Federal judge orders halt to NSA spy program

[soulxtc]

update The warrantless Internet and telephone surveillance program authorized by the Bush administration violates the U.S. Constitution and must cease immediately, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

The landmark decision makes U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor in Detroit the first judge to strike down the National Security Agency's once-secret program. The American Civil Liberties Union had filed suit against the government, claiming the program "ran roughshod" over the constitutional rights of millions of Americans and ran afoul of federal wiretapping law.

In a sweeping victory for the ACLU and its clients, which included organizations representing criminal defense lawyers, journalists, Islamic-Americans and academics, Taylor appeared to knock down several major legal arguments that the Bush administration has used to defend the program since it was revealed by The New York Times last December.

"Plaintiffs have prevailed, and the public interest is clear, in this matter. It is the upholding of our Constitution," the judge wrote in her 43-page opinion.

The decision immediately drew an appeal from the U.S. Department of Justice, which argued in a statement that "the Terrorist Surveillance Program is an essential tool for the intelligence community in the War on Terror." The Bush administration also requested that the judge's opinion be put on hold until the appeals process is complete.


http://news.com.com/Federal+judge+or...?tag=nefd.lede

[kari14]

Liberal judges.. I'm not even going to comment on this. Last time I defended President Bush and the NSA, it costed me little reputation points I had.

[Jau_Peacecraft]

those who would trade liberty for security deserve niether. but liberty entails our own opinions, hm....

[soulxtc]

Originally Posted by kari14

Liberal judges.. I'm not even going to comment on this. Last time I defended President Bush and the NSA, it costed me little reputation points I had.

I guess I could lend a hand since rep points mean little to me.

Its another way, for better or wors, than the Fed Govt's been impeded in its ability to combat terrorism. Sure they have a court to allow for wiretapping "warrants" on an urgency basis, though often not in a sufficient manner to effectively combat threats, but they still take precious time to get when ofetn things happen in minutes and seconds not days and weeks.

Also. I think if somebody is calling known teroorists or terrorist sympathizers or organizations then we ougta kno about it. Its not like theyre gonan eavesdrop on Susie Grandma calling her niece in Wisconsin. They only peek in on INTERNATIONAL CALLS, ie US to Timbuktu, not California to Maryland or whatever.

Plus its intersting to see people crying about the Govt so-called infringing on peoples rights when they allow the Govt to so much worse, actual things that affect you and I in very dramatic ways. Like excessive profits from Exxon or inability to get fuel efficiency standards raised, or the prohibition of pot, highest incarceration rate per capita in the world, farm subsidies for mega-farms like Tyson Chicken, the list goes on and on. But yet the NSA tries to listen to John Q. Suspected Terrorist calling Somalia and suddenly the sky is falling. Pretty lame.

Originally Posted by Jau_Peacecraft

those who would trade liberty for security deserve niether. but liberty entails our own opinions, hm....

We gave up true liberty a long ago when we created this social compact of ours caleld the United States, and give up a little bit more each and every day. I think, again, that the important rights and liberties that our already ceded are the ones we need to focus on, like how about the fact that in many states felons, irregardless of the nature, ie drug possesion, check forgery, lose the right to vote FOREVER. Yep, forever. Yet still we focus on the lame stuff like the Boy Scouts or people making calls to suspicious parties in the Middle East. Kinda outta whack dont u think?

Or how the nations drug laws have created pseudo paramilitary squads that knock down doors like that of ol' Tommy Chong for simply selling bongs on the internet? Who got 9 months in jail BTW for it.

Apparently the ACLU didnt feel like returnig his calls, maybe it want anti-bush enough for them. Bongs dont make the headlines I guess.

[kari14]

Originally Posted by Jau_Peacecraft

those who would trade liberty for security deserve niether. but liberty entails our own opinions, hm....

Apparently, Benjamin Franklin wasn't aware of soemthing called the "police power." Americans trade their liberty for security to the police everyday. According to this judge's argument, we should be objecting to getting pulled over when we are speeding or taking the breath test for drunk driving.

[mfgbypooter]

Originally Posted by kari14

Liberal judges.. I'm not even going to comment on this. Last time I defended President Bush and the NSA, it costed me little reputation points I had.

It is a shame someone has to ding you for expressing your personal opinion just because it is contrary to theirs.


I myself have only been dinged 3 times, once a long time ago by annoymous (but we both know who you are), once by the Zp god (who has since seen the error of his way and relented), and most recently by a racist who didn't like that fact being pointed out.

fuck reputation points, I'll give you some.

*

[Malakai1911]

Originally Posted by mfgbypooter

It is a shame someone has to ding you for expressing your personal opinion just because it is contrary to theirs.


I myself have only been dinged 3 times, once a long time ago by annoymous (but we both know who you are), once by the Zp god (who has since seen the error of his way and relented), and most recently by a racist who didn't like that fact being pointed out.

fuck reputation points, I'll give you some.

*

Ive been dinged only once as far as I can tell... by lil_amb... for being anti death penalty.

My post: "Death penalty should be abolished, end of story."
Her comment in my negative rep: "I disagree. Hopefully noone close to you will ever die in such a manner."

I should probably reciprocate that negative one of these days.

[soulxtc]

Originally Posted by Malakai1911

Ive been dinged only once as far as I can tell... by lil_amb... for being anti death penalty.

My post: "Death penalty should be abolished, end of story."
Her comment in my negative rep: "I disagree. Hopefully noone close to you will ever die in such a manner."

I should probably reciprocate that negative one of these days.

Hmm, that sucks, Im anti-death penalty as well, as death, anything, lets those convicted off way too easily. Plus, who's to say that we have or will never mess up and execute an innocent? Also, what countries still have the death penalty? Its like us, China, Singapore and all the other whacko authoritarian societies.

[mfgbypooter]

I'm for the death penalty as it frees up bunk space and shortens the line in the chow hall.

*

[Malakai1911]

Originally Posted by soulxtc

Hmm, that sucks, Im anti-death penalty as well, as death, anything, lets those convicted way too easily. Plus, who's to say that we have or will never mess up and execute an innocent? Also, what countries still have the death penalty? Its like us, China, Singapore and all the other whacko authoritarian societies.

I'm anti death penalty... I have no problem putting prisoners in jail for life for horrible crimes, or exploiting their labor... (i.e. why DONT we exploit their labor MORE... punishment aka assembling nike sneakers, picking fruits that the migrants pick, or what have you).

Actually that aint half bad. If we use prisoners to pick crops, migrants wont have jobs, and they'll go the f back to mexico.

Originally Posted by mfgbypooter

I'm for the death penalty as it frees up bunk space and shortens the line in the chow hall.

Cant argue with that.

[CrashPeer44]

The problems is the simple fact that the people of America, especially those with money and who pay attention to main stream media are brainwahed.
Turn on the New right now
they are talking about this 10 year old case of a 6 year old girl raped and murdered.
The truth behind stories like this is because the topic of Child Predators and Child Porn is worked into most all bills these days that at there core are used to spy on the American People and control us.
The reason for this is because as the public notice of the NSA program which clamed to want to be accepted since it would be used to stop these so called "Chcil Predators"
Thus this is social Control at it's best since anyone who therefore apposes these biils can be pointed at and accuseed of supporting Child porn

fight back the power