The U.S. Congress… grows some testes?
I had a hard time leaving my car this morning, feeling like I was listening to some sort of watershed moment.
According to our friend Nina, The U.S. Congress gave Attorney General Gonzales what-for regarding eavesdropping. Senator Feinstein asks if the program is much bigger and broader than the administration wants anyone to know. You should really listen to the analysis, if you have time; I found it refreshing to hear the Republican Senators grilling as firmly as the Democratic Senators, on the basis that if the President is correct about his inherent abilities during wartime under the Constitution, the Congress is effectively neutered, and the courts are weakened, leaving no balance of power.
I think that spreading the definition of “use all necessary force to prevent future attacks” to cover aspects of enemy control that have nothing to do with force is stretching the law, created 3 days after the shock of the fall of 2001, is good for nothing but ridicule. I also think that not telling Congress about their intent to use this law for wiretapping, even though congress was already in the midst of modifying the wiretap bill (FISA) in five different ways requested by the administration, shows their intent to be dishonest.
Unfortunately I can’t quote a source…
But from the same person (Nina) at some point in the last month it was reported that during the initial request to take action against Afghanistan & those nasty terrorists this ability to bypass FISA was requested and specifically denied. Then when congress passed the wording “necessary force” they decided that could mean bypassing FISA … this time without asking. Maybe someone with a bit of free time could try to validate this? Or maybe I can later tonight, when I’m done with the Colombians that are currently taking my attention.
Ever since somebody mentioned it on the radio, I keep thinking of the domestic spying scandal as echoes of George Orwell’s “1984”. In the book, one way the The State asserts its authority is a never-ending war against an ill-defined enemy. The war on terrorism is beginning to feel like that.
The War of Terror is what its starting to feel like. As if there’s a war on me, my thoughts, and my phone calls.
Indeed. It’s supposed to be the terrorists that hate us for our freedom. So, why are our “protectors” so eager to take them away? Would we better off “losing” to the terrorists, if the alternative was surrendering to the tyranny of the state?
I heard that this morning too. I was particularly amused when Senator Leahy (I think) basically called him a liar. I also enjoyed what Senator Feinstein said about downplaying the scope of the wiretapping. I hope conversations like these will finally get Americans to perk up their ears and pay attention to what is going on.
It’s always nice to see those rare moments when party lines are forgoed for the greater “I don’t want to lose my power goddammit” good.
It’s awfully sad that this isn’t getting much media coverage, however. Compare it to the massive amount of coverage the Nixon administration got when they were found out to be doing underhanded and illegal things.
We expect it.