It’s amazing to watch Democrats who have spent the last seven years criticizing George W. Bush for attacking the Constitution undergo the metamorphosis of the last month. They’re now praising one of George W. Bush’s attacks against the Constitution. Why? Barack Obama voted for it, that’s why – and as far as they’re concerned, if Obama supports it, it must be good.
Like Obama, they were against warrantless wiretapping before they were for it.
Yes, I’m talking about the FISA Amendments Act – the law that essentially authorizes any kind of spying against Americans that a spymaster could ever dream of. Here’s how it works: The Attorney General of the United States gets a special exemption from all the restrictions on his spy powers if he declares that there might be some danger to someone, somewhere, sometime, if he doesn’t spy without a search warrant. Does the Attorney General need to prove that this is true? Heck naw! He just says it’s true, and that’s good enough.
Oh, but there is someone who gets to examine the Attorney General’s warrantless spying programs against the American people, and declare whether they’re legal or not. Is it someone on the FISA court? Heck naw! Is it any judge at all? Heck naw! Is it someone in Congress? Heck naw! It’s the Attorney General! He’s checking on himself, see, to make sure that what he’s doing is legal. Does he need to prove that what he’s doing is legal, with evidence and stuff like that? You know the answer – heck naw!
The Obama apologists will shake their heads and say that this is all necessary so that Barack Obama can get into power. Yes, it’s all being done for one man’s power – and then we’re supposed to trust that Obama won’t abuse it. The Constitution, of course, was established because the United States is supposed to be a nation of laws, not men. Does the Democratic Party believe in that any more? Heck naw!
If you think that this FISA Amendments Act spying will be limited to telephone wiretaps, you’re mistaken. It also includes physical searches of Americans’ homes, placing hidden bugs, reading our emails, watching us on the web, and satellite and airplane surveillance.
Satellite and airplane surveillance? Oh, yes, my friend. Let’s go back to last summer, when you were out on the beach, having too much fun to read the Washington Post. On August 16, 2007, the Washington Post reported that the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General had agreed to use military spy satellites and surveillance airplanes in the United States against American targets.
In the dead of winter, while you were preparing your ho-ho-ho’s and eating figgy pudding, the Wall Street Journal confirmed the story – on December 20, 2007.
Isn’t it curious how these stories keep getting reported when everybody is on holiday?
The FISA Amendments Act provides the framework that allows the spying by airplane and satellite that the government has admitted to, to continue without any supervision.
Are you okay with that? Is the fact that Barack Obama says it’s okay enough reassurance for you?
Yes, there’s a satellite up in the sky looking down on you, but don’t worry, because Daddy Obama says everything is going to be all right?
