FBI disregarded secret court on private records - Yahoo! News

FBI disregarded secret court on private records - Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI twice disregarded a secret court's constitutional objections and obtained private records for national-security probes, a U.S. inspector reported on Thursday....

...An influential Senate Democrat accused the FBI of "systemic failure" and the American Civil Liberties Union said the reviews demonstrated a need to check the agency's authority....

...Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the report "outlines more abuses and what appears to be the improper use of National Security Letters for years in a systemic failure throughout the FBI ... Legislative action may be necessary to correct these abuses."

The FBI's assertion that is working to correct flaws in the system with an eye toward protecting civil liberties is believeable. Right? They're trustworthy, right? Santa?

Catch you later.....

Court rejects ACLU challenge to wiretaps - What a surprise!

Court rejects ACLU challenge to wiretaps - Yahoo! News

.....ACLU officials described the situation as a "Catch-22" because the government says the identities of people whose communications have been intercepted is secret. But only people who know they have been wiretapped can sue over the program.

A lawsuit filed by an Islamic charity met a similar fate. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year ruled against the Oregon-based U.S. arm of the Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation, concluding that a key piece of evidence is protected as a state secret.

In that case, the charity alleged the National Security Agency illegally listened to its calls. The charity had wanted to introduce as evidence a top-secret call log it received mistakenly from the Treasury Department.

The hits just keep on coming.

Catch you later.....

The Spies Who Love You - Mark Fiore's Animated Cartoon Site

Enjoy:

Mark Fiore's Animated Cartoon Site

Daily Kos: FISA Fight: Here's what happens when you tell the truth

Daily Kos: FISA Fight: Here's what happens when you tell the truth

Finally! A glimpse of a spine... Am I dreaming?

I won't feel less safe at 12:01am, I'll feel more safe.

Catch you later.....

Our Incredible Shrinking Bill of Rights

Tuesday's FISA vote goes to show, quite emphatically, that we need not just more Dems in Congress, but REAL Dems, Progressives, DFL'rs.

Minority Repugs have sufficiently neutered an adequate number of DINOs so that, though GOP policies are rejected my a clear majority of this nation's citizens, acts condoning criminality can get passed into law in the "World's Greatest Deliberative Body". An outrage!

But where is the wide spread condemnation? Where is the press?

Too busy covering Primary season as though it were a horse race.

Couric lobbing soft-balls, Fox sputtering madly, MSNBC playing with their wieners (not you, K.O.!), CNN doing god-knows-what.

How about some in-depth reporting on issues, policy differences, how about some real analysis? Too boring or too hard?

I'm gratified to know Democratic prospects look so good for the fall, but my frustration with the caliber of legislators is growing. More of the same spineless DINO's is just more of a bad thing.

I could go on but the NSA is banging at the door and they no longer need a warrant. For any of us.

Catch you later..... (I hope!)

Gotta call my Senators, Again...

Here we go, again. Telecom immunity will prove for once and for all the spinelessness of Senate Democrats. Glenn Greenwald - Political Blogs and Opinions - Salon, as usual, has a fine post on tomorrow's stakes:

There is an honest way to argue in favor of telecom amnesty, and it is, of course, exactly what amnesty advocates like the WSJ, Andy McCarthy, Jay Rockefeller and the rest of them desperately avoid. This is the only honest case one can make for this radical gift to telecoms:

Yes, telecoms violated multiple federal laws by enabling government spying on Americans and turning over communications data without warrants. They broke these laws not only in the aftermath of 9/11, but for years and years. By breaking these laws, they reaped enormous financial profits, as the Government paid them huge fees for their cooperation in the illegal spying program. Despite their having broken multiple federal laws and having committed felonies -- while reaping great profits in the process -- they ought to be granted retroactive amnesty and immunized from any consequences for their lawbreaking, otherwise they may be reluctant to break our laws in the future.

Why is this so hard for Senate Dems to get? If I keep calling Diane we'll be on a first name basis in no time. But will she finally get it?

Catch you later.....

Patriots Coach Admits Spying on Opponents - Demands Immunity!

Unconfirmed sources reports (Unconfirmedsources.com) that the Patriot's coach spied on and tortured opponents during 2007 season and that Bush has decided to grant retroactive immunity in the National (Football League) interest.

Catch you later.....

FISA

Yet again, I've contacted my Senators, Boxer & Feinstein, to keep the pressure on. To remind them of the importance of standing for principles. I suggest you contact your Reps w/ concerns re: the rule of law, the Bill of Rights, the Limits of Presidential authority and respect for the individual.

Catch you later.....

Got yer FISA scorecard right here!

No cloture, no 30 day extension.


U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote

The fight for a decent bill continues.

Catch you later.....

It Could Be You Next!

Think the fight over the FISA bill is a tempest in a teapot? Read this post at Firedoglake.

Firedoglake - Firedoglake weblog » FISA: Wiretapping Without A Warrant. It Could Be You Next.

Your every electronic burp is grist for their mill. Calls, Emails, Text Messages, everything!

Catch you later.....

Keep at 'em: End illegal eavesdropping!

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Crooks and Liars » Sen. Feinstein responds to netroots on “Good Faith” FISA amendment

Our country belongs to its citizens, not the DC elites.

Call, write, Email. Together we can make a difference!

Catch you later.....