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Events after Sept. 11, 2001, took place after I left the leadership, but I was never overwhelmed when Bush tried to create fear, for political reasons, to justify attacks on our liberties. And I was never overwhelmed when Obama, for political reasons, claimed wars were ending to calm fears, for political reasons, while he continues attacks on our liberties, which he once condemned, that began under Bush.

Say what you want about Drudge, but his site has been a compendium of the exploits and abuses of Big Brother. Say what you want about Paul and Sanders, but they have both warned for yours about the dangers of the Big Brother state.

Say what you want about any other issues, but on this matter Drudge, Paul and Sanders are on the side of Jefferson, Madison and Ben Franklin, who said we have a republic, if we can keep it. We will only keep our republic if we end the abuses that unfold every day, whether it is the abuses of the IRS against the Tea Party, the abuses of the national security state against our liberties or the abuses of big business against our privacy when we bank, shop, walk, talk, drive, email or make phone calls.

Yes, some secrecy is needed, and some eavesdropping is necessary. But what is happening is wrong. What is happening is out of control. What is happening, the way it is happening, and the magnitude of what is happening, poses the great danger to the American republic that is more dangerous than any plot hatched by any terrorist.

From my experience with these matters I warn: Beware of secrecy imposed by elitists of any kind who claim that only they know what is good for us, only they are allowed to know which rights they will allow us to have, and only they can decide whether they tell us which rights they choose to attack, undermine and destroy rather than preserve, protect and defend.

Personally I am willing to accept a little more danger to my life from terrorists than the greater danger posed by those seeking to destroy our rights under the pretense that they are making us safe. What say you?