A federal judge in California said Wednesday that the wiretapping law established by Congress was the “exclusive” means for the president to eavesdrop on Americans, and he rejected the government’s claim that the president’s constitutional authority as commander in chief trumped that law.Apparently this rogue judge, handing out his shortsighted decrees from his bejeweled throne, didn't get the message. Laws are only suggestions that the President might want to consider following, if that's alright with him. They aren't God's Law, which the President is required to follow only if there's a 2/3 majority in the trinity on said issue. But now we're vulnerable to islamofascists because some judge says even classified information can be considered by a court and the President's powers cannot override the FISA statute.
I do like how this lawsuit started, it's really fit for the highlight reel of Bush's own "Bloopers, Boners and Massive Constitutional Overreaches." The meatheads in the Justice Department gave the suspected terrorist documents revealing the existence of the secret wiretap program.
But thanks anyway Judge, it only took 7 years for someone to stand up on this issue and say "Shut the fuck up and follow FISA you tit-clutching moaners." Only 7 years to reject the Bush administration's legalese excuses for breaking the law. FISA is the law and by some Constitutional fluke the President is required to follow the law.
Unfortunately there's still a loophole: because the spying is secrecy and with no oversight, no one can prove they were illegally spied on and therefore can't challenge the spying in court. Oh yeah, Congress is also going to make it all retroactively legal so no charges can ever be brought up and no one will ever do time for it. There's that problem too. But small victories are victories. You got a little freedom back today, that's more than can be said for most days over the past few years.
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