Who cares about FISA?

By Michelle Malkin  •  March 13, 2008 02:38 PM

In case you’ve forgotten, there still has been no permanent FISA fix thanks to obstructionist, dilly-dallying Democrats. Word on the Hill is that the GOP called for a rare secret session to discuss the matter.

The NRCC is urging citizens to sign a petition pressuring the Dems to act:

It was over three weeks ago that House Democrats allowed the terrorist surveillance program to expire, and in the dead of the night on February 16, 2008, every single American became less safe. To make matters worse, the following week the House of Representatives skipped town for a ten-day vacation, leaving the security of our nation in limbo.

Since then, Democrats have maneuvered through desperate stall tactics to block the Protect America Act, knowing that it would pass with overwhelming bipartisan support like the Senate bill did earlier in February, by a vote of 68-29. Every member of the Blue Dog Coalition, which consists of 21 moderate House Democrats wrote to House Speaker Pelosi and said “the consequences of not passing such a measure could place our national security at undue risk” (Bloomberg, 2/13/08).

Why do the House Democrats want to keep our intelligence community weak? The answer is quite simple – many House Democrats have received thousands of dollars in campaign contributions by the trial lawyer lobby, and Democrats are working hard to prolong their boon to trial lawyers, who are tying up the court system with frivolous lawsuits against telecommunications companies who carried out their patriotic duty to assist in terrorist surveillance in the wake of September 11th.

It is unconscionable that the House Democrat Leadership would play politics with our national security. The Protect America Act expired almost a month ago and has hindered our ability to intercept conversations between those linked to suspected terrorist networks.

That’s why it’s critical that you sign our petition, so we can demand the Democrats bring this legislation to the floor.

In response to the hard-hitting truth, Democrats have made outrageous claims citing the non-apparent need for the Protect America Act. Sylvestre Reyes, the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, in a letter to President Bush, stated that the intelligence community could still expand surveillance and be adequately prepared to handle any potential threats against our country. Unfortunately, the truth is much scarier.

The expired provisions under the Protect America Act do not give our intelligence community the ability to use existing certifications under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to cover future unknown threats against the United States. The Protect America Act allows the intel community the speedy and agile methods it needs to collect information on future terrorist suspects and organizations.

House GOP leader John Boehner weighs in here.

Posted in: FISA

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Comments


  1. #265933
    On March 13th, 2008 at 2:43 pm, letget said:

    I just signed, but don’t think it will do a hill of beans. The dem’s don’t care one bit of American’s security, just stuffing their pockets with lawyers money.
    L

  2. #265934
    On March 13th, 2008 at 2:44 pm, nyc123me said:

    Of course they don’t care about the US – these ‘people’ are looking out for number one, that has always been their priority.

  3. #265937
    On March 13th, 2008 at 2:46 pm, j0 said:

    I don’t ever want to hear a Democrat even say they care about the safety of this country. They are pathetic.

    I signed.

  4. #265938
    On March 13th, 2008 at 2:48 pm, BobK said:

    I signed but ditto the above.

  5. #265942
    On March 13th, 2008 at 2:51 pm, procopy said:

    Signed, but I agree… Nothing will come of it. Democraps too busy planning defeat.

  6. #265944
    On March 13th, 2008 at 2:52 pm, geminicontender said:

    Pelosi is weak. She is whipped by her own minions. She needs to wear her burka to work so we can all see her in her glory.

  7. #265945
    On March 13th, 2008 at 2:52 pm, ajmontana said:

    Keep America beautiful, spay or nueter a Democrat.

  8. #265947
    On March 13th, 2008 at 2:53 pm, geminicontender said:

    And (ajmontana) contraception for all Liberals.

  9. #265949
    On March 13th, 2008 at 2:54 pm, tre said:

    I signed, too. For all of the good it’ll do.
    But, remember, these are the same Dem’s who want to grant enemy combantants acess to our courts (so does Juan McShame). They think President needs a warrant to listen in on terrorist phone calls.
    But our troops kill people in cold blood and terrorize women and children in the dark of night.

  10. #265950
    On March 13th, 2008 at 2:56 pm, tre said:

    Keep America beautiful, spay or nueter a Democrat.

    They already don’t have any balls.

  11. #265952
    On March 13th, 2008 at 2:58 pm, John Ansell said:

    Bush Spies, Al Qaeda dies

  12. #265955
    On March 13th, 2008 at 3:02 pm, meatpieandtatters said:

    #1…ahem….there’s a whole lot of money stuffing going on, rather indiscriminately I might add, by both dems and repubs. Go to DC and visit with the representatives, as I’ve done, and you can smell the lawyerly odors everywhere.

    Then, when you get back to your own community, visit your local court house and the same odors are palpably detectable. What happens in DC is felt everywhere throughout the US sans a terrorist assault.

  13. #265960
    On March 13th, 2008 at 3:05 pm, gandolphxx said:

    I suspect that nothing will happen between now and the election.
    Adviser to Clinton Meets With President of Syria
    Obama Adviser Leads Delegation to Damascus

    Cool it nutjobs and Iraq and the rest is yours after we get in office … deal?

    It is obvious that the dems have ben bought big time, lawyers or others?

  14. #265965
    On March 13th, 2008 at 3:12 pm, terrig said:

    Who cares about FISA?

    Not the dims.

  15. #265966
    On March 13th, 2008 at 3:14 pm, trailortrash said:

    signed for all the good it will do.

  16. #265986
    On March 13th, 2008 at 3:46 pm, Chuck said:

    I am really tired of Americans. 40 years ago you told us military guys not to come home because we were unwanted murderers, etc. I should have listened. I have now watched this country go to the liberal dogs. I hope the terroists pop a nuke right here in downtown Minneapolis so I can watch it from the office window. It would be poetic justice here in the Peoples Republic of Minnesota. America has become just another third world country, just richer (for now).

  17. #265989
    On March 13th, 2008 at 3:50 pm, lgm said:

    I blame Bush (there’s a surprise!). He vetoed a FISA bill because it did not give retroactive immunity for possible criminal activity. He basically said: “I refuse to protect America unless you allow certain illegal activities.”

    You call it courage, I call it blackmail. He wants to enforce the law but refuses to follow the law.

  18. #265991
    On March 13th, 2008 at 3:51 pm, Boomer said:

    I just signed for what good it will do in getting Queen Pelosi off her dead backside to do something to protect the citizens of this country. They have been playing two commercials on talk radio in the Phoenix area one urging people to contact the local Congress critter to vote for it and one from the ACLU that makes my blood boil every time I hear it. I wonder who will sue the ACLU and House Democrats when the next mass casualty attack swings into motion during this intentional blinding of our intelligence capabilities.

  19. #265993
    On March 13th, 2008 at 3:53 pm, trailortrash said:

    On March 13th, 2008 at 3:50 pm, lgm said:

    I blame Bush

    wow, didnt see this one coming at all…

  20. #266020
    On March 13th, 2008 at 4:28 pm, J S Ragman said:

    I don’t blame Bush (there’s a surprise!) He vetoed a FISA bill because it did not give retroactive immunity to protect patriotic companies from frivolous lawsuits. He basically said: “I refuse to go along with this sham effort to protect America while leaving companies exposed to overzealous legal action.”

    I call that courage, some people might call it blackmail. He wants to sign into law a document with real teeth.

  21. #266021
    On March 13th, 2008 at 4:29 pm, bengals9 said:

    Signed.

    It’ll take an electoral catastrophe to wrestle HRH Pelosi out of the Speaker’s Throne.

    Why the President didn’t call a special session and pull all these lying crapweasels back to DC to TCB is beyond me.

  22. #266028
    On March 13th, 2008 at 4:35 pm, SpeakEasy said:

    No surprise lgm, you want protection as long as someone else takes the risks.

    putz.

  23. #266029
    On March 13th, 2008 at 4:37 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    Lgm, the idiot, is regurgitating the same post from last time.

    Three more time (as it take at least three time to get past the rocks).

    Not one case of “illegal activity” has been brought forth.
    Not one case of “illegal activity” has been brought forth.
    Not one case of “illegal activity” has been brought forth.

    This “illegal activity” is just a dodge and you are just blowing smoke. If the communications companies are not give immunity, the lawyers will have a field day.

    But you don’t care much about facts do you?

    Please, lgm, shut me up and produce one case of “illegal activity”.

  24. #266031
    On March 13th, 2008 at 4:39 pm, Click said:

    I certainly agree with the sentiment, but I can’t help but be a little suspicious of how NRCC might benefit from this.

    What chances would there be that they might use the resulting information list for NRCC solicitation or a related purpose?

    Michelle, has this been vetted to not cause this kind of unsolicited future attention?

  25. #266034
    On March 13th, 2008 at 4:42 pm, SpeakEasy said:

    On March 13th, 2008 at 4:39 pm, Click said:
    I certainly agree with the sentiment, but I can’t help but be a little suspicious of how NRCC might benefit from this.

    How about drawing a distinction between the two parties on the issue of national security?

  26. #266054
    On March 13th, 2008 at 5:06 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    Okay, for people who just don’t get it. No immunity will get you:

    *****Cue commercial*****

    Have you received an unsolicited email from another country? Have you received a phone call and you didn’t know who the caller was? Have you ever made an international phone call or sent an email to another country? Have you ever called:

    Walmart, a bakery, a company that sells fertilizer, a pharmacy, a gas station or a convenience store?

    Have you ever bought a firearm?

    Have you ever bought anything from eBay?

    If you have, you may be entitled to damages. Call As_hat, Butthead, Dewy, Cheatham and Howe Attorneys at law at 1-800-mymoney for your free consultation. We are keeping you safe for unwarranted wiretaps.

    **************************

    Then, say goodbye to your free minutes and long distance first. After that, watch your long distance bill go through the roof. Internet access? Doubles in cost overnight. The costs for every frivolous complaint will have to be absorbed by someone and it will be the consumer that suffers. Think health insurance.

  27. #266057
    On March 13th, 2008 at 5:10 pm, John Ansell said:

    #24, great point, the terrorist want to kill Americans. Patriotic Republicans and the Unpatriotic Democrats, like LGM. (I still would like to know what he’s got against Gillette)

  28. #266058
    On March 13th, 2008 at 5:13 pm, rightisright said:

    And does anyone wonder why lawyers are so disrespected in American society?

  29. #266093
    On March 13th, 2008 at 7:18 pm, Sergeant Tim said:

    As former federal prosecutor Andy McCarthy stated, since Pelosi let the Protect Amercia Act expire, we need probable cause to spy on terrorists:

    Under FISA, emergency monitoring may begin only after the Attorney General himself determines that (a) “an emergency situation exists” requiring the commencement of surveillance “before an order authorizing such surveillance can with due diligence be obtained,” and (b) all the factual requirements for a judicial FISA order exist (i.e., there is probable cause that the target is an agent of a foreign power, there are no alternative investigative means by which the same information can be obtained, and all the necessary officials have given the required certifications). That can take a lot of time — the Attorney General of the United States is not out on the battlefield in Iraq, and a lot of other people in the varying chains of command have to sign off before between the time a Marine in the field realizes there’s an emergency and the presentation of the emergency to the AG.

  30. #266097
    On March 13th, 2008 at 7:26 pm, slp said:

    Everyone who has a Democratic congressman should write their congressman and ask how much the trial lawyers paid for their vote to scuttle FISA.

    Judas received 30 pieces of silver. The trial lawyers probably paid a lot less for the congressman’s vote.

  31. #266099
    On March 13th, 2008 at 7:42 pm, slp said:

    Here’s how much my congressman cares about my opinion:

    Dear Friend:
    Thank you for contacting me on an issue of importance to you.

    Please know that I value all letters my office receives. They allow me to better understand the concerns of the people I represent. Unfortunately, due the ease with which electronic mail, postcards and fax machines allow for the generation of “form” letters, some drafted by a third party, I no longer have the resources to respond to those communications. However, be assured that I review a copy of every form letter my office receives and I will continue to respond to letters sent by constituents who have written a personal correspondence.

    Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.

    Sincerely,

    ED PASTOR
    Member of Congress

    So…if you don’t send your message in an envelope with a stamp on it, Ed Pastor doesn’t really care.

  32. #266106
    On March 13th, 2008 at 8:23 pm, John Ansell said:

    SLP, Pastor needs to be voted out of office. Plain and simple.

  33. #266120
    On March 13th, 2008 at 9:10 pm, zorro said:

    The democraps keep proving to us that they will not and cannot protect our country. Most are flat out traitors, the rest are corrupt cowards.

    I have signed the petition and called Jason Altmire’s (D-PA) office for the fifth time. There is one thing I learned about our rookie congressman, he hates you Michelle. Won’t say why, just hates you.

  34. #266125
    On March 13th, 2008 at 9:26 pm, ajmontana said:

    zorro, i think it would be safe to say anyone with a ‘D’ after their name prolly doesnt like any of us much. especially now that they can be exposed so easily, and are.

  35. #266171
    On March 13th, 2008 at 11:05 pm, garyt said:

    LGM I hope your city or neighborhood isn’t attacked because of this fisa deal. When you die how many other Americans you want to take with you? Do you assume your city will never be attacked? What fools people have become.

  36. #266371
    On March 14th, 2008 at 11:06 am, DBNinKY said:

    “…House Democrats allowed the terrorist surveillance program to expire, and in the dead of the night on February 16, 2008, every single American became less safe.”

    On the night in question, Pelosi and Pals (the Dems) explicitly demonstrated just how little they care for the safety and security of the citizens of this country.

    By allowing FISA to lapse, the House Democrats not only shut-off America’s porch lights, they left the doors and windows ajar before tucking her head under the covers!

    We are vulnerable right now, dangerously so, and it’s the House Dems that have placed us in this situation – solely for the sake of winning an election.

    The Democrats are shameful.

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