Senators seek probe of Bush's spying orders (Bipartisan Committee )

...Cheney et al are firing a cruise missile into Congress. Whether or not the Bushies broke they law (and I think they did), what is at stake here is Constitutional in nature. The Cheneyites are asserting that the executive branch has unlimited, extra-constitutional authority in time of war. Some are even asserting that no branch of Government has authority over another branch. This challenges the fundamental notion of checks and balances.

I'm surprised more R's don't understand what a slippery slope this is. How will they feel with unlimited power in the hands of say...President Hillary?

Yeah...I didn't think so...

s again - ever.

We are a Dictatorship already only we don't know it.

We only go thru the motions so it is not so blatently apparent.

That is why THEY don't ever even consider that anybody by a fucking criminal corrupt REPUKE will ever hold power.

OPEN YOUR EYES EVERYBODY!

saying how troubled he was, and Linsey Graham too? Linsey was on one of the Sunday shows saying that he wasn't aware of ANY law that permitted the Pres to ignore the FISA court.

the cause of sanity and decency will be almost assured. It seems to be 50-50 now if he votes yes. Any of his constituents on this list?

:sarcasm:

He's my Senator. He's voted on the stupid side of the aisle a few times lately. Now I'll need to contact his office and encourage him in his efforts to push for an investigation.

Am I dreaming??

:wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow:


Thank you Sabra

I'd love to give them all a call. it isn't a partisan issue.

Any bets as to how long it will be before either of these two egomanics rush to their microphones?

Of course he does, and he'll be paying out some prime scratch to make sure that backlash comes.

Senators members seek spying probe

Tue Dec 20, 2005 05:50 PM ET

By Adam Entous and Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic and Republican calls mounted on Tuesday for U.S. congressional hearings into President George W. Bush's assertion that he can order warrantless spying on Americans with suspected terrorist ties. Vice President Dick Cheney predicted a backlash against critics of the administration's anti-terrorism policies. He also dismissed charges that Bush overstepped his constitutional bounds when he implemented the recently disclosed eavesdropping shortly after the September 11 attacks.

Republican Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Olympia Snowe of Maine joined Democratic Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan, Dianne Feinstein of California and Ron Wyden of Oregon in calling for a joint investigation by the Senate Intelligence and Judiciary Committees into whether the government eavesdropped "without appropriate legal authority." Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said he would prefer separate hearings by the Judiciary Committee, which has already promised one, and Intelligence Committee.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican, was noncommittal, saying he first wanted to further explore the matter. "I have been in discussion with the various chairmen and will continue that discussion," Frist said. "And then decisions will be made as to whether or not (there will be) hearings, and where such hearings would be carried out."

Bush, Cheney and other senior administration officials have defended the policy of authorizing -- without court orders -- eavesdropping on international phone calls and e-mails by Americans suspected of links to terrorism. They argue it was legal and provided the agility -- beyond a 1978 law allowing court-warranted eavesdropping -- to help defend the country after the September 11 attacks.

<http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=10648874§ion=news>
(more at link above)

"Cheney PREDICTED a backlash against critics of the administration's anti-terrorism policies."

Since when is the word 'predicted' used in place of the word 'threatened'? Oh, since January 2001, I guess ...

"Cheney promised a backlash against critics..."

He controls the forces of "Backlash."

Mitchell on Up to the Minute this morning state that Americans know that they must give up some of their freedoms (please take notice of the plural use, I certainly did) in order to be safe. What an idiot.

IF there is a "backlash" against anyone who opposes being spied upon by their own government, then we will know it is a fact that the American dream of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is truly dead.

provided said "life" is of monetary benefit to economic predators.

Liberty appears gone, at least as far as the rules of law expressed in the constitution grant liberty.

Pursuit of happiness? Did it ever exist? Maybe the authors of that phrase were dreamers.... Unhappy? pay the retail cost and the doctor's fee, then take a "happy pill". Heck, take 'em for the rest of your life.

"He Lied." As far as I know Bush took an oath of office at inauguration and that oath should hold. So Bush lied under oath.

as Nixon tried to use the Watergate break in to stay in power.

This administration does nothing that is not calculated to gain for themselves something whether it is money or power or both.

whether or not (there will be) hearings, and where such
hearings would be carried out."

i'm guessing never, and a basement deep in the Senate building if ever.

dp

I know, I know, I know we don't have the votes, but, isn't hearing the word impeachment better than mandate?

Let's get this war on spying started.

If we can't get the real reason to oust this guy, why not get SOMETHING to get him outta there???

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051220/pl_nm/security_eavesdropping_dc

Please thank those senators for doing the right thing!