for the record

        The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
-4th amendment to the constitution of the united states

Comments

[Maverick Librarian]

Apparently some of our leaders just do not know how to read, since it is spelled clearly in the Constitution. Then again, maybe we need to send them another copy of the document that they swore to defend and protect. Would that not be impeachable? I mean, they are doing everything but defend and protect the Constitution of the United States.

[stranger]

thank you. never hurts to throw a reminder out now and then...

[Crusader AX E of the Lost Causes]

Well, ehh, err, yeah, but you gotta understand, the constitution is a living document that allows us to decide what it means and the people really means people like Dick Cheney and me...Wisdom of Chairman Dubya Tse-wha

Oh, I think it's really impeachable. Willfully violating the constitution is probably sort of what the founders had in mind as a high crime and misdeameanour....

[mr fun]

what I want to know is what FISA covered. anyone?

[comandante agi]

Mr. Fun: The Prez is on NPR right now talking about FISA to the press. He said FISA was created in 1978, but now we live in 2006 and it is a "different world". He believes what he is doing is "legally right". He said so. So there.

[the quitter]

9/11 9/11 9/11

september the 11th

[comandante agi]

Check this Mr. Fundamental: Provisions of FISA

[mr fun]

I still don't fucking get it. the wiki shit is contradictory. if I am correct, it seems like there is an amendment or enhancement to allow for any electronic surveillance having to do with terrorism.

[comandante agi]

Yes, it would seem that the Patriot Act enabled the FISA law to be used to monitor terrorists. However, the original FISA law specifically states that electronic surveillance cannot be done on U.S. citizens:

"...there is no substantial likelihood that the surveillance will acquire the contents of any communication to which a United States person is a party"

The NSA spy program specifically targets Americans who are in contact with foreign terror suspects.

Hmm. I'm confused too.

The administration's position is basically "9/11 changed everything" and "trust us". I myself would never trust government.

[comandante agi]

Well, I shouldn't say never. Not good to deal in absolutes...

[mr fun]

now have they only been monitoring people in this country who are contacting others outside the country, or have they been monitoring parties both located in the US?

now that is what the prez is saying. yes.

however, given the fact that they bypassed FISA for this, when they clearly did not need to based on the 72 hour grace period they have forgetting warrants... well it seem s unlikely.

remember a couple years ago the admin announced the program called "total information awareness" or something like that? some type of systemd that scans everyone's electronic and voice communications everywhere all the time? there is some speculation that they have implemented some part of that.

given their protestations... it would not surprise me.

[the reverend t. quitter]

that was me, by the way.

[aj]

"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. "
-- "The Declaration of Independence"

Just adding fuel to the fire....