Hmmm. Been digging through finding more details again today. Do you realize that even though TIPS is prohibitted, the new act allows private citizens to spy on other private citizens the same way without fear of prosecution if the new Dept (not a judge, the Dept) decides their intentions were conducted "in the national interest?"

In other words, I can set up cameras in Doug's house, record all of his coversations and computer activity -- and all I have to do is claim that I thought Doug was a terrorist. Honest.

In the words of Doug Thompson (Capital Hill BLue) today:
"This new Department of Homeland Security has the power to wiretap any American it wants, without a court order, without cause and without justification to any higher authority. Homeland Security goon squads will have the power to enter any American home, without a search warrant, without probable cause, simply because someone somewhere says "hey, this guy might be a threat." No checks and balances, no due process. Nothing. ...

"Under the new law, an agent of the Department of Homeland Security can walk into your bank, flash a badge and demand to see your checking and saving account records. No court order. All they need is the "presumption of guilt." They can stop you in your car without cause and search it and you. They can hold you in jail for 30 days or more without filing any charges or allowing you to make any phone calls. ...

"Again, the process only requires an internal administrative review and not the involvement of any independent judicial authority," says retired judge Macklin. "It violates all previous standards for due process and probable cause."

In other words, they can do any damn thing they want and there isn't a thing that any of us can do about it. "

He also included a quote, "An evil exists that threatens every man, woman and child of this great nation," the leader of another country once wrote. "We must take steps to ensure our domestic security and protect our homeland."

That was Adolph Hitler writing about the creation of the Gestapo.