General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: If you're OK with revelations of NSA snooping, you're part of the problem [View all]sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)a big scandal back then. That he was using the Telecoms to spy on the American people. It WAS against the law, THEN. And we were hopeful, for a while, that the law would be applied. Part of which made it necessary for the Telecoms to compensate all Americans (the amount was $1,000 or the right to sue airc) who were victims of his illegal spying by the Telecoms. The claims and law suits began almost immediately.
But then Congress came to their rescue with the FISA Bill. In an incredible move by our 'democratic government' a bill which was RETROACTIVE, remember the disbelief over that, was introduced basically rescinding the spying law BACK FAR ENOUGH to make legal what had been illegal when they did it and our Congress including many Democrats shamefully, Obama who had been outspoken against the spying, changing his mind also and voted for it.
So iow, Bush and his spying telecoms were saved from accountability under the existing law by Congress, which helpfully changed it to protect them.
It is stunning to see the lack of outrage in so short a time now, over what generated so much outrage during the Bush years, on the 'left'. It is equally stunning to see the sudden outrage from the right who were fully in support of Bush's illegal spying back then.
Partisanship is more of a threat to our freedoms than any of the attempts by government to take them away. Extreme partisans on both sides can always be counted on to support anything that is done by their 'team' making it possible for these laws to go into effect.