NY Times: Democratic Congress Following Bush Off A Cliff (Warrantless Wiretapping)

[MannyGoldstein]

Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Bush administration has repeatedly demonstrated that it does not feel bound by the law or the Constitution when it comes to the war on terror. It cannot even be trusted to properly use the enhanced powers it was legally granted after the attacks.

Yet, once again, President Bush has been trying to stampede Congress into a completely unnecessary expansion of his power to spy on Americans. And, hard as it is to believe, Congressional Republicans seem bent on collaborating, while Democrats (who can still be cowed by the White House’s with-us-or-against-us baiting) aren’t doing enough to stop it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/03/opinion/03fri1.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[fjc]

1. Can the liberal bloggers put pressure on the dems for this?

If so, how does that happen?

[Dhalgren]

2. The problem is that we are all living in the past. The Democratic Party has

moved on to embrace the New Empire, they no longer adhere to the ideals of the Old Republic (at least beyond lip-service). We are all acting as though we still lived in the 20th century USA. We need to grasp the truth that we are not who we once were and we are the only ones who are having any problems dealing with this fact. Look, the Democrats have majorities in congress (slim in the senate, but there, nonetheless), Herr Bush is a lame duck, hated worldwide, and with the lowest approval rating in history (if polls could be taken honestly) and with a large majority of the citizenry clamoring for change. But the only politicians calling for change are the ones everybody (even on DU) resign to "can't be elected" status. We are done. Don't even stick a fork in us - we'd just collapse into the bottom of the pan. It's a Brave New World and we are dinosaurs - those of us who still believe in democracy, fairness, justice, honesty, caring, peace, and humanity. The asteroid is just now piercing the outer atmosphere...

"We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when,
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day..."

[loudsue]

3. Prophetic post, Dhalgren. I'm afraid you're prolly correct.

It's just too hard for some minds to grasp all of it.

Looks like the evolution of a revolution.

:kick:

[guidod]

5. Nice post, thanks...

[Totally Committed]

8. How true this statement is! ---

The Democratic Party has moved on to embrace the New Empire, they no longer adhere to the ideals of the Old Republic (at least beyond lip-service). We are all acting as though we still lived in the 20th century USA. We need to grasp the truth that we are not who we once were and we are the only ones who are having any problems dealing with this fact.

And, how sad.

TC

[KoKo]

11. Harry Reid pulled that Article out of his pocket at the Presser with Pelsoi Today...See this

post and thread about the reaction of Reid to the NYT's article:

DU Thread on this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1505529

comment:

14. Newspaper headline that read: "White House Stampeding Congress!"

That was a great comeback for Reid! I think he was trying to get across that they wouldn't be stampeded by the FISA stuff that Bush/Cheney want in there. And, did you catch that read was asked about McConnel saying he now wanted more in FISA to fight terrorists and Reid said he had met with McConnel and he was going to stick to what he and McConnell had agreed on and not what the WH/Cheney wanted in there.

[bklyncowgirl]

13. The Roman Senate continued to function long after real power passed to the Emperors.

Sadly that seems to be what's happening today in America. Like the Romans, we'll have our elections but the real power will be voluntarily handed over to the executive by the legislators who are supposed to be representing the people.

[emulatorloo]

4. Tiring of the NYT's BS -- read Leahy's statement -- he is not following BUSH

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1489955

Comment of Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.,
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
On FISA Fix Proposal
August 1, 2007

“The Congress is willing and able to responsibly reform FISA when changes are needed, and now is such a time. In the last decade alone, Congress has amended FISA on many occasions, and I believe we should make this targeted and responsible fix now. The reform we have proposed to the Administration will improve the government’s ability to collect intelligence, while protecting the civil liberties of Americans by maintaining oversight of the FISA Court when calls to or from the United States are involved. The Administration, instead, would shift this oversight role and additional authority away from the expert FISA Court to the Attorney General. It is essential to preserve the crucial role of the FISA Court in protecting civil liberties of Americans while providing our intelligence agencies the flexibility they need. It is not wise to expand the authority of this Attorney General – or any Attorney General – in this regard. I urge the Administration to support this reasonable solution that ensures checks and balances while strengthening our national security.”

[chill_wind]

7. NOR is he right that "now is the time." A few Myths and FACTS about any need for this bill.

MYTH: The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act needs to be modernized.


FACT: The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act has been updated more than 50 times since being enacted in the '70s. It was updated as recently as last year.

MYTH: We need warrants to wiretap foreigners abroad.

FACT: Current law allows foreign-to-foreign communications to be intercepted without a warrant. What this proposal is really about is the right to wiretap Americans - without a warrant - who are speaking with people overseas.

MYTH: FISA has not kept up with new technology.

FACT: There is absolutely no new technology that evades FISA. Even the man responsible for prepping and filing all FISA applications, James Baker, head of the Justice Department's Office of Intelligence Policy and Review, has said that, "There's no type of collection that's prohibited by the statute." FISA was modernized by the Patriot Act, by Intelligence Reform legislation and by the re-authorization of the Patriot Act - indeed has been updated 50 times since it was enacted in 1978.

MYTH: Congress knows the facts about the NSA warrantless spying program.

FACT: The Senate Judiciary Committee asked for the legal rationale for the program nine times before issuing subpoenas, and still hasn't received an answer due to consistent stonewalling by the administration and the Department of Justice. The American public and their elected senators and representatives do not yet know the full extent of the warrantless wiretapping program and the extent to which FISA has been violated. So why would Congress grant additional power to this administration?


MORE: http://www.aclu.org/safefree/nsaspying/31144res20070731.html

There is more to be addressed here than the mere issue of Gonzales-- DEMs have already said they won't give him sole authority in this new phase of things.

It's a shoddy bill so far. The bill is too broad and too vague in some of its definitions, giving BushCO yet more giant loopholes you could drive a whole fleet of Haliburton trucks thru and among other egregious Bush provisions-- wants RETROACTIVE IMMUNITY from lawsuits FOR TELCO lawbreakers back to 2001.

This is a BushCO and Telco amnesty/bailout bill, because Bush has already been struck down and wants Congress to overturn in Congress what judges have already told him he has violated the laws for 6 years.

I respect what Sen Leahy says and does on a lot of matters like these, but you might also want to read Sen Feingold's assessment of the problems with the bill, as well.

It would be very interesting to find out, among other backers, how much Telco lobby money may have gone into this effort and to whom...

[Totally Committed]

6. Not only on wiretapping... Did you see this???

*If you wonder why Congress doesn't do well in the polls, one of the easiest moves would be to raise required mileage standards for new automobiles. Thanks to Pelosi, House Democrats have decided against the increase when they take up energy legislation later this week.

House Drops Tougher Auto Fuel Economy
By H. JOSEF HEBERT, Associated Press Writer

After weeks of uncertainty, House Democrats have decided against a confrontation over automobile fuel economy when they take up energy legislation later this week.

Two proposals to boost the required mileage for new automobiles were submitted Wednesday for consideration as amendments to the energy legislation, but they were withdrawn by their Democratic sponsors.

*thanks to buzzflash.com for these words

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2007/08/01/national/w161437D77.DTL


It's f*cking depressing! I'm so pissed!!! What in hell did we elect them for, anyway????

TC

[chill_wind]

9. kicking. n/t

[defendandprotect]

10. We need open e-mail addresses for all elected officials --

many people would probably comment more if they didn't have to go in and out of websites -- !!!

[farmboxer]

12. Congress has to obey their master

how sick.

[Totally Committed]

14. WE are their "Masters"... we elected them, and we can UN-elect them.

Trust me, their time is coming. I'm not the only one fed up to the teeth with this One-Party government of ours.

TC