In August, the ACLU asked the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to release “documents regarding the Bush administration’s warrantless wiretapping program. “In a rare public opinion” today, the Court ruled that “the public has no right to view the documents because they deal with the clandestine workings of national security agencies.” The AP reports:
Writing for the court, U.S. District Judge John D. Bates refused. Releasing the documents would reveal closely guarded secrets that enemies could used to evade detection or disrupt intelligence activities, he said. [...]
Bates acknowledged that the public would benefit from seeing the documents. The decision-making process would be understood, he said, and public oversight could help safeguard against government abuse. But the dangers of releasing such sensitive materials far outweigh that public benefit, Bates said.
riiiigggttttt……what ya don’t know can’t hurt ya….uhuh.I’m beginning to wonder if this crap will ever end…The only thing that CAN hurt the country is not knowing what the hell their up to.
December 11th, 2007 at 3:54 pmFrank M, the self-avowed fascist, has spoken. Sieg hiel, Frank.
December 11th, 2007 at 3:55 pmAt one time this was a government of the people, by the people, for the people. We the people have every RIGHT to know what our government is doing. If we are a democracy then that is the most fundamental right there is. There can be no democracy without transparency. These judges are the last line of defense for the criminals who are violating the Constitution in their zeal for power.
December 11th, 2007 at 3:56 pmbeing that they work for us…..and they’re dismantling the Constitution and taking some hard shots at the Bill of Rights……..we do have the “Right to Know”.If it didn’t violate any laws..it wouldn’t be an issue.
December 11th, 2007 at 3:58 pmAnd let the “public has the right to know!†cries begin…
The public has the right to try to find out, but there’s no such thing as “the right to knowâ€.
Comment by Frank M — December 11, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
December 11th, 2007 at 3:58 pmThere is a “right to know” if laws are indeed being broken , you Chimpy leg humping stooge………
Well that’s nice circular logic Mr. Bates. We can’t know, but if we knew we’d understand why we can’t know. Try us. We’re grown ups. It’s worth it–let us know. I’d say if it made the public realize that this is truly an EXISTENTIAL STRUGGLE, then getting the whole country unified would far outweigh tipping off Osama that one of the guys on his friends list is really an AT&T bot that is tracking his keystrokes.
December 11th, 2007 at 3:59 pmeh,
its just the fourth amendment. The neocons won’t get pissed until the government shreds the 2nd.
December 11th, 2007 at 3:59 pmOT but important. Could our next stop in the great war on terra be here.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:01 pmMakes one wonder exactly what is in those papers.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:03 pmFrank, after reading a few of your other recent comments on the other threads, I am upgrading you from self-avowed fascist to self-avowed Nazi.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:04 pmThe public has the right to try to find out, but there’s no such thing as “the right to knowâ€.
Comment by Frank M — December 11, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
That’s hysterical, Frank. Some of your best comedic work. How is the jackboot polishing coming? Get ‘em all shiny yet?
December 11th, 2007 at 4:36 pmSome things must remain secret, and overwhelmingly, the American people know this.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — December 11, 2007 @ 4:35 pm
Ah, it’s the voice of the people again, having scampered away earlier rather than deal with responses to his bullsh!t about the “christian nation”.
Your psychic powers are amazing, Bigfoot.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:37 pmGee, here all along I thought the government worked for us. Silly me, I forgot this is Nazi Germany.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:37 pmthe public has no right to view the documents because they deal with the clandestine workings of national security agencies.â€
We have already settled into a banana republic democracy.How long before they start rounding us up for merely posting opposing thoughts.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:41 pmUltimately, the majority of Americans will have no problem with this decision.
Some things must remain secret, and overwhelmingly, the American people know this.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — December 11, 2007 @ 4:35 pm
Are you suggesting that the majority of Americans are okay with this crappy president and his garbage administration being allowed to break the law ?
Umm , no , nitwit , they are not.
It is only you 20%’ers that are okay with it , and that is despicable and contemptible ; tell me you chuckleheads from aboriginal backwaters would be okay with a Dem president doing this , and especially if it was Bill Clinton ……
You hypocritical bags of crap.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:45 pmWhen you pay your taxes, you pay the salaries of people who say you have no right to know what they do. Great system.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:46 pmWe have the right to pay royally , but we have no right to know what we are paying for.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:51 pmLook at what you are writing. About the fact that in 2007 something relating to the NSA is classified, just like practically everything about it has been for more than 50 years.
If I asked you to be more hysterical with less reason to be, what could you possibly come up with ?
This was as predictable as finding out the Dept of Fisheries deals with fishing. No doubt nobody but Bush supporters understands why that is either.
Comment by Kilo — December 11, 2007 @ 4:59 pm
If I asked you that based upon their history of lying and deception since being sworn into office , what is it that makes any statement issued by the Chimpy administration (and it’s always with the caveat that it’s “classified” and/or falls into the “executive privilege” category) even remotely believable ?
This administration has absolutely no credibility whatsoever with the majority of Americans (or the rest of the world for that matter) ; just because you , an empty-headed 20%’er still suffering from Chimpy Adoration Syndrome believes in them , is not proof or worth anything other than spit in a cup , K-YBoy.
December 11th, 2007 at 5:07 pmDocuments that are deemed classified can remain classified for seventy five years or more. These tapes would have been deemed classified because of the nature of them. They shouldn’t have destroyed them. But since The Stae Department has a history of leaking documents and tapes that are classified, what choice does the inteligence community have?The witch hunt mentality that many on the left have,creates this. You can blame the media as well. A responsible media would never air these tapes. But we all know how responsible they are. Mc Carthy has nothing on some of you. Cue the hysterics in 1..2..3…
Comment by Southern Man — December 11, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
A responsible and above-board president and administration wouldn’t be as secretive , partisan , dishonest and stupid as this one , SouthernSpam.
BTW
Your assertion that the “left” has a “witch hunt” mentality is almost as laughable as your stupidity and ignorance is.
When did the “left” ever piss away $70 million dollars on a witch hunt of a sitting president over a blow job ?
Ignorance is not a virtue , you mental furball ; go get a clue , you GOP/Chimpy nut hugging stooge.
December 11th, 2007 at 5:11 pmHello! What the hell would you expect from a Bush appointee?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_D._Bates
December 11th, 2007 at 5:12 pmIgnorance is not a virtue , you mental furball ; go get a clue , you GOP/Chimpy nut hugging stooge.
Comment by MCMetal — December 11, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
Congress has done nothing but investigate. That’s why their ratings are an all time low and worse than Bush’s. How about some substantive talk on issues? How about some healthy debate? No!! They investigate a president that is on his way out next year, and by the way, can’t run again. Why aren’t they discussing S.S. MC? Because all they care about is what the lunatic fringe of their party wants. They don’t want us talking issues. It’s easier to deflect the issues of the day because of a lame duck president. It’s no different than Clintons last year in office. So the democrats prove they are no better than the republicans. SOS, different party in charge. When you are sick of both parties, you might have an incling of a clue.
Comment by Southern Man — December 11, 2007 @ 5:32 pm
Why don’t you point out to everyone where I sang the praises of the Democratic party , you asinine clown ……………..?
And wait a second ; you’re accusing the Dems of being responsible for there being no discourse ?
That isn’t the by-product of the most divisive , partisan president and administration in US history , who have done nothing but ignore and show utter contempt for the opposition party and all Americans , right ?
Are you retarded ?
BTW
What good is discussing anything , especially something like SS , when we simply do not have the funds for anything while pissing away our entire treasury on Chimpy’s Idiotic Iraq Adventure ?
Why are those like yourself , so ignorant and stupid and always the least talented , constantly under the sadly laughable impression that you’re the most talented ?
You’re an ignoramus and an imbecile……………..
December 11th, 2007 at 5:40 pmI can’t comment, it’s classified. I don’t want the bad guys to know what I’m thinking…….who are the bad guys anyway?
December 11th, 2007 at 5:41 pmWhat good is discussing anything , especially something like SS , when we simply do not have the funds for anything while pissing away our entire treasury on Chimpy’s Idiotic Iraq Adventure ?
Why are those like yourself , so ignorant and stupid and always the least talented , constantly under the sadly laughable impression that you’re the most talented ?
You’re an ignoramus and an imbecile……………..
Comment by MCMetal — December 11, 2007 @ 5:40 pm
What are you rambling about? You write: “constantly under the sadly laughable impression that you’re the most talented ?†I have ten co-workers standing behind me who are laughing at you right now. One just pissed her pants suit. Please show us your superior intellect and talents. We need as good laugh for our commute home.
Comment by Southern Man — December 11, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
I just shit all over your stupid post , and this is what you reply with ?
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
As if I give a damn what a group of redneck rubes thinks or believes ?
Oh yeah , especially considering that everyone’s first thought or belief when hearing someone with a Southern accent is immediately “neurologist” or “NASA worker” …….ROFLMAO
Get lost SouthernSpam
December 11th, 2007 at 6:03 pmYour IQ is having trouble reaching room temperature.
He worked on Whitewater investigation
He worked for Ken Starr
This is why Bush rammed his judges down the throat of Democrats – it was key in making them immune from the law!
Welcome to broken America!
December 11th, 2007 at 6:05 pmHow is everything goin there at the Avis office today?
December 11th, 2007 at 6:05 pmDemocracy no longer exist in the United States. It has been hijacked in the name of fighting terror. The idiots like Frank who sit around and worry about the 2nd Amendment will soon discover that it doesn’t matter when there is no freedom. When Federal Judges start hiding things from the public look out. Why do I say that? Because this country is headed down a road to a dictatorship and Federal Judges aren’t doing a thing to stop it. They alone have life time jobs and cannot be fired, but being brainwashed so called conservatives, they believe a strong government/police State is a good thing.
All of the bull that Republicans have spread to idiots over the years has caused this turn toward greater government control and spying on it’s own citizens. Why to you think there are Generals being put in charge of agencies reserved for civilians? Because zealots who wear uniforms will follow any order regardless of the fact it may be unlawful and unconstitutional. People like General Hayden at C I A want power and will violate their oath to protect the US Constitution to get it. Remember he was the one to ran the illegal spy program before it was outted. So Frank if you think what we have is small government, you will live to regret you support for Republicans causes. Just watch! When they take your guns away, don’t cry about it, just follow orders like a good slave.
December 11th, 2007 at 7:17 pmI don’t understand this ruling. I always thought a Judge ruled on the application of the law. In this case the Judge looks to have performed a cost/benefit analysis and concluded that costs outweigh the benefits. To me, that is a non-starter.
December 11th, 2007 at 7:36 pm4: At one time this was a government of the people, by the people, for the people. We the people have every RIGHT to know what our government is doing. If we are a democracy then that is the most fundamental right there is. There can be no democracy without transparency. These judges are the last line of defense for the criminals who are violating the Constitution in their zeal for power.
Comment by fletc3her — December 11, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
Please show me where the “Right to Know” is specified, either by citing the Constitutional section, Bill of Rights or US Code reference.
December 11th, 2007 at 8:24 pmThe NSA should be burnt to the ground. Along with Chimpy and Dick and the other 20% ers. I do not beleive there will be enough rope to hang all these FU(KS. We will have to resort to acid baths and the like. I can’t wait for the HANGIN’
BRING ON THE HANGING
Just shut your fu(king trap you stupid fu(king traitors you scumbag Southershiit, ANd Frank douchbag, et al. You will not be getting the patented query:
December 11th, 2007 at 10:01 pmHemp or nylon. We will just be going with what is available during this rope scarcity.
THE NSA IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
December 11th, 2007 at 10:04 pmTHE NSA IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
THE NSA IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
THE NSA IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
THE NSA IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
THE NSA IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
THE NSA IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
THE NSA IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
THE NSA IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
THE NSA IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
THE NSA IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
THE NSA IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
THE NSA IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
THE NSA IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Of course they are not complying… they have so mush to hide and destroy! CRIMINALS!!!!!
December 11th, 2007 at 10:41 pmUS District Court Judge Bates doesn’t believe that Americans can handle the truth:
“But the dangers of releasing such sensitive materials far outweigh that public benefit, Bates said.”
Let the debris fall where it may Judge Bates, I assure you, this Country that fought an emperial power for its freedom, that fought a civil war, that stormed Normandy, not only survived, but prevailed on Iwo Gima, freed Europe, withstood McCarthy, stared Kruschev in the eye until he blinked, endured the travails of war in Korea, Viet Nam and the desegration . . . this Country deserves far better than your underestimation of our strength and character . . . This Country can handle the truth . . . perhaps it can’t handle you and the Bush Administration.
December 12th, 2007 at 4:34 amI misspoke, after all the tragedy and sacrifice this nation has embraced in order to protect the inalienable rights of American citizens and our bretheren, to insure transparency and equal rights, we can most certainly fight and overcome the current evils that threaten our most fundamental principles . . . that being you and your ilk, Bush and his.
December 12th, 2007 at 4:41 amIf what you ruled Judge Bates means that our leaders have engaged in such egregious conduct that the rest of the world would slaughter us if they knew, the conduct of our leaders was/is treasonous. If that’s the case, you must so rule. Your failure to do so would be a fatal breach of your duty as an officer of the court.
December 12th, 2007 at 4:55 am