Congress seems to have reached a deal with the Devil today, overhauling FISA legislation to take the teeth from any meaningful hope of prosecuting the big telecoms. From the New York Times:
The deal, expanding the government’s powers to spy on terrorism suspects in some key respects, would strengthen the ability of intelligence officials to eavesdrop on foreign targets. It would also allow them to conduct emergency wiretaps without court orders on American targets for a week if it is determined that important national security information would be lost otherwise. If approved, as appears likely, it would be the most significant revision of surveillance law in 30 years.
What I find funny is that House Democrats "insisted" on adding language to the bill which affirms these intelligence protocols as the "exclusive" means by which the government can use wiretaps for terrorist surveillance. Pelosi chirped,
"the law is the exclusive authority and not the whim of the president of the United States"
Oh really? Wow, that makes me feel so much better. It's a true comfort to know that you guys won't let the President bully you into ignoring the rule of law. Thanks for that.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is mounting a last minute effort to get constituents to contact their respective elected ninnys to urge them to vote against this affront to decency. Click below to participate - let your voice be heard.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is mounting a last minute effort to get constituents to contact their respective elected ninnys to urge them to vote against this affront to decency. Click below to participate - let your voice be heard.
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