What are your thoughts?

Question

Thank you for your message regarding the surveillance of American citizens by the National Security Agency (NSA). I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue and share your concerns. Protecting both the security and the freedom of the American people is among my greatest priorities. I share an obligation with my fellow senators to ensure that the federal government protects and defends the people of the United States while preserving the civil liberties that have helped make the United States the greatest and most enduring democracy in the world. President Bush has stated that he authorized the NSA to conduct warrantless wiretapping of communications made by American citizens living within the United States.

Current law provides that electronic surveillance and interception of domestic oral, wire, and electronic communications may be conducted only according to the procedures set forth in the federal criminal wiretap statute and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Under FISA, the government must seek a warrant from a special court in order to conduct electronic surveillance of communications between American citizens and persons outside of the country. FISA requires that these court proceedings be conducted as expeditiously as possible, and FISA permits the government to begin conducting surveillance immediately in emergency situations and obtain a warrant up to 72 hours later. The NSA did not obtain approval from the FISA court or from any other court before initiating its domestic wiretapping program. For most of its existence, the program has operated without meaningful oversight.

Few members of Congress were briefed about the wiretapping program until its existence was revealed by the media, and those members were sworn to secrecy. The majority of the members of Congress still have not been fully briefed about the program's operational details. The Administration has also shut down its own Department of Justice internal investigation into the NSA's program. In essence, the Administration has attempted to operate this program without any supervision or oversight. The lack of a mechanism for correcting potential abuses in the program undermines our Constitutional system of checks and balances and raises serious concerns about the possibility of excessive intrusion. In addition to the disclosure of the NSA's domestic wiretapping program, it has been alleged that the NSA has undertaken a massive effort to gather the telephone records of tens of millions of innocent Americans into a searchable database.

Again, this program has been conducted without court approval or Congressional oversight. In June 2007, the Judiciary Committee issued subpoenas to the Justice Department, the White House, the Office of the Vice President, and the National Security Council for documents relating to the authorization of and legal justification for the warrantless wiretapping program. The committee, of which I am a member, is currently awaiting a response to the subpoena from the Bush Administration. When the President and his Administration order actions such as the surveillance of American citizens, these actions must be conducted in a manner consistent with the rule of law and the Constitution's commitment to civil liberties. I am deeply concerned about the manner in which the Executive Branch has initiated and conducted these NSA surveillance programs.

I will continue to work to ensure that any government surveillance of American citizens is conducted in a manner consistent with the Constitution, the rule of law, and our security needs. Thank you again for sharing your views on this issue with me.

Sweatpea, get over yourself! if you read the rest of the letter, it pretty much makes it clear that there is no attempt to tie the hands of law enforcement.

John if you didn't notice, the correct way of doing things does not require a warrant be obtained before collecting the data. So there is no loss by having oversight and doing things properly. people like you where enraged when clinton attempted to do it, and it was declared unconstitutional by the supreme court.

It appears that this letter loses the attention of some folks when the facts do not support Bush's agenda.

Answer 1

My thoughts are that bush and this administration are ignoring the Constitution by disobeying the Fourth Amendment, that bush is acting with NO judicial oversight and thereby circumventing the checks and balances of the three branches of government, and that his behavior is that of a despot.

There is NO justification or legal leg to stand on for SPYING ON AMERICAN CITIZENS.

I am dumbfounded that this man has not been impeached yet.

Answer 2

What do you term as "meaningful". Meaningful as in ensuring the process is being followed, or meaningful as in using this as an agenda item to tie the hands of law enforcement?

Answer 3

What is more important to you a******* phone call being taped or your right to breath.This is not Rocket Science here!!

Answer 4

my thoughts are i don't want to read this dissertation on friday afternoon.