Burgess Everett
Politico
6/7/2013
Concern in Congress is mounting over broad surveillance by the Obama administration as new revelations surfaced that the National Security Administration is monitoring Internet usage.
Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee is shopping bills that would address some portions of the government monitoring, an aide said, particularly the NSA collection of Verizon phone records. His legislation would likely be similar to Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act amendments that he pushed last year with fellow senators like Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
The measures, both of which failed last December, would require the declassification of certain FISA court opinions and require reports on the impact of FISA surveillance on Americans. The Lee aide said that with government surveillance so prominent in the news, the legislation may find itself some new supporters…
…After staying largely quiet this week, Wyden and Mark Udall (D-Colo.) issued a joint statement on Friday afternoon blasting the administration’s use of the Patriot Act. The two have hinted for years that Americans would be shocked at how some of its provisions are used.
“We respectfully but firmly disagree with the way that this program has been described by senior administration officials. After years of review, we believe statements that this very broad Patriot Act collection has been ‘a critical tool in protecting the nation’ do not appear to hold up under close scrutiny,” the two Intelligence Committee members said…
Read the entire article at Politico.
Also at the site, Laura Ingraham: Ignoring Patriot Act ‘a mistake’
Conservative radio host Laura Ingraham said Thursday night she laments the fact she didn’t pay more attention to the Patriot Act when it was signed into law by former President George W. Bush in 2001.
Speaking to Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly about the recent revelations the National Security Administration is monitoring American’s phone records, Ingraham said civil libertarians raised red flags at the time of the law’s passing, but that they were “laughed off.”
“I didn’t focus that much about the Patriot Act. I wish I had, that was a mistake,” she said…
George W. Bush critics turn wrath on President Obama
…As Obama grapples with a slew of second-term scandals about the scope of government power — from the Justice Department snooping on reporters to the IRS hassling tea partiers — it’s a bad time to be short on friends.
“The president said that I must return to my authentic self. And I think the president needs to go back and read his own speeches,” said Rep. Elijah Cummings, implying Obama could use a refresher course on some of his own 2008 campaign rhetoric — when he spoke openly about not becoming part of the conventional politics of Washington.
Others likened him to Bush, directly…
A wireless provider with ties to the secret dark money group the Democracy Alliance is pushing back against the Obama administration’s surveillance of customers. CREDO Mobile cofounder Michael Kieschnick said on Thursday he was “deeply disturbed” by the administration’s invasion of individual’s civil liberties…
“You can’t have 100 percent security and then also have 100 percent privacy and zero inconvenience.”
“You know, we’re going to have to make some choices as a society.”
You know what Ben Franklin said…
Aaron Walker Explains the Law Regarding NSA Telecommunications Info Demands
Really an excellent piece, explaining exactly why the the kinds of ‘meta-data’ secured by the NSA from Verizon and other carriers via these court orders violates both FISA law and the Constitution, and exactly why access to such information is prohibited…
…[And a ] Good example of what meta-data might reveal..
Da Techguy says at least the NSA isn’t PROFILING.
