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President Bush, in the Rose Garden, with the Constitution and Some White-Out, at 1:15
President Bush will sign into law the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, at 1:15 this afternoon in the Rose Garden. Immediately after he signs, we're suing. Our argument is simple: This bill is a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment. You know, the one that says: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.You can check out our roll call to see how your Senator voted. (Chuck and Hillary pulled through!) Our lawsuit will ask a federal court to stop the government from enforcing this new, clearly unconstitutional wiretapping law, which will give the Bush administration unfettered power to spy on innocent Americans without warrants or judicial oversight. It's clear that the Bush administration doesn't believe in checks and balances and judicial review, but the ACLU has faith that the courts still have a role in our government. We're running a full-page ad in a national newspaper to let the White House know exactly what we think of its wholesale evisceration of the Fourth Amendment. Join us, if you please, by signing this petition to add your name to the ad. On January 20, 2001, George W. Bush swore to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Taking some white-out to the Fourth Amendment is no good Americans' idea of preserving, protecting, and defending. Can you hear us now, President Bush? CORRECTION: A previous version of this post stated that George H.W. Bush was inaugurated in 2001. That was incorrect. It was George W. Bush. (Thanks Bryan!)
Tags: fisa
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Jul 10th, 2008 at 1:30pm
I sincerely hope that US citizens are not under the false impression that a new president will "save us" from the outrage that has been the Bush Jr. Administration. This is going to be a "long slog", people (I refuse to call anyone "folks" anymore!)I just hope we can regain enough ground to save ourselves before it is too late.Unless, of course, you dont care--just sit there and shut up, then. Depend on "personalities" to lead you. And, go live in China--the gov't. loves that kind of blind loyalty and, I hear that it's cheaper.
Jul 10th, 2008 at 2:47pm
Maybe I read the FISA reforms incorrectly, but I thought it was a big improvement over the 1976 law which did not require warrants to monitor communications of US citizens outside of the US, and did not require warrants for electronic communications which were not prevelant in 1976 (e-mail, mobile phones, etc.)... Which is not to say that the FISA doesn't infringe on the right to privacy. I'm just curious why it is an issue now when it seems to be improved? Is the ACLU just trying to capitalize on the increased attention that the bill brings to the FISA? Totally understandable if so, but I'd prefer the ACLE to be a little more transparent in regards to its motivations.
Jul 10th, 2008 at 5:52pm
"On January 20, 2001, George H.W. Bush swore to 'preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.'"
No, he didn't. His son did.
Jul 10th, 2008 at 6:01pm
Go ahead and sue ya bunch of dumbasses! If you're innocent, you have nothing to worry about. The fucking ACLU won't be happy until we're all wearing turbines.
Jul 10th, 2008 at 6:51pm
Turbines? ... Like jets do? Damn the ACLU!!!!1!!11 lol.
Jul 10th, 2008 at 6:54pm
May I remind the American People, that the New York Times reported that GWB began warrantless wire-tapping on us in Feb 2001, weeks after being sworn in to Uphold the Constitution and months before 9/11..Citizens unite, get off the couches, stop shopping and lets fight for our Freedoms...take America back...
Jul 10th, 2008 at 6:56pm
I wish I was wearing a turbine. I wouldn't be waiting in this sad, lonely airport bar for a flight that is 2 hours late. I'd fly myself.
Glenn, I know it must be hard to be a white, uneducated male. But seriously, try to put on your critical thinking cap for a moment. The current president has been responsible for all sorts of egregious violations of not only civil rights, but also the constitution.
I'm going to take the big leap and guess that you're a conservative. Well, isn't the constitution important to you? Isn't liberty important to you? Don't you love America?
Safeguarding the constitution against legislation like the Military Comissions Act, the Patriot Act or this piece of legislation should be our representatives job. They've failed us. This isn't a matter of you wearing a turbinE. It's a matter of defending the basic, reasonable tenets in the constitution -- which are useful to this day. Terrorism will come and go, but the principles behind the bill of rights, the constitution and all of the truths we hold to be self-evident should remain eternal. Your flippant attitude towards the state of liberty, freedom and civil rights is deplorable.
It's not about whether or not someone is innocent -- you have a right to privacy. You have a right to do as you please in your own house without someone watching you. You may not desire privacy for any other reason than that you would be embarrassed if someone saw you watching Fox news. Trust me, you should be embarrassed.
Jul 10th, 2008 at 7:11pm
Okay, now I'm wearing a turbine. I can generate enough power for my entire house AND keep the ACLU happy. Thanks for the tip, Glenn. You dumbfuck.
Jul 10th, 2008 at 7:15pm
Wait, wait... why is it you are focusing on Bush here? Like you didn't know he would support this bill (which is nothing but an improvement over the original that you haven't been bitching about). If anything, you aught to be suing the 100+ DEMOCRATS that voted "Aye" on this bad boy.
Jul 10th, 2008 at 7:42pm
Hey Glenn...just how do you wear a turbine?
Jul 10th, 2008 at 7:43pm
Screw the ACLU.
Jul 10th, 2008 at 7:54pm
"ACLU won’t be happy until we’re all wearing turbines."
Ooh! Wind Energy Harnessing Hats! Now that's an idea.
Jul 10th, 2008 at 10:59pm
Wake up people!!
We as citizens of the United States have been on the "slippery slope" of losing our privacy and our constitutional rights for a long time now. One small, hidden portion at a time. Bit, by obscured bit. We roll over as a country, over and over again, while we watch our government strip us of the very rights we have in place to protect us.
It's all under the guise of, "It's for your own good". "It's for your own protection". "We need to know everything you're doing and saying". "We need to know everywhere your going". "We need to know what sites you're visiting on the Internet".
"We need to know what you eat, and where you sleep, and what you're watching, and who you're with".
Wow!! Thank goodness our President has our backs! Our President is looking out for us! Our President has our best interests in mind. Our President is now our all seeing, all hearing, all knowing super-protector.
Well who's going to protect us from our own President? Certainly not the House...not the Congress...apparently not even our Constitution!
Why don't we stand up to this "Government (of, for, and by) the People", instead of idly watching it slowly chip away at everything that makes this country great and unique.
Or are we all just too busy watching our favorite "Reality TV" shows?
For crying out loud, open your eyes and ears! We are all, right now, on the biggest reality show in existence. It's called life. We are the participants (and I use the term loosely). We are the "deciders"! We are the real power in this country.
But we have to be present. We have to be paying attention. We have to be active. We have to pull together. And most importantly, we have to have the guts to speak our minds and have our voices heard...before we are all voiceless.
This President of ours has once again crossed the line and gone too far. It's up to us to stand in front of him and say enough is enough, for we are now falling off our "slippery slope" into the dark cavern of dictatorship.
Jul 11th, 2008 at 4:55am
"Screw the ACLU."
As eloquent as we can come to expect from someone who APPOSES THE PEOPLE LIBERTIES.
Move to china, you would enjoy it.
Jul 11th, 2008 at 11:35am
But Glenn, I'm already a propeller head. I don't want to be a turbine head.
Jul 12th, 2008 at 6:03pm
ACLU, why are you pretending to care about the Constitution? Clearly you believe it to be nothing more than yesterdays news print.
While You are out there trashing the Second Amendment you still pretend to care about our other rights. Why not give up on all of our liberties the way you have on the 2nd.
Jul 14th, 2008 at 2:50pm
Welcome to the future, friends, you've got a danger here,
and you all have to make sacrifices, to make the danger clear,
where the danger's coming from, we just can't be quite sure,
but we can tell you every one, that you're not secure,
can't you hear the scary things that go bump in the night?
won't you give us a little more power so we can join the fight?
For the greater good, you give away your freedom,
for the greater good, you give all that you can
and for the greater good, you give up privacy
all for the greater good of man....
Ignore the voices coming from the next county down,
it's just our enemies encroaching, trying to take the town,
perhaps you're not giving enough to fight what we endure,
can't you give a little more, so to be secure?
Can't you feel the enemies, whispering, to implore?
now we can keep a few guards just outside your door.
For the greater good, we post guards in your home now,
and watch what you spend and what you plan,
and for the greater good, we watch all you do and how,
all for the greater good of man....
How free do you feel now, sitting there in chains,
when we kicked down your door, in spite of all your pains?
You're now the latest enemy, that we must now cleanse,
you're the insect sitting under a magnifying lens...
You have no rights to anything, and we wanted all,
now you're the one stood up, against the firing wall..
How dare you dream of freedom?
How dare you think you might be free?
You've signed away your rights for security,
now who's going to protect you all from me?
Jul 25th, 2008 at 5:48am
It's time to load your guns and turn them on the traitors in Washington DC. That is why you have the right to bear arms. Wipe this lot out and it will be a warning to all others who would wish to take the USA into dictatorship.
Mark
Nov 23rd, 2009 at 10:36am
This was really a pretty interesting article Hayes Garden World
Nov 23rd, 2009 at 10:46am
This was really a pretty interesting article Hayes Garden World