ACLU Sues to Stop Illegal Spying on Americans, Saying President is Not Above the Law

PRN News ^ | January 17, 12:01 am ET | Unknown

[Jay777]

Prominent Journalists, Nonprofit Groups, Terrorism Experts and Community Advocates Join First Lawsuit to Challenge New NSA Spying Program

NEW YORK, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Saying that the Bush administration's illegal spying on Americans must end, the American Civil Liberties Union today filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against the National Security Agency seeking to stop a secret electronic surveillance program that has been in place since shortly after September 11, 2001. "President Bush may believe he can authorize spying on Americans without judicial or Congressional approval, but this program is illegal and we intend to put a stop to it," said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. "The current surveillance of Americans is a chilling assertion of presidential power that has not been seen since the days of Richard Nixon."

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a group of prominent journalists, scholars, attorneys, and national nonprofit organizations (including the ACLU) who frequently communicate by phone and e-mail with people in the Middle East. Because of the nature of their calls and e-mails, they believe their communications are being intercepted by the NSA under the spying program. The program is disrupting their ability to talk with sources, locate witnesses, conduct scholarship, and engage in advocacy. The program, which was first disclosed by The New York Times on December 16, has sparked national and international furor and has been condemned by lawmakers across the political spectrum.

[Deb]

Exactly right. It's junk justice to keep the issue alive in the press so Chris Matthews and George Clooney have something to bitch about.

[Libertina]

They say the president is not above the law, but I'm pretty sure that the ACLU feels it is!

[defenderSD]

Also, as far as I know, statements by liberal groups that this NSA program is illegal are totally false and amount to nothing more than a cheap poltical propaganda campaign to smear the Bush Administration. I'm afraid we've reached the stage where liberal groups and many democrat politicians have essentially no concern about honesty and factual accuracy. Their political strategy has become identical to the crude, raw strategy of the Clinton/Gore administration, which is simply to do anything to win and get what they want, using tactics that are not grounded in any principles or morality. We have to really start fighting to preserve a viable, relatively honest political process in the US.

[futurerulerkch]

For chirst sake is there no one and nothing those monkey sucking liberals won't sue?!

[dalight]

Is more like group think.. where they keep reinforcing each other's fantasies.. so that they cannot even tell what the truth is anymore.

[infidel dog]

Find the leaders of this organization and introduce small pieces of lead/copper alloy into their brains. Problem solved.

[dalight]

I agree.. this is awesome.. it should be bucked right up to the Supreme Court for immediate disposition.. and that would grab some interesting headlines.

[defenderSD]

There's definitely some of that happening too.

[p23185]

These people are not only traitors, they are the enemy within.

I use this whenever possible because so many people don't know what the term refers to Fifth Column

[p23185]

Have people ever tried suing the ACLU in an offensive way. I'm talking about suing the organization itself, funding, operation, tax status, etc...Anything?

I have heard many times before the ACLU takes Federal Funding. Does anyone know if this is a fact? IF it is true, we are truly a nation of idiots, allowing the Federal Government to finance its own destruction. Please someone tell me this is an urban legend.

[right-wingin_It]

Jay says they don't get federal funding (well not directly at least). I'm not so convinced though...Every left wing group out ther has found a way to subsidize their cause. Dirty crooks.

[right-wingin_It]

Ping (#70&71)

[Fruit of the Spirit]

I heard (I think on the Factory) that the ACLU get $75M to re-train seniors for job placements and their ratio is about 20%. To me, that speaks volumes about the ACLU!

[Auntie Dem]

How about the rest of us file a class action lawsuit against the ACLU and their clients in this case for endangering us in the war on terrorism?

We have just as much evidence they have collaborated with the enemy as they have evidence they've been spied on.

If they can use discovery to find out IF they've been spied on, we can use discovery to find out IF they've collaborated with the enemy.

[Beagle8U]

You should read the full page editorial that M.U.C.C. put on their last page in the Feb. issue of Michigan Out of Doors Magazine.

A full page bashing President Bush for spying on innocent Americans without warrants, court orders, or the approval of Congress.

This is to be expected of liberal left wing moonbat groups, not a nonprofit,nonpartisan,Tax deductible Organization whose stated mission is to represent sportsmans clubs on Hunting/Fishing, and issues dealing with the environmental issues in Michigan.

I'm not sure how to do it, but they need to get Freeped until they lose their nonprofit status.

Michigan United Conservation Clubs as been leaning to the left for the past 5 years or so, but they have tipped over now into a bucket of crap that they printed and signed their name to.

We might not be able to get rid of the ACLU yet, but I'll bet Freepers could cause M.U.C.C. more problems than they ever dreamed.

[Cindy]

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "WHO'S REALLY BEHIND THE ACLU LAWSUIT?" by Debbie Schlussel (January 20, 2006)