Wiretapping

Wiretap Law Expires As Dems Stand Up To Bush

TPMmuckraker | Paul Kiel | Posted 02.15.2008 | Politics


What happened? The administration did everything right. The invocation of "countless American lives" hanging in the balance, the specter of terrorists...

Let the Eagle Whore

William Fisher | Posted 02.13.2008 | Politics


William Fisher

How much credibility does the Bush first-term attorney general have on the subject of protecting civil liberties and the rule of law?

Friday Talking Points [18]

Chris Weigant | Posted 02.08.2008 | Politics


Chris Weigant

I'm going to start off with a quick piece of advice for both Democratic campaigns (or perhaps for Howard Dean) -- spend the next few weeks taping ever...

Bush Admin Plan To Broaden Wiretapping Powers Gains Victory In Senate

New York Times | ERIC LICHTBLAU | Posted 01.24.2008 | Politics


A White House plan to broaden the National Security Agency's wiretapping powers won a key procedural victory in the Senate on Thursday, as backers def...

Just Say NO to Telecom Immunity

Laura Scher | Posted 01.24.2008 | Media


Laura Scher

I know it's a little odd as the CEO of a phone company to be against immunity for other phone companies. But I'd like to think of myself as the voice of reason.

Cheney Wants Surveillance Law Expanded

AP | TOM RAUM | Posted 01.23.2008 | Politics


WASHINGTON — Vice President Dick Cheney prodded Congress on Wednesday to extend and broaden an expiring surveillance law, saying "fighting the w...

Just Say "No" to Immunity

Jayne Lyn Stahl | Posted 01.23.2008 | Politics


Jayne Lyn Stahl

Only a bunch of hardcore mobsters would demand immunity before they testify. Is this what public service has become, just another euphemism for organized crime?

Friday Talking Points [14]

Chris Weigant | Posted 01.11.2008 | Politics


Chris Weigant

Time for another fun round of Democratic talking points for the weekend ahead! After a hiatus for the year-end awards, and then a special "all electi...

FBI Forgets to Pay the Phone Bill

Jacob Dickerman | Posted 01.11.2008 | Politics


Jacob Dickerman

If the phone companies were to have let the FBI not pay their bills, the terrorists would have won!

Fear, Loathing & the Crisis of Confidence

David Sirota | Posted 12.21.2007 | Politics


David Sirota

The growth of conspiracy theories as a phenomenon should not be ignored, because they represent something deeper - a distrust of a government.

Reid Considers Extending Protect America Act For One Month

The Hill | Manu Raju | Posted 12.19.2007 | Politics


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said Tuesday he would seek to extend a controversial interim wiretapping law through February to avoid the ea...

Senate Showdown Over Warrantless Wiretapping

AP | PAMELA HESS | Posted 12.17.2007 | Politics


The Senate is expected to decide this week whether to shield from civil lawsuits telecommunications companies that helped the government eavesdrop on ...

NSA Wiring Telecoms For More Domestic Spying

New York Times | Eric Lichtblau, James Risen and Scott Shane | Posted 12.16.2007 | Politics


For months, the Bush administration has waged a high-profile campaign, including personal lobbying by President Bush and closed-door briefings by top ...

Friday Talking Points [Vol. 12]

Chris Weigant | Posted 12.14.2007 | Politics


Chris Weigant

The whole Obama flap over cocaine (fueled by the Clinton camp) needs to get shot down right away, before any Republicans consider using it to attack Obama. And it's so pathetically easy to shoot this one down.

Congress Set to Legitimize Warrantless Wiretapping

Caroline Fredrickson | Posted 11.13.2007 | Politics


Caroline Fredrickson

Customers who've had their rights violated should get their day in court. We'll never learn the facts about the warrantless wiretapping program if the telecoms are let off the hook.

One Year Left. Looking to the Future...

Mike Garibaldi-Frick | Posted 11.13.2007 | Politics


Mike Garibaldi-Frick

It's always darkest before the light. 2008-2009 might be the gloomiest years before the "Great Repair" begins.

NSA Phone Call Intercept of Bush and Musharraf

Bill Katovsky | Posted 11.13.2007 | Politics


Bill Katovsky

Musharraf: Oh, my good, trusted friend, I understand your concern but we all know what a nuisance lawyers and the media are. Bush: No kiddin'. If the ACLU had its way, Guantanamo would be emptied of all them terrorists.

Ministry Of Truth Helpfully Redefines Privacy

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.12.2007 | Politics


Chris Weigant

The new meaning of the word "privacy" will now be (according to MiniTru): "the secure feeling citizens get by knowing that their government is collecting and protecting their personal data."

An Open Letter To Hillary Clinton

Richard Morse | Posted 11.12.2007 | Politics


Richard Morse

When you feel frustration from your electorate its because we don't want watered down Republican politics (Republican Lite). We want Democrats with Democratic values.

Top Intelligence Official: Public Needs To Change Their Definition Of Privacy

AP | PAMELA HESS | Posted 11.11.2007 | Politics


A top intelligence official says it is time people in the United States changed their definition of privacy. Privacy no longer can mean anonymity, sa...

Uncle Sam on the Lam

Geoffrey R. Stone | Posted 11.05.2007 | Politics


Geoffrey R. Stone

Mr. Ashcroft seems to assume that patriotic Americans should give their government the benefit of the doubt and act compliantly.

Angry Senators Say White House Cut Deal Over Wiretapping

Washington Post | Ellen Nakashima | Posted 10.23.2007 | Politics


Senate Judiciary Committee members yesterday angrily accused the White House of allowing the Senate Intelligence Committee to review documents on its ...

A New Netroots Presidential Candidate?

Ari Melber | Posted 10.23.2007 | Politics


Ari Melber

Internet buzz alone is unlikely to propel Dodd into the first tier, of course. But on fundamental issues like defending our Constitution, you need to look into the "second tier" to find the strongest leadership.

Legal Scholars: Immunity For Telecom Wiretapping Would Set Bad Precedent

Washington Post | Dan Eggen | Posted 10.22.2007 | Politics


When previous Republican administrations were accused of illegality in the FBI and CIA spying abuses of the 1970s or the Iran-Contra affair of the 198...

Friday Talking Points [Vol. 6]

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.19.2007 | Politics


Chris Weigant

Welcome to the sixth installment of the weekly suggestions for Democrats who are likely to appear on this weekend's chat shows. Previous installments...