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NSA Warantless Wiretapping Approval Passes Senate Judiciary Committee in Party Line Vote

Submitted by BuzzFlash on Wed, 09/13/2006 - 3:48pm.

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The Senate Judiciary Committee passed three bills relating to the Bush Administration's warrantless surveillance program today. The only one to attract bipartisan support was an act sponsored by a Democrat, Sen. Dianne Feinstein. The main bill - written in consultation with the White House and introduced by Republican Senator Arlen Specter - passed on a party line vote, 10-8.

According to Bloomberg.com:

Specter's legislation wouldn't require Bush to submit the NSA program to a secret court for review. Still, the president agreed to do so if Congress passes the measure in the form approved today in the committee. The president wouldn't have to stop the eavesdropping program even if the court objects.

The Committee's vote comes less than a month after a federal judge found the NSA's warrantless wiretapping program illegal and unconstitutional. The ruling has not been overturned.

"This bill is all about authorizing the President to invade the homes, e-mails and telephone conversations of American citizens in ways that are expressly forbidden by law," summed up Senate Judiciary Ranking Member Patrick Leahy.

Leahy said the Republican plan also introduces the concept of "program warrants" which would allow a single judge in the secret FISA court to approve broad programs of surveillance instead of continuing to rule only in individual cases. This is made even easier because, should the NSA lose in a proceeding where it is already the only party arguing, the government could appeal any denial to a judge of its choosing for a favorable result.

According to Sen. Russ Feingold, existing law provides enough latitude to effectively monitor terrorist communications. "For nearly 30 years, FISA has allowed surveillance of potential terrorists and others, with the approval of a judge in most cases to make sure this power is not abused," he said. "Expanding executive power at the request of a president who has shown such deep disrespect for the rule of law is exactly the wrong thing to do."

Republican leaders plan to schedule a vote in the full Senate before the next month's recess to campaign for the mid-term elections.

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FISA is enough

Submitted by tseving on Thu, 09/14/2006 - 8:11am.
Our founding fathers enshrined the separation of powers in our Constitution to provide a systems of checks and balances, lest one branch abuse its power to the detriment of the American people. FISA as it now stands already gives the executive branch (NSA in this case) the ability to spy on Americans' international calls, but requires them to get approval from the judiciary branch (FISA court) within three days afterward. Specter's gives Bush the ability to circumvent judicial review and license to abuse power. In my opinion, the bill is therefore unconstitutional, as it invests judiciary power in the executive branch. tseving -Surviving Bush one day at a time http://tomcatsbox.spaces.live.com
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warrentless spying

Submitted by jimni on Thu, 09/14/2006 - 8:03am.
What goes around, comes around. I am not worried about big brother spying on me, I am so unimportant it would be a waste of time. But the Bushies see me as an enemy for disagreeing with their ideas. I am concerned about political spying. Remember GG Liddy? Americans should not be spying on each other, and politicians should fight their political battles in the open, not by using criminal acts to sabotage our political process. But, if they want to play that game, they will also be subject to the same treatment when Democrats take power in the future. When that happens, I will insist that the Republicans and businessmen be spied on, without approval or warrants. There is nothing that could set the record straight like taped conversations between people like Bush and the Saudis, Delay and the drug companies, Cheney and the oil executives. Since we are tearing the constitution to shreds, we may as well elimate all the protections against unlawful searches.Let's raid Cheney's office for the minutes of the secret meeting he held with the energy executives. Old Dick keeps them hidden away, for good reasons. He doesn't want to go to prison.
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INFO IS USED TO CONTACT WHO YOU CONTACT

Submitted by Kathy on Wed, 09/13/2006 - 7:15pm.
THIS IS NOT USED JUST TO LISTEN OR MONITOR. THEY (USUALLY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENTS-PD'S, UNIVERSITY'S, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENTS, GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES WHO ARE GETTING COMPENSATE FROM THE HIGHER UPS) CONTACT THE PERSON WHO YOU ARE TRYING TO CALL OR EMAIL. IF ANYONE THINKS I AM LYING, OR THIS IS "FARFETCHED," THEN ANYONE CAN TRACE MY PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS. AND THERE IS THE EVIDENCE. THERE IS A REASON WHY ANY TYPE OF INVESTIGATION IS EIMINATED FROM MY COMPLAINTS.
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Senate allows king george to spy on us.

Submitted by rbank on Wed, 09/13/2006 - 5:54pm.
Right now all I can think of is swear words. How can they do this to us. I just hope they can't scare their base enough that the fools will vote for them. I am so angry that I could hit something.
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