Why We Should All Care About Today's Senate Vote on FISA

Re:Why We Should All Care About Today's Senate Vote on FISA by tptacek on Friday December 28, 2012 @02:45PM (#4979173)

He's not saying anything like that. You keep doing this: someone makes a technical point about how the Constitution works, and you ask them why they haven't stopped beating their wife yet. Could you please engage with the actual issue?

Again: what do you think happens if Congress passes a bill requiring the President to fire his Secretary of State?

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Re:Why We Should All Care About Today's Senate Vote on FISA by guelo on Friday December 28, 2012 @03:55PM (#4979487)

I'm really at a loss, I don't understand why we keep talking past each other. I'm willing to accept that I'm misunderstanding something here but I don't see it.

Yes, congress cannot impinge on the President's constitutional powers, can't force him to fire his Secretary of State. But spying is not a constitutional power, unless you accept the AUMF war-time Commander in Chief argument. Which is what set off my John Yoo detector.

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Re:Why We Should All Care About Today's Senate Vote on FISA by tptacek on Friday December 28, 2012 @07:30PM (#4980375)

Huh? Where in the Constitution is Congress given authority over "spying"? At all times, not just when authorized to use military force, the executive branch controls the military and governs foreign affairs. Your comment makes no sense.

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Re:Why We Should All Care About Today's Senate Vote on FISA by guelo on Sunday December 30, 2012 @03:34PM (#4987007)

Congress makes laws that cover the military, its all checked and balanced. There is no special exempt presidential power defined.

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