Democrats Propose Compromise to Expand Government Surveillance

[babylonsister]

Democrats Propose Compromise to Expand Government Surveillance

By Ellen Nakashima and Spencer S. Hsu
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, August 1, 2007; 5:24 PM

Congressional Democrats, under pressure from the Bush administration, today proposed a six-month compromise that would expand the government's authority to conduct electronic surveillance of overseas communications in search of terrorists.

The proposal, according to House and Senate Democrats, would permit a secret court to issue a single broad order approving eavesdropping of communications involving suspects overseas and other people, who may be in the United States. That order "need not be individualized," according to a Democratic aide.

But granting the government authority to intercept calls with a broad warrant, some civil liberties advocates charge, could allow a large number of phone calls and e-mails of U.S. persons and companies to be intercepted as well.

A Democratic aide said that a bill likely would pass the House this week.

At issue is the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which requires the government to obtain an order from a secret court to conduct electronic surveillance of terrorist or intelligence suspects in the United States. After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, President Bush authorized a secret warrantless wiretapping program that allowed the National Security Agency to intercept communications between individuals in the United States and others overseas when at least one party is suspected of links to terrorism.

That full extent of that program has never been disclosed. In January, it was put under the oversight of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, though officials have never made public the precise terms of the court's oversight.

CONTINUED...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/01/AR2007080101514.html

[librechik]

1. watch BushCo say no to this anyway

they haven't figured out that it's a totalitarian empire yet. Even if the Shrub doesn't veto, he'll ignore anything he doesn't want, and maybe even write a signing statement "explaining" why.

The only thing Bush will accept is complete capitulation. That should never happen in America.

[Administrator1]

2. Why am I a Democrat?

I find myself in a pensive mood tonight, sadness mixed with nostalgia.

Why am I a Democrat? What drew me to this Party? Was it always as it is now?

This Democratic Party does not represent the sense of idealism or purpose or service that called me to it.

I'm remembering 1965 and Selma, Alabama. I'm remembering dogs and firehoses and tear gas and clubs and Bloody Sunday. And I'm remembering another President from Texas who cared so much for this country that he literally got sick over it. A President, saddled with Viet Nam, who longed not to be a war President, but a peace President.

I'm remembering a Southern man who risked rejection by so many because of his support for Civil Rights.

I'm remembering a speech to a joint session of Congress by a courageous President less than a week after Bloody Sunday.

I'm remembering why I became a Democrat.

http://www.massachusettsobserver.com/lbj.htm

[Sarah Ibarruri]

3. I can't stand it anymore. What's WRONG with the Dems???? nt

[L. Coyote]

5. Have IQ's suddenly PLUMMETED among certain DUers overnight?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1490388

[L. Coyote]

4. SO, how many secret domestic spy programs are there anyway, and are they legal?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1481897