Posted on 12/29/2005 8:57:12 AM PST by mosquitobite
NEW YORK – In a full-page advertisement in today's New York Times, the American Civil Liberties Union intensified its call for a special counsel to be appointed to determine whether President George W. Bush violated federal wiretapping laws by authorizing illegal surveillance.
The ACLU said President Bush's actions were a clear violation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which was passed by Congress in response to revelations that former President Nixon was using "national security" claims to spy on American citizens he considered his "enemies."
"President Nixon was not above the law and neither is President Bush," said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. "President Bush cannot use a claim of seeking to preserve our nation to undermine the rules that serve as our foundation. The Attorney General, who may have been involved with the formulation of this policy, must appoint a special counsel to let justice be served."
The advertisement, as well as a similar ACLU ad that ran last Thursday, was spurred by revelations earlier this month that Bush authorized the National Security Agency (NSA) to conduct electronic surveillance of people within the United States, including U.S. citizens, without a warrant.
The text of today's advertisement compares the words of President Nixon and President Bush, both of whom denied allegations of illegal spying. Next to the image of Nixon, the advertisement says: "He lied to the American people and broke the law." Below that is an image of President Bush, with the words, "So did he."
The FISA wiretapping law made it a crime to intentionally engage in electronic surveillance without court approval. The president clearly violated the law when he authorized, and then repeatedly reauthorized, the NSA to spy on Americans without first obtaining a warrant, the ACLU said.
In a formal request sent last week to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, the ACLU called for the appointment of "an outside special counsel with the independence to investigate and prosecute any and all criminal acts committed by any member of the Executive Branch in the warrantless electronic surveillance of people in the United States over the past four years by the NSA," noting that "such crimes are serious felonies and they need to be fully and independently investigated."
seriously,
do our tax dollars go to this org?
Also see me at blogger.com at Kansas bite's.
Beyond disgusting.
I'm telling everyone to REMEMBER that the DemLibs would NOT use the president's constitutional authority to protect us from terrorists in time of war. They are on record.
Apparently, the ACLU blood-sucking attoreys who dreamed this up don't read or listen carefully. Each time President Bush mentioned court orders for wiretaps, he referenced the government TALKING ABOUT THEM. Therefore, he wasn't lying.
If they're not talking about them, then there are no court orders. After all, it would be pointless to tap w/o a court order, and then turn around and TALK ABOUT IT.
These are all top secret, which means DON"T TALK ABOUT IT.
(Sorry, but I'm yelling on purpose.)
The ACLU is a Communist subversive organisation
engaged in sabotage against the american legal
system, for the aid and confort of foriegn enemies
of our contry....and most galling of all, being
paid/compensated/funded by the U.S. Government, to
do their treachery against the People and the
Constitution that we live by, by perverting it's
spirit and meaning.
Every one of them should face a military tribunal
as enemy agent provacatuers, Sabotuers, &
enemy combatants...and upon conviction, be summarily
executed for their treason. No appeals for these
two faced communist plague rats.
sabo
Shall we call Senator Jay Rockefeller as the first witness??
ACLU PING!
http://stoptheaclu.com
The problem is that groups such as the ACLU are hitting the airwaves and print media demanding an investigation into the Bush admin. Meanwhile Repubs are not demanding an investigation into WHO leaked this info. We need to get the message out loud and clear cause it doesn't look like our Congress critters are going to. Sign the petition calling for an investigation into the national security leaks! See my tagline for the link.
"Stoooopid ACLU"??????
*VERY Dangerous*,*Domestic Enemies* of our country, ACLU!!!!
Why am I not surprised to hear that?
It is appropriate that an organization with no credibility publishes in a paper with less credibility.
This should backfire on the ACLU and the rest of the seditious Democrats.
The ACLU vs. America: Exposing the agenda to redefine moral values --- Alan Sears
Great book for the truth about the ACLU.
thanks... just needed to confirm.
Damn shame...
When are we going to stop letting people get away with telling clear lies to attack our country and damage our security.
The ACLU should be sued in civil court for their lies and be made as fincially bankrupt as they are morally.
Their leadership should be charged with treason.
And everyoner at the NewYork Times that had
anything to do with their exposing US Natgional
Intelligence assets, sources, and methods. They
should be tried by military tribunal and
face immediate execution upon being found guilty.
"Kill 'em all!..Take their stuff!"
And *watch* all their friends and family members...
'Cause they are probably infected with the same
plague shit "ideology of traitors & perverts"
Socialist diseases, as the scum at the NYTs.
My question for the ACLU: Since when do we need a court order to spy on our enemies during time of war?
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