Politics Takes A Holiday? Uh, No...

Top 12 media myths and falsehoods on the Bush administration's spying scandal

1. Timeliness necessitated bypassing the FISA court
   
2. Congress was adequately informed of -- and approved -- the administration's actions
   
3. Warrantless searches of Americans are legal under the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
   
4. Clinton, Carter also authorized warrantless searches of U.S. citizens
   
5. Only Democrats are concerned about the Bush administration's secret surveillance
   
6. Debate is between those supporting civil liberties and those seeking to prevent terrorism
   
7. Bin Laden phone leak demonstrates how leak of spy operation could damage national security
   
8. Gorelick testimony proved Clinton asserted "the same authority" as Bush
   
9. Aldrich Ames investigation is example of Clinton administration bypassing FISA regulations
   
10. Clinton administration conducted domestic spying
    
11. Moussaoui case proved that FISA probable-cause standard impedes terrorism probes
    
12. A 2002 FISA review court opinion makes clear that Bush acted legally

(from the DU)