Monday, June 23, 2008

New FISA Bill a "Farce"

Incredibly, Barak Obama is willing to support a bill that gives the Regime almost everything it wanted in FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) legislation. The presidential candidate said he was willing to object to immunity for telecommunication companies, but was also willing to support a compromise solution to the illegal domestic surveillance initiated by the current President as a part of his so-called "War on Terror". Obama's willingness to cooperate with supporters of widespread domestic spying in an indication of the pressure on legislators to avoid letting Patriot Act wiretaps expire in August. Russ Feingold (D-WI) called the bill passed by the House a "farce" and an "incredible giveaway" to the Regime. Both Reingold and former presidential candidate Chris Dodd (D-CT), who made the immunity demands a major campaign issue, said they would attempt to slow down the rush to give the Charlatan and his corporate handlers want they want. But Feingold was not optimistic about his chances. Even Republicans negotiators say that the bill relinquishes more than they expected. H.R.6304 fails to re-establish the fundamental judicial check on executive requests for surveillance orders by requiring a prior finding of probable cause, and relegates the special FISA court to reviewing the adequacy of procedures established by the executive branch. Republican leadership predicted that the forty pending civil rights lawsuits against collaborating communication companies will be dismissed. Want your private communications protected from government snoopers? Call your Senator and ask for more debate on the issue.