CNN reporting changes to NSA spying law which will make it

[BR_Parkway]

legal

Mod's no link yet.

Will modify procedures and require renewal every 45 days. Announcer also said that new intelligence sub-committees will be set up.

[alfredo]

1. One more nail in

Democracy's coffin.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

2. I Predicted This Weeks Ago.

I'm sure lots of people here are surprised, but I'm not.

Up next, the ports deal will go through as if nothing ever was the matter. I'll give 10-1 odds on anybody who wishes to bet otherwise. I'll even throw in this bridge I have....no extra charge.

[jseankil]

7. Ports deal probably should go through if review finds nothing

That doesn't excuse those who allowed this to go through in the first place without further review though. They broke procedures and should be held accountable.

[liveoaktx]

32. AUDIO of the last Judiciary Hearing a couple of weeks ago that talked

about this

plus of course Bill Frist's threats.

[On the Road]

3. Still Won't Make it Constitutional

I guess the new strategy both parties in all three branches is to just ignore constitutional violations.

[madmom]

4. I also heard they wanted to make it retro active...??

[Mandate My Ass]

6. Of course!!

No accountability for Bush and suddenly lies mean nothing. September 11th!!! National Security!!! That's all you need to know.

When they revoke your citizenship for asking such pesky questions (which are now secretly illegal) and put you in an undisclosed detention center forever you'll have to content yourself that the letter of the law had been scrupulously followed.

[jseankil]

9. That's insane if true

Where does it stop if you can make laws to coverup the ones you broke???

[underpants]

17. I was going to ask-How does this effect breaking the law that WAS in place

at the time the act was done?

Retro active? Are you kidding me?

[librechik]

5. but he's already ignoring the law--why would he obey this one?

man, congress is full of cowardly whores.

[superconnected]

19. Crooks actually.

[Mithras61]

8. I don't understand...

W_rong says he already HAS the power as CinC to violate whatever laws he feels like he needs to for National Security reasons, so why do they need this change in the laws to make it legal? There's a mighty big disconnect going on here. Someone's not on message!

:D

[Orrex]

12. The proposed law isn't intended to help Dubya

It's intended to disembowel Democrats, who will thereafter have no justification for complaining that Dubya violated the law.

The argument that Dubya has declared himself above the law will be irrelevant, because his behavior will--retroactively--be legal.

[Mithras61]

15. I understand that...

My post was intended to point out that they are issuing two completely at odds sets of talking points, and the message varies depending on the day. I'm pretty certain that the courts have held that you cannot make an action legal or illegal retroactively, and that laws only apply to the state of things starting from when they are enacted. This will only make it easier for them to violate the Constitution in future, but can't be used to excuse past bad behavior.

Besides, I don't think they've heard all that Gonzo has to say on this subject and I'm still waiting for the "more extensive program" shoe to drop.


Edited because I kant speel

[Orrex]

18. Oh--now I get it.

Yeah, that is weird. Maybe it's meant to help out Republicans who don't like the illegality of the spying but don't want to go on record as opposing Dubya?

God knows why, with his poll numbers...

[superconnected]

21. how anti-christ of him.

[Orrex]

24. Back in 2000 I worked with a guy who...

Was an evangelizing born-again Christian. When I suggested to him that Dubya might be the antichrist (which was, I now recognize, based on very little evidence, compared to what he'd do later), my coworker answered simply that the antichrist won't pretend to be a Christian.

That, it seems, was sufficient reason in my coworker's mind to let Dubya off the hook.

Okay, so he's not the antichrist. But he'll fill those shoes very nicely until the actual antichrist comes along.

[superconnected]

30. I don't know what he based his belief that the anti christ won't pretend

to be a christian on. I've always heard it just the opposite.

[Orrex]

36. That's what I would have thought!

I mean, how much airtime is the guy going to get if he shows up and says "I am here to lay waste to God's creation and to cast your souls into eternal torment" every chance he gets?

Much more likely, given the supposedly deceptive nature of these infernal types, that he'd come in the guise of an aggressively devout member of the flock.

[meganmonkey]

10. This article seems to mention it, but was written before the vote

So I guess this means it passed?


GOP lawmakers work to limit probe into spying program


By James Kuhnhenn Knight Ridder Service

WASHINGTON — Republicans in Congress are trying to limit the scope of any investigation into how President Bush's secret domestic-surveillance program has operated. Some key lawmakers are also working to legalize such spying on U.S. citizens in the future, perhaps with some judicial restrictions.

The dual-track effort is designed to protect the Bush administration from an all-out congressional inquiry into the secret program, while rejecting Bush's argument that he already has full legal authority to order such surveillance.

The Senate Intelligence Committee is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a Democratic plan to conduct a broad investigation into the program. Committee chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., is trying to win support for a more limited inquiry. Roberts refused to say Monday whether he had the votes to forestall the Democratic demand for an investigation. Democrats need only one Republican to side with them to order such a probe.

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060307/NEWS/603070342/1002

[Solly Mack]

11. Must be nice. Break the law.Get caught. Change the law

Hey Congress???? Can I have that same power?

Obviously, this nation of laws is all about changing laws so those in government can get away with crimes.

[TankLV]

34. Correction: Only REPUKE members of government.

Doe not apply to any Democrat.

(See line item veto)

[sinkingfeeling]

13. Excuse me, but as an American citizen, I demand the US Constitution

and the Bill of Rights be kept as the supreme law of the land. Unless they're going to amend the Constitution, these activities are illegal.

[IsItJustMe]

14. They are covering chips ass from future indictments.

[windy252]

16. Someone tell me

what Congress actually does these days, because they sure don't act as a check on power anymore.

[Marie26]

22. They act to legalize

Bush's actions after he does them. This is convenient because it prevents Bush from actually being charged for the stuff they're doing.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

31. That would run up...

against "Bill of Attainder" parts of the constitution. A nono.

[bain_sidhe]

26. They have to be there!

Sure, they don't act as a check on power now silly, there's a Republican prezeldent. But they have to be ready to act as a check on power in case a Democrat ever gets elected President.

[Skip Intro]

20. Gee, don't punish the crime, just change the law.

what bullshit

wonder if my city would raise the speed limit so my speeding ticket would be void? :shrug:

and these people swore to uphold and protect the Constitution...

[OKNancy]

23. Be sure to get a link before the edit time

is up, thanks

OKNancy
LBN Moderator

[laylah]

25. When in the HELL

are the spineless, freakin' DEMS in Congress going to DO something? And what about the REAL Republicans, not the war-mongering, Constitution/freedom hating pieces of SH*T we have destroying us, but the REAL DEAL, going to speak the hell up? :mad:

Jenn

[AzDar]

27. If this proves to be true, it is time for a general STRIKE. We need

to dock this broken, lost ship of fools until repairs can be made.

[Vinca]

28. I wondered if it was possible to become more pissed. It is.

Bush can do whatever he wants whenever he wants as long as he has a majority in Congress. I don't care how many of 'em are playing patriot by opposing the port deal, that'll happen, too. Promises will be made, bridges to nowhere will be built and the Republicans will circle the wagons and sing "Kumbayah" once again. You have to wonder if there will be anything of this country left to salvage come 2008.

[HuffleClaw]

29. ? which means what exactly ?

a bill i'm guessing? introduced by frist perhaps? i can't see 'em successfully getting such a thing passed.

[CovertOP]

33. NSA

is just the tip of a gigantic iceberg. Have you not noticed how computers are such wonderful tools for creating and storing records? How easy it is to transfer records from one network to another.
As the industry trade magazine I get touts "Let us help you get into the 118 billion government IT market!"
And TIA? Total Information Awareness is just a mouse click away. myspace.com, one of the bazillion sites full of personal information, preferences, movies likes, songs, recently visited sites.
www.summex.com wants your medical information so that they may "coach" you into a more health lifestyle. Bite me!
Anybody out there with a large acreage spread in a dark area?
Proposal. Spell out Fuck You NSA in bright lights. Hey, have you see a Google Earth picture lately?

[deacon]

35. Support for this also an admission of the illegality of the spying program