FISA

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Ok, I need to know more about this FISA thing. I'm more than a bit confused. Should we be punishing the gov't, the telecom industry, wha? I know it's already late and the bill already passed, but what does it really mean?

[Morrigoon]

What is it?

[BarTopDancer]

Google is your friend.

Wikipedia FISA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_Intelligence_Surveillance_Act)

From an ABCBlog (http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/07/obamas-fisa-shi.html)

In February Obama voted in favor of the an amendment from Sens. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Russ Feingold, D-Wisc., to repeal retroactive immunity for telecoms, saying, "I am proud to stand with Senator Dodd, Senator Feingold and a grassroots movement of Americans who are refusing to let President Bush put protections for special interests ahead of our security and our liberty.

Free from the political pressures of the Democratic primaries, Obama now says he will vote for the FISA bill even if it doesn't include retroactive immunity for the telecoms.

And moreover, he will no longer support a filibuster of the bill if it doesn't include telecom immunity.

"My view on FISA has always been that the issue with phone companies per se is not one that overrides security interests of the American people," Obama told reporters on June 25. "It is a close call for me but I think the current legislation with exclusivity provision that says that a president -- whether George Bush, myself or John McCain -- can’t make up rationales for getting around FISA court, can’t suggest that somehow that there is some law that stands above the laws passed by Congress in engaging in warrantless wiretaps."

[mousepod]

I'm a big supporter of the EFF. Their site gives you the "free speech" view on FISA. (http://www.eff.org/)

[Morrigoon]

And from your link, the link to today's relevant info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FISA_Amendments_Act_of_2008

Thanks. I was wondering.

Sonofab!tch.

[sleepyjeff]

Nice to see that both McCain and Obama have been moving to the right lately:)

[innerSpaceman]

CP, I hate to break it to you, but I already HATE your candidate for flipping on this issue. It's an assault on the Constitution and our 14th Amendment Rights to Privacy. It's a Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free card for the telecom behemoths who broke the law and violated the privacy rights of every American.

Now they have retroactive immunity and their illegal acts have been made legal ... oh, except that they violate the Constituion, which most "lawmakers" don't seem to give a fig about.


OBAMA SUCKS.

[Ghoulish Delight]

My thoughts here (http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/showthread.php?p=224110#post224110)

[innerSpaceman]

Hahah, and I thinked there to my thoughts here.



Um, thread merge, maybe.




In fact, now that Obama's won the nomination, let's merge this FISA thread with Yes We Can, and then merge Yes We Can with Random Polical Thoughts Part Deux. :D

[blueerica]

From WWdN (http://wilwheaton.typepad.com/)

http://wilwheaton.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/07/09/fourthamendment.jpg

[Alex]

If FISA killed the fourth amendment, it killed it in 1978. Plus, it didn't come into effect until 1791 (I know, irrelevant to the sentiment, just the first pedantic thought I had).

But like I said in the other thread, I don't really care about the immunization. There are other elements of the just passed bill that are, in my opinion, far worse.

[BDBopper]

Nice to see that both McCain and Obama have been moving to the right lately:)

I was thinking the same thing Jeff. ;)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I still don't get it.

FISA allows them to wiretap and then ask for permission later. They just didn't ask for it later. It's the gov't that's to blame for not asking for permission. The telecoms have to go along with the request because that's how FISA works. Yes?

[BarTopDancer]

I don't completely understand, but I think the telecoms were supposed to keep information private until a warrant was presented. But FISA said no warrant was needed, basically a shoot first, ask questions later type thing. Telecoms violated privacy laws by allowing the taps without warrants.

I could be wrong.

Obama completely reversed his position (I posted links in one of these threads) which is what I am annoyed about. To be expected on stuff, yes. But still annoyed.

As long as Obama's "right" doesn't effect his views on my deciding factors he can move as far "right" as he wants. When it comes down to it they're both going to have to be pretty much center.