With FISA Vote, Washington Generals Complete Contentious Defeat
Or did they deliver a clutch win to the Uniparty?
For years, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act has been criticized as a ‘loophole’ to the Fourth Amendment’s restriction on government spying on Americans — even though FISA is supposed to be restricted to FOREIGN entities. In just 2020 and 2021, the FBI illegally used FISA to conduct nearly 280,000 warrantless inquiries into Americans — many of these for the ‘crime’ of protesting (both on 1/6 and for George Floyd).
And over the last week or so, we’ve seen a raging debate about reforming (or even refusing to reauthorize) the FISA process. Texas representative Chip Roy had a few things to say while on the floor of the House:
The “warrant requirement” Roy is talking about is the Biggs amendment, which required government to apply for and get a warrant before spying on American citizens — once again, something that’s already the law of the land via the Fourth Amendment.
How did the establishment react to this proposed amendment? A “swift and devastating takedown” outlining the reasons that government needs to be able to spy on you without a warrant:
Oh no! This would stop government from violating your Constitutional rights! (The entire point of the Constitution in the first place!) Better have AG Garland personally call up House members and tell them how to vote!
And the Washington Generals of the Uniparty listened — even the team captain:
You won’t be surprised to see some of the people who voted against requiring warrants to spy on Americans:
And once the warrant requirement failed, it was smooth sailing for the FISA renewal:
Speaker Mike Johnson used to be AGAINST FISA, but after he met with the intelligence agencies, he changed his tune — nothing suspicious there at all.
But Congress is nothing if not hypocritical, so they ensured THEY would be notified if their names come up in an investigation — no such luck for the rest of us.
Somebody obviously remembers a decade or so ago when the CIA was doing THE EXACT SAME THING — spying on Americans without a warrant. Diane Feinstein was a HUGE supporter of surveillance programs, right up until she found out those programs were targeting her.
Spying on members of Congress is outrageous! Preposterous! A DANGER TO DEMOCRACY! OBVIOUSLY the solution to this is simply to provide them a carveout — just like with Obamacare, or vaccine mandates.
After all, why should our ‘betters’ be expected to live under the same rules as we peons? It’s not like one of them could be sleeping with a Chinese spy or anything!
So with Congress getting their own special rules, the FISA renewal now heads to the Democratic-controlled Senate — where it’s expected to pass easily, because democrats are now the party of of the CIA and Big Brother surveillance. (Even when that surveillance is used against fellow Democrats!)
The only silver lining I can find is that the renewal only lasts for two years instead of five — though that puts the next renewal smack in the middle of a protentional Trump presidency.
If that happens, I fully expect the left to ‘suddenly’ realize what a danger the entire FISA program is — and to call Trump a dictator for using it.
As it stands today, however, Democrats are celebrating another ‘victory’, once again proving the old adage:
Afraid of commitment? Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi — no subscription required!
On a happier note, Bonnie has a new way to let me know that she would like to come inside:
Isn’t she getting big?!?!?!?
"Hey Mr. Johnson, have a look at this confidential dossier we have compiled on you. Now let's have a chat about your FISA vote..."
FISA? Oh dear. "Fis" in swedish is "fart", "fisa" would be "to fart".
Kind of fitting, considering.
Congress blowing hot air and not from the mouth-end.