Congress May Bestow Unchecked Spying Powers on President

[kpete]

Congress May Bestow Unchecked Spying Powers on President
*by Catherine Komp

June 23 – While dozens of lawsuits challenging the Bush administration’s warrantless surveillance of Americans slowly move through the courts, the Senate Judiciary Committee is poised to consider legislation that would effectively legalize the practice.


Your privacy is strictly respected. Civil-rights advocates and constitutional-law experts say several proposed bills attempt to "whitewash" executive wrongdoing before Congress has the opportunity to conduct hearings and gather the facts surrounding the National Security Agency’s involvement in warrantless wiretapping and telecommunications data mining.

........................

Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania) introduced the "National Security Surveillance Act" (S.2453) last March, which he followed with a substitute proposal in May.

The legislation would amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and establish new "procedures for the review of electronic surveillance programs." FISA, which was expanded under the 2001 USA PATRIOT Act, was first established in 1978 to define the procedures and set up special courts to oversee the gathering of foreign intelligence through physical and electronic surveillance.

http://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/3328

[Brigid]

1. What do they mean, "may bestow?"

We all know it's going to happen, and there seems to be very little we can do about it. :grr:

[acmejack]

2. Your privacy is strictly respected?

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: What Privacy? They spy on my phone conversations, my physical whereabouts, my person, my internet usage, they legislate their way into my choice of who I may marry, how I may become intoxicated, they intrude into virtually every aspect of my life all the while claiming they are for less Government involvement into personal matters. To hell with them all!

[sinkingfeeling]

3. If American troops are 'fighting for our freedoms', when do they invade

DC and haul off these traitors?

[Brigid]

4. It is just possible that this may one day happen.

I think that the military is increasingly concerned about how they are being used, and if things get bad enough, they may just take action. The WH and the average high-ranking military commander aren't too fond of each other these days, methinks. And increasingly these military commanders seem to be less and less afraid to speak their minds.

[Solly Mack]

5. "Everything Hitler did was legal (under German law) too"

MLK, JR. said that, btw. To make a point...governments can and will oppress legally


So - some - members of Congress are trying to legalize the crimes of Bush... that makes them complicit and just as guilty as the Bush Regime.

Can't be charged for a crime when you have a body of government so willing to legalize crimes you commit

I would define a Constitutional crisis as 3 corrupt branches of government. No checks and balances. No way of holding government accountable.

If Congress is making the criminal legal, then that's not a checks and balance and that's not holding Bush accountable. And no one with the power to do so is holding members of Congress accountable for legalizing the crimes of Bush.

[Beelzebud]

6. Why not just sign the 2006 Enabling Act and get it over with...

Just install the blatant fascist regime they want, let the chips fall where they may.

[dogday]

7. Don't forget now ---- Home Grown Terrorist

and we need to find them here in the US.. Those who give up liberty for security deserve neither....

[Beelzebud]

9. Timothy McVeigh - Homegrown Terrorist - Right-Wing Christian

Eric Rudolph - Abortian Clinic Bomber - Right Wing Christian

Never forget.

The ONLY true home-grown terrorists have been right-wing christians.

[dogday]

11. You know that phrase is going to

give him the ammunition he needs to spy on all us....

[Beelzebud]

12. Agreed. Welcome to the Fascist States of America.

May I see your walking papers?

[dogday]

13. Or your national I.D.

Second question--- Who did you vote for in the last election?

[Brigid]

16. I voted for Kerry!

*holds out hands for handcuffs*

Sorry, just had to lighten the mood a little here. :P

[sutz12]

8. Do the crime, pass the law to make it legal...SOP nt

[spanone]

10. WTF? He claims he already has this power, they should be investigating him

[Mandate My Ass]

14. then they're breaking the law too

not to mention totally failing to do the jobs they were elected to do.

[Initech]

15. It's official - the US is now a fascist dictatorship

Hell why dont we just sign a law prohibiting Americans from moving out of the country while we're at it? :argh:

[Brigid]

17. I have seen posters around here convincingly claim . . .

that mechanisms are in place to do just that if they wanted to use them. :scared: