White House seeks boost to spy powers

[Rose Siding]

The plan is one of several proposed changes, which have been in the works for more than a year, that go to the heart of a key U.S. surveillance law......

The administration wants to be able to monitor foreign nationals on American soil if they are thought to have significant intelligence information, but no known links to a foreign power. Under current law, the government must convince a FISA judge that an individual is an agent of a government, terror group or some other foreign adversary.

The administration also wants new provisions to ease surveillance of people suspected of spreading weapons of mass destruction internationally.

And the administration wants to allow government lawyers to decide whether a FISA court order is needed for electronic eavesdropping based on the target of the monitoring, not the mode of communication or the location where the surveillance is being conducted.

AP/Yahoo

Bush wants lawyers to be able to decide if a warrant is needed. I can't get over how outrageous that sounds. Wouldn't the lawyers be all those "loyal bushies"? Someone like Rove's BFF could be deciding for himself whether or not to snoop without any court involvement.

[Joanne98]

1. This is another attempt to make the Dems look like their "soft on terra"

They better not fall for it.

[lonestarnot]

2. And all we hear about is IMESS and Anna Nicole.

[wtmusic]

3. Fox, guard henhouse

Sorry W, the adults are in charge now.

[Double T]

4. The 'imperial president' wants unlimited powers to do what HE deems.......

to be the 'right thing'. Never give too much power to a psychopath as they will completely destroy EVERYTHING.

[Canuckistanian]

5. Sure, why not?

They've been ignoring FISA laws anyways, why not make it official? :sarcasm:

Just bring it to Congress, there'll be enough Democrats to sign on to it.

[Rose Siding]

7. It does look like they're seeking retroactive legality.

-especially after the FBI's recent admitted abuse. Different agency, but still.

However, I'm not so sure that this Congress will oblige.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. this is INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS folks.

this will shred what is left of our constitution.

they get to keep all evidence they get by inadvertance. And use it for any purpose.
Excuse me, but Big Brother would have loved powers like these.

[ddeclue]

8. Not a snowball's chance in hell will this happen...

Bush is getting more delusional every day.

Doug D.

[Oilwellian]

9. What a crock

they're already doing this.

[Name removed]

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