Obama Administration Defends Warrantless Wiretapping

a whoabot writes "The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Obama administration has stepped in to defend AT&T in the case over their participation in the warrantless wiretapping program started by Bush. The Obama administration argues that that continuation of the case will lead to the disclosure of important 'state secrets.' The Electronic Frontier Foundation has described the action as an 'embrace' of the Bush policy." Update: 04/07 15:18 GMT by T : Glenn Greenwald of Salon has up an analysis of this move, including excerpts from the actual brief filed. Excerpt: "This brief and this case are exclusively the Obama DOJ's, and the ample time that elapsed — almost three full months — makes clear that it was fully considered by Obama officials."

More than an embrace

[Anonymous Coward]

This is a full blown leg humping.

Re:Change we can believe in? No we can't!

[Thanshin]

And people wonder why we have the Republicrat meme.

Because "Democan" sounds like a suitable name for a superhero's pet?

Re:don't act so surprised

[Scragglykat]

Yet he forcibly reversed Bush's policy on dealing with known terrorists in Guantonimo Bay and there is fear that that might have consequence as well. I guess if the US citizens are to be stripped of rights, we have to give rights to someone... might as well be terrorists. :)

Re:Change?

[Moryath]

"Change"... is all you'll have left in your pocket or bank account once Obama is done.

Re:The Only Change You Can Believe In

[Nicholas Evans]

Good job, you voted for someone who wasn't running for president.

Re:The Only Change You Can Believe In

[Dark_Gravity]

But with option 2 you spent 50 years with the lesser evil the whole time.

Why vote for a lesser evil?

Cthulu 2012

Re:The Only Change You Can Believe In

[maxume]

I get warm fuzzies by picking the loser and complaining.

Re:Change?

[steelfood]

Change is what that cup in your hand is for.

Re:The Only Change You Can Believe In

[Cro Magnon]

Considering the opposition, Cthulu might be the lesser evil!

Everyone, hmm?

[Anonymous Coward]

In that case, I'm going to write-in "Anonymous Coward" in '12.

Re:The Only Change You Can Believe In

[feepness]

Awesome, it's like a dictatorship with an extra choice!

I feel bad for you.

Translation

[Anonymous Coward]

...the case will lead to the disclosure of important 'state secrets.'

This really means: the case will lead to the disclosure of embarrassing stuff we'd really like to keep secret.

Re:More than an embrace

[conspirator57]

if only the next two steps would come from the microsoft playbook...

extend, extinguish.

Re:Change?

[garett_spencley]

Well, look on the bright side. At least convincing people to play with "real" money at Sunday-night-card-night won't be so challenging :)