The U.S. government sued Maine officials on Tuesday to block their demand that Verizon disclose whether it gave the government’s spying program access to its customer data, documents showed.
The government’s civil suit, submitted by the U.S. Department of Justice to a district court in Maine, said the Maine public utilities officials’ attempts to obtain information on Verizon’s involvement with the National Security Agency (NSA) were “invalid”.
“The defendant state officers’ attempts to obtain such information are invalid under the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution and are preempted by the United States Constitution and various federal statutes,” the lawsuit said.
Verizon’s local subsidiaries were also named to prevent the company from responding to the Maine officials’ demands for information.
The federal government has also sued the New Jersey Attorney General and Missouri utility regulators for serving similar subpoenas for information to AT&T Inc.
The traditional political division over States Rights has been conservative vs. liberal. Using federal power to trample civil liberties and citizens’ privacy isn’t a con vs. lib question.
That’s why individuals and state governments generally associated with both sides of political life have entered this confrontation — against a neocon government that uses the same hackneyed slogan to justify every act: “We’re fighting a war against terror!”
Bush should be impeached.
He should get his first honest job.
— Bush wipes his butt with the Constitution in your general direction
he can’t be that bad he is the one who is getting things done in iowa
bush can’t be that bad he is getting things done in iowa
Let us examine what this ‘War on Terror’ has sown upon us.
Increased public surveillance.
Escalating internet and telephone wiretapping.
Increased racial tension.
Unprecedented new military spending.
Countless lost lives and freedoms.
Prevailing mistrust and paranioa.
Secret courts and proceedings.
Endless prison detentions.
Disastrous new programs and departments.
Morally corrupt decisions and policys.
Further separation of the goverment from the people.
Limitation of privileges and rights.
Less independence and autonomy.
Spiraling social economic costs.
The ‘Terrorists’ have won, all of them. They are winning more each and everyday as long as this kind of atitude is tolerated and we allow ourselves the means to commit civic suicide.
I have told my wife I want to move to New Zealand or Australia when we retire. This country is getting WAY too 1984/Equilibrium for me.
What are you talking about, prophet? Oops…gotta go — big brother just rang.
Mike T
#8 – Mike T –
prophet loves his country.
prophet has volunteered for re-education at one of our fine correctional facilities, though we cannot tell you which one or for how long.
In fact, Mike, you seem to have a little too much interest in prophet’s comings and goings….why don’t you step over here so we can speak with you a moment.
why is nobody talking about what bush and company are doing in Iowa?
#10
Because we will be talking about what will happen soon before the 2008 election. There will be an ‘event’ that will require congress to ‘suspend’ the presidential 2-term clause, thus ensuring President Bush’s third term. Iowa antics are under the radar at the moment.
Where are the usual Bush apologists with an explanation about how this is needed for the security of the country?
the dude at justice just doesnt have any appreciation for the Constitution. he has shown it time and time again… freedom isnt about passing new laws every time you get paranoid… its about learning to live with freedom… mexicans dont get it.. look at mexico’s free elections… i know.. i know.. im a racist.. and mexico is such a fortress of democracy… if the iraqs were smart they would look at mexico and the u.s. mothering it to death and run!
And what would happen if a state Attorney General told the District Court that they lack jurisdiction and walked out. The constitution reserves to the states those rights not otherwise given to the Federal government.
Ok…I am at a total loss here…what is going on in Iowa? I did a real quick search and all i found was Bush doing a fund raiser with Sen. George “Macacas are not monkeys…oh Jesus H. Christ…yes they are and I am SO sorry” Allen.
If the founders had telecom, I believe they would have specifically banned warrentless wiretaps in the Constitution.