“Our lawsuit today should send a clear warning to future occupants of the White House … If you break the law and violate Americans privacy, there will be consequences,” said EFF Senior Staff Attorney Kevin Bankston today during conference call hosted by the EFF to announce a new lawsuit Jewel v. NSA, in their pursuit of stopping the Bush administration’s surveillance program.

Since 2006 the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) have been representing AT&T customers in a class action lawsuit against the AT&T company for participating in the governments surveillance program assumed authorized by President George Bush and implemented by the National Security Agency (NSA). The Jewel v. NSA lawsuit is focusing on President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Cheney’s chief of staff David Addington, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and a range of NSA officials.

The plaintiff represents nation wide phone and internet AT&T subscribers, claiming the surveillance violates the Constitution along with several laws. According to EFF, the goal is to end the nation wide spying network, demanding all copies of information that has been illegally collected from customers, being destroyed. “Today we’ve opened a second front in our battle to stop the NSA illegal surveillance of millions of ordinary Americans,” Bankston said.

Four women from Code Pink, a group that protests injustice and the Iraq War, discuss their encounter with staff of the House Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law and the United States Capitol Police at a hearing in which former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove failed to appear under subpoena. The women were told to remove clothing with political statements and hats under threat of arrest. The women accuse the committee of censorship and say that Rove suffers no consequences for failing to come before Congress while they are threatened with arrest for expressing their right to free speech. (4:12)

 

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The role of market speculation and its effect on the dramatic increases in the price of oil was discussed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Oversight and and Investigations Subcommittee. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) stated that the American economy will not be sustainable if high prices at the pump continue to climb.

Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) said a solution to inappropriate speculation would help to lower prices in the short term, contrasting this idea with calls to increase supply by drilling in the ANWR. Inslee said that these measures would affect future generations but have no immediate result now. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) stated that speculation of future demand for oil has played a large role in oil’s price increase and that one can solve the issue of high prices by traveling to New York or Chicago.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) said the cost of oil can be attributed to low supply, not market speculation. Barton suggested opening the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and selling two million barrels each day. Barton said this would return oil prices to under $100 per barrel. He noted that the Bush administration opposes this strategy and that its success would rely on an act of Congress. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) said supply and demand principles, as well as deflation and market forces cannot be ignored.

Michael Masters of Masters Capital Management said that investment firms are good at making profits but ignore the long-term consequences of their decisions, naming the subprime mortgage crisis as an example. Inslee recalled being told by Vice President Dick Cheney that he did not understand economics when he presented Cheney with information concerning Enron, comparing that experience with what he views as the Bush administration’s refusal to acknowledge the effect of futures markets on oil.

Latvian President Valdis Zatlers is making his first official state trip to the U.S. While he has been here before, as he was educated in the U.S., this trip is his first since being elected President. His visit to the National Press Club was to mark the 100 year anniversary of the press club and to discuss Latvia’s relationship with NATO and U.S.-Latvia relations. He thanked the U.S. and said he has been satisfied with his visit and with his meetings with President Bush, Vice President Cheney and Defense Secretary Gates. (more…)

Obama talks about his “cousin” Cheney. (0:33)

 

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White House Gaggle
Briefer: Dana Perino

President’s Schedule
At 8, the president had his normal briefings, then at 10:30 he will have a briefing by the Office of Faith-Based Community Initiatives. At 11:00 he meets with the National Governors Association. Tonight at 7:00 the President will make remarks to 2008 Republican Governors Association Gala at the National Building Museum.

This morning the White House will release a statement responding to the Washington Post Op-Ed by Congressional Democrats on FISA.

Perino also announced that King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan will visit the White House on March 4, 2008.

Governors
Responding to a question about governors possible infrastructure improvements as part of a second stimulus package, Perino said that the President will meet with the governors and hear their views. Infrastructure improvements were not sought as part of the first stimulus package because they take time to have an effect.

Turkish border
On the Turkish forces going into northern Iraq, Perino said that it was not an ideal situation, but that the “PKK is a common enemy of Turkey and the United States.” She said that the White House hopes this is just a short-term incursion and is in contact with Turkey.

Kosovo
Responding to a question about Serbian parts of Kosovo wanting to remain part of Serbia, Perino said that there are people with mixed emotions, and the White House has encouraged Kosovars to ensure minority rights are protected.

Cuba
Perino said she was not aware of any discussions about possibly lifting the embargo against Cuba.

Supreme Court gun control case
Vice President Cheney has signed on to amicus brief filed by a party other than the Department of Justice. Perino said, “It’s no problem.”

U.S. Labor Against the War’s Gene Bruskin speaks out against the privatization of the Iraqi oil industry by foreign investors during a press conference and march to commemorate “one year of opposition” to the Iraq Oil Law. (0:44)

 

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Oil Change International’s Trina Zahller discusses the Bush Administration’s oil policy in Iraq during a U.S. antiwar rally commemorating one year of opposition to the Iraq Oil Law. (1:04)

 

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Vice President Dick Cheney, speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, says that he stood by President Bush when Bush made the right decisions after 9/11, and Cheney would stand by him again. “Damn right I would.” (0:45)

 

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Vice President Dick Cheney, speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, says that the interrogation program run by the CIA against high-value targets are “a tougher program for tougher customers.” He says that the information gained through these programs has been useful. (0:49)

 

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