NSA "does not need court authorization to listen to domestic phone calls"

[Team Sergeant]

Just when you thought it was over..... This needs to end immediately and someone needs to answer for ignoring the US Constitution.


NSA spying flap extends to contents of U.S. phone calls
by Declan McCullagh
June 15, 2013 4:39 PM PDT

National Security Agency discloses in secret Capitol Hill briefing that thousands of analysts can listen to domestic phone calls. That authorization appears to extend to e-mail and text messages too.

The National Security Agency has acknowledged in a new classified briefing that it does not need court authorization to listen to domestic phone calls, a participant said.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, disclosed on Thursday that during a secret briefing to members of Congress, he was told that the contents of a phone call could be accessed "simply based on an analyst deciding that."

If the NSA wants "to listen to the phone," an analyst's decision is sufficient, without any other legal authorization required, Nadler said he learned. "I was rather startled," said Nadler, an attorney and congressman who serves on the House Judiciary committee.

Not only does this disclosure shed more light on how the NSA's formidable eavesdropping apparatus works domestically, it also suggests the Justice Department has secretly interpreted federal surveillance law to permit thousands of low-ranking analysts to eavesdrop on phone calls.

Cont:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57...s-phone-calls/

[SF_BHT]

Someone has their info all F$&d up. They can not and do not. Bet he's was snoozing during a brieffing and has foreign mixed up with domestic...

[ddoering]

The arrogance and complete disregard for the Constitution is astounding.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by ddoering

The arrogance and complete disregard for the Constitution is astounding.

Most transparent and law abiding Administration in history, yo?

TR

[awisewon]

It all makes you wonder if we even really have a constitution any more and its not wonder the public is so full of mistrust and anger. But far worse is it makes a total mockery of all those who served and all our fallen. The over 200 yrs of innocent bloodshed heartache labor and sweat by not just our good people that serve/ed in our armed services. It took Team work to build this nation the labors and heartaches of both the military populations and the civilian populations that kept the supplies coming and kept the home front preserved. The question is will it end or will it destroy us from within because that is the clear path we are heading down the dead end street to no place but self destruction if we don't get off this path sometime soon. Civil unrest is everywhere and not just here at home many nations of people know their nation is co dependent on the US and what effects the people here effects them to in negative form we fall so do they.

[Badger52]

Transparency. People keep reporting that clothes are being plucked off the Emperor but they still seem to find him sartorially resplendent.

Civilly worded subpoenas, civilly worded letters expressing displeasure, productive meetings with smiles & gladhanding, and everything pushed off to the next prime-time news cycle (media who are co-conspirators in the placating). I don't see a tipping point yet. Does anyone think these things will go gently into the night? The admin has already doubled-down on their marketing as to the value of anything they do, regardless of the temporary outcry. ("temporary" being a word they count on; new revelations are distractors for the previous trespasses.)

[ddoering]

Chances are that Congress couldn't even remove him if they wanted to. He'd just say " No. "

[pcfixer]

Remember the words: "Fundamental Transformation of America"!

Nothing else to say.

[Dusty]

Think it's bad, now? What happens if the dems get both sides next year?

The only straight up way out of this trouble is to negate the dems' clout.

We have to keep the House and gain the Senate, or we're out of power, completely. The Country will be 'fundamentally transformed' beyond repair.

Anybody who's not on AD should put both shoulders behind the candidates of their choice starting yesterday, locally and nationally.

Any energy that can be spared should be put into support of non-dems, providing you can do it legally.

2014 is the crux.

You're going to have to learn to love Jeb Bush within the next couple of years, too.

[sinjefe]

Originally Posted by Dusty

Anybody who's not on AD should put both shoulders behind the candidates of their choice starting yesterday, locally and nationally.

By this you really mean candidate of your choice? Just tell me who to vote for, Dusty.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by sinjefe

By this you really mean candidate of your choice? Just tell me who to vote for, Dusty.

I can't do that, Chief.

I can recommend any illiberal.

[craigepo]

It is a little scary how much power federal and state administrative agencies have, and how little adult supervision is in place.

[badshot]

Was wondering why no one responded to my same post on 6/16 under the NSA metadata thread.

Thanks for bringing it to everyone's attention TS...

Their excuses are shallow, weak, and unbelievable. Their actions ARE unconstitutional.

[helicom6]

Dusty, thank you for your good service to this country! I would only point out that the systematic listening of U.S. citizens was created by Bush under the Patriot Act. Not only that, but its, the Patriot Act, has been extended by the congress and has bipartisan support. However, there are many dems and repubs that believe this continues to be an over step by the government. I agree this is in violation of our constitution, but we can't call one side or the other bad, evil, or disingenuous because the matter has become a severe, yes severe, social issue about our entire government. An issue that supercedes all forms of government, right left and the like, to what do we, as citizens have the power to change or accept from our government as a whole.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by helicom6

Dusty, thank you for your good service to this country! I would only point out that the systematic listening of U.S. citizens was created by Bush under the Patriot Act. Not only that, but its, the Patriot Act, has been extended by the congress and has bipartisan support.

I'm not sure Bush's vision for these programs has been realized. Maybe this one as well as DHS as a whole will turn out to be a Pandora's box.

We can either lie down, curl up in the fetal position, stick our thumbs in our mouths and let the leaves cover us up-or we can keep slugging it out with the people who are taking our liberty away from us a piece at a time.

We need both sides of Congress next year as well as the whole bag of noodles in 2016, with illiberals voted into the leadership slots. Otherwise, this Country won't resemble anything like what it was designed to be within 8 years.