Sunday, December 18, 2005

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Orders 1979-2004

Year Number of
FISA
Applications
Presented
Number of
FISA
Applications
Approved
Number of
FISA
Applications
Rejected
1993 509 509 0
1994 576 576 0
1995 697 697 0
1996 839 839 0
19973 749 748 0
1998 796 796 0
19994 886 880 0
20005 1005 1012 0
20016 932 934 0
20027 1228 1228 0
20038 1727 1724 4
20049 1758 1754 0




From the Electronic Privacy Information Center, http://www.epic.org/privacy/wiretap/stats/fisa_stats.html
b.

High Crimes & Misdemeanors

I'm really bothered by the unilateral abandonment of judicial oversight in the spying on Americans committed by Dubya. I need to do more research, so for the moment my reaction is one of astonishment and wonderment -- how could any President believe he can bypass a specific law? -- but this is bad. Although I haven't developed any strong thoughts concerning presidential power and prerogative, as I've previously noted, my discretion always was tempered by the thought that no one is above the law. Clinton wasn't above the law, and he should have been held accountable for his lies. Nixon wasn't above the law, and he was held accountable. Now, it appears that it's Dubya's turn to be held accountable.