Hopey-Changey of the Day: Obama Goes to Bat for Eavesdropping Telcos

American Constitution Society:

The Obama administration is defending the constitutionality of a law that shields telecommunications companies from legal challenges over their support of the Bush administration’s domestic spying program. Legal Beat reports that the Justice Department’s position in a brief filed in a California federal court “underscores the surprising degree to which the Obama administration – at least in court – is determined to shield President Bush’s controversial counter-terrorism policies from legal challenge or even public scrutiny.” According to Legal Beat, the administration is urging U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker to dismiss “a raft of consolidated lawsuits” from customers of telecommunications companies who argue their privacy rights were violated when the companies helped Bush administration eavesdrop on the calls and e-mail.

I don't know the merits of the constitutional challenge - can't even imagine what it is, frankly - but whether it's a good case or not, Obama clearly wants to let sleeping dogs lie. How's that for half-assed analysis?