Supreme Court Disallows FISA Challenges

New submitter ThatsNotPudding writes "The U.S. Supreme court has rejected pleas to allow any challenges to the FISA wiretapping law unless someone can prove they've been harmed by it. 'The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, was originally designed to allow spying on the communications of foreign powers. But after the September 11 attacks, FISA courts were authorized to target a wide array of international communications, including communications between Americans and foreigners. ... In this case, the plaintiffs' groups said their communications were likely being scooped up by the government's expanded spying powers in violation of their constitutional rights. Today's decision, a 5-4 vote along ideological lines by the nation's highest court, definitively ends their case. In an opinion (PDF) by Justice Samuel Alito, the court ruled that these groups don't have the right to sue at all, because they can't prove they were being spied on.'" Further coverage at SCOTUSblog.

Comments

constitution != suicide pact

[Anonymous Coward]

until obummer replaces one of the five adults with a flaming lib

— AC mod point sink

Who were the five votes?

[PopeRatzo]

In case you are wondering, the five supreme court justices who do not believe American citizens have "standing" to bring a challenge to a law allowing the government to do warrantless spying domestically on American citizens are as follows:

1) Antonin Scalia "Moe"
2) Samuel Alito "Larry"
3) Clarence Thomas "Curly"
4) John Roberts "Nancy"
5) Some other piece of shit who should have died of natural causes years ago.

Yes, it's the "conservative", "originalist", "constitutionalist" "strict constructionist" justices who are the sons of bitches who believe that you don't have the fucking standing to bring a challenge to a law that will be used against you.

Meanwhile, the "liberals" that the Kenyan Usurper appointed are siding with the framers of the Constitution and you.

Go figure. And remember this day when you're puffing up your chest about how your little .223 peashooter is keeping you safe from tyranny, you stupid fucks.