WASHINGTON, June 25, 2008
Senate Expected To Pass Wiretap Bill
Critics Argue The Bill Lets Bush Off Hook For Warrantless Wiretapping
-
(CBS/AP)
-
Interactive Domestic Surveillance The debate over the Bush administration's controversial wiretapping program.
By an 80-15 vote, the Senate turned back a last-ditch effort to kill the bill, setting up a vote to approve the measure on Thursday. The House passed the bill last week, and the Senate was expected to send it to President Bush for his signature.
Critics of the bill argue that immunizing the companies from lawsuits amounts to letting the Bush administration off the hook for nearly six years of warrantless tapping of phones and computer lines inside the United States following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The surveillance took place without the permission - or even the knowledge - of a secret court created 30 years ago to oversee just such activities.
The bill amending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is a compromise reached after a monthslong standoff and weeks of negotiations between Democrats and Republicans. In exchange for telecom immunity, the inspectors general of the Pentagon, Justice Department and intelligence agencies will investigate the administration's warrantless wiretapping program.
The bill would also establish new rules to govern when the National Security Agency, CIA, FBI or other agencies can tap American phone and computer lines.
About 40 lawsuits have been filed by people and organizations who believe they were illegally spied on by the government with the companies' help.
The compromise bill would direct a federal judge to review certifications by the attorney general that the companies acted on the orders of the president, who told them wiretaps were needed to detect or prevent a terror attack. If the paperwork were deemed in order, the judge would dismiss the lawsuit. The judge would not, however, determine whether the warrantless wiretapping program itself was legal.
Opponents say lawsuits are the only way that Congress and the public will ever learn the full extent of the surveillance program. The White House said Bush would not sign a bill that did not immunize the companies.
The new surveillance bill would also:
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment See all 13 Comments
- Is there any Democrat in DC with a spine? Or have they all just devolved into jellyfish? I say nuke all of DC and let''s start from scratch, Every politician in that town is a worthless piece of dung.
- Reply to this comment
- This "Get Out of jail Free Card" given to Bush and Cheney is disgusting. Look at the votes and remove those who voted for it.
- Reply to this comment
- i want to know who the 15 were that voted against it--they''ve got my vote!
- Reply to this comment
- I love the fact that we passed new laws, because they have followed the one%u2019s already in place, so well. Many people say the Democrats will win in November because we are tired of the Republicans, guess what the Democrats have congress NOW and still won%u2019t do anything. Both parties are the same, what is best for the upper class (the Monarchy) and let the peasants fend for themselves. We are %u201CRepresented%u201D by neither side! Unless you are wealthy and can benefit their political machine.
- Reply to this comment
- Hmmmm, wonder WHICH America these senate hearings were pertaining and why they are still in OUR employ if they are not doing what WE, the PEOPLE, want? Could there actually be TWO America''s now in one country? Sounds like it. Where exactly do OUR voices fit in all this KRAP?
- Reply to this comment
- Both the major parties are bought-off lock, stock and barrel by special interests. Neither party represents us anymore. Neither can be trusted with out confidence. Neither can be trusted with our votes. McCain and Obama are both complete and utter frauds. Vote your conscience in November. Find and vote for a third party candidate. Anything less is a vote for the legalized graft and corruption of DC.
- Reply to this comment
- Who said breaking the law was illegal?
- Reply to this comment
- Well, looks like none of our elected representatives are willing to stand up to defend our rights or give up the telecom and corporate cash flow. bunch of complete sellouts.
- Reply to this comment
- What the hell happened to the FILIBUSTER that was whispered about???
Can''t count on the RepubliCONS to vote against this bill.
What have the Democrats offered that was any different???
The election''s only just over 4 months away. Memories will be FRESH! - Reply to this comment
- Posted by FeelFree4U
It is already too late, the only recourse now is mass protests, and to bring a case to the Supreme Court, with the unreasonable search and seizure, and the no ex post facto laws of the constitution held as defense. - Reply to this comment
Clarification-
Re: "Prohibit targeting a foreigner to secretly eavesdrop, without court approval, on an American''''s calls or e-mails."
On second thought, I think that this means that they can''t use the excuse of spying on a foreigner, for the purpose of illegally spying on an American.
If they want to do that, will they need a rubberstamp from FISA?
Re: "Prohibit presidents from superseding surveillance rules in the future."
Way to put your foot down Congress!
From here on out, the President, or Resident, will have to acknowledge our Constitution on this matter, or whatever our Legislators choose to make up as they go along.- Reply to this comment
Re: "Prohibit targeting a foreigner to secretly eavesdrop, without court approval, on an American''s calls or e-mails."
***?!?!?!?!
Were they outsourcing this illegal Big Brother spy operation up till now, to India? China?
Israel???!!!- Reply to this comment
Re: "The Senate signaled an end Wednesday to months of rancorous debate over surveillance legislation that would protect from civil lawsuits the telecommunications companies that helped the government wiretap American lines."
"By an 80-15 vote, the Senate turned back a last-ditch effort to kill the bill, setting up a vote to approve the measure on Thursday. The House passed the bill last week, and the Senate was expected to send it to President Bush for his signature. "
There you have it.
Our Democrat Party "oppostition" party is now unmistakably and pro-actively complicit in helping the Bush regime to illegally spy on Americans, unchecked.
The Democrats are clearly a big part of the problem, not the solution.
Hopefully more and more people will abandon the losing game of our political duopoly, and hopefully before it is too late.- Reply to this comment
