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The New FISA Law. Compromise, Capitulation, or Conspiracy? |
| 6/20/2008 12:06:50 PM |
The House has just passed the new Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). We've been hearing about this all week. Steny Hoyer (D, MD), the shameless guy who, along with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), orchestrated this thing, called it a "compromise." Senator Russ Feingold (D, WI), however, called it "capitulation." I say it's conspiracy to commit a... Read More |
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Will the House Cave In? |
| 3/3/2008 10:28:28 AM |
According to the New York Times, the House is getting ready to pass a FISA bill that will give the telecommunications companies the retroactive immunity that Bush has been seeking. Yes, they're caving in. Representative Silvestre Reyes (D, TX), chair of the House Intelligence Committee which is drafting the new law, said Sunday that the committee had been talking to the... Read More |
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The Evolution of FISA |
| 2/18/2008 1:03:08 PM |
Prior to the American revolution, British soldiers were allowed to write their own warrants. They'd stand outside someone's home, write a warrant, and then enter the premises. Thus, the Bill of Rights included the 4th Amendment. This Amendment states: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and... Read More |
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More on the Walk-Out |
| 2/15/2008 12:20:49 PM |
The Republican grandstanding yesterday really backfired. They didn't get the FISA bill they wanted. But -- there's more.
Prior to the walk-out, the Republicans had a plan. Rep. Tom Lantos (D, CA), the only Holocaust survivor to serve in Congress, died this week. The House had a memorial service for him. In an attempt to get the Senate's FISA bill passed, the Republicans... Read More |
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Congrats to the House |
| 2/14/2008 7:33:56 PM |
House Democrats refused to cave in to Bush, the Senate, or their own Republicans and wouldn't change their FISA bill, which does NOT include retroactive immunity for telecommunication companies. The Republicans were so infuriated they walked out. Yes, they took their ball and went home. Of course, they said that this threatens American security. It does not. The Protect... Read More |
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The House FISA Shenanigans |
| 2/13/2008 7:52:31 PM |
A House bill that would have extended the Protect America Act, the FISA bill from last August, was defeated by a vote of 229 to 191. Blue Dog Democrats sided with Republicans. But a bill to prolong its debate for 3 more weeks passed by a vote of 206-199.
Bush is still saying that he will veto any bill that does not include retroactive immunity for the telecommunication... Read More |
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The Senate FISA Bill |
| 2/12/2008 8:54:06 PM |
After James Risen and Eric Lichtblau exposed the existence of the illegal wiretapping done by telecommunications companies for the Bush administration (see The New York Times), Congress went nuts. Everyone claimed that this wouldn't stand. They were going to do something about it. Well, Lichtblau and Risen's article appeared on June 23, 2006 and now they finally are doing... Read More |
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Protect America Act of 2007 |
| 8/30/2007 5:14:37 PM |
On August 5, 2007 President Bush signed the Protect America Act of 2007, which provided sweeping new spying powers to the Executive Branch as an up-date to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Called the Protect America Act of 2007, it allows the government to eavesdrop on international telephone calls and e-mail messages of American... Read More |
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