Dem Bill Forces Justice Dept To Reveal All Wiretapping Done Without Court Order

AP:

The Justice Department would have to reveal to Congress the details of all electronic surveillance conducted without court orders since Sept. 11, 2001, including the so-called Terrorist Surveillance Program, if a new Democratic wiretapping bill is approved.

The draft bill, scheduled to be introduced to Congress Tuesday, would also require the Justice Department to maintain a database of all Americans subjected to government eavesdropping without a court order, including whether their names have been revealed to other government agencies.

Read the whole story: AP

Comments

[RedRooster]

The final bill will do no such thing and Congress will have caved again.

CongressCretins, for the most part, are cowards without courage or conviction and they have been wetting themselves in fear since 9/11...

[electricphoto]

The surveillance has been used to control Congress

The surveillance was against members of Congress and members of the media. They have most likely been privately informed of the files that Cheeny has on each of them - an age old technique used since the days of J Edgar Hoover.

Watch key Democrats like Leahy and Pelosi, and Republicans like Spector talk tough and NEVER EVER pull the trigger on the law.

We all observe the Democrats and think them weak. They are not. The key Democrats are being blackmailed, along with Republicans, with files kept on members ready to go to Fox at a moments notice.

How many times does Cheeny go to congress and they ALL play ball.... that's not loyalty - it's fear.

That's what the spying program has garnered... damaging info on people from a party that has the process perfected and shows its power to use it every hour of every day.

Why did Kerry, who knew about the vote fixing shut up and never question the election?.

Why does Lehay let the subpoenas go unenforced? Why does Pelosi decide that no impeachment will happen - are they weak?

No - it is self preservation under threat of blackmail. Standard practice in the halls of politics.

Democrats who have evrything to gain by enforcing the laws against Republicans back off every time. Is it self preservation and fear, or weakness?

[milo9]

What the Dems don't seem to realize is that in their fear of looking soft on terrorism, they just look soft, period. And that definitive softness includes being soft on terrorism.
They would be better served to stand on principle and defend the Constitution.

[stargazer13]

I thought spying was a crime so how come there is any debate about this . there should be arresting
alot of some ones in my opinion

[VOTER]

Shhh

The Republicans are on the tele "debating."

Criminals currently addressing our FABULOUS

economy....no recession, in sight.

[amerdiaspora]

torture is a crime
illegaly invading a country is a crime
the murder of civilians is a crime
vote fixing is a crime
this is 'nothing' for the present administration

[ronspri]

I have little hope they would tell us much of anything important but good on them for pushing for accountability. Now we need to add to that NO MORE WARRANTLESS WIRE TAPPING OF CITIZENS. IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL!There should, without a doubt, be criminal penalties for the law breakers.

As Keven noted, it is time the government feared the people again.

[SaskiaStars]

At least it is something - more then the idiot Repugs EVER did. This is an example of how the Democratic congress is TRYING TO DO ITS JOB and how the Repugs will continue to obstruct and f*ck this Country over. Then once the Repugs achieve their objective to obstruct justice and protect Bu$hCO and the telecom companies they will go around the MSM circuit and blather on and on about how the Democratic congress is not doing their job. This will in turn be picked up by the talking heads and repeated over and over again ad nauseam until it becomes "real" and part of the conversation. On this thread there will be the usual array of troll idiots, of course, repeating the BS but there will also be the leftie hacks who LOVE to eat their own and will be happy to yammer on and on about how the Democratic Congress is not doing their job. Here we go again.

[SteveRoach]

"... Justice Department to maintain a database of all Americans subjected to government eavesdropping without a court order, including whether their names have been revealed to other government agencies."

Put some teeth in the bill ... Criminal penalities against those who've conspired to violate the rights of individuals that have dared to question the Bush Administration.

[Beardedfish]

Teeth? This toothless version won't even get passed the obstructionist Republicans in the senate. No way they get enough votes to stop debate.

[milo9]

Beardedfish you've the stated the problem succinctly.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Brace yourselves for the double-speak.

e.g., "These surveillance efforts were so vital to national security that we didn't even dare confide in the FISA court, which nominally has jurisdiction, for fearing of putting American lives at risk. Furthermore, to reveal any details about these efforts, or even to acknowledge their existence -- let alone who was bugged -- would similarly jeopardize the entire program, and again, put American lives at risk."

To which the only proper reply is, "Bullshit." If you don't have a FISA warrant, even a retroactive one, the NSA has broken the law, and someone should be held accountable.

We are a nation of laws, not eavesdroppers.

[amerdiaspora]

not any more

[MHSMustang]

This is another case of Congress being likely to cave into Bush, yet it is an issue that the voters would likely support repeated attempts by Congress to peel away the Bush Administration's veneer of faux Justice Department legal opinions supporting this affront to the US Constitution. It is time for Congress to shine a bright light on the dark, furtive secrets of the Bush Administration's record. By no means should any legislative actions include retroactive pardons for telecommunications companies or Bush administration flunkies.

[SaskiaStars]

Let's be clear, it is the Repugs in Congress who "cave" to Bu$h - the Dems are trying to do their jobs.

[milo9]

Sas, I wish that were true. Unfortunately, all you have to do is look at the voting record.

[kroses98]

I just read that the Dems are ready to cave, and if they do, I'm definitely changing my party to Independent, if nothing but to show my outrage against the Dems for their CONTINUAL LACK OF A BACKBONE! They are a bunch of WIMPS, and no one can deny that! There are no excuses! Reid and Pelosi need to be removed and more effective leaders put in their place. They make me actually physically ill!

[amerdiaspora]

go all the way
leave the country like i did

[kevenseven]

Well, I hope that this frightens Bush.

As Jefferson said:

In a dictatorship, the people are afraid of the government

In a democracy, the government fears the people.

[LeftLeaner]

I like that one.

Simplicity speaks volumes.

[amerdiaspora]

i guess we fear the government

[SamEllison]

How do we know they are only wiretapping suspected terrorist? Because that is what they tell us? But they have lied to us before, how do we know they are not lying now?
If the GOP senators do not help us rein these people in they will be the ones with the tables turned on them with a Dem as President.

[kevenseven]

God knows that I do not believe that they Are only wiretapping terrorists.

I'm certain that right now Rove is reading transcripts of HRC's every conversation.

[LittleGreenGreaseBalls]

If the Dems cave on this I give up. There are LEGAL ways to do the work. We have courts. We are supposed to be a nation of laws. I'm to the point where I don't give a fig who is in power anymore. If Nancy doesn't know that the neocons are reading everybody's mail that they feel like it including the Dem candidates, then she needs to buy a bridge from me that is laying at the bottom of the Mississippi.

[amerdiaspora]

they lie?