Purchasing A Gun - Getting FISA Permission - Analogy.....

[global1]

I was listening to A.G. A.Gonzo (AGAG) whine today at the hearings about the paperwork and how long it takes to get FISA court permission and came up with this analogy:

It seems to me that FISA was set up to eliminate frivolous wiretapping and allow that which is truely needed. We know that FISA has not turned down many requests. That one has to do something (paperwork) that gives one time to think about the consequences of what they are asking the FISA court to allow. That one has to go to FISA might eliminate indiscriminant use of wiretapping.

Just like the "waiting period" method of gun control which basically requires that the person wanting a gun goes to his local shop (or calls a reputable mail order outlet) to place the initial order. Then, he/she must wait one to two weeks while the government performs a small background check for past criminal activities, disorderly conduct, or lack of mental/emotional stability. During this time, if the purchaser of the gun wanted the gun for impulse reasons (out of rage), it is hoped that they will not still want to cause bodily harm after a couple weeks.

The problem with this method of gun control is that it could stop the ordinary citizen from purchasing a gun on the whim, but it
may actually protect the common criminal. The common criminal will find a work-around - like purchasing the gun illegally. We find that unregistered guns are owned by murderers, rapists,and thieves.

It appears to me that *Co did a work-around the FISA requirements - they wiretapped and spied illegally. They dispensed with doing what the law required because - perhaps they had a sinister reason for spying and did not want to take the chance of getting turned down by the FISA court.

The interesting thing about it is that FISA even allows one to go ahead and tap as long as afterwards you go to them. *Co didn't even invoke this opportunity. Which leads me to believe that they were up to no good.

What were they afraid of? Are they that paranoid that they think that going to FISA would perhaps tip off the 'terrorists'? Do they think that there are 'terrorist' sympathizers on the FISA court? Don't they even trust the public servants that make up the FISA court which is super secretive?

Do you think that the Amerian people would understand or could relate to this analogy?

[leftstreet]

1. I don't think they thought it would come to this

The people they were likely spying on (journalists, political opponents, corporate non-cronies) weren't ever going to wind up in court on non-warrantless charges, where the whole thing would be exposed.

They really are stupid.
:eyes:

[Bluesplayer]

2. they could just let their wives and kids

fill out the paperwork - it's not like anyone's going to read them, anyway....