Should LTG change his name? Here is a story from today's New York Times. It turns out that while the military intelligence was keeping America safe from Quakers, the FBI was going after vegans and Catholic labor organizations. The claim is that these groups are at least indirectly related to violent eco-terrorist, anti-globalization and "semi-communistic" groups. So far there are no reports that the FBI is investigating right wing groups with similarly indirect connections to violence such as the Christian Coalition which almost certainly has overlapping membership with violent anti-abortion groups.
The report even says that the FBI has infiltrated PETA and Greenpeace! Right. PETA is a threat American lives. Give me a frickin' break here! They literally wouldn't hurt a fly!
The only good news in this is that the ACLU has been filing freedom of information act requests on these investigations for over a year and is beginning to compile a list of groups under investigation. Let the law suits commence. Let's see if even this Republican dominated Supreme Court agrees with George Rex that he has unlimited executive power.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Is Law Talking Guy a Prophesy Talking Guy?
Posted by Raised By Republicans at 7:21 AM
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9 comments:
The nice thing about the Supreme Court is that they are a political branch of government. Usually that is a problem, but not when it comes to protecting their own prerogatives. The SC is unlikely, regardless of its composition, to allow the neutering of the judiciary.
// posted by LTG
Madison was a goddamned genius! I hope his system comes through this time!
// posted by Raised By Republicans
The language in the "Authorization for Use of Military Force," from which Bush claims authority to spy on American citizens without court oversight, is as follows (read closely!):
"That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons."
In other words: he can use all necessary and appropriate means against Al Qaeda. Not Greenpeace, not PETA, not the Quakers. Even though all Bush would have to do is get a warrant after the fact (!) from a secret court (FISA), the LA Times points out that the FISA court requires "probable cause" to issue a warrant whereas the Presidential directive requires only a "reasonable basis" (and no oversight.)
So be careful what you write on this blog... you might find yourself on Bush's enemies list. How much do you want to bet Karl Rove would consider calling Bush a traitor to be a "reasonable basis" to sic the NSA on someone?
All the more reason, Strangelove, for us to write and write on this blog. You only protect your rights by choosing to exercise them. (Hello, NSA, nice of you to join us!)
// posted by USWest
I just heard VP Cheney's views on this on CNN (it's on in the other room as I work at home today). He was asked, "Your administration claims you have safe guards in place to prevent abuses. But what if some future President chooses not to have such safeguards preventing abuse of these powers you have established?"
His answer, "Well, then it would be up to him as to whether to use them or not."
Impeach them all.
// posted by Raised By Republicans
Same CNN show had Barbara Boxer (D-CA) on. She said she spoke with John Dean (Nixon's White House Counsel). She said that when she described what Bush had said on the TV, Dean said it was the first time he knew of a President admitting to an impeachable offense. Boxer is calling for Senate hearings on this and has sent inquiries to several constitutional law professors.
This is getting to the point that I can't imagine hearings NOT taking place. The Democrats are so obviously livid about this that I can't imagine hearings being blocks without a massive wave of demonstrations - led by about half of Congress!
So was it the NSA or Israel who over heard Bill and Monica's phone calls? Humm . . . .
// posted by USwest
Oh, And have you all heard that Cheney canceled part of his trip to the Gulf? The reason given is that Bill Frist asked him to return because he may have to break some tie votes in the Senate. Pashaw, I say.
I think there is a storm a brewin'.
// posted by USWest
I sure hope the Democratic leadership smells blood. On this domestic spying case so far I've counted a number of Republicans who have publically criticized the White House or called for hearings: Specter (R-PA), Snow (R-ME), Hagel (R-NE), Graham (R-SC), Grassley (R-IA). Not all of these are usually regarded as "mavricks." Graham and Grassley never get called "RINOs" the way Specter and Snow do. I'm not sure about Hagel.
The budget bill is what I heard Cheney got summoned for.
We'll know the White House is in deep trouble when prominent Republicans in the House start complaining too - if they haven't already.
// posted by Raised By Republicans
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