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NSA Wiretaps - An Unbelievable Administration Lapse of Judgement

Alrighty, well here's my first pissed off post. Every day that the administration continues its argument that the wiretapping of domestic Americans is legal is another insult to our Constitution.

Monday, Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee and in un-sworn testimony continued the denials. Republicans and Democrats alike grilled him, and Arlen Spector (R-PA) argued the point that the President should not have taken the authority on his own and Russ Feingold (D-WI) even accused him of lying in his 2005 confirmation hearing regarding AG blanket approval to law-breaking.

The right's discussion on the Internet has really centered on politicizing this issue and many are screaming liberal bias. I don't see how this is left or right nor Republicn or Democratic issue at all. It's a black and white legality issue.

I don't see any gray in FISA. It requires the Attorney General, his lawyers, NSA lawyers and the President to do their jobs.

Allowing the executive branch to violate the Constitution in this way is a clear slippery slope and must be stopped by either Congress or the courts via one or all of the lawsuits filed to date.

Even former President Carter has spoken out against the illegal wiretaps:

"Under the Bush administration, there's been a disgraceful and illegal decision — we're not going to the let the judges or the Congress or anyone else know that we're spying on the American people," Carter told reporters. "And no one knows how many innocent Americans have had their privacy violated under this secret act."

He continued with criticism directed at Attorney General Gonzalez:

"Obviously, the attorney general who said it's all right to torture prisoners and so forth is going to support the person who put him in office. But he's a very partisan attorney general and there's no doubt that he would say that, I hope that eventually the case will go to the Supreme Court. I have no doubt that when it's over, the Supreme Court will rule that Bush has violated the law."

FISA was passed in 1978 during Carter's administration, so he should know.

Some Good News: the AP reports that Mr. Carter's eldest son, Jack, has announced his candidacy for US Senator from Nevada.
CarterforNevada.com

posted by 30dollarwatch @ 10:42 AM