The discovery of the CNN Hatch story is important. For many reasons:

[originalpckelly]

It shows the hypocrisy of the Republicans; and while some might ask why our party was pushing for more wiretapping authority, we must remember that Clinton didn't just do it by himself, he went to Congress and asked that a law be passed giving him the extra power. This debate about FISA/NSA warrantless surveillance program, is less about the surveillance and more about the fact the President did it without the Congresses approval. There are those of us who worry about the implications of ever growing surveillance by our government, but most Democrats have less of a problem with that, but more of a problem with the illegal method of obtaining the powers the President has given himself. If we make sure that average everyday people know about this, it might be very powerful.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. Okay, I missed something while watching Antiques Roadshow...

obviously.

got a link to the 'CNN Hatch' story? :)

[gatorboy]

3. I thought we were talking about "LOST" or something....

eom

[bbgrunt]

4. or survivor.......

[Viva_La_Revolution]

6. ...

:spray:

[me b zola]

7. It's the story of repubs blocking Clinton's anti-terrorism legislation

Hatch was also opposed to increasing wiretapping capabilities:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2045192

[leveymg]

13. That's an irony. Hatch's staff was wiretapping Dem e-mails

See: Daily Kos: ANNALS OF GOP SPYING: The Senate e-mail Hack & Leakby leveymg. Thu Mar 09 , 2006 at 08 : 21 : 30 AM PDT ... To be fair , though , i always wondered if the Dem emails were a tad embarrassing . ...
www.dailykos.com/story/2006/3/9/112130/2397

[Bozita]

2. Without FISA, how long til the local cop has dug up data on your 17 year

... old daughter?

Without oversight, this is the result.

[hootinholler]

5. Kicking for more recs!

Folks, this is spot on.

I believe the OP is referring to Hatch holding up Clintons bill requesting wiretap authority to fight terroeists. Hatch and other republics defeated it. The article was posted here I think Friday.

-Hoot

[maddezmom]

9. another kick, rec and link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2045192

[evlbstrd]

8. Don't worry.

Sometime in the next two years, especially if Congress is in Democratic hands with subpeona powers, there will be another domestic terror attack. Then, martial law will be declared and the FEMA camps will start operating.

[krkaufman]

10. Not just "Congress' approval"... Bush spying is WARRANTLESS

So there's NO oversight whatsoever, Judicial or Congressional, let alone approval. Congressional approval wouldn't mean diddley if Congress authorized warrantless spying, 'cause it STILL wouldn't be Constitutional.

They can spy all they frickin' want, so long as they get warrants -- which may be after-the-fact under FISA.

[Disturbed]

11. Rethugs are clever at framing the issues.

They keep saying that Dems are against wiretaps. They fail to say the "Warrentless" part. You know damn well why NSA and Busholini went ahead and tapped without warrents, don't you?

[krkaufman]

14. Sad thing is... it's not just Rethugs that neglect to add the ....

... "warrantless" qualifier. Media, and even some Dems (and AAR radio hosts) do, as well.

[pat_k]

12. . . .worse, he claims limitless power to commit this, and other, crimes. .

Each and every violation comes back to their treasonous claim to absolute power.

For every abuse, national and international, they have sought cover in their so-called "theory" of urinary⁽¹⁾ authoritarian executive power; the fascist fantasy that as long as they claim they are acting to "defend" us, they can usurp our collective sovereignty, violate our laws, commit international crime in our name, and destroy our institutions to serve themselves.

Every time Bush, Cheney, or their minions invoke urinary authoritarian power as their get out of jail free card, they declare themselves traitors. This high crime subsumes all others. It is all we need to force them from power tomorrow.

Their many immoral atrocities -- torture Gulags, terroristic threats of Mushroom Clouds,⁽²⁾ criminal war of aggression, massive program of spying on us without warrant or legitimate authorization, on and on -- are the proofs that they recognize NO limits on their power.

Despots who claim absolute power use it.

Impeachment is not just a means to hold them accountable for nuking the constitution with their claim to dictatorial power, it is the ONLY way we can protect ourselves against future atrocities.

--------------------------------
(1) Pissing on the constitution.

(2) They TERRORIZED the American people with the most colossal bomb threat in history (mushroom clouds in 45 minutes). We need to force "they terrorized us" into the echo chamber. Lying is too tepid a label for their acts, "Cherry picking" a mealy-mouthed nothing. They terrorized us. They committed treason.