Spring Break
Democrats sell out on new surviellance law
Sean Reed
Issue date: 7/16/08 Section: Opinion
Americans are going to have to start watching what they say on the telephone. Again.
On July 9, the Senate approved an overhaul of the federal government's surveillance powers which will dramatically expand the executive branch's ability to spy on individuals at home and abroad that it suspects have involvement with terrorism.
The 69-28 vote officially put an end to a five-month stalemate on the issue that started last February when the Senate allowed the previous temporary surveillance measure to expire after mounting criticism from Democrats that the policy was a violation of citizens' privacy rights.
The tensions leading to this stalemate started nearly two and a half years ago when the New York Times reported on President Bush's surveillance program in December of 2005 -- the first time the public was given information as to its existence, even though it had been implemented immediately following the September 11 attacks.
While the wiretapping itself was troubling enough for many, the real problem with the initial program was that it granted the National Security Agency the authority to spy without any sort of court order or additional oversight.
Of course, even though they had the authority to do so, the NSA could not realistically have executed the program without help. This help came from the very people providing the telephone service the NSA was monitoring, a fact that has opened the door for about 40 lawsuits against complicit telecommunications companies, according to the New York Times.
The new surveillance law, however, put an end to these lawsuits by granting legal immunity to any and all companies that helped the NSA carry out wiretapping investigations.
Many Democrats, including presumptive presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama, have been on the record for months against any policy that would have allowed those companies to shirk their liability. And yet many, including Sen. Obama, voted for the bill.
On July 9, the Senate approved an overhaul of the federal government's surveillance powers which will dramatically expand the executive branch's ability to spy on individuals at home and abroad that it suspects have involvement with terrorism.
The 69-28 vote officially put an end to a five-month stalemate on the issue that started last February when the Senate allowed the previous temporary surveillance measure to expire after mounting criticism from Democrats that the policy was a violation of citizens' privacy rights.
The tensions leading to this stalemate started nearly two and a half years ago when the New York Times reported on President Bush's surveillance program in December of 2005 -- the first time the public was given information as to its existence, even though it had been implemented immediately following the September 11 attacks.
While the wiretapping itself was troubling enough for many, the real problem with the initial program was that it granted the National Security Agency the authority to spy without any sort of court order or additional oversight.
Of course, even though they had the authority to do so, the NSA could not realistically have executed the program without help. This help came from the very people providing the telephone service the NSA was monitoring, a fact that has opened the door for about 40 lawsuits against complicit telecommunications companies, according to the New York Times.
The new surveillance law, however, put an end to these lawsuits by granting legal immunity to any and all companies that helped the NSA carry out wiretapping investigations.
Many Democrats, including presumptive presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama, have been on the record for months against any policy that would have allowed those companies to shirk their liability. And yet many, including Sen. Obama, voted for the bill.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 108
Kelly Walters Class of 86
posted 7/16/08 @ 11:45 AM MST
"Political Suicide" is a bullshit argument. It attempts to justify an inexcusable, unconstitutional and downright illegal vote. It's reverse engineering; changing the law to conform to past conduct. (Continued…)
Registered Independent
posted 7/16/08 @ 2:00 PM MST
Here's a little news for you Kelly: Congress itself has a 99% disapproval rating.
The latest poll results show that this new Democrat Congress' approval rating now stands at just 9%. (Continued…)
Registered Independent
posted 7/16/08 @ 8:11 PM MST
Whoops, that was a typo. Congress only actually has a 91% "disapproval rating", not 99%.
Same difference, but it's important to be as honest as possible. (Continued…)
Peace Love
posted 7/16/08 @ 9:23 PM MST
How dare those Democrats vote to protect the American from being slaughtered by terrorists.
We need to go back to democrat policy we had before 911. (Continued…)
Bipartisan Disdain of Congress
posted 7/18/08 @ 2:57 PM MST
Good that you fix your math error. Now we just need to tweak the disapproval ratings into the realm of the actual.
[QUOTE id="b90e9ad1-7c1b-4a5c-b0c6-78da5db29684"]Whoops, that was a typo. (Continued…)
Making Americans Unsafe
posted 7/18/08 @ 4:43 PM MST
To support the other poster's remarks about the entire Congress being blackmailed.
- McCain is being blackmailed for what he did and didn't do while a POW. (Continued…)
Registered Independent
posted 7/19/08 @ 3:38 PM MST
RESPONSE TO "BIPARTISAN DISDAIN OF CONGRESS"
That actually was a typo on my part, not a "math error" as you misstated.
And my "congressional approval" statistic is entirely correct. (Continued…)
Craig Hawley / real not hijacked
posted 7/19/08 @ 8:04 PM MST
Making Americans unsafe sounds like Max. If they want to listen to my phone calls it's OK with me. LOL!
It's nice to know they care. Now I can drone on and on until they lose intrest. (Continued…)
Registered Independent
posted 7/23/08 @ 9:18 PM MST
RESPONSE TO MS. WALTERS:
Obama's just TOO RISKY, and TOO INEXPERIENCED of a presidential candidate right now. He's not the right person to lead post-September llth America. (Continued…)
jimmy
posted 7/24/08 @ 8:37 AM MST
I dont care if the fed listens, as long as they dont mind me chiefing some pakalolo once in awhile!
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