neo cons still at it - Administration to Bypass Reporting Law

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/25/washington/25legal.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin


The Bush administration has informed Congress that it is bypassing a law intended to forbid political interference with reports to lawmakers by the Department of Homeland Security.

The August 2007 law requires the agency’s chief privacy officer to report each year about Homeland Security activities that affect privacy, and requires that the reports be submitted directly to Congress “without any prior comment or amendment” by superiors at the department or the White House.

But newly disclosed documents show that the Justice Department issued a legal opinion last January questioning the basis for that restriction, and that Michael Chertoff, the homeland security secretary, later advised Congress that the administration would not “apply this provision strictly” because it infringed on the president’s powers.

-long snip-

The Office of Legal Counsel interprets the law for the executive branch, often ruling on issues that are difficult to get before a court. Its opinions are often secret. Under Mr. Bush, the office has come under criticism as using aggressive legal arguments to provide legal cover for bypassing statutes that inhibited White House policies, including harsh interrogations and sending taxpayer dollars to religious groups.
---------------------------------


the neo cons will keep at it until we or somebody else stops them. Nov. 4th doesn't even matter to them.

that's something I think needs to be done yesterday. the name itself is such a fascist echo - and it's the bottomless hole for mil-ind. crooks to use to loot the treasury.

abolishing this bureaucratic pig would be a welcome move.

nothing but a money suck upper, scare people, program.

oh, and for making stuff up to justify themselves.

WTF???

Isn't that what dictatorship is all about?

And WTF is this about 'bypassing' a law? If I get pulled over for speeding, should I tell the officer I decided to 'bypass' the speed limit because I had decided it infringes on my prerogative?

This president really is the worst of all others who have come before. This is the Nixon on steroids we have come to know these past 7 years and 9 months.

And I hate that fucking word "Homeland". Can we get rid of that?

he will have to start "The Great Purge" to remove every trace of neo-con influence from our intelligence and justice departments. The Republicans should be squealing like the pigs they are when he is done. I'm dead serious.

nt

And not just that, we need to get to a point where almost everyone rejects them from legitimate political discourse, like we do other extremists like the Klan and Nazis.