President Bush and his team ignore the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, which requires a warrant to intercept international communications involving anyone in the United States, to grab more power for its vision of an imperial presidency. When Bush was exposed, he still refused to stop. He claimed that FISA was too limiting for the Internet-speed war against terror. But he never explained those limits and rebuffed lawmakers’ offers to legally accommodate his concerns.
When Congress attempted to fix the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, President Bush’s lawyers made it work for them. They added dangerous additions to a bill being rushed through Congress before the recess. When the smoke cleared, Congress had fixed the real loophole, but because of the additions to the bill, also endorsed the idea of spying without court approval. It gave President Bush legal cover to more than five years of illegal spying.
When the law expires, the bill will be fixed properly. However President Bush wishes to place the “checks” under a few individuals giving the president power over the issue. However, giving such power to any president would be un-American.
President Bush says that the law should give immunity to communications companies that gave data to the government over the last five years without a court order because they should not be punished for helping to protect America. Bush’s real goal is to avoid lawsuits that could uncover the extent of the illegal spying he authorized after 9/11.
One reporter said, "Ever since 9/11, we have watched Republican lawmakers help President. Bush shred the Constitution, the very thing that governs us, in the name of fighting terrorism. We have seen Democrats agree or retreat in fear. I believe that it is time for that to stop." I completely agree.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/opinion/14sun1.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin
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