There are a hundred reasons why the Senate should vote against the FISA Amendments Act, but it all boils down to this: The proposed law gives the Attorney General alone the power to declare whether the Attorney General’s own spy programs against the American people are being conducted in accordance to the law.
According to the FISA Amendments Act, no one else, not any judge, not anyone in Congress, can challenge that declaration.
That means that the Attorney General will receive the power to break the law and spy against Americans in a blatantly illegal manner, but then declare that the spying is legal – and no one will be able to do anything about it.
That one provision of the FISA Amendments Act transforms the United States of America into a nation in which the Attorney General, who is supposed to be the nation’s top law enforcement officer, is above the law.
At 10:00 this morning, the Senate will meet to consider the FISA Amendments Act. Please, call your two senators now, through the congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Beg them to vote NO, for freedom’s sake.
