Civil rights lose big fight to vacation time

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the implications of executive power and civil rights legislation, particularly in the context of recent decisions made by the White House regarding surveillance and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Participants express concern over Congress's capitulation to executive demands, suggesting that political motivations, especially with the upcoming election season, influence legislative decisions. The discussion highlights a pattern of fear among Senators leading to compromises on civil liberties, drawing parallels between past and present legislative actions.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of executive power dynamics in U.S. politics
  • Familiarity with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)
  • Knowledge of civil rights legislation history
  • Awareness of the political landscape during election seasons
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of the USA PATRIOT Act on civil liberties
  • Examine case studies of executive overreach in U.S. history
  • Analyze the role of Congress in surveillance oversight
  • Investigate public opinion trends regarding security and civil rights
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Political analysts, civil rights advocates, lawmakers, and anyone interested in the intersection of executive power and civil liberties in the United States.

Gokul43201
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Why exactly was it so necessary to decide the future of executive power and civil rights legislation over a hasty friday evening?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/03/AR2007080302296.html?hpid=topnews

Is it just that we're approaching election season, and the Dems don't want to appear to be weak on "terror"? In my opinion, the only sense in which this White House is strong on terror is in their ability to terrorize the people and their representatives into giving up a little liberty to gain a little security. That one should give up the checks provided by the Judiciary to Gonzales-like-scum that prowl the executive, is scary, if not laughable, given the context.

And this is all after Congress gifted this White House the slack it demanded out of FISA, in http://www.npr.org/news/specials/patriotact/patriotactdeal.html#issue4 (of course, the White House never had any intention of using this leeway, as it instead decided to entirely bypass FISA)?
 
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Morale must be sinking in Congress.

In 2002, Senators caved because they wanted to stay in Congress and were afraid a vote against the Iraq invasion would result in them leaving.

In 2007, Senators caved because they wanted to leave Congress and were afraid a vote against surveillance without FISA oversight would force them to stay.

At least the House in session today. I wonder what they're talking about today.