Slashdot Mirror
Wiretap Ruling Threatens Telecoms
ches_grin writes "Yesterday's ruling on the NSA warrantless wiretapping program could mean that businesses that assisted in the program are in for some serious legal problems. The judge's decision clearly dismissed out of hand the arguments of the telecoms, saying that the protections due journalists and lawyers was a clear matter of the public's best interests." From the article: "Businesses accused of aiding the Bush administration in wiretapping could also be in for a legal bruising, say civil liberties groups that have sued telecom providers AT&T, Verizon, and BellSouth for allegedly helping the NSA. The ruling could set a precedent other courts can't ignore. 'Every phone company that is assisting the government in its illegal surveillance would want to think long and hard before it continues that agreement,' says Ann Beeson, the ACLU's lead attorney in the case. 'There are already lawsuits claiming that their cooperation for the past several years is illegal and now that the judge has declared it is illegal, their liability increases. The risk is much greater from a business perspective.'"
can SCOTUS justices be impeached for treason?
can raping the constitution be considered treason because it is aiding the terrorists in destroying america?
Snowden and Manning are heroes.
What i wish would happen: SCOTUS also rules that it is illegal to spy on citizens and AT&T Baby Bells are held liable to pay $55 billion in damages. In addition the Prez is censured, the Rep party turns against Bush and "purges" him.
What would actually happen: Many possibilities:
1. King Bush declares Emergency, declares Martial law, imrpisons the Judge who ordered this. Congress and Senate support this, the Nov. election is postponed indefinitely until the "terrorist threat" is removed.
2. King Bush appeals to SCOTUS, Alito and Co. overrule the brave Judge, and declare the program legal retrospectively. Nov. elections turn up a surprise winner: Massive Republican majority with Deibold chief once again crowing that he delivered the "nation" to Bush. People are surprised, but accept the result. Slashdotters all state they voted against Bush, but somehow he gets 65% majority.
3. A BIG terrorist attack 5 to 10 days before election day results in a massive republican majority. They vote enmasse to enact a law that would NOT require FISA.
"Doing what i can, with what i have." ~ Burt Gummer
Even if (by some miracle) it isn't overturned, the President will just issue an executive order contravening it, or simply ignore it as he does with other laws or facts he finds distasteful. If a President can ignore the law without penalty (without fear or impeachment or being made impotent), it doesn't really matter what the judicial branch does.
If you are a company affected by this, you don't have any choices - the governemnt will tell you what to do, and you will get sued later for it. Of course you have lots of lawyers and you might win, or neuter the outcome sufficiently as to make it not a problem. If you attempt to disobey the government (and the government has no check), you probably won't have a business.