I don't know what the Chronicle staff have been smoking, but if its powerful enough to make them think that this bill has ANY Constitutional authority, then I want some. The wiretaps, both domestic and international, are illegal to begin with (written into "law" only on the questionable merit of a signing statement), and the fact that telecom companies are being granted immunity in their acquiesence to such a corrupt practice should be absolutely maddening (not to mention the financial implications...we're seeing a good deal of mutual backscratching here, which could influence future campaign donations and backing). True, FISA court permission is required to wiretap an American overseas, but there is also a provision in the bill that allows for the bypassing of such permission in cases of "emergency," though to whose discretion this status is left, is uncertain.
