Reply #38: FISA amendment

[dglow]

Apparently, a few months ago, a FISA Court judge ruled the spy program illegal, and could not continue. The administration kept the decision from the public. This bill guts the very purpose of FISA - to protect the privacy rights of Americans. The amendment actually expands the executive surveillance powers. We already know they've been listening in on the phone conversations of Americans (probably mostly their political opponents), and that they've been data mining our phone records, bank records, and email accounts. Moreover, the bill retroactively nullifies Bush's criminality for previous wiretapping, ruled illegal by the Federal Court and now FISA Court.

Why would anyone think it wise to grant more power to those who have already so abused it? I heard that Pelosi has been strong-arming those Dems who have been reluctant to pass the measure.

There's nothing wrong with the FISA law that the impeachment of snoopers Bush/Cheney/Gonzales can't resolve.

Call your senators to vote NO on the FISA amendment!