Thursday, August 17, 2006
And neofascists' heads explode
DETROIT (AP) - A federal judge ruled Thursday that the government's warrantless wiretapping program is unconstitutional and ordered an immediate halt to it.
U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor in Detroit became the first judge to strike down the National Security Agency's program, which she says violates the rights to free speech and privacy.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of journalists, scholars and lawyers who say the program has made it difficult for them to do their jobs. They believe many of their overseas contacts are likely targets of the program, which involves secretly taping conversations between people in the U.S. and people in other countries.
The government argued that the program is well within the president's authority, but said proving that would require revealing state secrets.
The ACLU said the state-secrets argument was irrelevant because the Bush administration already had publicly revealed enough information about the program for Taylor to rule.
U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor in Detroit became the first judge to strike down the National Security Agency's program, which she says violates the rights to free speech and privacy.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of journalists, scholars and lawyers who say the program has made it difficult for them to do their jobs. They believe many of their overseas contacts are likely targets of the program, which involves secretly taping conversations between people in the U.S. and people in other countries.
The government argued that the program is well within the president's authority, but said proving that would require revealing state secrets.
The ACLU said the state-secrets argument was irrelevant because the Bush administration already had publicly revealed enough information about the program for Taylor to rule.
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I guess the question becomes, how does a judge or anybody else monitor NSA to ascertain and assure their compliance. You can't go into NSA without a very high security clearance plus a "need to know" and classified code word privaleges. All of these things can only be granted by NSA. Is this not a real "Catch 22"?
# posted by 
: 1:40 PM
: 1:40 PM
"Judge Taylor has made her ruling. Now let her enforce it."
She should send federal marshals to the White House.
She should send federal marshals to the White House.
When you say, "neofascists' heads explode..." do you mean ALL neofascists or just a few?
And, if all, then who's running the country...?
And, if all, then who's running the country...?
Dan has a point. Is there a way to protect at least one of the least offensive cabinet members (are their any?) from the effect? Tin-foil maybe, football helmet lined with soundproofing, maybe a NASCAR helmet with the visor painted black and lined with aluminum foil and an IPOD playing Lawrence Welk piping in cover sound.
Shades of Andrew Jackson, and that works every place in America but one.
Er, unless that U.S. Marshal is carrying an NSA Badge showing a TOP SECRET CRYPTO CODEWORD clearance he can't even get past the well armed Marines at the first of several gates. NSA is an entity unto itself, with its own court facilities, jails, hospitals, etc.. Americans are just now finding out what that really means.
Hell, even the White House doesn't know what NSA is doing for sure. They only know what NSA has told them that they are doing.
Shades of Andrew Jackson, and that works every place in America but one.
Er, unless that U.S. Marshal is carrying an NSA Badge showing a TOP SECRET CRYPTO CODEWORD clearance he can't even get past the well armed Marines at the first of several gates. NSA is an entity unto itself, with its own court facilities, jails, hospitals, etc.. Americans are just now finding out what that really means.
Hell, even the White House doesn't know what NSA is doing for sure. They only know what NSA has told them that they are doing.
# posted by : 2:45 PM
: 2:45 PM
At least such explosions wouldn't be too messey in that there isn't much material in there to be ejected.
# posted by : 7:48 PM
: 7:48 PM
"And, if all, then who's running the country...?"
Thanks for telling us what you REALLY think about the Republicans.
"And I see your true colors shining through...."
Thanks for telling us what you REALLY think about the Republicans.
"And I see your true colors shining through...."
Did I single out Republicans? Are there no Democrats running the country?
(Although, to be fair, I had in mind the Neo-Cons when I said "Neo-fascists.")
(Although, to be fair, I had in mind the Neo-Cons when I said "Neo-fascists.")
EL, what's a little R-bashing? your post today is just one sustained rant against "lefties," "liberals" -- and probably every other word that starts with "L." :-)
That's because if you're a TRUE liberal, you'll only speak in soft voices and kind words. They're passivists, after all.
Wow!
"Taylor, a Carter appointee, said the government appeared to argue that the president has the 'inherent power' to violate laws of Congress and the First and Fourth amendments to the Constitution.
" 'We must first note that the Office of the Chief Executive has itself been created, with its powers, by the Constitution,' Taylor wrote. 'There are no hereditary Kings in America and no powers not created by the Constitution. So all "inherent powers" must derive from that Constitution.' "
Awesome. On the other hand, it's shocking that such FUNDAMENTAL (pardon the expression) concepts of our system of government are in dispute!
Thank God for Jimmy Carter, and again I say, thank God for Jimmy Carter.
"Taylor, a Carter appointee, said the government appeared to argue that the president has the 'inherent power' to violate laws of Congress and the First and Fourth amendments to the Constitution.
" 'We must first note that the Office of the Chief Executive has itself been created, with its powers, by the Constitution,' Taylor wrote. 'There are no hereditary Kings in America and no powers not created by the Constitution. So all "inherent powers" must derive from that Constitution.' "
Awesome. On the other hand, it's shocking that such FUNDAMENTAL (pardon the expression) concepts of our system of government are in dispute!
Thank God for Jimmy Carter, and again I say, thank God for Jimmy Carter.
EL, anybody can run the country.
Bush has proven that point. Keeping it off the iceburgs is the trick.
Bush has proven that point. Keeping it off the iceburgs is the trick.
# posted by : 9:31 AM
: 9:31 AM
Considering it's been hot as hell this summer, I'd say there's not an iceberg in sight.
And ER, since all '"inherent powers" must derive from that Constitution.'" Does that make taxation UNconstitutional? Ms Taylor's logic demonstrates she's not the brightest of judicial bulbs, eh?
And ER, since all '"inherent powers" must derive from that Constitution.'" Does that make taxation UNconstitutional? Ms Taylor's logic demonstrates she's not the brightest of judicial bulbs, eh?
And why, when they're dealt a defeat, they always change the subject and ridicule and smear the one that defeated them.
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