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Wednesday, December 21, 2005

"Buh buh buh....but CLINTON...."
Posted by Jill | 10:56 AM

Why am I not surprised that the wingnuts are once again turning to their favorite whipping boy, Bill Clinton, to justify George W. Bush eviscerating the Constitution?

Think Progress is on the case once again, showing that Matt Drudge is, as always, full of shit:

The top of the Drudge Report claims “CLINTON EXECUTIVE ORDER: SECRET SEARCH ON AMERICANS WITHOUT COURT ORDER…” It’s not true. Here’s the breakdown –

What Drudge says:

Clinton, February 9, 1995: “The Attorney General is authorized to approve physical searches, without a court order”


What Clinton actually signed:

Section 1. Pursuant to section 302(a)(1) [50 U.S.C. 1822(a)] of the [Foreign Intelligence Surveillance] Act, the Attorney General is authorized to approve physical searches, without a court order, to acquire foreign intelligence information for periods of up to one year, if the Attorney General makes the certifications required by that section.


That section requires the Attorney General to certify is the search will not involve “the premises, information, material, or property of a United States person.” That means U.S. citizens or anyone inside of the United States.

The entire controversy about Bush’s program is that, for the first time ever, allows warrantless surveillance of U.S. citizens and other people inside of the United States. Clinton’s 1995 executive order did not authorize that.

Drudge pulls the same trick with Carter.

What Drudge says:

Jimmy Carter Signed Executive Order on May 23, 1979: “Attorney General is authorized to approve electronic surveillance to acquire foreign intelligence information without a court order.”


What Carter’s executive order actually says:

1-101. Pursuant to Section 102(a)(1) of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1802(a)), the Attorney General is authorized to approve electronic surveillance to acquire foreign intelligence information without a court order, but only if the Attorney General makes the certifications required by that Section.



You wonder when this Administration is going to stop behaving like third-graders, pointing their fingers at the other guy and saying, "But Billy and Jimmy did it."

Especially when Billy and Jimmy didn't.

Now, Georgie, what did Mommy tell you about lying?

Oh yeah. His mommy is Barbara Bush. 'nuff said.
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