Bush Signs Eavesdropping Bill

President Bush on Sunday signed into law an expansion of the government's power to eavesdrop on foreign terror suspects without the need for warrants.

The law, approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives just before Congress adjourned for its summer break, was deemed a priority by Mr. Bush and his chief intelligence officials.

"When our intelligence professionals have the legal tools to gather information about the intentions of our enemies, America is safer," Mr. Bush said. "And when these same legal tools also protect the civil liberties of Americans, then we can have the confidence to know that we can preserve our freedoms while making America safer."

The administration said the measure is needed to speed the National Security Agency's ability to intercept phone calls, e-mails and other communications involving foreign nationals "reasonably believed to be outside the United States."

The law is designed to capture communications that pass through the United States.

Civil liberties groups and many Democrats say it goes too far, possibly enabling the government to wiretap U.S. residents communicating with overseas parties without adequate oversight from courts or Congress.

The new law updates the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and it will expire in six months unless Congress renews it. Mr. Bush wants deeper, permanent changes.

"We must remember that our work is not done," Mr. Bush said. "This bill is a temporary, narrowly focused statute to deal with the most immediate shortcomings in the law."

[gunnerv1]

And if it keeps just one "Rag He*d" from blowing me up, then it's worth it!

[toldyouso21]

So of course, I told this fund raiser all of this and stated that I would not willingly give a cent to either group as both were ineffective and counterproductive and NEITHER reflected what the majority of Americans want. Our choices for 2008 have been distilled down to which one we hate the least--and feel will do the least amount of harm. Shall it be for more war and perhaps less illegals? Or shall we stop the war and be overrun with illegal *** amnestied law breakers?

Decisions. Decisions. All of you have failed us.

If you want to use a version of this to send to your own Congressmen--please feel free to do so. Only a fool, paid hack or sycophant would blindly follow either party right now.

[toldyouso21]

The American people do NOT want illegal immigrants to become citizens, though we do think the immigration process including law enforcement and real laws with teeth on the books must be the number one priority. The Republicans up for election vote no to illegal amnesty, while most Dems and Rep not up for election vote yes--and the issue is never allowed to rest--the Dems keep trying to backdoor in a program for people who are not even citizens. CONGRESS IS STILL TRYING TO LEGITIMIZE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND ILLEGAL HIRING PRACTICES.

The American people do not want outsourcing or insourcing. We want our jobs, we want to earn a decent, living wage. Both Dems and Republicans favor outsourcing and insourcing, they call it NAFTA or global marketing, which is another euphemism for progress internationally for a few companies at the expense NOT the long term benefit of the avg. citizen. BOTH PARTIES ENSURE THAT THE OUTSOURCING/INSOURCING CONTINUES

The fact is, both sides are just out for themselves. For YOUR paychecks, your families, etc and we are only considered when it can affect YOUR bottom line. We see this. Most of us revile both parties

see next post

[toldyouso21]

Here is the letter I sent to my Congressmen today:

"Hello:

Yesterday, I was called by a member of a political party and asked for a donation. The person (for some reason) had the idea that I would be the kind of person who would support their party's position and they declared that they were the only party closer to the idea of what the people really want.

Of course, I had to straighten that out. They do not represent how most people I know or blog with or talk to, think or feel.

The American people by and large want to be out of Iraq--the Democrats whine about it but don't stop kowtowing to veto pressure, the Republicans stymie and sabotage the votes--WE ARE STILL IN IRAQ.

The American people want Gonzales gone. The Democrats hold pointless hearings where they whine and point fingers but do not take definitive action, the Republicans do the same and support Bush hampering any credible investigation. GONZALES STAYS.

continued on next post

[toldyouso21]

As US citizens, we are bound by our patriotic duty to respect the mandate of the people, regardless of whether our candidate won. People will take you more seriously when your words indicate that you are a serious person. I mean no offense, so don't get all upset, OK?
Posted by S_Temper at 09:51 PM : Aug 07, 2007


You have a point, but you lost it also. The "will of the people and respect for the mandate of the people" has been long gone. If the mandate of the people were enforced, we would be out of Iraq, Cheney would have to testify over Enron, Gonzales would step down, and we would not still be haggling over rewarding illegal immigrants with citizenship.

As it stands, the mandate of the people has been ignored and the Constitution and International laws and conventions disregarded or subverted. At this point the gloves are coming off and nobody, not a government, not an office and definitely NOT a person, is going to just get a blind, free ride. We are on the verge of political meltdown--and the actions of this administration and Congress for the past 7 years are the main reasons for it.

[toldyouso21]

"With this FISA vote, the Democrats have compromised the investigation into the U.S. attorney scandal. They've shown themselves either to be participating in an empty political witch hunt or curiously willing to surrender our civil liberties to someone who has shown%u2014time and again%u2014that he cannot be trusted to safeguard them. The image of Democrats hypocritically berating the attorney general with fingers crossed behind their backs is ultimately no less appalling than an attorney general swearing to uphold the Constitution with fingers crossed behind his own."

The pundits have a good point. If Gonzales is sooo evil and bad, and the administration up to their necks in mischief--then why grant them more power? The Dems are lying hypocrites on a witch hunt. I despise the Republicans, but when a fund raiser called for money for the Dems--I refused to give--I am boarding the bus to despise and repudiate the Democrats also.

[twylacrat]

veteran71: You tell 'em honey! I can't imagine why anyone would bury their head in the sand and refuse to see the painfully obvious. There's an idiot driving this bus. B*U*S*H* had better sober up and buy a clue. S_Temper has got to be either a fool or on the Halliburton payroll. Either way it's a waste of time. It's like trying to talk to a drunk. (They just don't hear you).

[abbe91]

"Now, the same people crying and pulling out their hair over this fantasy "right to privacy" are the same @ssholes who would blame Bush for the net big terrorist attack in the US - even though he is trying to prevent it.
Posted by S_Temper at 07:22 PM : Aug 07, 2007"

... to prevent it ? how so ? I checked "My pet goat" and couldn't find any information on the issue ...
More seriously, google "operation northwoods" and then come back.

[coffeehead-2009]

The rest of it~
why we are traitors to our past.


He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny.

http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/declaration_transcript.html

[lorinkundert]

This law made it much easier for them to start compiling lists of dissidents.