Paul weighs Supreme Court challenge to NSA surveillance programs

The Hill's Blog Briefing Room ^ | June 9, 2013 | Meghashyam Mali

[2ndDivisionVet]

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Sunday said he would examine ways to block the National Security Agency’s surveillance programs before the Supreme Court.

“I'm going to be seeing if I can challenge this at the Supreme Court level,” vowed Paul on “Fox News Sunday.”

“I’m going to be asking all the internet providers and all of the phone companies: Ask your customers to join me in a class action lawsuit. If we get 10 million Americans saying we don’t want our phone records looked at then maybe someone will wake up and something will change in Washington,” he said.

A report in the Guardian last week revealed that the NSA had sought information on phone numbers, and the location and duration of calls to help identify potential terror threats. A separate program, PRISM, sought information on foreign Internet users from American tech companies.

The disclosures unleashed a firestorm of criticism at the Obama administration’s record on civil liberties, coming weeks after news that the Justice Department had seized reporter records in leak investigation and after the Internal Revenue Service admitted targeting Tea Party groups....

[dirtboy]

I have a Verizon cell phone, I’d go along with this.

[Black Agnes]

You will never be sure they’re not doing ongoing data collection. Regardless of what the supreme court decides.

Most people I talk to think the Patriot Act wasn’t the beggining of this.

All the Patriot Act did was make their ongoing data collection activities legal.

They’ve probably got dossiers on all of us since the 1950’s. At least. The development of digital technology just made it easier for them to do it.

I’d like to know what dossiers they have on minor children. And why.

[dirtboy]

If we get 10 million Americans saying we don’t want our phone records looked at then maybe someone will wake up and something will change in Washington,” he said.

That will be good for the unemployment rate. Think how many IRS agents they'll hire to audit 10 million Americans joining this class-action lawsuit.

[unixfox]

Because the supreme court has worked so well lately.

[Gadsden1st]

EXACTLY! They will rule it is legal just like Omamacare and then where will we be?

[RoosterRedux]

Valerie to Barry: “Barry get the flunkies at the NSA to pull all the dirt on Rand Paul and those losers over the Supreme Court...and then have someone from the Cincinnati IRS give them each a phone call. Use back channels as always.”

[grania]

because the SC has worked so well lately

Judging by the Sunday AM news shows, even a lot of liberals don't like the government spying and lack of openness. So, yeah a SC challenge would put it on the table, maybe stop the threat the Obama administration is making to prosecute leakers, and could maybe even win.

[LostInBayport]

[Theoria]

If he feels it violates the Constitution, ya don't appeal to the Gov't 'court' for answer. You hold the persons in violation of the Constitution.

[traditional1]

There's as much chance that the covert spying to control Patriots will EVER stop, as there is for any honest Election for the future (they ended in 2008).

They control the Horizontal.....they control the Vertical......

[TurboZamboni]

So let’s say this lawsuit happens. Who pays damages and how much?

seems to me it’s just the taxpayers paying. moving money from the left pocket to the right with lawyers getting a cut in between.

[unixfox]

And if we lose?

Oh well?

[Carriage Hill]

Heh; that won’t stop them. Not in the least, Rand.

[RoosterRedux]

Valerie to Barry:

"Yessss."

"Go ahead and send that photo to all recipients via a Richard Windsor email account. They'll get the general idea."

[rarestia]

Wish they were as concerned with Benghazi as they are with this. We’ve known for years that big brother is watching us online. This is not a new revelation. This is just another distraction to pull away our attention from Benghazi, the real scandal.

[Sacajaweau]

I'm almost thinking that this is a diversion from the IRS and other data dipping.

And Obamacare is right around the corner.

My guess is that everyone will have to submit their bank accounts, income information, life insurance policy data, medical records etc etc.

This is about how they tap any resources that we have in the name of Obamacare...and it will go way beyond the "tax" that they will charge you.

[grania]

...pull the dirt on Rand Paul...

Obviously, that's the administration's game. But you know what? I don't think it's going to work anymore. Gov Sanford moved on, married his love interest he mysteriously found on line, and now he's a Republican in the HOR. Petraeus stepped down on something that didn't even qualify as a scandal (an aging guy attracted by an attractive successful woman) except for the fact that the CIA Director didn't know the FBI was spying on him. Why did he step down?

What's my point? People will put up with almost any scandal if someone comes clean and follows through in the best way possible. But what we won't put up with is stuff like always wondering why Roberts voted to destroy the nation with Obamacare...what could ever be worth that?

[Regulator]

Wait...isn’t Rand Paul a United States Senator?

So the Executive Branch is doing something under color of law that the Legislative Branch authorized?

Gee Rand, maybe you could do something about that where you live...in the Senate.

Instead of running to the Judges.

[LostInBayport]

If he feels it violates the Constitution, ya don't appeal to the Gov't 'court' for answer. You hold the persons in violation of the Constitution.

Very true. Congress is going to have to discover some intestinal fortitude very soon. They let Eric Holder sit before them and refuse to answer whether or not he was monitoring THEM. That slap came after he perjured himself before them, after IRS bigwigs insulted them to their faces, etc. They are going to have to start impeachment proceedings against some people or jailing some people, otherwise the precedent will be cemented that the legislative branch is all talk. Hoping the media will fan the flames of outrage is a false hope, and "tsk tsk" statements to the press aren't going to cut it. Congress must do some checkin' and balancin' outside of flapping gums in front of television cameras.