Man, I was really worried that the Bush administration's determination to engineer a crisis that it could then try to pin on House Democrats would leave the country's security services dangerous lacking in legal tools necessary to subject people to electronic surveillance. It seems, though, that breaking the law has just become routine so we can all breath easy I guess.
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Feeling Better
16 Feb 2008 08:05 pm
Comments (14)
Well, I guess the McNulty/Lester story line this season on The Wire isn't as unrealistic as I thought!
Troy, I think it's that the piece treats the story with a sort of sighing 'oh well' indulgence, as of a troublemaking child.
Matt,
Until recently I would have agreed that the Bush administration has fostered lawlessness and disregard for the rule of law, but that was before i read Liberal Fascists--at which point I realized that since Bush is a conservative it cannot be true that he hypes up security and lies, tortures, and politicizes the bureaucracy. It must be all of the liberals on the civil service side of government doing this. I sure feel sorry for all of those conservative political appointees trying to keep some semblence of the rule of law.
the much more likely scenario here is that the people at the ISP made a mistake.
The article itself says that half the errors in a sample were due to the ISP giving out more than they were required.
And I don't see how this article supports the contention that govt was 'breaking the law,' as least not deliberately. It does illustrate the usual incompetence that comes from all things Bush.
It certainly demonstrates the need for judicial oversight for such matters.
The fact that "warrantless wiretapping" is mainly seen as controversial by our MSM when objected to may be the true Bush legacy. And I'm guessing, if presented with such a historical judgement on him, he would probably swell with pride.
The whole thing is Kabuki theater. Every phone call leaving our shores is being swept. There is no law. Any and every email is subject to capture. There is no law.
Setting aside the immunity thing, which is the proximate cause for this entire charade, the so called 'law' governing surveillance has been, is now, and will be in the future ignored.
Maybe with some tweaking under Hillary. With Obama who knows. That who knows has profound implications for his future.
The article itself says that half the errors in a sample were due to the ISP giving out more than they were required.
So presumably half weren't.
Freedom is worth fighting for, whether it be an external foe or an internal one. Just Google: "the 14 points of Fascism' and compare to the Bush/Cheney mis-administration and form your own opinion. We have listened to their Big Lies over and over and have had enough of their Fear, Fear, Fear-mongering. Look what happened the last time the Big Lie was used repeatedly. Simply put, the Bush/Cheney mis-administration has proven itself to be a Fascist Criminal Enterprise using 'the war on terror'and the invasion and occupation of Iraq as a smokescreen for the largest robbery in history of present and future taxpayers.By the time the THINGS leave office the National Debt will have increased by approximately 50%. Who rubber stamped any bill that was put before them? Yes, it was the GOP and the RNC with it's brown shirts verbally abusing anyone that raised their voice in dissent. I cannot leave out the poodle journalist's for using their vitrolic pens in support of the 'miserable failure' mis-administration. Can you?????
the rule of law?
Just a necessary component of government by Anglo-Saxon tradition, but one that like other components, such as private property, is meant only to serve best interests of The People and the Ruler.
Not be supreme in its own right, as it is in Jewish tradition - where the Sanhedrin then Cohens then later the Sopreme Court of Israel are held to have final authority in all matters.
And when it came to fighting enemy combatants, the "law" governing civilian conduct with in a nation was traditionally held to be irrelevant, thus silent.
Not a single one of the 400,000 Nazis we held had access to civilian courts. Not a single phone call or telegram sent two or from anywhere outside CONUS remained unmonitored in WWI or WWII - and not a single person argued Jewish law of civilian courts being final deciders of interaction with non-citizens in war - applied.
The problem is mostly self-induced by Lefties. They have attempted to tear down the historical Legal Firewall between American citizens - and others. Immigrants, illegals, terrorists, enemy combatants - and argue that all must be given full US civilian rights under this nation's Constitution. Thus when we tap terrorist phones or say that emails coming in are little different than Jamaican dopers knopsacks at Customs inspection - Lefties scream that this all means American Rights are being violated since they are the same as enemy combatant's rights....
And they are partially right. If we need to look into Jihadi cells in the US when activist judges have said Jihadi foreigners must have the same legal rights, then without the Firewall, an "assault" on terrorist rights is indeed close to the same on Americans...If ME foreigners must ever be profiled in war when they show up at airports and courts have said they are no different in rights than US blacks, then changing laws to look at ME males more closely DOES impact rights of equal "rights-holders" like black Americans.
But it doesn't have to be that way. If we return to the principal that enemy rights, terrorist rights, illegal alien rights, even non-citizen rights are in no way as extensive, as comparable to US citizens - then no risk of dragging Americans liberties down with waging war on a foreign-controlled enemy exists.
The other thing to recognize is that there are 30 some exceptions to the 4th, based on common law tradition or direct Constitution stipulation (Customs) on the reasonableness of searches w/o warrant. In the matter of Customs, it is well established for 225 years in US law that ANYTHING entering or leaving the US may be searched w/o warrant. People, belongings, mail. Arriving planes and ships. The only exceptions are diplomatic personnel & pouches, and US military vessels who cooperate with civilian law, but are not required to submit to Customs. So I'm perfectly fine with extending customs rights to what could be possibly hazardous to national security electronic communications by phone, radio, Internet.
I have finally decided what the perfect way for Dumbya to end his presidency would be. Right before he hands the baton off to (I hope) President Obama he should do a Fox-only broadcast in which he strips naked and blows himself. Sean Hannity and Fred Barnes and so forth can do the commentary, in which each will express a great willingness to do for the outgoing idiot-in-chief what he's doing for himself. After the revolting display is over Dumbya can look directly into the camera and burp.
Then Dick Cheney can come on and fist himself, but the cameras should cut out before he gets too far... but audio will keep rolling so we can hear him grunting and possibly screaming.
Brought to you by Exxon, of course, just like the last 7 years +.
It certainly demonstrates the need for judicial oversight for such matters.
In fact, the "violation" (which seems dubious to me) involved a wiretap that WAS approved by a court.
But, don't worry, Matthew, in the Obama Administration, 3rd parties will magically provide only what the government asks for, in every case. Really! Because Obama will tell the 3rd parties "Yes We Can!"
Mr Ford. If common law and custom provide all the powers deemed necessary then it is statutory law, FISA, which stands in the way. In which case why is the administration trying to modify and or extend FISA? Shouldn't it and all laws purporting to enhance eavesdropping powers be rescinded so all this niggling can end?
We can only hope that the next president is as curious as I might be about the communications between Citycorp and Abu Dabi or APAC and Israeli intelligence or calls from Richard Pearl's villia in Provance to Blackwater.
The necessity of universal eavesdropping lies in the fact that everyone is guilty of something. As the dossiers multiply and that fact sinks in those in power will be far far safer.
Comments closed March 01, 2008.
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Heads in the Sand
Matt, I realize Bush's strip mining of America's civil liberties creates an atmosphere of paranoia, but you need to fight it. I doubt this is purposeful breaking of the law; the much more likely scenario here is that the people at the ISP made a mistake.
Credibility is important, and you generally seem like a credible voice, but this post is a little silly.
Posted by Troy | February 16, 2008 8:21 PM