Federal judge pulls plug on NSA's warrantless wiretapping program

[updated to add judge's profile, quote & links.]

By Diane Silver

George W. Bush is NOT king!

AP just reported that a federal judge ruled today that the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping program violates free speech and privacy rights "as well as the separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution."

"There are no hereditary kings in America and no powers not created by the Constitution," the Hon. Anna Diggs Taylor wrote in the opinion.

AP reports via the Washington Post:

The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of journalists, scholars and lawyers who say the program has made it difficult for them to do their jobs. They believe many of their overseas contacts are likely targets of the program, which involves secretly listening to conversations between people in the U.S. and people in other countries.

My thoughts on this development?

YES!!!!! The president is NOT above the Constitution.

If you can get to the Glen Greenwald's site, see his analysis here. The site has been cranky because of all the traffic.

The opinion is here. (in pdf)

A Detroit Free Press profile of the judge is here.