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Fisa Amendments Passed Today

peterjmag

By peterjmag
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peterjmag Newbie

peterjmag

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What do you think of the amendments to the FISA that were signed into law today by our friendly neighborhood Senate and President? Do you believe that the passing of these laws truly signals the destruction of the Constitution? Has the government gone too far, or is this kind of domestic surveillance necessary for our nation's security?

NYTimes article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/10/washingt...amp;oref=slogin

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FISA_Amendments_Act_of_2008 :
QUOTE
Specifically, the bill:[2]
  • Prohibits the individual states from investigating, sanctioning of, or requiring disclosure by complicit telecoms or other persons.
  • Permits the government not to keep records of searches, and destroy existing records (it requires them to only keep the records for a period of 10 years).
  • Protects telecommunications companies from lawsuits for "'past or future cooperation' with federal law enforcement authorities and will assist the intelligence community in determining the plans of terrorists."
  • Removes requirements for detailed descriptions of the nature of information or property targeted by the surveillance.
  • Increased the time allowed for warrantless surveillance to continue from 48 hours to 7 days.
  • Requires FISA court permission to wiretap Americans who are overseas.
  • Prohibits targeting a foreigner to eavesdrop on an American's calls or e-mails without court approval.
  • Allows the FISA court 30 days to review existing but expiring surveillance orders before renewing them.
  • Allows eavesdropping in emergencies without court approval, provided the government files required papers within a week.
  • Prohibits the government from invoking war powers or other authorities to supersede surveillance rules in the future.
The bill also provides immunity for AT&T, Verizon Communications and other U.S. telecommunications companies against 40 lawsuits alleging that they violated customers' privacy rights by helping the government's NSA electronic surveillance program conduct an illegal warrantless spying program after the September 11th attacks.[3]

The bill would protect telecommunications companies from lawsuits for cooperating for "past or future cooperation" with federal law enforcement authorities and will assist the intelligence community in determining the plans of terrorists and other criminals.



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AKammenzind Newbie

AKammenzind

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QUOTE (Bulldog_916 @ Jul 10 2008, 11:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I thought it was extremely unfortunate, but the democrats caved on this thing, including Obama. Now I'm stuck to pray that Obama revisits it when he gets into office.


Geeze man, you talk about Obama as dreamily as pentecostals talk about Jesus.

Anyhow, government wanting more control over us is no surprise at all. They've done everything mentioned on there and far worse I'm sure, so it's just a feel-good law (if such a stretch could be made) to make us feel like they're almost sorta limiting themselves. Kinda. The only way to have any privacy anymore is to go out into the woods with no technology around you, and even that is probably wishful thinking.
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AKammenzind Newbie

AKammenzind

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QUOTE (Bulldog_916 @ Jul 11 2008, 01:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Im not religious and I hate religion. So that's out, lol.

I just think he has a better shot at rescinding the bill under his office. God knows McCain wont ever revisit it.


Agreed. I don't think anyone's gonna change it though, not without being forced to at least. Why on earth would those in power give up any of their power, especially after it's corrupted them? Our entire government needs to be wiped clean to get rid of the filth. Guillotine_anim.gif Even if it only lasts for a short while, it might give us a chance at something better. Thousands of years of developing a system of government and this is the best we can come up with? It makes me feel rather let down, and a bit embarrassed. negative.gif
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Apoc Genesis Newbie

Apoc Genesis

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QUOTE (AKammenzind @ Jul 11 2008, 12:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Bulldog_916 @ Jul 11 2008, 01:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Im not religious and I hate religion. So that's out, lol.

I just think he has a better shot at rescinding the bill under his office. God knows McCain wont ever revisit it.


Agreed. I don't think anyone's gonna change it though, not without being forced to at least. Why on earth would those in power give up any of their power, especially after it's corrupted them? Our entire government needs to be wiped clean to get rid of the filth. Guillotine_anim.gif Even if it only lasts for a short while, it might give us a chance at something better. Thousands of years of developing a system of government and this is the best we can come up with? It makes me feel rather let down, and a bit embarrassed. negative.gif


Everything goes in cycles, even the system of govt. we have in America right now. This is only a profuct of the last two hundred years and it certainly is not going to last forever.

Basically its taking all of the illegal stuff theyve done before and put it into writing so its legal now. Still dosent make it right in my book. Theyr looking for very artificial means to preserve as is a system that is in DIRE need of fixing.
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Kathrynx Newbie

Kathrynx

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Specifically, the bill:[2]
Prohibits the individual states from investigating, sanctioning of, or requiring disclosure by complicit telecoms or other persons.
Permits the government not to keep records of searches, and destroy existing records (it requires them to only keep the records for a period of 10 years).

Sounds like just from that our government will not learn from previous mistakes, by looking at their past.
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Apets22 Newbie

Apets22

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I must say, do not blame the republicans for this one, the Dems have control of congress.

But this is ridiculous. The constitution seems to have about as much power as the Queen of england.

EDIT: And could the writer of this article be more democratically biased? Seriously, I really dont think he could be any more liberal. Edited by Apets22
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gaia.plateau Newbie

gaia.plateau

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This is just another bit of rubbish for the heap. Really, your constitution kind of started going downhill when you decided to keep standing armies after your civil war.

When was the Patriot Act created? 2002? Man, if your dems had just adopted that BS fear mongering "Slippery Slope" rhetoric from the religious right back then, all this mess could have been avoided. Shows you where integrity gets you. Edited by gaia.plateau
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