Bush Signs Law To Expand Warrantless Surveillance

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

CAMP DAVID, Md. — President Bush on Sunday signed into law an expansion of the government's power to eavesdrop on foreign terror suspects without the need for warrants.

The law, approved by the Senate and the House just before Congress adjourned for its summer break, was deemed a priority by Bush and his chief intelligence officials.

--
The new law updates the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and it will expire in six months unless Congress renews it. Bush wants deeper, permanent changes.

"We must remember that our work is not done," Bush prodded. "This bill is a temporary, narrowly focused statute to deal with the most immediate shortcomings in the law."



Read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003822982_websurveillance05.html

[orleans]

1. oh good. i feel so much fucking safer already.

grrr.

[C_U_L8R]

2. hey bush.. now that we have your warrantless attention

eat me !

[proud patriot]

3. well he didn't waste anytime with that now did he?

:mad:

[Greeby]

4. Hey King George, spy on this!

[Cooley Hurd]

5. If I could recommend individual posts...

...yours would be the one!:thumbsup:

[thunder rising]

6. Wasn't that Barbara back there

a'humpin that bull ... never saw a bull lookin so distressed in my life.

[MikeNearMcChord]

7. Now watch as the lists of terrorists expands

Like DU, DailyKos(Bill O'Reilly says so) Digby, Rude Pundit, BartCop, Mike Malloy, and others. Thanks Blue Dogs!

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

8. Every Dem that voted for this dog...

Needs to have their lives made a living hell of party base rage.

[ixion]

9. another disgusting step in the march towards fascism...

:grr: :argh:

[orleans]

10. Bush Signs Law Widening Reach for Wiretapping

Source: New York Times

By JAMES RISEN
Published: August 6, 2007

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 — President Bush signed into law on Sunday legislation that broadly expanded the government’s authority to eavesdrop on the international telephone calls and e-mail messages of American citizens without warrants.

Congressional aides and others familiar with the details of the law said that its impact went far beyond the small fixes that administration officials had said were needed to gather information about foreign terrorists. They said seemingly subtle changes in legislative language would sharply alter the legal limits on the government’s ability to monitor millions of phone calls and e-mail messages going in and out of the United States.

They also said that the new law for the first time provided a legal framework for much of the surveillance without warrants that was being conducted in secret by the National Security Agency and outside the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the 1978 law that is supposed to regulate the way the government can listen to the private communications of American citizens.

“This more or less legalizes the N.S.A. program,” said Kate Martin, director of the Center for National Security Studies in Washington, who has studied the new legislation.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/06/washington/06nsa.html?hp

[Maat]

11. Disgusting.

It's a sad day in the U.S.A.

[calimary]

13. No kidding. Another in a never-ending series of national disgraces.

WHAT IN HELL are the Dems thinking??????

Granted, I haven't read all there is to read about this, but I haven't yet seen a single reasonable justification for giving this a green light. Not a single one that makes any sense to me. Especially the utter crap about revisiting it all in six more months? I don't know about you, but between this and the ongoing justifications for the war, I've had more than enough of that "another six months" crap.

Didn't we vote more Dems in to STOP the bush agenda last November? Didn't we send a clear signal that the capitulation and caving in and giving the brat-child what he throws tantrums to get were OUTTA HERE?

I swear, it makes me want to start looking at the Green party...

[Maat]

15. Boy, do I hear you.

(Just shaking my head & worrying about my kid's future.)

[Sonicmedusa]

23. My son just turned 18.

I understand.

[Sonicmedusa]

22. Makes me want to look too.

Someone argued to me the other day that due to Duverger's Law, a third party has a low statistic of winning. I don’t understand that political “science”, but I see two parties already merging into one and a LOT of disgruntled people caught up in the machinery. Where do they have to go?

Maybe a “third party” will not be necessary, someday soon.

Oh! Disclosure: To maintain my membership at DU: I will vote for a “D” in the primary- Though I hear he is "unwinnable".

:spank:

[leeman67]

12. That's really great! I feel so much safer now..

Now I can read my Bible and watch Fox News in peace (channeling typical GOP voter dumbass)

[liberal renegade]

14. if you've got time in between the 2

click over to the 700 club...... I bet it'll make you feel not only safer, but reborn as well

[Maat]

17. ..

:rofl: (laughing - or I'd be crying).

[Hydra]

16. K&R

Any word yet on what signing statements he attached yet? I had a premonition earlier on another thread that he would sign away the 6 month time limit.

[Maat]

19. Why worry about the laws being put into place ...

the Dictator just does what he wants anyway. And, no one in the Legislature seems inclined to STOP HIM, & MAKE HIM OBEY THE LAW.

[Hydra]

21. I agree with that

But it's like watching a volcano that you know will go off soon. I'm watching in the hope that I can read the signs well enough to get out of range in time.

This is a big sign. No more whistleblowers will come forward now, so Bush will do whatever he feels like behind the scenes without worrying about covering his ass.

We have truly come to the point where Bush can shoot someone dead on the whitehouse lawn with the press there, and nothing will happen.

Damn. Now I know how the Germans felt. Not that I didn't understand before- I've always thought it was wrong to blame the victims. It's just that the experience is so different than the theory.

[Maat]

25. I agree - is all I can say.

We truly have come to that point.

[Hydra]

26. I just wish my Grandparents were here to see this

They supported Nixon, Reagan, GHWB and GWB, and swore that us "libruls" had destroyed the country by taking prayers out of school.

They were wealthy middle class with a good retirement. They supported policies that are currently killing me and the relative I'm caring for, and they piously shook their finger while they were alive that it was our fault that we weren't doing better.

I hope hell is nice and comfy for them, knowing that they helped lay the foundation for the people that are destroying our world.

[wjmj]

35. the experience is so different than the theory

Imagine that! Having grown up the the deep south in the 50s-60s, I'm well acquainted with 'the experience'. As theories go, it's all about hate. The more of it you possess, the more of it you need. The more of it you can sow, the more of it you reap. I've never know there to be a bad crop of it, nor have ever known its fields to lay fallow.

[Hydra]

39. It's true about hate

But this is more about greed. Google Aaron Russo with Nathan Rockefeller. Aaron's description of that conversation sums everything going on up perfectly.

[wjmj]

41. Will do...tomorrow night

greed without hate seems impossible, though. But, I got an open mind, for now. Thanks for the heads up.

[liberal renegade]

18. just how in the hell do they

plan on wire tapping carrier pigeons.... I doubt very much that terrorists will be using land lines or email anymore...

[Hydra]

24. what terrorists?

They all work for us. The Scariest ones live in the WH, and no one dares tap that place :evilgrin:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

20. He'll work on a Sunday for that...

but won't cut his vacation short when people are drowning in NOLA. :mad:

[orleans]

28. no shit. and i wonder what the hell kind of horse trading went on in the senate

for this shit to get passed.

i'm afraid it was our horse--and her name was Civil Liberties

[redirish28]

29. Just what I was thinking. How quick he signed that into law...Couldn't wait til Monday morning.

Makes me wonder what they have in store for the next 6 months

[rodeodance]

27. So---seems Congress gave them even more than requested??!! my gawd!!

[wjmj]

30. Surveillance without Warrants

So, this is what the US military shed its blood for. This is why they died for their country all these many years since the American Revolution. This is why they froze to death in Valley Forge and the Chosen Reservoir, and this is why they lay rotting on the battlefields of Shiloh and Okinawa, and why they fought bravely and tenaciously and nearly to the last man in the woods of Soissons and Khe San. All them and all their blood died to elevate a dictator, to enshrine an awkward folly and derelict heart. We the People are no more. We the People have been betrayed by ignominious political and religious leaders, some merely weak and incompetent, most delirious with raw greed and lust.

Until, and only if, the US military, man by woman by man by woman, decides to defend the constitution and not the president, only if they decide to end the war in Iraq, only if they decide to lower their weapons and refuse with with their patriotism to prolong the defeat of We the People, only then, if they do, will there be a chance we'll survive as a democracy.

It's entirely in their hands.

[Hydra]

32. "It's entirely in their hands."

If that's the case, we are in DEEP ****

Oh well. "Tonight we dine in Hell!"

[wjmj]

33. Deep****

Yep. The dark, fly infested simmering variety. Tyranny has been a favorite conservative occupation since, well forever. In my estimation, since then, blood spilled in opposition to it would easily fill the great lakes.

[Hydra]

34. You got that right

All of history is covered in bloodbaths, burned libraries and tortured women and children.

Damn, what accomplishments as a species!

Btw, Welcome to DU. Enjoy your stay before we all get carted off :crazy:

[wjmj]

36. ...carted off

Thanks for the welcome.
I suspect they'll designate a state to herd us into, after, of course a long Trail of Tears. Which do you think? I'm thinking Nevada. Or maybe, they'll conquer Cuba and rendition us there.

[Hydra]

38. I like the idea of Cuba

Which means they'll probably send us to Oklahoma or New Mexico.

Still, the company will be good!

...%$@&. Trail of tears involves walking, doesn't it? I was hoping for at least a white van and a straitjacket!

:silly:

[wjmj]

40. Miami Boat Ride

After we're herded to Miami, we'll get a boat ride to the Bay of Pigs, tight pack, of course, and some of us will be thrown overboard for moral's sake. Upon arrival, I figure the gruel will be tasty to throw us off, kind of like an Auschwitz shower, then it's off to the cane fields, which we'll be leveling, mind you, to make room for the Dark Side's vacation properties. What happens to the Cubans, you ask? No one knows for sure. Hush hush, top secret, don't you know. Rumors say some made it to Venezuela,the lucky ones. The others? Gassed or conscripted to Iraq for the Iranian invasion.

Sweet dreams.

[Hydra]

42. Sounds awesome

And here I was wondering how I was gonna get out of the states.

They may think we're building them an exclusive resort...but that will be our fortress. Yes...Cuba will do nicely.

[cascadiance]

44. Yeah, when folks dig up "Escape From New York" DVD in our rubble many years from now ...

... they'll think it was a documentary! :eyes:

[orleans]

45. oh god--now there's a happy fucking thought. argh. you could be right. n/t

[cascadiance]

46. And maybe they'll find the statue of liberty like it is in Planet of the Apes...

... and think that that film was a documentary slightly later in time!

[orleans]

47. okay--i admit i never saw planet of the apes. so i don't get this one. n/t

[cascadiance]

52. It's probably not a spoiler for most people here...

At the end of the movie, Charlton Heston who plays an astronaut that goes into the future (he's not sure of it until the end) when apes have taken over the planet, and at the end he sees the top of the Statue of Liberty poking it's head out of the sand on the beach he's in and he falls down crying.

[orleans]

54. oh--i saw that on google images -- didn't know the background of it. n/t

powerful image.

[rodeodance]

31. It bypasses the courts!------There is NO separation of powers anymore!

...The new law gives the attorney general and the director of national intelligence the power to approve the international surveillance, rather than the special intelligence court. The court’s only role will be to review and approve the procedures used by the government in the surveillance after it has been conducted. It will not scrutinize the cases of the individuals being monitored.

The law also gave the administration greater power to force telecommunications companies to cooperate with such spying operations. The companies can now be compelled to cooperate by orders from the attorney general and the director of national intelligence.

Democratic Congressional aides said Sunday that some telecommunications company officials had told Congressional leaders that they were unhappy with that provision in the bill and might challenge the new law in court. The aides said the telecommunications companies had told lawmakers that they would rather have a court-approved warrant ordering them to comply.

[Hydra]

37. Bingo!

Give the man a cigar!

It's amazing what this law does- and we haven't even seen the signing statements attached yet!

When Bush decides to give us ****, he just keeps on giving

:puke:

[TankLV]

43. So now the REPUKE WAR CRIMINALS can listen in on Democrats and anyone else that OPPOSES them...

THAT is what this is all about.

We finally have our "ENABLING ACTS"...

BTW: No matter what these quizlings have done - it is still UNCONSTITUTIONAL to change a law RETROACTIVELY to give somebody cover who BROKE THE LAW before it was changes. THAT will never change.

We can and should make every effort to CAPTURE and BRING TO TRIAL EVERYONE who has BROKEN THE LAW.

I don't care if bush* is a 100 year old fucktard - I WILL DEVOTE THE REST OF MY LIFE TO SEE HIM BROUGHT TO JUSTICE, along with ALL the War Criminals...

[Hydra]

51. Good thought

just remember you are being watched right now.

And it's all legal. Gonzo says so.

Gonzo will also claim that the previous wiretapping was not illegal.

The DoJ is now working for Bush, and applies the laws as he says.

I hope most of the cage rattlers on DU have packed their toothbrushes, cause we're all going to the KBR camps as soon as they get around to it.

[Sam Ervin jret]

48. Just pray it's not retroactive, it would be just like this bunch of....

invertebrates in congress to give this chronic Bill of Rights abuser in Chief a "get out of jail free" card. Will they get anything RIGHT? They let themselves be bribed into doing something by a lame duck with an approval rating # that is only slightly larger than his shoe size and 2x his I.Q., (I may have used hyperbole, I really don't know his shoe size)

[orleans]

49. i don't think you can make a law retroactive...well, maybe you can

in bushworld.

welcome to du, sam.

[Hydra]

50. They're gonna use it as such

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

53. Thank God we captured the House and Senate in 2006!!

Otherwise, shit like this would happen...

:sarcasm:

[acmavm]

55. Hey, where are all the people that are lecturing everyone? You

know, the ones who are giving us the old party loyalty or go somewhere else shit?