Roy Sekoff with Dan Abrams on the Fight Over FISA and Rove's Contempt for the Public's Right to Know

Part One: The Fight Over FISA

Part Two: Karl Rove's Contempt for the Public's Right to Know

Comments

[ghostsofamerica]

"The war on terror is, and always has been a mask for a war on liberty."

Roy, great comments on this issue and on Dan Abrams show. Follow up with an article by Wayne Madsen, for huffpo. I was the one who commented scores of times about George Lakoff, and you all eventually picked him up. Madsen is similiarily a heroic genuis of USA.

[mamajoyboy]

Dan Abrams is not a legal scholar regardless of his Daddy being First Amendment lawyer par excellence, Floyd Abrams. Abrams behaves more like a circus ringmaster than a journalist. He's all loud bloviating without any thinking. I don't believe Dan Abrams has read the FISA bill -- I think he gets his interns to write up executive summaries with just the highlights. The big question about Sen. Obama's position on FISA is -- does caving in on this bad "not a compromise bill" make him just like all the other "go along to get along" politicians?

[TheProverbialMan]

Exceptional news coverage, especially for the MSM.

This makes me a bit more comfortable knowing that people read through the bill before signing it. Obama and Smith have voted down all previous bills for FISA for good reason. I'd certainly prefer the bill be fillibustered or voted down, but...I won't crucify Obama.

The Rove case is interesting, sounds like they have a legit case on his ass. I'm also glad to see the MSM pursuing this.

[JennyJay]

Can we start a petition to abolish executive privilege???? For everybody! I would think the press would love to start that up.

[GunnyJ]

If more people took more time to read and research before they start throwing bad opinions around........ I personally agree with what Obama did and why. Reading is truly fundamental........

[progressiveevangelic]

great work on Siegelman case by Dan Abrams. thank you sir.

[GerryS]

FYI-

the senate vote is TOMORROW to approve the FISA bill.

I'm still steamed about the immunity for the telecoms!

Is anyone else, or did we all roll over on this one?

[progressiveevangelic]

Ive called and written and signed petitions, because I now believe OBAMA is bought by the NWO crowd.

[brighterside]

I thought it was today? I could be wrong. I actually think the new bill is okay except the immunity towards the telecoms. This is the immunity portion here:

-Releases electronic communication providers from liability with regards to civil action that may be brought up in any court due to assistance provided to the government in obtaining electronic surveillance if such assistance was authorized by the President before January 17, 2007 or if such assistance was the subject of written directions from the Attorney General or heads of the intelligence community indicating that the activity was lawful (Sec. 201).

Pres. Bush is wrong for the wiring tapping that he did. He used his veto power to this this part into the bill. But after the signing of this bill, I don't see where it will keep the telecoms from being immuned past Jan. 17, 2007. I could be wrong.

From reading the entire bill it does seem that it protects our civil liberties more than stripping it away. If thats the case I don't see why FISA is such a big issue that it has to dominate the headlines.

[naijaman]

Yes, and I was glad that Rep. Adam Smith was on the show and clealy and deliberately explained the details of the FISA bill, and why he also was supporting it. Hopefully some of those attacking Obama on the left will now take the time and actually READ the bill.

[Speakchic]

I agree! Roy looked like he was just arguing for the sake of Obama's brand and not politics. It's sad that MANY especially here on HuffPo have forgotten that this is politics and that sometimes decisions will be made based on that plain and simple.

[trumpcoward]

Did you read the bill? Because I did. And I would like to know where in the constitution it provides any citizen, group or organization the right to willfully break the law--in war time or in peace. And as such, how this bill, as written, accords with that simple principle: the rule of law.

These companies new they broke the law, considering they helped write its original provisions, and are now allowed to flout them as such.

But you read the bill. Well, I would, then, like an explanation.

And for the record, Adam Smith almost certainly has not read the bill. No member of Congress, other than the authors of legislation, reads them.

[Liberal2]

And the color of the sky on your planet is....?

Lemme explain reality. A Bush-iod DoJ will never bring criminal charges against any telecom. Without civil suits, continued illegal wiretapping of US citizens within US borders will never be exposed. FISA warrants are not public documents, so no matching of wiretaps to authorizing documents is not possible.

Does that help?

[NavyMom44]

I watched the show last night and I have to say I agree with Dan Abrams, Roy need to look at the big picture, Obama's compromise is not a worth the big breaking news. Roy needs to READ the FISA, admit that the section that has most people up in arms has been part of the law for over 30 years.

As Obama stated we will not all agree on all things but we can agree to disagree.

[Argoth]

I agree. Thanks for putting it so well.