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The (now vacant) Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board wrapped up its first term with its second annual report. Has the 5-member panel been a genuine check on government power, as the 9/11 Commission had in mind? Lisa Graves, of the Center for National Security Studies, has her verdict.
Nominated by the President and reports to the President, where are the surprises? Sounds like it's working as written. Any problem would appear to originate there.
No, it is no surprise.
The legislation was passed by a no-account Congress attempting to by-pass the legitimate concerns of the 911 Commission and, now that a new Congress has rectified the mistake, Bush won't appoint members to the body. No surprise there, either.
What would be a surprise is if this new Congress took up oversight itself, as Ms. Graves suggests is the correct course.
Hardly seems like anything was rectified, this new Congress is more inept than most.
Creating a gov board to check on gov power, sounds like a winner.
I'm thrilled NPR chose one of my photos to illustrate such a serious and timely issue. It's definitely more rewarding than discovering my artwork -- and/or Kobe Bryant photos -- turned into horrible myspace backgrounds!
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