Bush urges outgoing Congress to Cover His Ass

In congratulating and 'reaching out' to the Democratic incoming Congress, Bush also set the agenda for the outgoing Congress.  "It is our responsibility," Bush told reporters, "to put the elections behind us and work together on the great issues facing America." It seems he'd also like to put behind us some of his own legal exposure for criminal behavior he's engaged in since 2001. He wants them to pass among other things, the Terrorist Survaillance Act of 2006 before they turn the Congress over to the Democrats.

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Why? Let me count the ways.

below the fold

First of all it retroactively authorize the Bush administration's warrantless surveillance program and to allow for future warrantless surveillance without judicial oversight. Once passed, it it declares all the Bush administration lawbreaking re wiretapping and survaillance, future and past... legal.

Second, the only penalties provided for in the bill would be enforced against administration whistleblowers who report that surveillance is taking place--which is how the media became aware of the NSA's secret domestic spying program in the first place. If the bill is passed, anyone in the administration who informs the media of such secret programs in the future may be imprisoned for up to 15 years and fined up to $1M. So it shuts down the first Amendment and shuts up potential Daniel Ellsbergs, thus protecting the same band of Bush administration criminals from exposure of their now 'legal' but still unconcionable actions. All of which is in clear violation of the Constitution.

Who needs shredders when you can make retroactive laws. How about a Bolton confirmation thrown in as a cherry on the sundae?