Why is it ok for George Bush to illegally wiretap, and when the CEO of a large company does it, it's wrong?

Question

Why is there the double standard? When the CEO of Hewlett-Packard gets busted for illegally wiretapping, she steps down, when George Bush does it illegally, nothing happens? Is he above the law? Just trying to understand how a Democracy works....thanks

Answer 1

The CEO of Hewlett Packard was not monitoring international phone calls and doesn't have a constitutional right to eavesdrop for foreign intelligence like the President. Most people agree that up until fisa (1978) this was a common practice and 100% legal. (The argument is whether its still legal) The courts may decide to overturn Diggs decsion once again making it 100% legal. On the other hand no one can eavesdrop on 100% domestic call, even Bush. No one has said that he had done that.

Answer 2

A. The CIA (not Bush) tapped phone calls OUTSIDE the country where one has no reasonable expectation of privacy because other countries already routinely listen to those calls anyway. The CIA has been doing this since 1982. Bush just expanded the program.

B. The Government has all sorts of powers that big companies don't have.

C. If all of this isn't obvious to you then you need to spend more time at school. This is VERY basic stuff.

Answer 3

George Bush has executive powers over a nation while the CEO of H-P does not. In order to protect American citizens at large then the rights of a few may have to be infringed upon. The NSA, CIA, FBI, and other Federal entities are only trying to infringe on those who they believe may be in contact with terrorists.

Answer 4

It is not okay, but W just does it anyway. Has hired a bunch of people that have his back. We all know life isn't fair. There is a subtext here. If the president does it, it must be okay. It is not. Stand up against it. And as far as democracy is concerned, we don't really have one. Just go to blackboxvoting.org. p.s. am hopeful we can get democracy back soon, but it won't be overnight, or these next elections, but believe and will work toward its return until we have one back.

Answer 5

Actually, it was wrong with Bush did it and that is part of why the Supreme Court slapped him around last July.

I think your question refers more to why the public, well the rightwing, accepts it more when coming from Bush and his wiretaps.

The answer to that would involve politics and the fact they never like to see fault in anything he does or says.

Answer 6

only the president has the right to go above and beyond the constitution even though when they are sworn in they give an oath to uphold it ... and wiretapping has been going on for a long time ... remember the "echelon" operation under clinton ... just goes to show its a standard procedure...

Answer 7

it's so silly to put it that way. i mean, come on.
i am not a republican ( or a liberal) but i feel that if we have to stop terrorist from detonating nuclear weapons in america then this (wiretapping) is a great way to stop it before it happens.
getting an actual supeona for each wire tap would be insanely ineffective
I do feel, however that it is to easy for bush to use it on incredibly inethical uses, such as spying on democats in order to use it for political gain

Answer 8

Who said Wimpy wire tapping people is right? Besides him and the appologist in the neo cons?

Answer 9

The sorry S O B thinks that he is above the law. That is not the only law that He has broken..

Answer 10

Maybe because we are at war and he is trying to stop major attcks from happening.