Vacating Speaker Johnson will likely cause more problems than it solves, but the Speaker scoring no wins isn’t good either. The last one, FISA, should have been the easiest. Allowing warrantless spying only with a carve-out for Congress is unacceptable. Maybe he had no choice. Republicans are divided. However, FISA, as written, is potentially a step toward a surveillance state. Another problem of wording slipped past everyone.
Independent reporter Matt Taibbi pointed to a different but very concerning provision in the FISA Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2023, or FRRA, on its 51st page, in section 504: “Definition of an Electronic Communications Service Provider.”
They took out “other communication” and substituted “equipment that is being or may be used to transmit or store such communications. They also took out “employee” and put in “custodian.”
This would mean that companies like Verizon, Apple, Google, and so on would have to pony up any data the government demands and they would be gagged.
These boring, seemingly mundane bills of administrivia are deceptively dangerous. Read more at Matt Taibbi’s substack. He gives some excellent examples.
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Its about time America had its own Stasi. We have a politburo why not go full commie.
The question I keep asking myself is: When, if ever, will we become a free Republic again?
Johnson is a betrayer.
I have written two messages to congressman this year on failure to protect the rights of citizens. A third one will be written today. The Federal government is the biggest enemy of my rights. It is dangerous, and our Republic is being stolen right in plain sight, Johnson is supposed to be a Constitution expert. I have seen no evidence of that. I am beginning to believe that the spy agencies have black mail evidence against everyone in Congress. Look how quickly Johnson has become docile on important issues.
There are certain powers a government should not have according to our Constitution. The ability to force ordinary businesses and individuals to serve as surrogate spies is one of them. The government bureaucrats cannot help themselves – a power this sweeping WILL be abused, they have already shown they can and will.