Last night on MSNBC, Rachel Maddow interviewed Georgetown law professor Jonathan Turley aboout the so-called "FISA compromise" that is just one more large drip on the ongoing erosion of the U.S. Constitution. Here's a transcript of Turley:
And, you know what`s terrible is like one of those stories where someone is assaulted on a street and a hundred witnesses do nothing. And in this case, the Fourth Amendment is going to be eviscerated tomorrow. And 100 people are going to watch it happen because it`s just not their problem.
And, you know, the only reason it didn`t happen today was it was delayed for a funeral. That`s how much these people put into the Fourth Amendment.
But you talk about expanding the president`s power, it`s coming out of the marrow of the Fourth Amendment. It`s coming out of the bone. And it`s going to hurt. And it`s being done for political convenience. There`s not an ounce of principle, not an ounce of public interest in this legislation.
So, at least show us respect of not calling it a compromise.
Barack Obama is one of those 100 people -- as Hillary Clinton once said, "Shame on you, Barack Obama." As usual, constitutional lawyer Glenn Greenwald has the most on this travesty. The video of Turley is at the bottom, because that's where this blogging software makes me put it.
Speaking of travesties, since there's only one post a day, I can't help but note July 8/9 as yet another low point in the series of endless low points that is Philadelphia sports fandom. Why in the name of God did the Sixers screw it up with Josh Smith so they could blow their entire wad on Chris Webber Jr.? The Phillies aren't much better -- their hideous farm system makes it impossible for them to trade for a much-needed pitcher, as the Brewers did (so blame Ed Wade, not Pat Gillick) and the only player on the current team who isn't playing like he's 45 years old is Jamie Moyer. That's especially true for LVP Jimmy Rollins, who hasn't had a meaningful hit since 2007.
Comment removed.
Will, c'mon with Josh Smith. a) ATL swore they'd match any offer he got b) he doesn't post up. run and gun teams don't win in the playoffs (see Sixers, Suns, etc). c) he's still extremely raw and has a questionable work ethic.— RG- Good point, Will, Brand is Weber. Oh yeah, and Howard is Strawberry.— Talking point sleuth
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- No, Howard is not Strawberry....Strawberry won a World Series.— will
- So Obama flip-flopped again, right?— thelastRepublicaninPhilly
Another day, another chicken heads home to roost. When Obama becomes the unitary executive next January, just watch as our 30-percenters suddenly discover the Bill of Rights.- An absolutely disgraceful move by Obama.— yobill626
- Will, why are you still here? I thought you were off writing a book.— thelastRepublicaninPhilly
The difference is, Obama will wiretap the rich for the war against poverty, instead of wiretapping terrorists for the war against Islamic kookery. Same stuff, different priorities.— Mr. Smith- ".....the biggest drip was one you were ecstatic over just a few weeks ago Will..." . . . . . . . . . Xi Jah, I'm guessing that you're a strict constructionist, in which case you're right. Only about half of all non-citizens have unalienable rights under the constitution . . . . those that qualify as men. By the way, are we still fighting World War II? That's the last war that Congress authorized the President to wage.
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- "The difference is, Obama will wiretap the rich for the war against poverty..." ---}}}} Wow! As hard as it might be to believe, apparently the frightwing conspiracy theories are getting even more implausible by the day. Does anyone think that might be a sign of desperation? Ya' think?— Talking point sleuth
- Hmmm, America was attacked on 9/11 and we realized changes had to be made. The president saw the folly of the FISA court and increased our surveillance to stop that from ever happening again (hasn't happened since and not for a lack of trying). The prosecution of the original WTC bombers did not do anything to keep us safe, in fact many argue that lots of classified information was released that hindered our ability to stop the terrorists. The NY Times released an article stating that we could trace Bin Laden's cell phone communication, oddly the phone went dead went the article was published. Constitutional rights were granted to terrorists in gitmo and they are going to get civilian trials in the United States. Obama still thinks we can prosecute these terrorists like common criminals. Obama, the liberal media and the courts just don't get it. If we don't stop them, they'll get us all killed.— thelastRepublicaninPhilly
- I like this bill. Most of America likes this bill. The vast majority of politicians agree it is a necessary bill. The most interesting thing about regarding this bill is that Obama flat out lied to his supporters about his position. Pretty cynical stuff for such a new kind of politician. (Brand is a great pickup but he only has a few years left. Here's hoping his legs hold up long enough to give us a couple exciting seasons.)— bon
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
E-mail Will by clicking here.
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