How can the FOREIGN Intelligence Surveillance Court

[Nuclear Unicorn]

be used to authorize an exclusively domestic operation?

Serious question.

[Xipe Totec]

1. That's classified. nt

[1-Old-Man]

2. Better question, why does that Court exist at all?

Law practiced in secrete is no law at all.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

3. Cuz the presidency is the foreign policy and defense branch of the government

Always has been and probably should be unless we want the Senator McCain's of the world pre-empting the WH.

Foreigners in foreign lands, the debate goes, aren't entitled to constitutional protections. I can understand that argument but the counter-argument says the power unchecked would lead to abuse if a president used foreign surveillance as an excuse to indirectly spy on US citizens. Lo and behold the counter-arguers were right beyond their wildest, dread imaginings.

FISA, if I recall correctly, was a compromise between congress and past presidents. If the Presidents (plural deliberate) agree to use the FISC set-up by congress then congress agreed to not impeach Presidents over everything the partisans don't approve of.

Law practiced in secrete is no law at all.

I know this was an innocent typo and I apologize for taking advantage of that fact but I'm sure there's a "slimy lawyer" joke in there somewhere.

[1-Old-Man]

4. Sorry about the extra e

One of the worst combinations on earth is mild dyslexia mixed with a sticky keyboard and old arthritic hands. Never the less I won't go back and fix (edit) it - lets face it, you caught me red-handede.

:~)