Obama quietly continues to defend Bush's terror policies

[kpete]

Source: McClatchy

Obama quietly continues to defend Bush's terror policies
By Marisa Taylor | McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — Although the FBI has acknowledged it improperly obtained thousands of Americans' phone records for years, the Obama administration continues to assert that the bureau can obtain them without any formal legal process or court oversight.

The FBI revealed this stance in a newly released report, troubling critics who'd hoped the bureau had been chastened enough by its own abuses to drop such a position.

In further support of the legal authority, however, the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel backed the FBI in a written opinion issued this month.

The opinion by the OLC — the section that wrote the memos that justified enhanced interrogation techniques during the last administration — appears to be yet another sign that the Obama administration can be just as assertive as Bush's in claiming sweeping and controversial anti-terrorism powers.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/82879.html

[Mari333]

1. knr for the truth.

[Divine Discontent]

39. certainly hope everyone here at DU is awoken to these repetitive B*sh-like decisions.

[dotymed]

46. I assume that all DU posters

are probably on that list. America Inc. has become less progressive than China, while maintaining a similar police state.

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[frylock]

3. knr

[DebbieCDC]

4. McClatchy has been diligently digging up the crap on Bushco since day one

and thankfully they are continuing to make sure the Bush-lite administration's crimes see the light of day.

Same old same old only with a nicer face and eloquent speaking

[timeforpeace]

11. It's ObamaCo now.

[nilram]

40. yeah, and as a former Fresnan, this weirds me out every time I see it.

Fresno (California) is probably more Republican than Orange County, and the Fresno Bee was a McClatchy newspaper when I lived there thirty years ago. So to see McClatchy calling foul on BushCo gives me a confused, yet pleased, spot in my frontal lobe.

[RedSock]

5. how long before we hear obama is not to blame

... and it is the fault of some unnamed "left-over" from the * years. it's disheartening to see so many people here using that excuse lately.

if it was illegal/immoral when bush did it, then it is illegal/immoral when obama does it.

how hard is that to understand? look at the *action*, not whether the guy has a D or R after his name.

[Larry Ogg]

50. When corrupt policies become monolithic and sacrosanct

high moral values become nothing more than the withering façade of predators, and over time even the appearance of decency will give way to a moral that is vile beyond redemption; but a new generation will no longer recognize that which was once considered good, as suffering at the whims of fascist monarchs and economic royals will be the only world they know. Will this be the gift of this generation too the next, or will we draw the line before it’s too late? Or is it already too late?

[emilyg]

6. k

[Sub Atomic]

14. I'll see your k and raise you an r.

:kick:

[emilyg]

21. LOL -I get lazy.

[defendandprotect]

7. More and more disgusting every day . . . Constitution? Anyone heard of it??

[QC]

8. How very, very hopeful and changealicious! n/t

[Journeyman]

9. But of course: Power is more easily grabbed than relinquished. . .

I first commented on this back in early 2004 and have repeated my concerns often through the years. Nothing's happened so far to ease my fear.

As I've written often over the past 6 years:

Whoever takes over as President after George W., my hope is they will want to dismantle the illegal structure BushCo's erected.

Power is more easily grabbed than relinquished.

As recipients of a political reality altered beyond anything the wildest thinkers could have imagined just a few short years ago, it will take a remarkable will for anyone to revoke it, let alone strive to revert it to what it was before. Certainly, I see I quick return to some aspects of "normality," but the allure of unbridled power will remain and, despite readily accomplished cosmetic improvements, power's seduction will be a Siren song of indeterminate appeal.

Yet another reason for us all -- Democrats and Republicans -- to choose wisely in the coming elections.

And here we are today, over a year into a new administration, and nothing's happened to ease my fear but plenty's transpired to enhance it.

[Nihil]

66. He's in good (literary) company ... Frodo, Isildur, ...

(On a serious note, yes, you are quite right that this was predicted
and has now come to pass. There are times when it would be more satisfying
to be wrong.)

[salguine]

10. "Quietly"? Why quietly? Wouldn't want any more people noticing than necessary.

[Vidar]

12. K&R.

[boppers]

13. No warrant needed.

This is what happens when people think that their private phone companies.... don't need privacy regulation.

Did you know that police officers can walk into your workplace, and (if applicable) politely ask your private company for your time-card, and it's NOT A CRIME if your company decides to give that data to them?

[paulsby]

18. how is that a privacy right?

your TIME CARD? you don't own your time card. the company does. the HOURS you work for another person(s) are a privacy interest that requires a WARRANT in your mind?

seriously?

i'd love to see you support that with 4th amendment related case law.

that says nothing about obama's poor record on civil rights, acknowledged in this thread, of course.

and yes, to answer the question you asked... i did know that. i've never asked for a time card, specifically. i've probably asked several dozen times of employers in the course of various investigations as to "was your employee working X hours yesterday" or some such similar question. this isn't an area where people have a 'reasonable expectation of privacy'

[boppers]

24. You don't own your phone records. The phone company does.

That was my point.

I can't (currently) support 4th amendment claims for a business giving up data on me.

That data could be when I paid the business for a phone call, or when the business paid me for working.

[paulsby]

27. that's a totally different issue

where i live, state and local cops need a warrant for phone records.

who you call and get calls from IS a privacy issue. there is a clear difference in coomon sense & the law between the hours you worked (which in most businesses is witnesses by many people and is hardly something you'd consider "private" ) vs. who you spoke to on a phone.

imnsho

[struggle4progress]

32. Yep. We need better privacy laws

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

56. We have a great one already...the IV Amendment.

Sorry. We have had a great one already...the IV Amendment.

[MissDeeds]

15. K&R

And now I need to go :puke:

[struggle4progress]

16. Over Redaction in Audit of FBI’s Use of Illegal Exigent Letters (EFF)

January 22nd, 2010
Commentary by Kurt Opsahl

Earlier this week, the DOJ’s Inspector General issued a heavily redacted report about the FBI’s Communications Analysis Unit (CAU), which found "shocking" violations, including embedded telecom employees providing customer phone records in response to post-it notes.

While the underlying violations are egregious enough, the report itself is problematic because it redacts huge swaths of information that is already publicly known ...

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/01/over-redaction-audit-fbi-s-use-illegal-exigent-let

[struggle4progress]

17. Feingold, Durbin, and Wyden Demand the OLC Opinion on Exigent Letters (FDL)

By: emptywheel Friday January 22, 2010 1:16 pm

... Senators Feingold, Durbin, and Wyden ... tie their demand into DOJ IG Glenn Fine’s comment that DOJ should notify Congress of the opinion and this use of exigent letters so it can consider legislation on that count.

We write specifically because we believe the Department should immediately provide to Congress a copy of the January 8, 2010, Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) opinion that is referenced in the OIG report and that apparently interprets the FBI’s authority to obtain phone records. Although much of the information about the OLC opinion is redacted in the public version of the OIG report, the opinion appears to have important implications for the rights of Americans. The report states that “the OLC agreed with the FBI that under certain circumstances allows the FBI to ask for and obtain these records on a voluntary basis from the providers, without legal process or a qualifying emergency.” (p. 264) It further states that “we believe the FBI’s potential use of to obtain records has significant policy implications that need to be considered by the FBI, the Department, and the Congress.” (p. 265) And finally, it states that the OIG recommends “that the Department notify Congress of this issue and of the OLC opinion interpreting the scope of the FBI’s authority under it, so that Congress can consider and the implications of its potential use.” (p. 268)

In light of the OIG’s recommendation, please provide Congress with the January 8 OLC opinion immediately ...

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/01/22/feingold-durbin-and-wyden-demand-the-olc-opinon-on-exigent-letters/

[whatacountry09]

19. AND THEY WONDER WHY HIS BASE HIS ANGRY?????

[struggle4progress]

20. How tiresome! We haven't seen the OLC opinion, so we don't know what it says.

[flyarm]

30. and we all see that you believe our constitution is ..TIRESOME!! enough said..EOM

[struggle4progress]

31. Nope. And I don't much appreciate your putting words in my mouth, either

[Jester Messiah]

54. Wow, your birther impression is spot-on! Well done! [nt]

[DeadEyeDyck]

22. K & R

[alp227]

23. Not only in national security, but education too.

Education Secy. Arne Duncan's plan to grant states money to expand charter schools under the guise of "reform" is NCLB 2.0!

Thank you for posting this article, and it's good to see a corporate news wire service point this out. What happened to the change that Obama promised? Don't worry, you have the right to vote for the Peace & Freedom Party, probably the most anti-Bush party out there, in 2012.

[dotymed]

49. Can this party or any other

get viable (ie..Bernie Sanders, Alan Grayson, Dennis Kucinich <though he is great, the MSM have destroyed his viability to most Americans> candidates to run on their ticket?) if so, despite the SCOTUS decision, we might stand a chance.

[Peregrine Took]

25. How could I have been so wrong?

I have an MA, I've been around politics, I'm cynical by nature yet I drank the Obama kool aid. I didn't want to, I resisted, but in the end I suspended good judgment and went along with the mob.

[scentopine]

28. Likewise, I was a fool. The facism we face needs to be fought with more direct means

The tea baggers are turning into an armed militia for corporate government.

Take a chart and plot the erosion of personal liberty, voter influence and corporate influence and profits.

The story doesn't end well. We are creating a perfect storm. Every single fucking liberty we have in this country had to be fought for with flesh and blood. The wealthy, like republicans, will never yield to common decency and human dignity.

We have created a monster - CIA, NSA, TSA, FBI, HSA, ATF, on and on - they all are in place to protect corporations not people. When you factor in DoD and DoD contractors, federal, state and local law enforcement - something like 20% of USA is involved with keeping the other 80% under control.

I am beginning to realize we won't win this war sitting on our asses and blogging about it.

[eilen]

47. Don't feel bad, it's not like we had much of a choice. nt

[Ahpook]

26. Will somone pinch me already?

I must be dreaming?

This fucking country is insane!

I often wonder if Obama was really elected. Put the democrat in this time to pacify us commie fags. It would certainly shut us up a year so they can fuck up whats left of the country.

Elections are a historic luxury in America. We all witnessed that when the court gave it to the shit slinging moron, Bush.

I don't know man, I think this country has failed and not sure its coming back:(

[niceypoo]

29. But, but...

..if he stops the policies the republicans will jump up and down and scream and.......march...out..Cheney!! We cant have that Sparky!

[democracy1st]

33. He's a coward!

[colsohlibgal]

34. "Meet The New Boss, Same As The Old Boss"

Well, at least almost - he can speak in coherent sentences, he can be quite eloquent and that is a word that will never bring to mind the former decider.

[emsimon33]

35. The blows keep coming!

[Overseas]

36. It is too bad that our country passed the point of being able to stage a forthright Truth & Reconcil

Truth & Reconciliation Commission. At the time I was holding out for full prosecutions, but to not even have the mild emotional review of the alleged war crimes committed in our name has been a crying shame.

It could have prepared us more deeply for implementing the profound changes our nation really needed right then at the top of 2009.

[grahamhgreen]

37. shocked...

I wish I was.

[OnyxCollie]

38. K&R. nt

[EmeraldCityGrl]

41. If this continues, someone's going to yell "impeach"

and there won't be a soul left to defend his ass. This is absolutely intolerable.

[Pooka Fey]

42. K&R

[midnight]

44. Every time I read this type of status quo, I think back to our President

warning us not to get hoodwinked....

[DisgustedInMN]

45. Inexcusable, but ..

,.. hardly surprising.

[Hubert Flottz]

48. When you put on the SS black you can never go back

Got Muittens...Got Muller

[fasttense]

51. The only thing that will correct the course toward fascism we are on is mass Protest.

We should be out their in huge numbers. There are at least 15 million people currently unemployed. They need to be employed by a mass protest against the corporations that have taken everything from the American people. They have now managed to take away our Democracy. You have to stand up, and fight for your rights.

The corporations and our government are NOT going to give back what they have stolen from us. We are going to have to stand up and demand it be returned.

[panzerfaust]

52. Governments never give up power they have seized

At least, not willingly.

[Faith No More]

53. Not exactly the "man of the people" he led us to believe he was.

Let's face it folks, we were duped by a slick talking con man. He said all the things we wanted to hear and now it's as if he never said them at all. What a gullible bunch of fools we were.

[spooked911]

58. I hope people here are finally disillusioned enough to do something

to change the system

[Little Star]

55. k&r

[Name removed]

57. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bhikkhu]

59. "all that's needed for evil to succeed -

is for good people to do nothing"

That's what the situation recalls to me.

[fascisthunter]

60. This is why I have no faith in this man

[winyanstaz]

61. K & R.....

Wake up dems.....we have been played.
How much more proof do we need?
Now we have been sold out...and you finally are starting to realize how badly...what are we going to do about it?
Anything? Make more excuses? Whine and wring our hands?

[winyanstaz]

62. My mom always said....

"Watch what they DO...NOT what they say."

[Raejeanowl]

63. Your Mom

Was one smart cookie!

[democrank]

64. Kick

[earth mom]

65. Kick for truth!

:kick: