New Nixon law introduced by Republicans: what the President does is legal.

http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2006/03/new-nixon-law-is-introduced-that-which.html

Friday, March 17, 2006
The new Nixon Law is introduced -- that which the President does is legal

Michael DeWine yesterday introduced what he is calling The Terrorist Surveillance Act of 2006 (.pdf), co-sponsored by those independent maverick Republicans Olympia Snowe, Chuck Hagel and Lindsay Graham. The purpose of the bill is to render legal the illegal warrantless eavesdropping program ordered by the President more than 4 years ago. This bill is based upon the Richard Nixon Theory of Executive Infallibility, famously expressed in Nixon's 1977 interview with David Frost:

snip>

NIXON: Well, when the president does it that means that it is not illegal.

FROST: By definition.

NIXON: Exactly. Exactly.

snip>

With that Presidential Infallibility premise firmly embraced by the independent Republican mavericks, we are presented with the Terrorist Surveillance Act. This is what it does:

It expressly empowers the President, in Section 2(a), to "authorize a program of electronic surveillance without a court order for periods of up to 45 days.” The President can simply renew the program every 45 days by certifying that renewal of the program is appropriate (Section 4(b)(2)). Contrary to initial press reports and to this morning's article in The Washington Post, the newly created Intelligence Subcommittee (at least as I read the bill - see below) has no power to approve or reject any warrantless eavesdropping programs. Its only purpose is to be briefed periodically on the eavesdropping activities undertaken as part of the program.

snip>

much more, with analysis, at the link above


And a further discussion at:

http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2006/03/trying-to-deliver-fatal-blow-to-fisa.html
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Trying to deliver the fatal blow to FISA
By Anonymous Liberal

stick it to Bush under that heading like a lamprey eel.

I could change the law that caught me.

These aren't "republicans" in any logical sense of that term we have known since before the Revolutionary War.

Ever since *'s ascendancy, I've called them "closet monarchists." They want a king/demigod to worship and * fills that purpose. It has nothing to do with democracy and representative government as we know it. They would have been happy and carefree in pre-Revolutionary France under Louis XVI. Or under George III in England.

I have no idea why this mentality exists in this country, but it does and more proof of it is in DeWine's bill, right here. Executive Infallibility?!? What absolute horsehit!

No person on this planet is, by definition, Infallible! Get that through your thick skulls, Freeps!

someone who is infallible and above the laws of man.

to put into motion all the laws they have passed which ALREADY is more than enough to turn us into a Soviet-style prison.

Just one little "trigger event", a "terrorist" attack or perhaps mass unrest (unlikely, given the slavish nature of Amerikans these days).

Like a key in the ignition, all it needs is turning now...that and enough people to behave like Nazis.

I think they have them, and more coming after the next "terrorist" attack.

citizens to an administration that has already shown disregard to citizen rights and security in their quest to centralize power... now that sounds like a really smart idea :eyes:

Frightening times.

DeWine is my POS senator. I sent him my thoughts:

Thank you, Senator, for shredding our Constitution in
support of your party and your King. Why should that
"goddamned piece of paper" stop the pResident of the
United States from illegally spying on Americans?
Best be rid of it. Best be rid of the checks and
balances included in said piece of paper, as well.
Those vestiges of federalism are mere clutter along
the path toward the New Monarchy.

Congress, in its current state, serves no purpose.
Your party has made its existence redundant. Will you
be granted a place in the King's court? 55 jesters
seems excessive, but the Republican party no longer
finds meaning in the word "conservative", does it?

Traitor.

Sincerely

Clinton had such permission to spy on Grover Norquist, Ralph Reed... They'd just love it, wouldn't they? This protection would seem to apply to the next Democratic President, nu?

We've been going further down the road to the Imperial Presidency for years, and anything that changes the balance of power will cause probems-- now and in the future. They should know better than to assist Shrub in his power grabs.