I getting really tired of getting outraged at our President's unrelenting reinterpretation of the law. In the latest effort, the Army manual has been rewritten to eliminate 10 words from the section about domestic wiretapping. Of course, they did not publicly announce it when they made the decision in November 2005. It was only recently revealed via a FOIA request. OK Democratic leaders, we are in charge now.
Under the previous law, in order to get a domestic wiretap, the Army had to go to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court or get the authorization from the US Attorney General "issued under the authority of section 102(a) of the Act." See those 10 words in quotes? They don't exist anymore. So now the Army has the choice to go to the FISA court OR they can get the authorization from the US Atty Gen. (who can now make their best judgement without the interference of those pesky FISA judges). Hmmm, which one do you think they will choose?
Don't worry, it is for our own good. "Thomas A. Gandy, a senior Army counterintelligence official who helped develop the guidelines, said the new wording did not suggest a policy change." From the NYTimes article: "This is all about doing right and following the rules and protecting the civil liberties of folks," Mr. Gandy said. "It seeks to keep people out of trouble."
It is time to start calling Bush on each and every egregious violation of our laws. (Yeah, the ones he is sworn to protect.) Our President continues to believe that there are no limits to the executive branch. You know and I know that this is not true. Time to get some cojones. Let's start getting some definitive answers from this administration. Call some hearings soon. Invite the US Attorney General. Invite some constitutional lawyers. Invite the press. And lets get this straightened out already. If necessary, remind the administration that we control the budget process now. And we will shut down Congress if we do not get answers that indicate the administration intends to follow ALL the laws, not just those that it finds convenient.
I am outraged that the President continues to thumb his nose at the country and run the country as if it is his kingdom. His continuous efforts to bend and break laws as he sees fit MUST BE STOPPED. Democratic leaders must publicize their efforts to restrain him. Do not get tied up in technical and legal explanations. Explain in simple terms what the law requires and what Bush is ignoring. Keep it simple. The general public is smart and I am sure that any efforts to restrain the reach of the executive branch will receive plenty of public support.
There are so many wrongs that need to be righted as a result of the last 6 years of this administration. It seems overwhelming if you look at the big picture. (My wish list includes electronic voting reform, Guantanamo Bay, campaign finance laws and CIA prisons.) But we have to start somewhere. Bush will continue to overreach until someone steps up and says "ENOUGH!!" Democratic leaders, you have growing momentum and public support. Do not waste it.