No rights left . . . .

Emptywheel follows up on the FISA debate, particularly Jay Rockefeller's attempt to counter the privacy arguments outlined by Feingold. The thread of argument requires some effort to follow -- perhaps why this important debate needs to be translated into words that the average American can understand -- but it becomes clear that Rockefeller has a big stake in facilitating virtually unfettered executive branch access to information, regardless of the negative consequences for the privacy of American citizens.

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/02/05/jello-jay-advocates-illegal-spying-on-americans/

This penchant of Rockefeller's to rubber stamp the administration's insatiable appetite for private citizen information continues to mirror his half-hearted excuses for knuckling under to the governments spying via telephone intercepts that the NY Times exposed several years ago.

The Bolton example highlights one form of abuse of improperly gathered information. How many others are possible? Steve Clemons highlights:

http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/002789.php

Fear mongering continues to drive the erosion of constitutionally protected rights. Rockefeller serves up a disingenous logic ignores which turns a blind eye to the fact that pending final court rulings, improperly collected data could be used for any and all purposes; and that a series of never ending appeals could keep "protected" periods of use running together forever. No harm, no penalty. Feingold counters Rockefeller's misrepresentations and generalizations supporting unfettered use and access. Simply, without a Feingold-like amendment, procedural loopholes render any check on improper (per a FISA court finding) data gathering and use meaningless.

Could this possibly be something the media might understand, interpret and report on?