Democrats Legalize Bush’s Crimes

In short, the “Protect America Act” made warrantless surveillance legally cost free for a collaborating service provider, tilting the scales even further in favor of the government’s spying powers. [For details, see our book, Neck Deep, or Consortiumnews.com’s “Bush Gets Spying Blank Check.”]

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Rather than reaffirming the rule of law and the Constitution’s checks and balances, as Pelosi claimed, the new FISA “compromise” may have done the opposite, signaling that the President is above the law.

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/06/21/9791/

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Congress gives in on wiretapping

Weak, timid, spineless. Those are a few words to describe Congress as it prepares to back President Bush's plans to justify his warrantless spying on Americans.

What's billed as a compromise measure to codify rules on antiterrorist surveillance is too tame by half. The agreement kowtows in important ways to Bush's overwrought view that the war of terror cannot be bound by judicial oversight or the Bill of Rights.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/19/ED8D11BV4T.D...

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House Passes Telecom Immunity Bill, Expands Domestic Spying Powers

Much of the negotiations revolved around the thorny issue of “telecom immunity,” which if included would kill the 40+ lawsuits currently in progress accusing communications providers of assisting the Bush Administration in an illegal, post-9/11 surveillance program.
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“The House of Representatives today has fallen down on the job,” said the Electronic Frontier Foundation activist Hugh D’Andrade. “By passing the FISA Amendments Act … [the House] voted to give this lame duck President an undeserved parting gift by passing immunity for telecoms that helped the President violate the Constitution by participating in the NSA's massive and illegal spying program.”

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Democrats Hoyer, Pelosi Hand White House Sweeping Legislative Victories

“It’s Christmas morning at the White House thanks to this vote,” said Caroline Fredrickson, director of the American Civil Liberties Union Washington Legislative Office.

“The House just wrapped up some expensive gifts for the administration and their buddies at the phone companies. It is not a meaningful compromise, except of our constitutional rights.

“The bill allows for mass, untargeted and unwarranted surveillance of all communications coming into and out of the United States. The courts’ role is superficial at best, as the government can continue spying on our communications even after the FISA court has objected.

“Democratic leaders turned what should have been an easy FISA fix into the wholesale giveaway of our Fourth Amendment rights."
http://www.pubrecord.org/index.php?view=article&id=151%3Ademocrats-hoyer...

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