News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:U.S. NSA domestic phone spying program illegal: appeals c... by MrZongle2 on Thursday May 07, 2015 @10:57AM (#9505496)
Sorry to add to the downer chorus, but I think that would require a majority in both houses to exhibit some integrity and a desire to wield Congressional power.

I don't see that happening. Obstructionism, pandering, lobbying and abdication of responsibility? Oh, we've got that in spades.

Re:U.S. NSA domestic phone spying program illegal: appeals c... by ericcumbee on Thursday May 07, 2015 @11:21AM (#9505690)
Not to be a double downer, I don't see the current president signing anything that would limit executive power so it would take 2/3rds of both houses to override a veto.
Re:U.S. NSA domestic phone spying program illegal: appeals c... by gknoy on Thursday May 07, 2015 @11:50AM (#9505908)
I concur, with the slight modification:

  s/current/any/;
Not only that, but any bill that successfully passed could, given past history by several presidents, be effectively ignored via executive order.
Re:U.S. NSA domestic phone spying program illegal: appeals c... by AnimalMuppet on Thursday May 07, 2015 @12:04PM (#9506047)
That one's easy to get around. Congress does budgets. If Congress has backbone (but not 2/3 majority backbone), they can pass a budget that de-funds NSA to whatever degree desired. The president can veto it. But then there's no budget, so there's still no money for the NSA...
Re:U.S. NSA domestic phone spying program illegal: appeals c... by ericcumbee on Thursday May 07, 2015 @12:49PM (#9506436)
The easy part is that would take only 1/2 of one chamber. the hard part is forcing a government shutdown is risky business, and maintaining the resolve of the caucus becomes more difficult the longer one drags on.
Re:U.S. NSA domestic phone spying program illegal: appeals c... by Karunamon on Thursday May 07, 2015 @02:47PM (#9507332)
And whoever's opposed to it can easily spin the action as a reckless disregard for America's security. (Nevermind I think the NSA could disappear tomorrow in a puff of logic and nobody would be the worse..)