Warrantless Wiretaps

by Aaron Brazell on September 30, 2006 · 30 comments

Still avoiding blogging on politics, I’ll merely link instead. It’s Saturday after all. Mark nails the principles at play in the new law passed by the House to legalize wireless wiretaps without a warrant.

Republicans can call it whatever they want. All that does is make them liars, in addition to being traitors to this country. Their message is clear, and childishly black and white: if you’re not willing to abandon this country’s values in order to hunt terrorists, you’re coddling terrorists. If you’re not willing to spit on the Constitution, you’re coddling terrorists.

<snip>

All power must be vested in the executive branch. Or you’re coddling terrorists.

Just vote “yes.” Or you’re coddling terrorists.

Give the President whatever he asks for. Or you’re coddling terrorists.

My thoughts exactly. I’d like to think I’m a Patriot. Under this litmus test, I’m coddling terrorists. Bulldookie.

{ 30 comments }

1 Jim Turner October 2, 2006 at 5:07 pm

I’m so turning you in you big coddler you.

2 Jim Turner October 2, 2006 at 5:07 pm

I’m so turning you in you big coddler you.

3 Jim Turner October 2, 2006 at 5:07 pm

I’m so turning you in you big coddler you.

4 Jim Turner October 2, 2006 at 5:07 pm

I’m so turning you in you big coddler you.

5 Jim Turner October 2, 2006 at 5:07 pm

I’m so turning you in you big coddler you.

6 Brad Shorr October 3, 2006 at 8:53 am

I sense frustration. Understandable. What frustrates me it this. People criticize the administration for every move they make with regard to fighting terrorism. Yet they offer no solutions, no suggestions, no plans, no ideas, no tactics, no strategy. And they voice these criticisms loudly, disrespectfully, and quite often, hysterically. Anyhow, soon the Republicans will be ousted from power. If our terrorism problems immediately disappear, I will take all of this back, and gladly. :)

7 Brad Shorr October 3, 2006 at 8:53 am

I sense frustration. Understandable. What frustrates me it this. People criticize the administration for every move they make with regard to fighting terrorism. Yet they offer no solutions, no suggestions, no plans, no ideas, no tactics, no strategy. And they voice these criticisms loudly, disrespectfully, and quite often, hysterically. Anyhow, soon the Republicans will be ousted from power. If our terrorism problems immediately disappear, I will take all of this back, and gladly. :)

8 Brad Shorr October 3, 2006 at 8:53 am

I sense frustration. Understandable. What frustrates me it this. People criticize the administration for every move they make with regard to fighting terrorism. Yet they offer no solutions, no suggestions, no plans, no ideas, no tactics, no strategy. And they voice these criticisms loudly, disrespectfully, and quite often, hysterically. Anyhow, soon the Republicans will be ousted from power. If our terrorism problems immediately disappear, I will take all of this back, and gladly. :)

9 Brad Shorr October 3, 2006 at 8:53 am

I sense frustration. Understandable. What frustrates me it this. People criticize the administration for every move they make with regard to fighting terrorism. Yet they offer no solutions, no suggestions, no plans, no ideas, no tactics, no strategy. And they voice these criticisms loudly, disrespectfully, and quite often, hysterically. Anyhow, soon the Republicans will be ousted from power. If our terrorism problems immediately disappear, I will take all of this back, and gladly. :)

10 Brad Shorr October 3, 2006 at 8:53 am

I sense frustration. Understandable. What frustrates me it this. People criticize the administration for every move they make with regard to fighting terrorism. Yet they offer no solutions, no suggestions, no plans, no ideas, no tactics, no strategy. And they voice these criticisms loudly, disrespectfully, and quite often, hysterically. Anyhow, soon the Republicans will be ousted from power. If our terrorism problems immediately disappear, I will take all of this back, and gladly. :)

11 Aaron Brazell October 3, 2006 at 12:43 pm

Well, Brad, there’s always the “when in doubt, obey the law” suggestion, which the Bush Administration likes to snub. I mean, really, there’s no case for warrantless wiretaps when there’s a provision in the FISA law allowing for retro-active warrants. Deciding against using the courts shows that the Administration doesn’t want its practices put under judicial scrutiny. That’s always dangerous.

12 Jim Turner October 3, 2006 at 1:01 pm

Actually they don’t want to be put under MSM scrutiny. It seems we are fighting two enemies on the war on terror. We all know the public has a right to know how we are catching terrorists.

13 Aaron Brazell October 3, 2006 at 12:43 pm

Well, Brad, there’s always the “when in doubt, obey the law” suggestion, which the Bush Administration likes to snub. I mean, really, there’s no case for warrantless wiretaps when there’s a provision in the FISA law allowing for retro-active warrants. Deciding against using the courts shows that the Administration doesn’t want its practices put under judicial scrutiny. That’s always dangerous.

14 Aaron Brazell October 3, 2006 at 12:43 pm

Well, Brad, there’s always the “when in doubt, obey the law” suggestion, which the Bush Administration likes to snub. I mean, really, there’s no case for warrantless wiretaps when there’s a provision in the FISA law allowing for retro-active warrants. Deciding against using the courts shows that the Administration doesn’t want its practices put under judicial scrutiny. That’s always dangerous.

15 Aaron Brazell October 3, 2006 at 12:43 pm

Well, Brad, there’s always the “when in doubt, obey the law” suggestion, which the Bush Administration likes to snub. I mean, really, there’s no case for warrantless wiretaps when there’s a provision in the FISA law allowing for retro-active warrants. Deciding against using the courts shows that the Administration doesn’t want its practices put under judicial scrutiny. That’s always dangerous.

16 Aaron Brazell October 3, 2006 at 12:43 pm

Well, Brad, there’s always the “when in doubt, obey the law” suggestion, which the Bush Administration likes to snub. I mean, really, there’s no case for warrantless wiretaps when there’s a provision in the FISA law allowing for retro-active warrants. Deciding against using the courts shows that the Administration doesn’t want its practices put under judicial scrutiny. That’s always dangerous.

17 Jim Turner October 3, 2006 at 1:01 pm

Actually they don’t want to be put under MSM scrutiny. It seems we are fighting two enemies on the war on terror. We all know the public has a right to know how we are catching terrorists.

18 Jim Turner October 3, 2006 at 1:01 pm

Actually they don’t want to be put under MSM scrutiny. It seems we are fighting two enemies on the war on terror. We all know the public has a right to know how we are catching terrorists.

19 Jim Turner October 3, 2006 at 1:01 pm

Actually they don’t want to be put under MSM scrutiny. It seems we are fighting two enemies on the war on terror. We all know the public has a right to know how we are catching terrorists.

20 Jim Turner October 3, 2006 at 1:01 pm

Actually they don’t want to be put under MSM scrutiny. It seems we are fighting two enemies on the war on terror. We all know the public has a right to know how we are catching terrorists.

21 Sean McCormick October 4, 2006 at 12:55 pm

Jim-
If the public knows how we are catching terrorists, then the terrorists know how we are catching terrorists. Then they change their tactics and we aren’t catching terrorists any more.
I don’t want to know the tactics we use to catch terrorists. I just want to know that we are not trampling the Constitution in the process.

22 Sean McCormick October 4, 2006 at 12:55 pm

Jim-
If the public knows how we are catching terrorists, then the terrorists know how we are catching terrorists. Then they change their tactics and we aren’t catching terrorists any more.
I don’t want to know the tactics we use to catch terrorists. I just want to know that we are not trampling the Constitution in the process.

23 Sean McCormick October 4, 2006 at 12:55 pm

Jim-
If the public knows how we are catching terrorists, then the terrorists know how we are catching terrorists. Then they change their tactics and we aren’t catching terrorists any more.
I don’t want to know the tactics we use to catch terrorists. I just want to know that we are not trampling the Constitution in the process.

24 Sean McCormick October 4, 2006 at 12:55 pm

Jim-
If the public knows how we are catching terrorists, then the terrorists know how we are catching terrorists. Then they change their tactics and we aren’t catching terrorists any more.
I don’t want to know the tactics we use to catch terrorists. I just want to know that we are not trampling the Constitution in the process.

25 Sean McCormick October 4, 2006 at 12:55 pm

Jim-
If the public knows how we are catching terrorists, then the terrorists know how we are catching terrorists. Then they change their tactics and we aren’t catching terrorists any more.
I don’t want to know the tactics we use to catch terrorists. I just want to know that we are not trampling the Constitution in the process.

26 Jim Turner October 4, 2006 at 3:24 pm

Sean,

Great comment. Do you really think thatPresident Bush or anyone else in his administration would “trample” on our Constitution on purpose? I’m sure they wanted to do this and asked for advice and was told that he had Presidential power during a time of war to perform wireless wiretaps. The Court thought different about the interpreation of the law. This will not be the last time that Court see differnet from legislators and from the President. What would the personal gain be for wireless wiretaps?

27 Jim Turner October 4, 2006 at 3:24 pm

Sean,

Great comment. Do you really think thatPresident Bush or anyone else in his administration would “trample” on our Constitution on purpose? I’m sure they wanted to do this and asked for advice and was told that he had Presidential power during a time of war to perform wireless wiretaps. The Court thought different about the interpreation of the law. This will not be the last time that Court see differnet from legislators and from the President. What would the personal gain be for wireless wiretaps?

28 Jim Turner October 4, 2006 at 3:24 pm

Sean,

Great comment. Do you really think thatPresident Bush or anyone else in his administration would “trample” on our Constitution on purpose? I’m sure they wanted to do this and asked for advice and was told that he had Presidential power during a time of war to perform wireless wiretaps. The Court thought different about the interpreation of the law. This will not be the last time that Court see differnet from legislators and from the President. What would the personal gain be for wireless wiretaps?

29 Jim Turner October 4, 2006 at 3:24 pm

Sean,

Great comment. Do you really think thatPresident Bush or anyone else in his administration would “trample” on our Constitution on purpose? I’m sure they wanted to do this and asked for advice and was told that he had Presidential power during a time of war to perform wireless wiretaps. The Court thought different about the interpreation of the law. This will not be the last time that Court see differnet from legislators and from the President. What would the personal gain be for wireless wiretaps?

30 Jim Turner October 4, 2006 at 3:24 pm

Sean,

Great comment. Do you really think thatPresident Bush or anyone else in his administration would “trample” on our Constitution on purpose? I’m sure they wanted to do this and asked for advice and was told that he had Presidential power during a time of war to perform wireless wiretaps. The Court thought different about the interpreation of the law. This will not be the last time that Court see differnet from legislators and from the President. What would the personal gain be for wireless wiretaps?

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