Heads up - here's the latest spin from
Drudge (via Atrios):
Clinton, February 9, 1995: "The Attorney General is authorized to approve physical searches, without a court order"
...
Jimmy Carter Signed Executive Order on May 23, 1979: "Attorney General is authorized to approve electronic surveillance to acquire foreign intelligence information without a court order."
Oh, gee, I guess Democrats are just as bad, huh? Okay, so the picture isn't PRETTY, but it's still the "same ol', same ol'" you've come to know and love from Drudgey ...
From the
Washington Post article quoted by Drudge (I dug it up off of
Lexis-Nexis):
The Clinton administration, in a little-noticed facet of the debate on intelligence reforms, is seeking congressional authorization for U.S. spies to continue conducting clandestine searches at foreign embassies in Washington and other cities without a federal court order.
The administration's quiet lobbying effort is aimed at modifying draft legislation that would require U.S. counterintelligence officials to get a court order before secretly snooping inside the homes or workplaces of suspected foreign agents or foreign powers.
The legislation grew out of a legal debate surrounding the government's secret surveillance of CIA official Aldrich H. Ames, who pleaded guilty in April to charges of spying for the former Soviet Union. Key evidence in the case was collected during secret searches of Ames's office and home in June and October 1993, both without a federal warrant.
Okay, kind of ugly from the persepctive of a freedom-loving adherent to the US Constitution. Although, you'll notice the subtle difference in styles between Prez George "Warrants? We don't need no stinkin' warrants!" Bush and Prez Bill "Um, Congress? Can I keep bending the rules?" Clinton.
And what about the libruls you just know were sitting on their hands, whistling and looking the other way like a certain bunch of Right Wingy types are doing these days?
The Constitution's Fourth Amendment guarantees "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects" unless the government obtains a warrant based on probable cause of criminal activity. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), that made the search of Ames's house -- and other secret searches by the government -- probably illegal.
Not something you'll see on LGF anytime soon! First off, it's fun to remember a day when skepticism of the President was actually a regular facet of the White House news coverage. Secondly, let's not forget that ACLU is pro-American and pro-Constitution, and not really a "liberal" organization.
Now, the third matter underlying it all is the proper legal interpretation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which the Executive Order signed by Prez Carter and cited by Drudge references. I must sadly admit that I'm not that familiar with FISA's nitty-gritty. But for the meantime, let's just underline something one more time before we leave this spin behind us ...
This was a question of foreign intelligence, which at least PLAUSIBLY falls within the inherent authority of the Executive Branch. Clinton and Carter were NOT trying to investigate PETA, environmentalists, or gay-rights organizations.
