revel, The white house can insult our intelligence, because so many Americans allow it. That's the reason why Frank says Bush and his followers are morons; they are too dumb to understand how they are destroying anything resembling Americanism of the past. Most of our allies are gone, the Middle East is a fire pit, and thousands are dying for reasons that have been disputed years ago.
In Testimony, Gonzales Says Bush Blocked Inquiry
In Testimony, Gonzales Says Bush Blocked Inquiry
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 18, 2006
WASHINGTON (AP)
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Tuesday that President Bush personally blocked Justice Department lawyers from pursuing an internal probe of the warrantless eavesdropping program that monitors Americans' international calls and e-mails when terrorism is suspected.
The department's Office of Professional Responsibility announced earlier this year it could not pursue an investigation into the role of Justice lawyers in crafting the program, under which the National Security Agency intercepts some telephone calls and e-mail without court approval.
At the time, the office said it could not obtain security clearance to examine the classified program.
Under sharp questioning from Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Arlen Specter, Gonzales said that Bush would not grant the access needed to allow the probe to move forward.
"It was highly classified, very important and many other lawyers had access. Why not OPR?" asked Specter, R-Pa.
"The president of the United States makes the decision," Gonzales told the committee hearing, during which he was strongly criticized on a range of national security issues by Specter and Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, the panel's senior Democrat.
Last week, under a deal with Specter, Bush agreed conditionally to a court review of his antiterror eavesdropping operations.
When the program was disclosed in December, it outraged Democrats and civil libertarians who said Bush overstepped his authority.
BBB, Spector is just blowing alot of smoke; the congress is not taking on their responsibility to maintain balance of power of our government, and letting Bush do anything he wishes. That's not a democracy; it's a kingdom.
CI
cicerone imposter wrote:BBB, Spector is just blowing alot of smoke; the congress is not taking on their responsibility to maintain balance of power of our government, and letting Bush do anything he wishes. That's not a democracy; it's a kingdom.
I recommend that you read John Dean's latest book: Conservatives Without Conscience. It is the best description of authoritarianism I've read.
BBB
Feinstein hammers Gonzales on FISA, NSA, and the declaration of war
Dianne came prepared Tuesday and Alberto seemed confused in this clip. She left him speechless and in stunned silence.
very rough transcript: (can someone write it up correctly please?)
Quote:Difi: "About FISA, you say that the President has the authority to wiretap Americans without warrants due to his war powers under Article 2, correct?"
Gonzo: "Yes."
Difi: "And I got a letter from your associate saying that the President could act because Congress had not set up a statute. Well, that's not true. The FISA law clearly says that the President can eavesdrop without warrants for 15 days after a declaration of war."
Gonzo: "Yes, but we didn't have a declaration of war, only an authorization to use military force, so we couldn't work with that provision."
Difi: "So you're saying that the AUMF does not amount to a declaration of war?"
Gonzo: "Obviously they are different."
Difi: "So if the AUMF is not a declaration of war, the president shouldn't have WAR powers!"
revel, I've always admired Senator Feinstein; she's probably the only one left with some brain-power that sees the holes in the Bush kingdom law-breakers.
Isn't she Jewish? Why is she cheering for Hezbolla and victory for the terrorists?
cjh, People like you who project ideas not stated are just too stupid to respond to. Grow up! Show us any post where anybody supports Hezbollah - you moron!
The entire Democratic party is cheering for a Bush failure in Iraq and foreign policy in general. Perhaps because they don't understand it other than to kiss the U.N.'s ass.
How can anybody cheer a Bush failure when he's already failed? You probably haven't been keeping up with the polls; most Americans disapprove of Bush's performance on most important issues.
Most americans spend too much time watching TV and being spoon fed by the liberal media.
That same liberal media is moving to take over the heads of our youth through podcasts and IM provided content.
I've made it clear here that I'm not a big fan of Bush, but the left is full of antis - anti everything American.
I've been on Feinstein's e-mailing list for a long time. She always tries to appeal to the moderates while concealing her true liberal agenda. Always.
Most americans spend too much time watching TV and being spoon fed by the liberal media.
It's called freedom.
That same liberal media is moving to take over the heads of our youth through podcasts and IM provided content.
Although most of the media are owned by conservatives.
I've made it clear here that I'm not a big fan of Bush, but the left is full of antis - anti everything American.
People earn their reputation by their words and deeds.
I've been on Feinstein's e-mailing list for a long time. She always tries to appeal to the moderates while concealing her true liberal agenda. Always.
I'm a fan of Feinstein even though we don't agree on all issues. Hell, I don't agree with more issues with my own siblings, so what's your point?
ACLU suggests US may be spying on three other financial services
RAW STORY
Published: Wednesday July 19, 2006
The New York-based American Civil Liberties Union has fired another salvo in its ongoing battle with the Bush Administration over domestic surveillance, all but accusing the Administration of spying on three additional financial service systems.
According to a release, "ACLU research indicates" that the three named systems are "likely targets." The group said Wednesday they had filed new requests under the Freedom of Information Act to ascertain whether the systems were being surveilled.
The three systems are:
Bolero: The Bill of Lading Electronic Registry Organization is an electronic exchange of trade for documents such as bills of lading (descriptions of shipped goods that control ownership of property when it is in transit). Owned in part by SWIFT, Bolero counts many of the world's largest corporations as customers.
CHIPS: The Clearing House Interbank Payment System, another financial transfer service, is privately owned by the New York Clearing House Association. It primarily handles international funds transfers denominated in U.S. dollars for banks and their large customer transactions. Customers include most of the major U.S. banks.
Fedwire: A wire transfer service run by the Federal Reserve, Fedwire allows U.S. banks to transfer funds to other participants on behalf of each other and their customers.
"The American public has a right to know just how many spying programs this administration has created without Congressional authorization or judicial oversight," said Barry Steinhardt, Director of the ACLU's Technology and Liberty Project, in a release. "We hope these official requests will help answer that question - and if illegal spying is taking place we will demand an end to it."
"The Bush administration may think it can unilaterally redraw the boundaries of Americans' privacy, but fortunately there are laws that are meant to help Americans find out what their government is doing behind closed doors," Steinhardt added.
ACLU Freedom of Information Act requests have been instrumental in shedding light on aspects of Bush Administration policies and actions of US armed forces overseas. The groups' myriad requests revealed darker elements of detention in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as Guantanamo Bay.
More from a release.
#
According to a June 23rd story in The New York Times, the government has for several years been monitoring transactions processed by SWIFT, which is an international cooperative owned by financial organizations from around the world. That report followed earlier revelations about spying by the National Security Agency on the U.S. telecommunications infrastructure and on domestic telephone calling records.
The ACLU's request for information was filed with the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and the Treasury Department, including the Secret Service and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network or "FinCEN."
"Congress supposedly killed the 'Total Information Awareness' program," said ACLU Legislative Counsel Timothy Sparapani, referring to the all-encompassing data-surveillance program once headed by Admiral John Poindexter. "But it's clear that this administration has never abandoned its misguided emphasis on mass, suspicionless data spying. We will do what we can to shed light on these activities, but it is also more important than ever that Congress and state and local authorities undertake a comprehensive investigation into just what this administration is up to."
cjhsa wrote:Isn't she Jewish? Why is she cheering for Hezbolla and victory for the terrorists?
What's the matter, cjhsa, couldn't answer the dilemma that Gonzales got himself into with Feinstein and resorted to typical republican swiftboating?
revel wrote:
"...typical republican swiftboating..."
That's good!
cjhsa wrote:Most americans spend too much time watching TV and being spoon fed by the liberal media.
That same liberal media is moving to take over the heads of our youth through podcasts and IM provided content.
I've made it clear here that I'm not a big fan of Bush, but the left is full of antis - anti everything American.
I've been on Feinstein's e-mailing list for a long time. She always tries to appeal to the moderates while concealing her true liberal agenda. Always.
You have no idea what true liberals and the left are about. Therefore, your ill-informed commentary is precisely that.
What you and many others on the right are doing is typical. Your neoconservative policies have failed miserably, and traditional conservatives are embarrased beyond all comprehension that they at one time supported the idiot in the White House and the rubber stamping Congress. What better way to deflect their embarrasment and guilt then throwing out blanket condemnations of those who would disagree with Bush's/ GOP Congress' policies. Your party has controlled everything, and they have failed miserably. Your continued efforts to demonize anything on the left/liberal/Democrat is lame and self-serving.
I'd suggest looking more critically at your own party and what they've done to this country. Our systems of checks and balances as been so horribly compromised, and alot of this is the end result of that. Having Democrats back in power may help, but I've seen them as complacent in the shadows of the Bush regime. Unfortunately, we may still lose come November, but I hope not.
Gross, a bleeding heart lovefest of failed liberal policy.
"...failed liberal policty..."
This guy is a moron; he refuses to see all the destruction metted out by his fellow moron.
The case against AT&T moves forward:
Court Order
Filed July 20, 2006
http://blog.wired.com/27BStroke6/NSA_Motion_Denied.pdf
Excerpts:
Quote:Plaintiffs allege that AT&T Corporation (AT&T) and its holding company, AT&T Inc, are collaborating with the National Security Agency (NSA) in a massive warrantless surveillance program that illegally tracks the domestic and foreign communications and communication records of millions of Americans....
... The complaint seeks certification of a class action and redress through statutory damages, punitive damages, restitution, disgorgement and injunctive and declaratory relief.
On April 28, 2006, AT&T moved to dismiss this case. Doc #86 (AT&T MTD). AT&T contends that plaintiffs lack standing and were required but failed to plead affirmatively that AT&T did not receive a government certification pursuant to 18 USC ยง 2511(2)(a)(ii)(B). AT&T also contends it is entitled to statutory, common law and qualified immunity.
On May 13, 2006, the United States moved to intervene as a defendant and moved for dismissal or, alternatively, for summary judgment based on the state secrets privilege....
... For the reasons discussed herein, the court DENIES the government's motion to dismiss and DENIES AT&T's motion to dismiss....
* * *
[page 31-34]
... In sum, the government has disclosed the general contours of the "terrorist surveillance program" which requires the assistance of a telecommunications provider, and AT&T claims that it lawfully and dutifully assists the government in classified matters when asked....
... AT&T's assistance in national security surveillance is hardly the kind of "secret" that the Totten bar and the state secrets privilege were intended to protect or that a potential terrorist would fail to anticipate.
... The court must also dismiss this case if "the very subject matter of the action" is a state secret and therefore "any further proceeding would jeopardize national security."...
... But no case dismissed because its "very subject matter" was a state secret involved ongoing, widespread violations of individual constitutional rights, as plaintiffs allege here....
... the very subject matter of this action is hardly a secret. As described above, public disclosures by the government and AT&T indicate that AT&T is assisting the government to implement some kind of surveillance program....
... this case focuses only on whether AT&T intercepted and disclosed communications or communication records to the government. And as described above, significant amounts of information about the government's monitoring of communication content and AT&T's intelligence relationship with the government are already nonclassified or in the public record....
* * *
[page 68]
In United States v United States District Court, 407 US 297 (1972) (Keith), the Supreme Court held that the Fourth Amendment does not permit warrantless wiretaps to track domestic threats to national security, id at 321, reaffirmed the "necessity of obtaining a warrant in the surveillance of crimes unrelated to the national security interest," id at 308, and did not pass judgment "on the scope of the President's surveillance power with respect to the activities of foreign powers, within or without this country," id.
Because the alleged dragnet here encompasses the communications of "all or substantially all of the communications transmitted through [AT&T's] key domestic telecommunications facilities," it cannot reasonably be said that the program as alleged is limited to tracking foreign powers.
Accordingly, AT&T's alleged actions here violate the constitutional rights clearly established in Keith. Moreover, because "the very action in question has previously been held unlawful," AT&T cannot seriously contend that a reasonable entity in its position could have believed that the alleged domestic dragnet was legal....
