Conyers, Harman introduce bill to kill NSA phone call database

[Roland99]

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Conyers_Harman_introduce_Act_to_end_0511.html

Reps. Jane Harman (D-CA) and John Conyers (D-MI) today introduced the "Lawful Intelligence and Surveillance of Terrorists in an Emergency by NSA Act" (The LISTEN Act), RAW STORY has learned.

The Act would require any attempt to listen in on Americans or collect telephone or e-mail records to be be conducted in accordance with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA), or Title III of the criminal code. In both cases, court warrants based on probable cause are required. The Act states that FISA is the exclusive way to conduct electronic surveillance of U.S. persons on U.S. soil for intelligence purposes.

It also explicitly states that the Authorization to Use Military Force, passed by Congress in October 2002, did not constitute authority to engage in electronic surveillance outside of FISA.

Accordig the Representatives, the legislation provides tools to expedite emergency warrant applications, and authorizes funds to incorporate standardization, electronic filing and streamlined review procedures at the NSA and Department of Justice. It also requires the President to ensure that resources are adequate to process warrants, and requires the Administration to comply with FISA at all times.

[robbedvoter]

1. See? Dems may not be on teevee, but are trying to fix it

At least the good ones.
(Someone was asking how comes they aren't on cable shows? - as if airwaves are available to us)

[coalition_unwilling]

8. Harman is not a good Dem. She has publicly

and repeatedly praised the warrantless wiretapping program. She is facing a strong primary challenge from Marcy Winograd and I am really hoping Winograd will trounce her on June 6.

This is pure posturing by Harman as she tries to stanch the flow of support that has been moving to Winograd.

[KeepItReal]

10. Harmon has been Missing in Action the 4 years I've been here

Any big issue of import to real Democrats, Harmon ain't around. I checked her website from time to time. I noted the total lack of a position on issues of note. She's a fence-sitter.

Winograd has my vote. Assuming it still counts of course.

[rodeodance]

15. well, I will give her credit for today.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Every goddamn time...

The repukes get caught with their willies in their hands, THIS is the kind of response that is needed. Get them on record, every time they kill or hamstring the right thing to do.

People will notice.

[petersjo02]

3. Anything in it to prevent Bush...

from making one of his "signing statements" and totally disregardingany such law?

[NYC Liberal]

4. They don't want Bush to be above the law?

Clearly they support the terrorists! Why do they hate America?

[partylessinOhio]

5. All the DATA needs to be destroyed TODAY!

If new data is EVER collected it must be done legally for a legit reason.

[MsMagnificent]

6. Is this bill

a new law to force 'people' (ie this administration) to obey a previous law??

If so, isn't it rather bass-ackwards?
Should not they be brought up on charges for violating the initial, or older, law of which the administration completely ignored/disregarded?

Or am I getting this wrong?

[TheWraith]

13. Well, it does clarify a previous law.

FISA doesn't explicitly mention email and data mining, because email and data mining didn't really exist in 1978. So LISTEN would clarify and extend FISA, as well as making explicit that the Afghanistan war resolution didn't authorize illegal wiretapping, which is the Shrubettes' defense strategy for it.

[rodeodance]

16. If they could get an investigation on the table, I am sure some charges

could be put forth.

[brokensymmetry]

7. Won't do a bit of good.

Chimpy will just make a signing statement to the
effect that it doesn't apply to The Decider, and
then the bill won't be enforced.

Go ahead, convince me I'm wrong.

[No New War]

11. Ummm

I got nothing. :scared:

[Roland99]

12. Well, how about a welcome to DU, then?

:hi:

[midnight]

19. Another reason to abolish that act.

We don't need one person negating the collective work of many people.

[2DleftofU]

9. Note the key word "listen"

Computers cannot "listen." So they can still track who called who, when and where, and even record the conversation. But, prior to having a human "listen" to it, they would need approval under FISA. That approval is almost always given.

It is something, just not all that much.

[CdnObserver]

14. Also mentions records

The snippet of the article in the post mentions that the Act includes collecting phone and e-mail records.

[hughee99]

17. Wasn't the datamining going on before 2002?

If so, what was the justification for doing it before the Authorization to Use miltary force.

[PSPS]

18. Big deal

It will never pass, of course. Bush's protective wall of his fellow criminals in congress will see to that.

But let's say it does pass. Let's assume it passes unanimously. Bush will sign it and then, when the cameras are off, will attach one of his little "signing statements" that declares that laws don't apply to him or his cabal.