Just went to Roskam's website and found the following Op-Ed:

Terrorists Call for Truce?

Roskam Op-Ed

Washington, Jan 23 -

After years of waging war on America terrorist organizations across the world have decided to put down their weapons, set aside their goals of America and Israel’s destruction, and have vowed to work with America and our allies in spreading democracy and peace throughout the world. This historic accord goes into effect February 1 of this year, making any and all foreign intelligence gathering needless.

Nonsense you say? Well I agree, and so would nearly every American. However, in just eight days the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, better known as FISA, is set to expire, leaving our intelligence community blind to foreign threats. The very real danger presented by terrorist organizations, however, will not go away on February 1. That is why we can’t afford to lose the tools our intelligence officials need to stay one step ahead of the enemy. The lack of legislative action by this Congress on FISA is another clear example of how Washington is broken.

FISA, which was enacted in 1978, is a crucial intelligence tool that gives U.S. agents the authority to listen in on conversations between foreign nationals who represent a terrorist threat. Following the events of September 11, 2001, Congress moved to further protect America by amending FISA to allow for the collection of intelligence between foreign terrorists without the need for a warrant, even if the call was rerouted through American communication systems.

Unfortunately, this amendment was overturned in early 2007. According to the Washington Post, U.S. intelligence agencies lost almost two-thirds of their ability to track terrorist communications as a result of this irresponsible change in strategy. Recognizing the critical intelligence gap, Congress passed a six-month extension of the law this past August. Now due to expire, Congress still has not passed another extension, while greatly threatening our security.

Partisanship once stopped at the waters edge. As of late, partisanship seems to fester here at home, and abroad. We as a Congress must work together to secure our homeland, an issue I think we should all agree on regardless of party affiliation. I am optimistic that we will extend FISA, I just hope that we do it before it’s too late.

Winston Churchill once famously said that the United States will invariably get things right, but “only after having exhausted every other alternative."

The breadth of lies in these few paragraphs is truly staggering. It sounds as though FISA will come to an end next Friday and we will be unable to monitor any communications outside the United States. Also, apparently before FISA was passed in 1978 the U.S. government could not collect foreign intelligence outside the U.S., when of course FISA was passed to regulate the ability of the United States to gather intelligence which involved a U.S. Citizen in the United States as a result of the abuses of the Nixon Administration. I could go on, but I think I would exceed the 1000 word limit.

I called Roskam's office last week regarding any speaking engagements in the district but received no response. I called again today after seeing the above and discovered that he will be appearing at the Northwest Suburban Cook County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner tomorrow evening in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. I also called his campaign and left a message to inquire about any speaking engagements or appearances between now and the Illinois Primary on February 5. Since I made it sound like I was interested in contributing money, I hope to hear back soon.

I will not be able to make it to the Lincoln Day Dinner tomorrow night, unfortunately, but I am still looking for an opportunity to discuss FISA face-to-face with Roskam.

I am curious if something similar has gone up on the websites of other Republican representatives or senators.

We are being governed by children. This is not the way adults should act. This is like student body government, only clunkier.

Not to toot my own horn, but in several previous posts on the FISA issue I have advocated that people stop paying their bills to the telecoms as a form of civil disobedience. Make them expend millions of dollars trying to collect these amounts (talk about a burden of litigation). Then, when they sue and try to collect the unpaid amounts, each individual court assert the FISA violations as an affirmative defense (e.g., "Upon information and belief, AT&T monitored my telephone (or cell phone or internet usage) and passed that information along to the Federal government without a warrant, in violation of U.S. law).

The SIC bill contains retroactive immunity for the telecoms, meaning that they would not be liable in many of the lawsuits currently brought against them. However, if my reading of the bill is correct, the SIC bill would not prevent an individual from using the FISA violations to preclude the telecoms from collecting unpaid bills.

Just got off the phone with Peter Roskam's campaign here in the Illinois 6th District. He is having a fundraiser this coming Monday, January 28, 2008, at the Medinah Center in Addison, Illinois, starting at noon. Admission is $250. Since the FISA bill will ultimately end up in committee (unless the Democrats do something miraculous and pass a will without retroactive immunity and the other objectionable provisions), I think it would be fascinating to attend and hear what Rove and Roskam have to say, especially since there is now a cloture vote set for Monday as well.

I am down as a maybe. If anyone is interested, call Roskam's campaign at (630) 221-0006 and they will put you in touch with the proper person. It may also be possible to get tickets at the door on the day of the event. Interestingly, however, Roskam's campaign site does not have any information on the fundraiser (to keep out the riff-riff (i.e., constituents), perhaps?).

I am also placing calls to Durbin and Obama about FISA.