Specter to grill officials on Bush ignoring laws

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration will have to explain why it thinks it can ignore or overrule laws passed by Congress in a hearing next week, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter said on Wednesday.

Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, said he hoped to force the Bush administration to reduce its use of "signing statements" -- memos that reserve the right to ignore laws if the president thinks they impinge on his authority.

"Our legislation doesn't amount to anything if the president can say, 'My constitutional authority supersedes the statute.' And I think we've got to lay down the gauntlet and challenge him on it," Specter said in a telephone interview.

A Justice Department official is scheduled to testify at a hearing on signing statements next Tuesday, Specter said.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who had lunch with Specter on Wednesday, will face questions about the presidential memos when he appears before the committee on July 18 to discuss the National Security Agency's domestic spying program.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/21/AR2006062102278.html

in Specter is non-existant.

we were having almost identical thoughts and writing very similar posts in response the the same thread at the same time.

disappointed. The guy is a genius and he squanders that intellegence and his encounter with personal tragedy by being a hack for *. Frustration is the key word here. He can unravel many tangled threads and, after all he knows who did the dirtiest deed (counsel for the JFK Assassination Commission).

Let loose Arlen...

bed with the Bush Administration soon enough.


Any bets?

we're both betting the same way.

I have no faith in Mr Spector.

in the House followed by conviction in the Senate and removal from office. This is the very purpose intended by this mechanism. "Hearings" accomplish nothing, since there's no effort being made to hide bush's lawlessness. In fact, they readily admit as much. So expecting "hearings" to somehow "shame" this cabal of criminals into obeying the laws is ridiculous.

Bush knows there is no price to be paid for his criminality, so he'll continue destroying everything in sight while the congress does nothing about it.

(I wonder if they'll let these crooks avoid taking the oath, like they usually do.)

He has until 2010 to screw us as he pleases.

they are worried about the elections, aren't they

I hope the moderates dump him. We'll have to live with his extreme judges for decades.

he's threatened lots of things, but has yet to follow through on any of 'em.

My, there's going to be clumps of blood and hair on the walls by the time old Arlen gets through with the Justice Department, right?

Right?

More kabuki bullshit from a bullshit artist from the party of Grand Old Bullshit.

They really think we're stupid, don't they?

They put on a grilling show like this a few months ago.

How very cozy...:eyes:

what he really means is..."Arlen's taking them to a bar and grill to discuss the issues."

Specter is soooooo pathetic.

somebody should tell the traitors on the right that less and less people are fooled by their charades

"So, do you agree that the president has the power to do this during a time of war? Yes? Well, then, meeting adjourned."

1.Place the Bush offical in front of the committe in some back room with no cameras.
2.Don't invite Russ.
3.Grease up the official by giving him the standard Republican ass-licking welcomes and pride in his incredibly distinguished public service
4.It is rude to ask Bush officials to give an oath.
5.All the republicans help the offical explain the "unitary executive" and "article 2 powers."
6.By this time the offical should be refusing to answer any questions from "Democrat Party" if their questions become too ebarrasing cut the mics and dissmiss the clerk.
7.Gavel the session and viola! Grilled Bush Official

Literally. It will be all sighs and acquiescence.

this is getting old

http://specter.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactInfo.Home

Senator Spectre,

Democrats in the thousands are dubious about your pledge to really grill this administration about its disregard of the Constitutional checks and balances, but I reach across the aisle and say sincerely that I hope you will truly surprise them all and become a champion for the rights of Americans to have an America that reflects the sacrifices made over the years to preserve the integrity of the rule of law.

It doesn't serve Republicans or any party to so thoroughly dismantle the government established by our founding fathers.

I want my country back, Senator Spectre.

I want my vote to count.

I want the tax dollars we pay to repair vital infrastructure components so ALL Americans can enjoy a quality of life worth living.

I want the crooked people making money off the war in Iraq to be tried in a court of law and made to give money back for services not rendered... (Parsons Co.)

It didn't USED to be so much to ask for simple things like these. And on both sides of the aisle, there were much better attempts to actually resolve issues that mattered to the people.

Since the 2000 election everything has gone down hill and if we can't put the brakes on, there won't be a country worth defending anymore because the people in control seem to be bent on rewarding only the top 1% and sticking the rest of US with the bill.

Do you still have a sense of fairness and integrity? I truly hope so. It is difficult I am sure to be in your position and I hope you have the courage to help dig US out of some of this mess.

God bless you and give you the strength you need.

you gonna give him one of your free passes???

(and just "take his word" that the truth is being told--HA!)

:eyes:

and Bush's abuse of signing statements is getting reported on

:shrug:

It's amazing what little scraps I've become grateful for

He just makes noise and then backs down.

He keeps taking these fake stands and then rolling over for the administration. What is the point in that type of behavior? Does he really think he's fooling anybody? :shrug: Unfortunately he's my Senator.

But he knows which side his bread is buttered. Bushco helped him with his re-election since that lunatic Pat Toomey was challenging him.

He's my senator too. But I'm more interested in defeating sick rick this year.

Specter is a white-wash artist, make no mistake. I personally hope they pissed the old demon off! I'd love to watch Arlen Specter take a bite outta the BFEEs ass! Love it!

Somebody! OH No, pull the shades, hide the children, ARLEN SPECTER is coming to grill us!

Oh, yeah,Arlen Specter grilling anybody puts about as much fear into the subject as feeling like your gonna get a sun burn from the intense light of a flashlight - one with weak batteries!

Hey, Arlen here's a better idea - pass some legislation, THEN hold a hearing.


I sleep better at night contented that Arlen Specter is one of our leaders running the most powerful country in known history.

but without accountability, it's not a step forward.

He's the one they need to grill. :grr:

:yawn: whatever arlen, whatever.

it. He is guilty of crimes and misdemeanors...what do you do when a President is guilty of those things Arlen? He says, "I HOPE to force him to REDUCE his use of signing statements."

WHY are all Republicans such unethical cowards?