I think the next place to look is the returns from the telecoms that bought this protection and see how profitable it has been for them. Let's also look at phantom lobby groups that have made contributions to these politicians that are still in office that enabled this to happen. I remember reading what I could, about the bill itself regarding the compensation by the government and it was at "The prevailing rate" standard for paying them. I can't believe that they and their financial standings wouldn't stand out like dog's balls at this point in time.If they are legally filling the proper disclosure for their servives to the government, if they have to at all. There are lots of reasons to shove that cork back in the elephant's ass and I can't help but think a select group of individuals is really laughing all the way to the bank that they pased this hurdle with Obama. Just like Paulson worked for Goldman Sachs MCConnell worked for Booze Allen Hamilton. Follow the money.

I guess you just dance with the Justice department that brung ya, huh?

Congress creating 2 more seats on the Supreme Court and Obama stacking the court after Justices Ginsburg and Stevens retire to correct all of this once and for all. Sorry, after recognizing that the door is being closed forever on all of this as we speak, I'm left to hallucinating.

The rule of law and the Constitution, defend at your own level of convenience. I'm not sure who is worse the Scientologists or the Federalist Society, both seem to be from another planet.

Glenn maybe a canary in a coal mine, but I frankly am damn glad to have him bring this bullshit to the surface. Here is a little thought for you folks; Obama doesn't make people buy amo, lawyers who fail to support the Constitution do. Thanks Glenn for being the bright side of your pathetic profession.

It's that I, loathe it, and find it difficult to respect it, a profession that has such lofty principles and one that also has such ultimate control rested at ITS feet through the power of our constitution as the principle arbitrators and harbingers of the utmost trust, that the discrepancies we are currently involved in are abrogated to fulfill selfish and yes, political needs, without any consideration or regard to your ultimate client. You have become useless to the common citizenry. You argue amongst yourselves in this child like fashion under the guise of professional decorum, meanwhile conveniently discounting everything that doesn't ft your next professional betterment. Just like the perversion of greed has taken over the financial institutions , arrogance and disrespect for the common man has consumed by the lust of your hrly rate and inscestous profitable profession. If not then let me ask you this simple question: Why can't judges be trusted with in -camera inspections of our utmost secrets?

As a profession, yes, you blow, and you should be ashamed of your dereliction to any, if possible, oaths of responsibility to the public. You have failed miserably in your compromises of your OWN self inflicted standards and have made a mockery of the rule of law.

From Scott Horton, yes a lawyer, as you are and Glenn and the folks also at the EFF. It's YOUR duty to purge these pathogens, not mine. If not, then You are just as corrupt and deviant for your indifference as they are.

Quote:"Laws, criminal statutes, long-standing rules of military conduct—they were the obstacles to be overcome. That was to be the handiwork of a new breed of lawyers, men like Alberto Gonzales, John Yoo, Jay Bybee, William J. Haynes II, Douglas J. Feith, and David Addington (now all under criminal investigation in Spain for their role in the torture of five Spanish citizens), who understood perfectly how to remove the rules that Americans fought innumerable wars to establish. With the legal restraints removed, in came techniques long condemned by the United States that belonged to the core repertoire of our enemies, like the Soviet GPU:

They consisted usually of tying the victim in a strait-jacket to an iron bunk. The strait-jacket was his only clothing; he had no blanket, no food and was unable to go to the lavatory. With a gag in his mouth and a stopper in his rectum he would be given periodic beatings with rubber poles." End

He continues and I suggest he include his own profession in the group of people who need their own characters tested.

Quote: " This is a test not only of commitment to founding principles, but also of our nation’s ability to directly confront an issue of great moral significance and attempt to recast a national consensus. It is a test of the character and integrity of the nation’s political leadership, of the journalists who decide what issues “matter,” and of the clerics whose failure to properly frame the moral debate has allowed this issue to fester so long." End

http://harpers.org/archive/2009/04/hbc-90004767

Why can't a judge be trusted with State Secrets?

Seems like we're back to take my word for it Imperial style rule here folks. I firmly believe that RB Cheney knew this would come to this when they initiated this black mail. Create a program that unveils incredible activities too valuable to disclose and then use their utility disguised as a national security death switch to perpetuate their existence and keep them a secret. Brilliant.