Fisa Amendments Act

The courts have a role to play in ensuring that government surveillance complies with the Constitution. We'll find out on Tuesday whether the Obama administration is finally willing to let the courts play that role.

Programs that allow governments to spy on their own citizens are often directed against writers and intellectuals and pose a serious threat to the intellectual and creative freedoms of all citizens.

Though they Obama/FISA protest group now has one objective (urging Obama to change his vote), by increasing its membership, mission and ambition, it has the makings of a broader successful net movement.

Democratic leaders in Congress are poised to grant new spying powers to President Bush and arrange retroactive amnesty for telecommunications companie...