NewSpeak: Bush's FISA Proposal

By Big Tent Democrat, Section War on Terror
Posted on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 07:52:17 PM EST
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Gleen Greenwald reports on President Bush's radio address today on, get this, amending FISA. What the President said:

[M]y Administration has proposed a bill that would modernize the FISA statute. . . [I]t seeks to restore FISA to its original focus on protecting the privacy interests of people inside the United States, so we don't have to obtain court orders to effectively collect foreign intelligence about foreign targets located in foreign locations.

Did you get that? Bush will protect the privacy interests of people inside the United States by removing the requirement of a court issued warrant. Thank you very much Big Brother. More.

How else will Bush "protect your privacy interests?

[I]t allows the government to work more efficiently with private-sector entities like communications providers, whose help is essential.

Great. Bypass the courts again and let the phone companies invade your privacy directly. And of course, if Bush does not get his way, the terrorists win:

Every day that Congress puts off these reforms increases the danger to our Nation.

The question is begged. If that is the case then why did you say this back in October 2001?

Surveillance of communications is another essential tool to pursue and stop terrorists. The existing law was written in the era of rotary telephones. This new law that I sign today will allow surveillance of all communications used by terrorists, including e-mails, the Internet, and cell phones.

How come you screwed up back then Mr. President? What a liar this President is.

< NYTimes: Warrantless Eavesdropping Dispute Over Data Mining | Impeach Gonzales >

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NewSpeak: Bush's FISA Proposal | 8 comments (8 topical)

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The Pungent Oder of Mendacity (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by Molly Bloom on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 09:44:42 PM EST

Would someone tell Bush that Orwell was not writing a how to manual?

: Heh (none / 0) (#8)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 09:47:51 PM EST

At the absolute least (none / 0) (#1)
by andgarden on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 07:59:22 PM EST

Pelosi has to say "no f'ing way!" to this one.

: I assume this is DOA (none / 0) (#2)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 08:00:46 PM EST

I need a drink (none / 0) (#3)
by aj12754 on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 08:24:41 PM EST

and then a reread of Orwell's Politics and the English Language.

Amending FISA? (none / 0) (#4)
by Jon Erik Kingstad on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 08:54:20 PM EST

That's not an amendment. That's a repeal. FISA only exists to protect First Amendment rights of Americans. That's the purpose of requiring a warrant. To prevent eavesdropping on and blackmailing your political opponents.

: Fourth? (none / 0) (#6)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 09:22:55 PM EST

Interesting (none / 0) (#5)
by RedHead on Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 08:54:59 PM EST

"This new law that I sign today will allow surveillance of all communications used by terrorists, including e-mails, the Internet, and cell phones."

the WH somehow "presuaded" the NYT to hold the domestic spying story arguing it would tip off Al Qaeda. of course, AQ already knew the NSA was monitoring their communications. it reminded me of the "secret bombing" of cambodia, in that the bomb craters were only "secret" to the general american public.