“except as authorized by statute”

Does it matter to you that technically, the intercepted microwave transmissions are NOT wiretaps?

It matters whether the intercepts/wiretaps/call them what you like were conducted in accordance with US law. It matters whether the President of the United States obeys the law.

I know that’s hard to understand. I expect I may have to repeat it a few more times before it sinks in.

However, Kennedy DID order the FBI to perform illegal wiretaps of a land line phone which could not be intercepted in any other way.

We may be getting into deep water for you here, but the expectation of privacy are very different for the two.

Bush’s wiretaps are very clearly not illegal

See above, Ogre. Try bringing some facts next time, instead of fact-free assertions.

Bobby Kennedy’s wiretaps of MLK were very likely actually illegal — certainly more so than anything Bush has done — and he calls them okay

Actually, I offered no opinion at all on the legality of the wiretaps directed against Martin Luther King. Has anyone mentioned to you that being a clumsily transparent liar is bad for your credibility, Ogre?

Or is this another example of the Because! Kender! Says! So! gambit?

Maybe a big cold wet dose of facts will wake you up, Kender. (You pay attention too, Ogre.) Doubtful, but miracles are known to happen…

TITLE 50 > CHAPTER 36 > SUBCHAPTER I > § 1809. Criminal sanctions

(a) Prohibited activities
A person is guilty of an offense if he intentionally—

    (1) engages in electronic surveillance under color of law except as authorized by statute; or

    (2) discloses or uses information obtained under color of law by electronic surveillance, knowing or having reason to know that the information was obtained through electronic surveillance not authorized by statute.

The Administration deliberately eavesdropped on American citizens without obtaining a warrant. FISA specifically prohibits eavesdropping on American citizens without obtaining a warrant (with specific exceptions that the Bush administration does not claim came into play). The wiretaps violate FISA. It’s that simple, boys.

I don’t know how these people sleep at night. I wonder if he thinks the moon is made of green cheese and that the moon landing was filmed on a set in Hollywood, too.

Of course, you’re throwing that out as yet another red herring, an attempt to divert the discussion from Emperor Bush’s illegal wiretaps. You’re still not willing to discuss those, are you?