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January 24, 2008 at 16:13:45
Is This President Above The Law? A Real Question to The Senate. by Timothy V. Gatto Page 1 of 1 page(s) |
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Let’s get a handle on morality and the rule of law in the United States. The end-run around the law that requires the federal government to request a warrant to use electronic surveillance on American citizen’s was not enacted to tie the government’s hands, or to give this or any other administration the “appearance” of adhering to the nation’s constitution, it was enacted to guarantee our right to privacy. The truth is that no president is above the law. The fact that a warrant can be requested after the act of using electronic surveillance 3 days after the fact makes not complying with the law unconscionable…and illegal. The new FISA bill that is now in front of the Senate would give the telecommunications retroactive immunity for allowing the administration to spy on Americans without a valid warrant when they knew at the time it was patently against the law. The administration knew it, the telecommunications companies knew it, and the members of the United States Senate know it. Since September 11, 2001, we have witnessed President Bush and Vice-President Cheney while they have distorted and manipulated the media to convince American citizens to accept an invasion of Iraq. The constant use of fear as a political tool to enhance the power of the presidency has succeeded in making George Bush one of the most powerful presidents in our history. The FISA debate that is currently underway in the Senate is not about protecting the telecommunication industry that allowed spying on American citizens without a warrant, it is about setting a precedent so that the president and his administration will not be charged in the future with the very same thing. Make no mistake, this is about allowing the administration to get “off the hook” for breaking the law. George Bush and the people that make up his administration have lied to us 935 times in the run-up to the war in Iraq. (See Dan Froomkin’s blog on the Washington Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2008/01/23/BL2008012301758_pf.html.) Now the President is unabashedly trying to manipulate the U.S. Senate into giving him a “free-pass” when it comes to breaking the law. This is not a partisan issue; it is a legal and moral issue. We can certainly agree that the scope of our knowledge about how many American’s have been subject to government spying in the past has certainly been well documented, from Dr. Martin Luther King and John Lennon, to John Kerry. This isn’t anything new; we all know that the government has been at this business of spying on the citizens of this country for a long time, what is new however, is this administration’s attempt legalize breaking the law. I mentioned in the first part of this article that this is not a political issue. The very same criterion that was applied to former President William Jefferson Clinton applies here. He was impeached in the House for lying under oath about a tryst with an intern that worked for his administration. Compared to what President George W. Bush has lied about, the Clinton deception hardly warrants a footnote in the history books, yet we all wait to see if the very same standards that applied to Clinton will be applied to Bush. The mainstream media has apparently decided that the Bush Administration’s spying on American citizens is not worth the headlines that Clinton’s adulterous escapades had. What does this type of reasoning imply? Where is the moral outrage that was present when Clinton lied under oath? Is the acquiescence of the American people on the subject of our government spying on our people sending a signal to all that read into it that we aren’t willing to take a stand? That the executive branch of our government is above the law?
John Edwards seems to be the only candidate speaking out of the subject of giving President Bush’s co-conspirators’ amnesty. He urges Americans to let your Senators know how you feel. I applaud him for standing up for the rule of law in this beleaguered nation of ours, but then again, why should it be such a novel idea for a former Senator and a candidate for the presidency to stand for obeying the law? Maybe it’s because nobody else in the crowd seems to believe that it matters.
That’s the way I see it.
http://liberalpro.blogspot.com
Tim was banned from the site for posting private email from the publisher to him on his blog, and then attacking the publisher and the site in emails and articles. OEN has no responsibility to publish articles from people who attack the (more...)
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King George on the march...
by truthtruffle (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 111 comments) on Thursday, Jan 24, 2008 at 4:55:50 PM  (0+)
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If the Bill is passed.....
We should as a Nation immediately file charges as a nation against the government officials who approved the Bill, Bush and Cheney and thye officers of the Telecommunications companies. by Michael Morris (20 articles, 0 quicklinks, 16 diaries, 316 comments [4 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Friday, Jan 25, 2008 at 8:14:04 AM (0+)
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Hows about we,,,
plant some wet fishy smellin cigars in dubya's coat, would that get the ball rolling ? by john riggs (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 463 comments [24 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Jan 25, 2008 at 8:56:47 AM (0+)
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Criminal Government
Seems you're going under the assumption that we still have some semblance of a functioning government. That if petitioned by enough people elected officials will start acting as representatives of the people. Nothing could be further from the truth. One has to only look at the actions of our so-called government and come to a conclusion that whomever's interests they are working for - it's not ours. I submit that what we have instead of a government we have a massive criminal organization whose members are CEO's of powerful multi-nation corporations, mainly in oil and weaponry, entrenched influential families, media mongrols and qualified organized crime families. I'm not saying that our entire government is corrupted, but this organization, which can be traced back generations, has since rigged elections put bush&co in power, have placed corrupted people at the heads of all the government agencies, rendering any efforts to apply justice moot. Using all the tools of intimidation, threat, bribery, and murder employed by any criminal organization to do what criminal organizations do, which is to steal from the many to give to the few, they have infiltrated our criminal justice system and media to the extent that their crimes are not only not prosecuted but out-right ignored and incouraged. The evidence of this could not be anymore in-you-face. Watching the tortured reasoning Rep. Waxman gives for investigating steroid use in baseball over holding a hearing of what Sibel Edmonds has to expose about nuclear secrets being sold to terrorist organizations by high government officials, listening to Rep. Conyers give his lame excuses for not pursuing impeachment after he's written a book about doing such has to give one pause. This goes beyond mere run-of-the-mill corruption or incompetence, something much deeper is in play. And I submit that this government is now so corrupt as to not be a government at all, but an entity on to itself, devoid of any semblance of the ability or will to work on behave of the people. This organization doesn't work for us, but rather we are their intended victims. What proof of this is there? Look around. Bills are pasted to protect guilty corporations as they strip us of protections inherent in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The Patriots Acts I & II, the Military Commission Act, warrentless wiretapping, the FCC ruling allowing one corporation a monoply of media outlets, the proposed Homegrown Terrorist and Violent Radicalization Act do nothing to protect us, but rather do just the opposit. Investigations commenced that go no where. Subpoenas ignored without consequence. Evidence destroyed an no one pursues indictment. Incompetence and criminal activity instead of being persecuted are rewarded with plush jobs, speaking engagements, or in many cases promotion. I would challenge anyone to name one person that was fired for the failures of 9/11? Mass murder committed on our soil in broad daylight and no one in any of the law enforcement agencies, NORAD, DoD, FAC, NSC, FBI, CIA, was held accountable. I would ask who's been held accountable for the numerous crimes so blatantly committed? Who? This has to tell you something. How can a crime of such magnitude not only not be investigated properly (no one can convince me the 9/11 Commission report was anything but a whitewash) but have all evidence whisked away and buried if those that committed it weren't covering something up. What better way to signal those that would fight you than to show them that you are capable of committing mass murder and getting away with it can there be? And don't look for anyone in the system to rise to the occasion to save us. That's not going to happen. Those that have tried, if they couldn't be ignore, ridiculed, bought off or blackmailed were murdered and threatened. I submit Sen. Wellstone's mysterious plane crash and Anthrax sent to Leahy and Dashle as examples used to intimidate any who would challenge the organizations rule. We certainly can't expect our votes to make a difference. no one can convince me that anyone of the Republican candidates or the so-called front-runners on the Democratic side are the ones the people of this country really want to have leading them. Anyone that's been paying attention knows they're media made and the least qualified to represent us. Our votes are just window dressing for a phony Dog & Pony Show, with no dog, pony or show, as long as we keep voting on E-voting machines. Petitioning a criminal organization not only doesn't work it makes you a target for retribution. So what do we the people do? Who do we turn to? Not the courts. Not law enforcement, all the agencies set-up to protect us are now compromised. The fourth-estate is a joke that's anything but funny. I submit that unless we the people organize in mass and create civil disobedience to the extent that we bring this country to a standstill, and if that doesn't work take it to the next level, that if we don't do this we're going to continue down a path that will lead soon to total tyranny. When the will of the people is ignored by those elected to represent them it is incumbent upon the people to force their will by any means necessary. "The trees of liberty must be nourished from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson by Mr M (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 2845 comments [654 recommended, 27 rejected]) on Friday, Jan 25, 2008 at 11:14:46 AM (0+)
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Reply: agree
Hear Hear...well said. Having written to my congress critters many time and received only pablum form letters in reply, and no action at all to hold Bush et al responsible for anything, I submit we are close if not past the point of no return to the rule of law in this country. by Brad Griffeth (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 14 diaries, 138 comments [12 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Jan 25, 2008 at 1:49:36 PM (0+)
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I sit in dumbfounded shock
I can't believe that ANY Congress critter would allow Bush to exempt himself (and his minions) from war crimes prosecution, I can't believe that Congress is even considering, letting the telecom companies and Bush to get way with breaking a sacred Constitutional amendment, wiretapping and spying is illegal, plain and simple...I can't believe they are even arguing about it....I can't believe we have a Speaker of the House who refuses to honor her oath of office...I can't believe that we sit here in dumbfounded shock, instead of being out in the streets screaming bloody murder and physically throwing these bums out of office..oh yeah thats right..we can be locked up as "enemy combatants", not allowed a lawyer, held indefinately with no charges ever filed...(Habeas Corpus..gone) and Bush could bring the troops home (finally) to shoot us by declaring "martial law"...Posse Comitatus..gone by Susan Nelsen (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 287 comments) on Friday, Jan 25, 2008 at 1:15:28 PM (0+)
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To all: use your tools
I am a first-generation immigrant and I am reasonably surprised that people of this country (which I dearly love) let themselves to a slaughter without even trying to use the tools available. Here they are: 1. You say many people oppose what is happening? Show them. The ACLU or whatever organization should announce a Popular Front conference on saving the US and inviting the reps from all spectrum. Take money from Soros to organize it, I don't care. Make an opposition open. 2. Use the money for the good purpose- place a series of ads in the main newspapers denouncing the primary Dem candidates as sellouts to Bush. Accuse them of complicity in killing ours and foreign children. Make them get worried. Go get Chelsea Clinton and picket her place with dead children in effigee. 3. Make any effort possible to announce unity with the Trade Unions. use THEIR media sources. 4. Organize abroad, in Canada the trials of 9/11, Katrina and foreign invasions. Invite the famous jurists. 5. Openly proclaim that the Popular Front to save the country will take money from any anti-Bush force if that one is legitimate and do not provoke militaristic approaches. You are non-violent people, just fed up. 6. Engage the black community- demand from the black leaders an open statement of support. 7. Stop writing all those letters to congress. On the contrary- let no Congressperson from now on receive any letters, e-mails, orr any connection to the people. Boycott meetings with them. They are not your reps anymore. Demand recall of all of them. 8. Let the word 'unlawful' to become a mantra. Bush and his cronies are unlawful beings. They have to be tried. Folks, you have all the tools available. Just test it- say, boycott Hillary's meetings, do not go see her, do not work for her campaign drop those stupid banners. She is the most vulnerable- get her. It is not about her but she is one of them- get her first. Let them squeal. Make it an entertaiment, laugh in their face when they say nonsense, mock them, draw insulting cartoons: Hillary naked, Obama-talking head, Bush spanked by God, Cheney drinking blood, whatever. Do it. They will eat you up alive if you do not do it. It is your country. Use your skills. by Mark Sashine (72 articles, 19 quicklinks, 269 diaries, 4101 comments [131 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Jan 25, 2008 at 2:10:50 PM (0+)
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Reply: One more thing
Boycott the official political process: do not vote, do not go for campaigns, do not talk to polls, do not send letters to anyone on Capitol Hill, do not endorse anyone but the Popular Front, do not give donations to both parties, and do not talk to them. by Mark Sashine (72 articles, 19 quicklinks, 269 diaries, 4101 comments [131 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Jan 25, 2008 at 2:35:35 PM (0+)
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"SOME DAY, TOMORROW WILL BE TOO LATE!"
What has been said here that is not true? Remedies are available...or is the nation going to sit on their thumbs until 30% have NO HOMES, NO JOBS, food and gas and other supplies are choked off to limit mobility...what?!!! There ought to be 10,000 comments here. Remember this -- "SOME DAY, TOMORROW WILL BE TOO LATE!" by Boomerang by boomerang (0 articles, 7 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 556 comments [215 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Friday, Jan 25, 2008 at 4:06:07 PM (0+)
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Don't Spend the Hand-outs!
Addendum -- DO NOT put back into the economy ANY TOKEN hand-out from this administration. This B.S. buy-off will fall flat on its ugly face as the financial corruption going on has rotted it's own legs. An economic collapse of epic proportions has already started. bUSH, gREENSPAM & other criminal elite need to OWN IT, not POSTPONE IT! Buy a gold or silver bullion coin(s), and hang on to it for a rainy day. SEVERE WEATHER WATCH! by boomerang (0 articles, 7 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 556 comments [215 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Friday, Jan 25, 2008 at 4:20:06 PM (0+)
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