Is it really keeping Congress informed when the only way they can find details of programs

[dsc]

is to go to specific places, at specific times, without staff, and are left to sift through documents without being told what is or isn't in them? That was certainly the implication Congressman Ellison left on This Week when asked about what he was able to be told as an ordinary member of Congress. If this is what has been happening, it isn't oversight, and both Congress and the Presidents (Obama and Bush) are liable and should fix it. Congress hasn't done its oversight job well in recent years. They have either laid down and played dead when the executive was the same party, or held got you hearings on ginned up scandals when they weren't, and neither of those are effective oversight. Effective oversight is what the Senate Armed Forces Committee has been doing in regards to sexual harassment and what Elizabeth Warren has been doing in regards to financial prosecutions. Asking informed questions and offering real answers to problems. The executive needs real, honest, effective oversight. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be anyone willing or able to provide it.

[OrwellwasRight]

1. There is plenty of blame to go around.

I'd like some focus on the Constitution, please, specifically Amendment #4. Sadly, from these Executive, Legislative, and Judicial brnaches, it is probably too much to ask.

[BlueStreak]

2. The 4th Amendment seems absolutely clear and unambiguous to me. What went wrong?

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, BUT UPON PROBABLE CAUSE, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized"

How could any court ever find the FISA Court warrants Constitutional? They are not broad, sweeping powers not based on any probable cause whatsoever.

Every elected official who took an oath to uphold the Constitution, and is in any way involved with either the passage of the Patriot Act or its administration, should be in prison right now for violation of that oath. But I guess that means just about everybody in Washington.

[kenny blankenship]

4. Every elected official who took an oath..should be in prison right now

yes, but I think they could genuinely plead ignorance!

Ok it's not an excuse, not legally; but there is no denying that taken as a group our elected leaders are some DUMB LAZY FUCKS. Possibly the worst "type" our society produces, after bankers and televangelists, with their dumbfuckery matched only by their cynicism.

They didn't read the Patriot Act before they voted on it, and I doubt more than a couple have ever bothered to read a page of it since.

[JI7]

3. why isn't it oversight ? why don't members attend these things ?

they have time for stupid shit like wishing reagan a happy birthday . and they take so many vacations.