed to use every weapon in our arsenal to defeat the enemies of our nation, we also needed to protect the very freedoms our enemies found so threatening.

Those words remain as true today as they did in 1941. Once again we find ourselves at war with enemies who seek to destroy us. Much of the Patriot Act streamlines and encourages information-sharing among our intelligence agencies. I support these provisions because they modernize our laws to effectively fight terrorism and other crimes.

Unfortunately, in the zeal to update our laws to combat terrorism, certain provisions of the Patriot Act go too far. They allow surveillance of anyone's phone records, computer data or even their library records, without judicial oversight. Congress must maintain extremely strict checks on government's ability to abridge Americans' rights, not encourage the further erosion of these rights.

This bill is made even worse by the elimination of the sunset for all but two of these provisions. This will mean that the portions of the Patriot Act that most adversely affect our civil liberties will be enshrined into law forever.

America is at war with enemies that are as threatened by our liberties and freedoms as Nazi Germany was in World War II or Soviet Russia was during the Cold War. We must defeat this threat. But we must do so following the same standard established by Franklin Roosevelt those many years ago: by preserving our liberties and protecting our nation.

U.S. Representative Diana DeGette represents the 1st District of Colorado.

Calling All Democratic Poets!

From Representative Morgan Carroll

We are seeking people who are willing to donate poetry for a good political cause. The poetry would be part of a poetry reading fundraiser we are doing to benefit Rep. Morgan Carroll and would be part of a collection of poems we will publish, print and sell for a good cause.

If you or anyone you know would be willing to donate poetry, please email it to me at morgancarroll@webaccess.net with a note that it is okay for us to read and publish it in our collection. All authors will be credited for their work. Please submit your poems by August 20, 2005.

In the Press

Colorado Democratic Party Officially Endorses C & D

July 11, 2005

On Saturday, July 9, 2005 the Colorado Democratic State Executive Committee voted to fully support the Colorado Economic Recovery Act which will appear on the November 1, 2005 statewide ballot as Referenda C & D.

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See official resolution

Dean Speaks to Colorado Democrats

July 14, 2005

Governor Howard Dean addressed over two hundred enthusiastic Democrats on Thursday, July 14, 2005 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.

Dean's opening remarks rallied the large crowd. "Democrats in Colorado should be proud of their accomplishments in 2004," said Dean. "We have proven that Colorado is not a red state anymore."

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Statement by CDP Chair Pat Waak on Supreme Court Nominee

July 20, 2005

President Bush announced his nomination of John Roberts to the Supreme Court. Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak released the following statements on the nomination:

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Talking Points on the Supreme Court Nomination Process

July 20, 2005

President Bush selected a judge with strong legal credentials, but with sharp partisan credentials that cannot be ignored. The burden of proof is on Judge Roberts to demonstrate that he can put his partisanship aside and live up to a Supreme Court Justice's duty to uphold the rights and freedoms of every American and the promise of equal justice for all.

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