FISA and spying on political enemies

As Julian Sanchez points out in the LA Times, it's not that legalizing spying on citizens might promote the use of intelligence on dissenters and political enemies, it's that in every case, it already has.

Can you hear me now?

Today the House passed a version of FISA which calls for more oversight of the intelligence function and DOES NOT offer telecom immunity.

Look for our tin tyrant to veto the bill in a hissy fit that will be guaranteed to include logic defying explanations as to why he cannot sign a bill that he says is necessary to protect this country.

Evidence of a backbone, part 2

Glenn Greenwald documents the ways in which the new FISA bill not only does not capitulate to the demands of the Bush administration, but appears to offer an "olive branch" to telecoms, without the hope of blanket immunity.

Cave-in mortally wounds Constitution

It appears that the House of Representatives is about to buckle under pressure from the White House and deliver a Protect America Act with some kind of immunity for giant telecom companies which broke the law by spying on American citizens - lots of American citizens - most of who are not connected with terror or terrorism in any way.

Time to make a phone call to your representative.

Here's your hat, what's your hurry?

And stay out.

Oh, poor Republicans. After using Congress for its own political purposes for eight years, Republicans are offended that the House has issued contempt citations for two White House staffers, and will not, repeat, will not pass a FISA bill including telecom immunity, without proper considerations, the Republican walked out.

If they can't have their way, they're taking their ball and going home.

It's not like they don't have a quorum. See you later.

You're frightening the children

It's a bit of a walk through the fun house with our president. If he doesn't get his way, he invokes the monster around the corner, the specter in the old chest, the beast beneath the bed.

When the House of Representatives refused to his demand to immediately pass legislation which broadens the power of the government to spy on its citizens, and protects, retroactively, telecom companies which broke the law at his behest, he conjures up the scariest image he can imagine:

“At this moment,” he said, “somewhere in the world terrorists are planning new attacks on our country. Their goal is to bring destruction to our shores that will make Sept. 11 pale by comparison.”

Oh, mommy.

Bush has usually reserved these scare tactics as misdirections for the various feeble attacks the press has made on his lawless administration. Or he's pulled a boogeyman out of his hat when he needed to bolster votes to support his futile and endless war in Iraq.

Remember the planned attack on the tallest building on the West Coast (he mentioned it again this year in the State of the Union address)? Bogus.

The plot to attack Fort Dix. Ridiculous.

The cheese bombs? Ludicrous.

The gas line hit at JFK? Idiotic.

And now he expects us to buy this. And undoubtably, some of us will.

But remember, the boy who cried wolf was inevitably devoured by one.

Ruf tuf Harry runs away again

Remember when Harry Reid declared there'd be no more funding for the war in Iraq without a timetable for withdrawal.

Well, he really didn't mean it. With Harry at the helm, the house and senate are about to pass a funding bill which includes increased funding for domestic programs ($11 billion down from $22 million) and $30-$50 billion for the war.

And after trampling on their own vows, the Democrats may be slapped again, by the President, who seems unlikely to sign the bill. Seems like he feels it's too much for domestic programs and not enough for the war.

If the Senate can't recognize torture, perhaps the House can

Representatives Nadler (NY) and Delahunt (MA) have introduced a bill banning torture by any representatives of the US government or military. It should be a given, but unfortunately it isn't.

Call your representative to get them behind the bill.

Contempt is putting it mildly

The Bush administration has shown complete contempt for the rule of law and the Constitution, and so, the House of Representatives appears to be poised to hold them in that contempt.

We can only hope that that the Judiciary Committee and the full House vote to move this citation forward.