posted by Charles H. Russo on Aug 9
Days later, I’m still not over the shock of Congress passing legislation expanding the National Security Agency’s authority to spy on Americans without warrants. By capitulating to George Bush’s demands for broad new surveillance powers, Congress has not only trampled on our Constitutional rights but failed its own Constitutional duties!
The law permits warrantless surveillance of “persons reasonably believed to be located outside the United States” - even when they are U.S. citizens or are communicating with U.S. citizens - with no prior court approval and only minimal court oversight. Rather than setting meaningful boundaries on the Executive Office, Congress essentially handed the president a blank check to invade Americans’ privacy.
Congressional members following along like sheep is disgraceful, especially considering that the Bush administration has consistently concealed the truth about its illegal spying programs. The President revealed the so-called “Terrorist Surveillance Program” only when press reports forced his hand in December 2005. After the administration deliberately evaded numerous Congressional inquiries, it took the threat of possible perjury charges for the Attorney General to concede last week that the program was broader than first admitted. In its haste to pass legislation, Congress simply caved in to the administration’s fear-mongering.
Op-ed pages and blogs around the world are filled with outrage, as the country wakes up to exactly what happened when Congress radically expanded surveillance powers. Most are asking the same question: faced with this atrocious legislation, how could its many opponents shrink from the moment and let it pass? Dianne Feinstein, are you listening? Hello, furious California voter here!
Dan Froomkin at the Washington Post has an excellent round-up of editorials and news reporting since the weekend.
More examples:
The NY Times Editorial Page: “[T]he problem with Congress last week was that Democrats were afraid to explain to Americans why the White House bill was so bad and so unnecessary
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