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Bush Administration Seeks to Protect Telecoms From Lawsuits for Cooperating With NSA'a Warrantless Wiretap Program


US Politics & Gov't  (tags: electronic surveillance, wiretaps, warrantless wiretaps, NSA, Bush administration, domestic spying )

RC
- 707 days ago - nytimes.com
BushCo is workin hard to keep those wireaps humming without recourse for US citizens.
Comments

RC deWinter (418)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 3:02 am
Whatever happened to WE THE PEOPLE? Our Constitution and Bill of Rights have been morphed to read WE THE CORPORATIONS.
 

RC deWinter (418)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 3:02 am
Whatever happened to WE THE PEOPLE? Our Constitution and Bill of Rights have been morphed to read WE THE CORPORATIONS.
 

Gail Costic (486)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 3:38 am
Noted with thanks, Cate and with prayers that we all survive the rest of this man's term in office. He is so determined to destroy as much as possible before he is ousted, that this country and it's citizens are in danger.
 

Dolores H. (1)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 3:41 am
Our rights are systematically being taken away from us. This is is yet another reason for impeachment! We must send a message that no administration should get away with breaking the law.

One company refused to cooperate? I'm hoping it's mine. Going to give them a call right away.
 

Eternal Optimist (115)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 3:56 am
Noted. Thanks Cate :)
 

Joycey B. (695)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 5:04 am
We don't seem to have rights anymore. Noted. Thanks Cate.
 

Timothy W. (23)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 5:06 am
1984 is finally here... Reward the criminals and punish those who honor and respect the Constitution. What next? I shudder to think.
 

Tsandi Crew (95)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 5:11 am
Such a sick sob
 

Karen S. (2312)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 6:19 am
What rights do we have any more.??
 

Linda R. (65)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 7:04 am
noted and thanks Cate.
Nothing this criminal ( Bush ) does surprizes me .

He has stacked the deck in the Justice Department so we are stuck with these guys until they either quit or die so unless we can find a way to get rid of them then we will have more of the same insanity for years to come.
 

Stephen Hannon (216)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 8:10 am
I found and e-mail in my default inbox from Rep. John Conyers D-MI asking me to sign Chris Dodd's petition to stop Majority Leader Harry Reid to block Chris Dodd's filibuster. Hopefully enough people will sign this petition, because Reiid wants to give immunity to the telcoms who participated iin the Bush/NSA spy program.

Noted, thanks Cate
 

Merry Loscalzo-Stumpf (75)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 10:10 am
I really can't wait until next year!
 

Dianne G. (86)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 10:56 am
I'd like to see the FBI bug the White House!! Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall?
 

Mike B. (0)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 11:25 am
And this surprises you after six years of this clown's administration? Seriously, I remember a time when I was proud to be American; we were what the rest of the civilized world strove for. No more. Bush is an embarassment that needs to go. He has cheapened what it means to be an American.
 

Past Member (0)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 11:31 am
There is no , we the people, anymore cate----if you don't buckle down and kiss ass to the big boys---they will take you out another way----this is the most evil administration in my lifetime and EVIL is the word---they are above nothing.
 

Past Member (0)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 12:22 pm
Vote for Ron Paul, especially in the primaries and we'll get our freedoms back.
 

Brandy Ramos (240)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 2:17 pm
Noted. Thanks Cate.
 

Robert K. (437)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 9:07 pm
"Where is it written in the Constitution, in what article or section is it contained, that you may take children from their parents and parents from their children, and compel them to fight the battles of any war in which the folly and wickedness of the government may engage itself? Under what concealment has this power lain hidden, which now for the first time comes forth, with a tremendous and baleful aspect, to trample down and destroy the dearest right of personal liberty? Who will show me any Constitutional injunction which makes it the duty of the American people to surrender everything valuable in life, and even life, itself, whenever the purposes of an insidious despotic government may require it? ... A free government with an uncontrolled power of military conscription is the most ridiculous and abominable contradiction and nonsense that ever entered into the heads of men." -- Daniel Webster- (I may have changed one or two words)
 

Past Member (0)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 10:26 pm
OMG, MY PRECIOUS RIGHTS ARE TAKEN AWAY !!

WHAT RIGHTS YOU ASK?
WHY,,, I DON'T EVEN KNOW! I'M A CONFUSED LIBERAL WHO JUST WANTS TO SCREAM ABOUT " MY RIGHTS"
 

Nuria Coe (0)
Sunday December 16, 2007, 10:27 pm
We just might be witnessing the end of the American Empire. And I believe it might just be the best thing that will happen to this country. Much too long we have behaved like we're the parents who know better than anyone else. We need a time to collect, re-asses our values and commitments, and begin the healing process... and let someone else take the burden of ruling the entire world for once. Who ever gave us the scepter in the first place?

 

Michael Sandstrom (329)
Monday December 17, 2007, 2:50 am
Noted, and "he" appoints his own Judges, I am sure they will turn on him, time to clean the plate all the way
 

Kathy C. (259)
Monday December 17, 2007, 4:41 pm
I do believe this administration might just go down in history as the most corrupt administration we've seen.
 

Kathy C. (259)
Monday December 17, 2007, 4:46 pm
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_7779.shtml

Bush on the Constitution: ‘It’s just a goddamned piece of paper’
By By DOUG THOMPSON
Dec 5, 2005, 07:53
Email this article

Printer friendly page


Last month, Republican Congressional leaders filed into the Oval Office to meet with President George W. Bush and talk about renewing the controversial USA Patriot Act.

Several provisions of the act, passed in the shell shocked period immediately following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, caused enough anger that liberal groups like the American Civil Liberties Union had joined forces with prominent conservatives like Phyllis Schlafly and Bob Barr to oppose renewal.

GOP leaders told Bush that his hardcore push to renew the more onerous provisions of the act could further alienate conservatives still mad at the President from his botched attempt to nominate White House Counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court.

“I don’t give a goddamn,” Bush retorted. “I’m the President and the Commander-in-Chief. Do it my way.”

“Mr. President,” one aide in the meeting said. “There is a valid case that the provisions in this law undermine the Constitution.”

“Stop throwing the Constitution in my face,” Bush screamed back. “It’s just a goddamned piece of paper!”

I’ve talked to three people present for the meeting that day and they all confirm that the President of the United States called the Constitution “a goddamned piece of paper.”

And, to the Bush Administration, the Constitution of the United States is little more than toilet paper stained from all the shit that this group of power-mad despots have dumped on the freedoms that “goddamned piece of paper” used to guarantee.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, while still White House counsel, wrote that the “Constitution is an outdated document.”

Put aside, for a moment, political affiliation or personal beliefs. It doesn’t matter if you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent. It doesn’t matter if you support the invasion or Iraq or not. Despite our differences, the Constitution has stood for two centuries as the defining document of our government, the final source to determine “in the end ” if something is legal or right.

Every federal official - including the President - who takes an oath of office swears to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia says he cringes when someone calls the Constitution a “living document.”

“Oh, how I hate the phrase we have “a ‘living document,”ť Scalia says. “We now have a Constitution that means whatever we want it to mean. The Constitution is not a living organism, for Pete’s sake.”

As a judge, Scalia says, “I don’t have to prove that the Constitution is perfect; I just have to prove that it’s better than anything else.”

President Bush has proposed seven amendments to the Constitution over the last five years, including a controversial amendment to define marriage as a “union between a man and woman.” Members of Congress have proposed some 11,000 amendments over the last decade, ranging from repeal of the right to bear arms to a Constitutional ban on abortion.

Scalia says the danger of tinkering with the Constitution comes from a loss of rights.

“We can take away rights just as we can grant new ones,”ť Scalia warns. “Don’t think that it’s a one-way street.”

And don’t buy the White House hype that the USA Patriot Act is a necessary tool to fight terrorism. It is a dangerous law that infringes on the rights of every American citizen and, as one brave aide told President Bush, something that undermines the Constitution of the United States.

But why should Bush care? After all, the Constitution is just “a goddamned piece of paper.”
 

Kathy C. (259)
Monday December 17, 2007, 4:47 pm
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_7779.shtml

Bush on the Constitution: ‘It’s just a goddamned piece of paper’
By By DOUG THOMPSON
Dec 5, 2005, 07:53
Email this article

Printer friendly page


Last month, Republican Congressional leaders filed into the Oval Office to meet with President George W. Bush and talk about renewing the controversial USA Patriot Act.

Several provisions of the act, passed in the shell shocked period immediately following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, caused enough anger that liberal groups like the American Civil Liberties Union had joined forces with prominent conservatives like Phyllis Schlafly and Bob Barr to oppose renewal.

GOP leaders told Bush that his hardcore push to renew the more onerous provisions of the act could further alienate conservatives still mad at the President from his botched attempt to nominate White House Counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court.

“I don’t give a goddamn,” Bush retorted. “I’m the President and the Commander-in-Chief. Do it my way.”

“Mr. President,” one aide in the meeting said. “There is a valid case that the provisions in this law undermine the Constitution.”

“Stop throwing the Constitution in my face,” Bush screamed back. “It’s just a goddamned piece of paper!”

I’ve talked to three people present for the meeting that day and they all confirm that the President of the United States called the Constitution “a goddamned piece of paper.”

And, to the Bush Administration, the Constitution of the United States is little more than toilet paper stained from all the shit that this group of power-mad despots have dumped on the freedoms that “goddamned piece of paper” used to guarantee.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, while still White House counsel, wrote that the “Constitution is an outdated document.”

Put aside, for a moment, political affiliation or personal beliefs. It doesn’t matter if you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent. It doesn’t matter if you support the invasion or Iraq or not. Despite our differences, the Constitution has stood for two centuries as the defining document of our government, the final source to determine “in the end ” if something is legal or right.

Every federal official - including the President - who takes an oath of office swears to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia says he cringes when someone calls the Constitution a “living document.”

“Oh, how I hate the phrase we have “a ‘living document,”ť Scalia says. “We now have a Constitution that means whatever we want it to mean. The Constitution is not a living organism, for Pete’s sake.”

As a judge, Scalia says, “I don’t have to prove that the Constitution is perfect; I just have to prove that it’s better than anything else.”

President Bush has proposed seven amendments to the Constitution over the last five years, including a controversial amendment to define marriage as a “union between a man and woman.” Members of Congress have proposed some 11,000 amendments over the last decade, ranging from repeal of the right to bear arms to a Constitutional ban on abortion.

Scalia says the danger of tinkering with the Constitution comes from a loss of rights.

“We can take away rights just as we can grant new ones,”ť Scalia warns. “Don’t think that it’s a one-way street.”

And don’t buy the White House hype that the USA Patriot Act is a necessary tool to fight terrorism. It is a dangerous law that infringes on the rights of every American citizen and, as one brave aide told President Bush, something that undermines the Constitution of the United States.

But why should Bush care? After all, the Constitution is just “a goddamned piece of paper.”
 

Kathy C. (259)
Tuesday December 18, 2007, 3:34 am
I've got a letter to share.
Dear Kathy,

This has been an amazing day for people-powered politics in California.

First, on retroactive immunity for telecom companies. And also on the "No Dirty Tricks" campaign.

Tonight, under pressure from the grassroots and netroots, the Senate stopped its rush to grant immunity to law-breaking telecom companies like AT&T and Verizon.

Moments later, we got news from Secretary of State Debra Bowen that -- due to a Courage Campaign exclusive video made possible by your grassroots activism -- her office will be opening a formal investigation into tactics used by the dirty tricksters trying to steal the White House. And, to top it off, just a few days ago, the people of Potrero rose up in a recall election and overwhelmingly said "no" to Blackwater.

It is truly amazing what you have done over the last few days and the last few months. We're on the precipice of a new era in progressive politics in California. With your financial help today on ActBlue, we can help make it a reality. Together:

http://www.actblue.com/page/newera

Senator Harry Reid, staring in the face of Senator Chris Dodd's filibuster against granting retroactive immunity to law-breaking telecom companies, just pulled the plug on the re-authorization of FISA until early next year.

This is big news, as the Senate was on the verge of passing retroactive telecom immunity. Now, with more time for debate, we can continue our campaign to convince Senator Dianne Feinstein to stand up for the rule of law and against the Bush Administration's contempt for the Constitution.

Earlier this morning, our friends flooded our in-boxes, excited by an email they had just received from Senator Feinstein, responding to their earlier calls, emails, letters and faxes. In the email, the Senator writes:

"I am keeping an open mind to whether some other legislative approach besides immunity would be best."

Your people-powered pressure is working. When Bradley Whitford recorded a YouTube video for Courage asking Senator Feinstein to do the right thing, you responded by forwarding it to your family and friends. While Senator Feinstein appears to be listening more closely now, we will be counting on you to raise your voices again when this bill is brought back up in January. We have to hold Senator Feinstein accountable together.

Click here to watch Brad's video to Sen. Feinstein as well as two other recent Courage Campaign YouTube videos. Then contribute to Courage now on ActBlue to help us carry this momentum into next year:

http://www.actblue.com/page/newera

This has been an absolutely incredible Monday.

All of us were tuned into C-SPAN watching the FISA debate unfold, when Courage Campaign blogger Erik Love called in. He had just opened a letter from the Secretary of State's office announcing that they were opening an official investigation into the signature-gathering practices of the Republican dirty tricksters trying to steal the White House. This was an official response to the Courage Campaign's formal request for an investigation, following video evidence delivered by Erik to their Election Fraud Investigation Unit.

The dirty tricksters may be facing possible jail time and significant fines, if the Secretary of State finds violations of California election law. The dirty tricksters were already struggling to gather enough signatures to qualify this initiative for the November ballot. Now, this investigation promises to be a big thorn in their side -- and could be a potentially fatal blow to their campaign.

You can watch excerpts of Erik's video in a special CBS Evening News piece here on our ActBlue page:

http://www.actblue.com/page/newera

While we may have won these first skirmishes, there are many battles yet to come. Please help us insure that we have many more victories to come in the New Year. Telecom immunity will be back on the floor of the Senate come January. The dirty tricksters are still trying to place their initiative on the November ballot. And Blackwater is ignoring the will of the people of Potrero, pushing ahead to build a mercenary base on the California border.

We can win, but we need your help. Please contribute to Courage now on ActBlue to help us build a new era for progressive politics in California:

http://www.actblue.com/page/newera

Thank you and happy holidays,

Rick, Eden, Julia and the entire Courage Campaign team

P.S. It was almost a week ago today that the tiny town of Potrero recalled several pro-Blackwater elected officials in a historic special election.

You can watch the video of Potrero community leader Carl Meyer, along with the CBS Evening News segment featuring Erik's video footage, and Bradley Whitford talking about the importance of opposing immunity for telecom companies at:

http://www.actblue.com/page/newera



 

Kari D. (168)
Wednesday December 19, 2007, 4:27 pm
Noted I hope He's Impeached SOON!
 

Melissa J B. (12)
Tuesday January 8, 2008, 7:51 am
I've noted it. Unfortunately, Kari, he won't be impeached. The reason is they would just keep the trial going until he's not in office anymore and it wouldn't matter so they won't even bother. He should be though. He should be impeached immediately and thrown out on his ass...
 
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