Our Brave New America
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There are going to be some folks who say “no big deal”, because in their world it would be okay for the entire CIA to go inside someone’s rectum because the president waved his hands around and said “terrah”. It’s so hard to care anymore.
Bush Lets U.S. Spy on Callers Without Courts
Months after the Sept. 11 attacks, President Bush secretly authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on Americans and others inside the United States to search for evidence of terrorist activity without the court-approved warrants ordinarily required for domestic spying, according to government officials.
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© 2000-2011 Oliver Willis
[...] know what was going on, he said. This is the path to totalitarianism, you know. Oliver Willis writes, There are going to be some folks who say no big deal , [...]
Well it was legal and we have had no successful terrorists attacks on our soil since 9-11. So progressives want to undo that?
Dugger, These are tough times. Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way.
If this attitude is representative of Republicans, then you need to change your sloganeering.
The above view does not reflect the party of “morals and ethics”. It represents the party of “win at all costs”. Since these concepts are mutually exclusive, you had better pick one and run with it. Otherwise, all the other hyperbole is bullshit.
“Hooray, no terrorists attacks on US soil since 9-11!” says the man in a room filled with cameras and tape recorders.
I wonder what the Ministry of Peace would say about this.
No president, Democrat or Republican, should have these powers. It’s not American, and it’s not legal.
No warrrant = not legal.
But it’s OK because Dugger says so. Ol’ warm and fuzzy Dugger. At this point, there isn’t a thing that comes from Dugger that I believe should be taken seriously on this blog. Not a thing.
In a post 9/11 world, we have to cut the government some slack….they’re trying to prevent another 9/11….but this one is beyond the pale. There was even enough concern about the legaility that some NSA officials were refusing to participate.
Conservatives are about “less government.” Right? Ya….right.
JK
I think we need to prosecute whoever leaked this to the NYT. I nominate Fitzgerald…
John S,
“win at all costs”?? Is it really that bad? Armegeddon is now upon this, courtesy of Bushellzzabub. All those poor hippies being rounded up and put in Abu Ghraib. NSA monitors a few ingoing and outgoing foreign calls and its “oh the humanity”.
Agent Dugger (I think I put them off the track, Mr Rove, but some of these guys may need to be monitored via NSA and then “gitmoed”)
Oh, by the by, chirrens, stop digging your tinfoil shelters and stockpiling that instant latte for a second. Read this:
“The Foreign Intelligence Security Act permits the government to monitor foreign communications, even if they are with U.S. citizens — 50 USC 1801, et seq. A FISA warrant is only needed if the subject communications are wholly contained in the United States and involve a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power. ”
Now back to it. Put the brie in the cooler. And better get more Birkenstocks hidden in that shelter. The fascists will steal those.
Knock! Knock! Its NSA Dugger, “He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you are awake, he knows when you been progressive, so be conservative for goodness sake!!”
Agent Dugger (I think I put them off the track, Mr Rove, but some of these guys may need to be monitored via NSA and then gitmoed )
Tongue-in-cheek is your intent. However I have indirect experience with just such a threat.
“Well it was legal”
Sorry Dugger… that’s the problem, the legality is in question.
I never said it was bad. I said it is not consistent with claiming to be all about morality and values.
If you want the Republicans to be about “win at all costs”, then at least be honest with folks about what the intentions of the party really are.
Again, my position is that you cannot be “win at all costs” and “morality and ethics” at the same time.
Again, my position is that you cannot be win at all costs and morality and ethics at the same time.
True. Anybody who’s seen an episode of Survivor knows that.
No surprise that once again Dugger comes down on the side of police state tactics. Win at all costs but lose everything that makes us American? Dugger says yes. Screw the Consitution and the balance of powers. Duger just wants to save is craven skin.
hehehehe….I love it when people like semanticleo say
“Tongue-in-cheek is your intent. However I have indirect experience with just such a threat”
It reminds me of the conspiracy theorist that used to speak on college campuses. They would tell you how bad the cia is, how they kill people that speak out….all while playing to a standing room audience at colleges around the country! LOL
They hated it when I would get up and ask them “Why aren’t you dead yet?”
so Cleo, why aren’t you dead yet?
During the confirmation hearings of John Bolton as the U.S. representative to the United Nations, it came to light that the NSA had freely revealed intercepted conversations of U.S. citizens to Bolton while he served at the State Department. . . .
Newsweek reported January 2004 to May 2005, the NSA supplied intercepts and names of 10,000 U.S. citizens to policy-makers at many departments, other U.S. intelligence services, and law enforcement agencies.”
This could explain why the Bush Administration fought so strenuously to keep those intercepts secret and out of the hearing. Snooping without judicial review illegal and THEY KNOW IT.
Bush’s signing the order to allow this kind of domestic spying without warrant is an impeachable offense. This President swore an oath to uphold the Constitution. The fourth amendment clearly prohibits this kind of warrantless search.
The President has therefore violated his oath of office.
all those who obeyed the president’s unlawful order be prosecuted.
Happy Critical Thinking Holiday!
Be nice to America or Republicans will bring democracy to your country
Washington Monthly has a good post fleshing out why these activities are illegal.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2005_12/007789.php#more
Who do suppose advised Bush to approve the illegal spying? Gonzalez? Ashcroft? With attorneys like them who needs dictators?