National Security Agency‘s wiretapping powers won a key procedural victory in the Senate on Thursday, as backers defeated a more restrictive plan by Senate Democrats that would have imposed more court oversight on government spying. The vote moves the Bush administration a step closer toward the twin goals it has pursued for months: strengthening the…
By Nomi Prins, The Wip The rhetoric surrounding George W. Bush’s economic stimulus package, as boastfully “bi-partisan” as it is (we are, after all, in an election year), indicates a complete lack of comprehension of the difference between this ‘national’ economy and the ‘people’s’ economy, and the extent of the gap between the two. The…
By Bob Fertik, Democrats.com …At the moment, the Washington establishment — and Democratic “leaders” — believe the slightest hint of constitutional conflict would terrify financial markets and trigger a depression. So if “bipartisan unity” is the issue-above-all-other-issues, why doesn’t the Washington establishment demand that Bush show some bipartisanship by respecting lawful (and entirely justified) congressional…
By Joby Warrick, Washington Post For three years, the Bush administration has drawn fire from civil liberties groups over its use of national security letters, a kind of administrative subpoena that compels private businesses such as telecommunications companies to turn over information to the government. After the 2001 USA Patriot Act loosened the guidelines, the…
