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Sen. Feingold asks Bush to explain signing statement that gives authority to open mail

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sabra Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-09-07 10:05 AM
Original message
Sen. Feingold asks Bush to explain signing statement that gives authority to open mail
Edited on Tue Jan-09-07 10:08 AM by sabra

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Senator_asks_Bush_to_explain_signing_0108.html

January 8, 2007

The Honorable George W. Bush

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I am deeply concerned about the signing statement that you issued on December 20, 2006, regarding H.R. 6407, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. It raises serious questions about whether the government is reading Americans’ first class mail without obtaining a search warrant or other court order as required by statute.

The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act recodified in a different location an existing provision of federal law, without change, that states as follows:

No letter of such a class of domestic origin shall be opened except under authority of a search warrant authorized by law, or by an officer or employee of the Postal Service for the sole purpose of determining an address at which the letter can be delivered, or pursuant to the authorization of the addressee.<1>

In your signing statement, you stated that the executive branch would construe this provision “in a manner consistent, to the maximum extent permissible, with the need to conduct searches in exigent circumstances, such as to protect human life and safety against hazardous materials, and the need for physical searches specifically authorized by law for foreign intelligence collection.”

At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in February 2006 on the National Security Agency warrantless wiretapping program, Senator Leahy asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales whether the executive branch was relying in other contexts on the theory that the Authorization for the Use of Military Force gave it the authority to violate the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and other statutes. Specifically, Senator Leahy asked: “Did it authorize the opening of first-class mail of U.S. citizens?” The Attorney General attempted to avoid answering the question, but ultimately stated: “Senator, I think that, again, that is not what is going on here. We are only focused on communications, international communications, where one party to the communication is al Qaeda. That is what this program is all about.”

You have already confirmed that you have authorized the NSA to conduct surveillance of communications without obtaining the court orders required by FISA. Your December 20, 2006, signing statement now suggests that you believe you have the authority to violate the law with regard to opening regular mail. The American people and Congress are entitled to know whether you have acted on that theory. Please answer the following question: has your administration authorized any government agency to read Americans’ first-class mail without obtaining a search warrant, complying with the applicable court order requirements of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or satisfying Postal Service regulations?

I look forward to your expeditious reply.

Sincerely,

Russell D. Feingold

United States Senator


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AzDar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-09-07 10:09 AM
Response to Original message
1. Go Russ! n/t
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dogday Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-09-07 10:12 AM
Response to Original message
2. That's my man
Always defending the constitution... I still say it is a damn shame he is not running for Prez...
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cascadiance Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-09-07 11:00 AM
Response to Reply #2
9. Amen to that! Still hoping for a Gore/Feingold ticket though!
If Gore can be persuaded to run now, and Feingold can be brought in as VP at the last minute, I think that would be the combination we need to defeat the corporatist stranglehold!
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dogday Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-09-07 11:05 AM
Response to Reply #9
10. Now you made me salivate on my keyboard
That is so much to hope for, but would be the perfect ticket...

Gore addressing issues of Global Warming, and repairing our relationships with the world, while Feingold is tackling all of the Constitution issues here at home and restoring our rights...

A girl can dream, can't she? :hi:
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Mikey929 Donating Member (290 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-09-07 10:13 AM
Response to Original message
3. Freedom
Freedom is eroded the more exceptions we find to circumvent it.

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porphyrian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-09-07 10:13 AM
Response to Original message
4. Ha! Sweet. - n/t
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treestar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-09-07 10:19 AM
Response to Original message
5. Go Russ!
Even if Chimpy does not reply, it shows Chimpy that the rest of us still think the Constitution is intact.
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dubykc Donating Member (321 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-09-07 10:35 AM
Response to Original message
6. Way to go Russ, keep his feet to the fire!
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sharp_stick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-09-07 10:49 AM
Response to Original message
7. He should have mailed this letter to his wife
Then shrub would surely have read the thing, everyone knows he doesn't listen to anyone directly trying to engage him. Feingold could also have picked up the phone and called anyone to get through to the little dictator.
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petepillow Donating Member (590 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-09-07 10:57 AM
Response to Original message
8. 100 bucks says there will be no reply
and if there's any acknowledgement it will come from Snowjob in the form of a non-answer. And that's Democracy under G.W.Fuckface, Decider-in-Chief.
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in_cog_ni_to Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-09-07 11:08 AM
Response to Original message
11. "The Honorable George W. Bush?" I know that's a formal salutation, BUT
that had to be painful to write/dictate.:(

The PSYCHO will just ignore the letter. He can do whatever he wants...he's the decider.:eyes:
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Nickster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-09-07 11:14 AM
Response to Original message
12. Shouldn't we be questioning the Constitutionality of signing statements completely?
Maybe I'm simple, but signing statements don't follow my understanding of the Constitution. He either signs the bill into law, or he vetos it.
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in_cog_ni_to Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-09-07 11:16 AM
Response to Reply #12
13. One would THINK that would be the approach, but for some unknown reason
Congress is intimidated by this regime. I chalk it up to the Anthrax letters the Democrats received.
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dogday Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-09-07 11:37 AM
Response to Reply #12
14. I have been doing some reading on this
Apparently, the DOJ is in charge of that Department with Alberto Gonzales... See this thread


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=3074746&mesg_id=3074746
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jazzjunkysue Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-09-07 06:24 PM
Response to Original message
15. Here's the * explanation:
"Terra. Terra. Bombs. Terra. 9/11. Freedom. Terra. Terra."

There. That about does it.


Opps, I forgot, "Git those queers, terra, terra....."
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Subdivisions Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-09-07 06:30 PM
Response to Original message
16. YES!!!! Hold his f@#king feet to the fire!
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texpatriot2004 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-09-07 09:28 PM
Response to Original message
17. Thank you Senator Feingold nm
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rodeodance Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-10-07 08:26 AM
Response to Original message
18. thanks Russ and keep up the good work
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Toots Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-10-07 09:14 AM
Response to Original message
19. I look forward to your expeditious reply.
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
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