At what point does the country say ENOUGH!!!!!????
Do you remember the 4th Amendment? Good, but it is ancient history.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
It hasn't existed since 2001 in the eyes of the Bush Administration.
Based on some sleuthing by the EFF, there was a particularly alarming footnote to the recently declassified memo from John Yoo, which was reported yesterday in a Washington Post article.
The footnote reads "...our Office recently concluded that the Fourth Amendment had no application to domestic military operations."
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!!!
The footnote in question is from a yet unreleased 2001 memo that has been actively sought by Sen. Leahy and Rep. Conyers.
Here is the entire justification for ignoring the 4th Amendment:
-that Congress unintentionally allowed mass surveillance of Americans when it passed the Authorization of Use of Military Force in October 2001.
So, the general argument from the Bush Admin is that the domestic warrantless wiretapping program conducted by the NSA was a "domestic military operation". Of course, the DOJ has publicly defended the NSA program by arguing that the 4th amendment has not been violated. (Maybe it was because they have already declared that the 4th amendment DOES NOT APPLY!)
I have to go to work now but I am so pissed I could spit. At what point will this country grow some balls and start pushing back against this administration? The damage done in the last 8 years will take a generation to correct.
What is everyone waiting for? Oh, that's right - they are watching your emails, listening to your phone calls and reading your text messages and IM. George Orwell is turning over in disbelief in his grave.