Carol Platt Liebau: Toensing on "Terrorists on Tap"

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Toensing on "Terrorists on Tap"

Here is an incredibly important article by Victoria Toensing, who has worked with the FISA law and can explain why the Democrats' demagoguery on the NSA wiretaps is so pernicious.

It's a must-read AND a clip-and-save.

7 Comments:

Blogger Matt Brinkman said...

"The trigger is quicker and a bit softer, but the intrusion into privacy is also limited: only international calls and only those we have a reasonable basis to believe involve Al Qaeda or one of its affiliates."--Gen. Michael V. Hayden, Head of the NSA when the warrantless wiretaps begin.

I'm no lawyer, but a reasonable basis seems like a much lower standard that probable cause. You know, the same probable cause mentioned here...

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."--4th Amendment US Constitution.

In summary--we now know why the Bush administration didn't go to FISA. They did not have the evidence to get a valid search warrant.

3:11 PM  
Blogger suek said...

>>They did not have the evidence to get a valid search warrant.>>

Well darn. You know, you're probably right. I guess that means we won't be able to win a court case against them.
I'm devasted.

3:38 PM  
Blogger Matt Brinkman said...

SueK, darn straight.

Heck, why should we even worry about trials? the President should just round 'em up and throw them in jail for years without charging them with anything. Torture them till they break, even. Of course the "them" in this case are by and large going to be US citizens, but "they" probably deserve it, right SueK? After all, there is a "reasonable basis to believe" that they might be involved with al Qaeda or one of its affiliates.

I do give you credit, SueK. It is refreshing to have a "conservative" actually admit they don't give a tinker's damn about the Constitution.

5:49 PM  
Blogger Bachbone said...

Actually, conservatives do care a "tinker's damn" [sic] as much about the Constitution as former administrations, including Clinton's, cared. In fact, one could say they care more, because no evidence exists that President Bush staffers grabbed over 900 FBI files on former Clinton administration staffers, nor trumped up charges on Travel Office staff to fire them so they could get "their own people" in those positions.

(I know, I know...it isn't fair to point out the dirt on liberal hands.)

But the operative phrase above, "I'm no lawyer..." says it all. Constitutional law experts disagree on whether President Bush did anything wrong. Until it's legally settled one way or the other, it's all "opinion."

10:00 AM  
Blogger Matt Brinkman said...

Bachbone, wasn't FileGate investigated? Oh that's right, Ken Starr had a go at it.

Could you refresh my memory on what Judge Starr's Filegate investigation turned up? Catch that, I remember now. Ken Starr found their was no evidence whatsoever implicating Clinton in your purported scandal.

What were tha actual charges from Travelgate? Silly me--no evidence sufficient to bring charges.

Bachbone, here's a health. Clinton left office five years ago. You need to overcome your obsession with the pseudo-scandals the conservative and their media puppets whipped up against the man.

7:34 PM  
Blogger Matt Brinkman said...

Bachbone charges up the hill with, "But the operative phrase above, 'I'm no lawyer...' says it all. Constitutional law experts disagree on whether President Bush did anything wrong. Until it's legally settled one way or the other, it's all 'opinion.'"

OK, I'll count you into the Conservatives who pretend to care about the Constitution camp.

7:40 PM  
Blogger COPioneer said...

And since the liberals care so much about the Constitution, QUIT trying to deny me the RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS!

7:59 AM  

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