Spy Court Judge Quits In Protest (FISA court)

compost ^ | December 21, 2005 | Carol D. Leonnig and Dafna Linzer

[Lancey Howard]

Very good point.

[pierrem15]

Does a Federal judge have to answer to a subpoena?

[Just A Nobody]

I enjoyed this little tale.

http://www.mcsm.org/secretmeeting.html

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Things are really heating up .....good for Richard Miniter with his new book coming out:

Critics Buying Into Media Myths
Bush Right to Stick to His Guns on NSA

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

Critics Buying Into Media Myths

Bush Right to Stick to His Guns on NSA

Posted Dec 21, 2005

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Save 34%

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The New York Times has attacked President Bush for allowing the National Security Agency (NSA) to monitor the activity of suspected terrorists. But investigative reporter Richard Miniter shoots back: “Surveillance of suspected terrorists is no more spying than police staking out a crack house is spying.” This attack by the Times is just the latest media myth against the War on Terror, says Miniter, veteran investigative reporter and author of Disinformation: 22 Media Myths That Undermine the War on Terror.

Furthermore, says Miniter, “The U.S. government is not ‘spying’ on Americans. The NSA is only targeting people who have received a phone call or an email from a known al Qaeda terrorist. People who merely oppose the Bush administration and are not in contact with terrorist groups have not had their phones tapped.”

“Let’s set the record straight: the Bush Administration is not violating the rights of Americans,” said Miniter. “Very few of the 300 people targeted for surveillance by the NSA are actually U.S. citizens. The overwhelming majority are what lawyers call ‘U.S. persons,’ a catchall term that includes legal and illegal residents of the United States.”

The FBI and the CIA have been using similar surveillance techniques against mobsters and spies for the past 30 years. Following the 9/11 attacks, these two agencies set their sights on terrorists inside the United States. To date, more than 600 suspects have been arrested and two attacks inside the U.S. have been thwarted.

In his controversial new book, Miniter has gathered information from over 100 interviews with high-level sources around the globe and sifted through the written record to expose media myths from the Left and the Right.

Also in Disinformation, Miniter reveals:

• Why Canada is the real border-control threat to the United States
• Why racial profiling will not stop another massive terrorist attack
• Why Iraq is not another Vietnam
• Why Halliburton did not make a fortune off of Iraq
• Why poverty does not cause terrorism.

FREE Chapter Offer:
The intelligence revealed in Disinformation is vital. The publisher (Regnery Publishing, a sister company of HUMAN EVENTS) has agreed to send you one key chapter — FREE. Simply indicate below the email address to which you want the chapter sent and you will receive it in a matter of minutes.

[oceanview]

hey, someone has to be the optimist here - it might as well be you, I just don't do it well.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Just a thought ..... could he have been 'asked' to resign? Bush did say the other day the Justice Dept. had 'prodecures' to look into how these highly classified leaks came about.

This sure has a fishy smell to it alright....you might be right!

[blogblogginaway]

Subpoena Regulations Adopted by Judicial Conference

http://www.uscourts.gov/courts/regulations.htm

[Lancey Howard]

"If there was no explanation, how does anyone know it was in protest."

Excellent question. The answer is that the scumbag Washington Post took the usual liberties with their spurious speculation and went full blast with a deliberately deceptive headline designed to take a jab at Bush. Those scumbags at the Wasington Post of no shame. None.

Here's from their story, if you choose to believe what they print. (Notice all the weasel words):

....sent a letter to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. late Monday notifying him of his resignation without providing an explanation.

Two associates familiar with his decision said yesterday that Robertson privately expressed deep concern that the warrantless surveillance program authorized by the president in 2001 was legally questionable and may have tainted the FISA court's work.

[Cboldt]

I'd like to know how it is a setback for the President.

It plays into the meme that the NSA searches are unconstiutional.

[Cboldt]

Thought the identities of these FISA Judges was classified?

Nope - I see a post ahead of mine gave the list. This stuff is easy to find.
Curiosity is fun ;-)

[Lancey Howard]

Thanks for that link! I remember reading that here years ago. Like I said - - Robertson is just another corrupt Clinton appointment.

[Cboldt]

If Bush allows the RINO's in the Senate to be stampeded by the media into supporting investigations, the media and the Dems will try to turn this into another Watergate and get him impeached.

Tough issue. I'd say the approach is to stonewall Congress and let "aggrieved parties sue in open court." That provides a check for untrustworthy presidents.

[Republican Wildcat]

I said that in my post.

In any event, nothing you have said negates the fact that Roberts is a Clinton appointee.

[jeltz25]

Perhaps, but he's also been on the FISA court that has approved all but 4 of the 5700+ requestst the Bush admin has made. I don't think anyone can say witha straight face that the FISC is some liberal outfit.

BTW, here's a quote from that FR Hero and Mr. Able Danger himself Rep. Curt Weldon:

"It certainly wasn't my intent to give the administration the right to tap the phone conversations of Americans. I don't believe they have the right to spy on American citizens"

So, it's not like this is just some leftist plot or anything.

Just today it came out that the FBI has been spying on 150+ domestic groups. We may support that while Bush is in office and he's going after liberals. But I don't think we'd be so keen on Hillary or Kerry spying on the NRA, the ACU, or any other conservative group.

Just google COINTELPRO, Operation CHAOS, and Operation SHAMROCK to see where this can lead.

[Republican Wildcat]

Robertson, that is.

[connectthedots]

Short answer is 'yes'.

[stocksthatgoup]

Robertson, James
Born 1938 in Cleveland, OH

Federal Judicial Service:
U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Nominated by William J. Clinton on September 14, 1994, to a seat vacated by George H. Revercomb; Confirmed by the Senate on October 7, 1994, and received commission on October 11, 1994.

Education:
Princeton University, B.A., 1959

George Washington University Law School, LL.B., 1965

Professional Career:
United States Navy Lieutenant, 1959-1964
Private practice, Washington, DC, 1965-1969
Chief counsel, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Jackson, Mississippi, 1969-1970
National director, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Washington, DC, 1970-1972
Private practice, Washington, DC, 1972-1994

Race or Ethnicity: White

Gender: Male

[stocksthatgoup]

November 08, 2004
Today's Hero: Judge James Robertson
Federal District Judge James Robertson ruled today that the Guantanamo military tribunals are illegal as constituted.

[7mmMag@LeftCoast]

If he was appointed to the FISA court by the USSC Chief Justice, did he get to keep his Federal District Court Seat?

I was kind of hoping that it meant he was off the Federal bench for good.

[tarheelswamprat]

The 'i' word is all over the lefty websites today.

That's okay. Let them. Let them wallow in it. Let them enjoy it while they can.

As for me, I have had enough, it's time for them to hear the "t" word from all of us. It's time for us to call them on their treason, and to let our so-called leaders know that if they don't have the courage to deal with it we'll replace them with someone who will.