S.2453

What with wars in the Middle East, contested elections in Mexico, volcanoes erupting and the imminent threat of a bird flu pandemic... not to mention phone taps in Clarence House, global warming and 9-11 movies...

Do you have any idea what is going on in the great halls of the US capitol?

Here’s one thing: S.2453, the National Security Surveillance Act of 2006, brought to you by VP Dick Cheney and Senator Arlen Specter. It was introduced in the Senate in March of this year.

If S.2453 becomes law, what it will effectively do is make FISA and the Fourth Amendment optional for the “president”. That is not an exaggeration. The government would be able to spy on and search our homes and businesses without warrants or any sort of judicial control. Can you say data-mining? We would not be able to challenge any act of government spying before an independent court. Call it a war on terror, call it what you want. It still looks like good old-fashioned fascism to me.

Here’s another thing: HR 5825, the Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act, introduced last month by 10 representatives in the House. Under HR 5825, in the event of a terrorist attack in The America, FISA and the Fourth Amendment would cease to exist for a period of 45 days, which period could be renewed for an additional 45 days – over and over and over again. Ad infinitum, in fact.

These bills are a serious problem. They represent direct attacks on our Constitution and our liberty – concepts that Americans once held dear, and some of us still do. Who the fuck elected these morons?!!

For more information on the bills and how to take action, please click on the “Stop the Surveillance Bills” button in the sidebar.