Thread: Judge rules warrantless taps unconstitutional...

DETROIT - A federal judge ruled Thursday that the government's warrantless wiretapping program is unconstitutional and ordered an immediate halt to it.



U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor in Detroit became the first judge to strike down the National Security Agency's program, which she says violates the rights to free speech and privacy as well as the separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution.

"Plaintiffs have prevailed, and the public interest is clear, in this matter. It is the upholding of our Constitution," Taylor wrote in her 43-page opinion.

About. Damn. Time.

Judge nixes warrantless surveillance - Yahoo! News

Wonder what teh administration's response will be?
But yeah, it IS about damn time!

The problem is that if an agency conducts secret surveillance by design then how would we know that the judge's orders are being followed? They could simply keep the wiretaps in place. I wouldn't put it past the exec to do it since the higher-ups obviously didn't care about the Constitution in the first place.

Security is one thing; if there's just cause to eavesdrop then pursue it. Usurping basic rights in the name of security is another and shouldn't be tolerated.

Also:

Also in a statement, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, said, "This has become another unfortunate example of how White House misdirection, arrogance and mismanagement have needlessly complicated our goal of protecting the American people.

"By following the Constitution and our laws, we can protect both our security and our American values," said Leahy, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tennessee, said he backs the government's appeal of the ruling.

"Terrorists are the real threat to our constitutional and democratic freedoms, not the law enforcement and intelligence tools used to keep America safe," Frist said in a statement.

"We need to strengthen, not weaken, our ability to foil terrorist plots before they can do us harm. I encourage swift appeal by the government and quick reversal of this unfortunate decision."

No, Sen. Frist, the real terrorists are in the White House.

If the program is illegal, and, was under the order of GWB could it possibly be grounds for impeachment if he was found to have not only broken the law but have failed to protect (ironically) the Constitution by violating it?

chaulk one up for the AMERICAN PEOPLE

Originally Posted by surasak

If the program is illegal, and, was under the order of GWB could it possibly be grounds for impeachment if he was found to have not only broken the law but have failed to protect (ironically) the Constitution by violating it?

I'm still amazed that he hasn't been impeached for a multitude of illegal acts against his own people and that of other nations.

It seems amazing that Clinton can be impeached for having a liason with a minger (fair enough ), but Bush hasn't been impeached for being a terrorist and the biggest threat to world peace in the last 50 years.

this illegal and immoral house of cards is starting to collapse--- guantanamo, this wire tapping, rendition, torture, etc...

cheney recently hired the lawyer clinton used during his impeachment proceedings.

however, even if the dems take control of both house i don't believe an impeachment will get off the ground....too many moderate dems in the senate, the US is at 'war', and the american public don't really have an appetite for it right now. bush should expect to be cesured though.