Tues. 12-20-2005 Headline

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Front page Long Beach Press Telegram

Headline:

BUSH SAYS SPY PLAN NEED NO APPROVAL

THE LAW President Bush contends eavesdropping program justified by his office.

first paragraph:

WASHINGTON---A ddefiant President Bush said Monday that he didn't need explicit permission from Congress or the courts to establish a secret domestic surveillance program to eavesdrop on suspected terrorists.

My opinion:

Could any one of us be labelled a suspected terrorist. What explicitely does one have to do to become a suspected terrorist. It sounds like a catch-all phrase to me. God save us, gives the government a green light to keep tabs on any person it chooses. If only Nixon had been this smart then he would have claimed that the democrats in the Watergate Hotel were suspicious.


Also of note; in his address to the nation the other evening he smiled when he mentioned the holidays and wished every American a merry christmas or happy hanukkah.
why didn't he wish people a happy kwanza. Oh yeah, african americans were the only ones smart enough not to vote for him en masse (by the way, i'm white and smart enough also).


Is Big brother finally here. What gives him the right in a supposed free society. I assume he's telling those naive enough to believe in freedom, that we are in fact not free.

The relevant law here is the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The criteria for regarding a U.S. citizen as a suspected terrorist are one of the following:



FISA also created a special court, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), to oversee and judge these matters. Under a written order by the Attorney General, the government can place wiretaps even without a warrant, but must apply to the FISC for an order retroactively within 72 hours. Considering the proceedings of the FISC are secret, I can't think of any reason for Bush not to have complied with this requirement other than not wanting judicial supervision or accountability for his actions.

Personally, I think the whole FISA is unconstitutional and violates the Fourth Amendment. I'm surprised it hasn't been taken to the Supreme Court and thrown out already.



I think the fact that there is such widespread disapproval of Bush's recent actions is reason for a little guarded optimism. I won't go so far as to say this will kick the Republicans out of power in 2008, but I do think it at least means they'll nominate someone a lot more reasonable, like McCain.

Jeremy

OOPs i did it again!

An all too common cover-up statement when the secret people make a mistake in judgement.

This opens the door to what?

i agree that it should be challenged by the supreme court, but is the timing right for that?

Seeing how we have people who are going to be or are already nominated by bush to fill voided or soon to be voided lifeterm nominations. A few hand picked people who owe at least one favor could make it suspicious at the very least.

Furthermore you also stated,

Which attorney general?

A bush nominee?

and,



all too suspicious. and it makes me sad to think that americans are not reacting to this clear violation of theor liberties.

how far will we let this go?

Creepy.....

Beglad that you were not around during the Civil War. Lincoln did stuff back then that would make GWB's current actions look like those of an apprentice altar boy.

Mike

Like what, sending a lady of the night into the opposing generals tent, looking for a little pillow talk.

I am quite certain that the technology they have today could really peek closely at one's life.

I doubt lincoln had little more to work with than creativity. That being said. Good for lincoln, i like a little creativity.