Bush's counsel on spying now under close scrutiny

Bush's counsel on spying now under close scrutiny
By Peter S. Canellos, Globe Columnist | December 27, 2005

WASHINGTON -- When President Bush sought to reassure the country that his authorization of spying on Americans without warrants was a reasonable exercise of his power, he emphasized that his orders were always reviewed by the attorney general and the White House counsel.

''Each review is based on a fresh intelligence assessment of terrorist threats to continuity of our government and the threat of catastrophic damage to our homeland," Bush said in his Dec. 17 radio address. ''The review includes approval by our nation's top legal officials, including the attorney general and the counsel to the president."

The current occupants of those jobs are Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and White House counsel Harriet E. Miers. Prior to 2005, Gonzales was White House counsel and John Ashcroft was attorney general.

The current dispute over whether the president had the authority to order domestic spying without warrants, despite a law against it, has put new focus on the legal officials who have guided Bush. And the qualifications of Ashcroft, Gonzales, and Miers could become a focus of the upcoming Senate hearings on the spying decision.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/12/27/bushs_counsel_on_spying_now_under_close_scrutiny?mode=PF

...Miers on the Supreme Court, because Gonzales or Ashcroft were no-goes, and he figured he'd have a better chance with an unknown "pinch hitter".

for spying on political opponents and reporters, hell,any president would like his hand picked people to authorize anything he wants. Sarcasm - Is America waking up to this abuse and arrogance? Are Americans beginning to realise that this admin. is all powerful and can make and break our basic rules (constitution)?

maybe eventually the ag(s) get punished (slap on wrist followed by promotion would be typical) and shrub will say, gee, i acted on best advice of counsel; it turned out wrong but that's not my fault.

That was his excuse on WMD's. "The CIA told me to do it."
The Professor

"ok gonzo, i need legal cover to spy on democrats. write it up!"

"but sir, that's unconstitutional"

"are you putting a goddamn piece of paper in my way of protecting america against liberals?"

"no sir, er, uh, i mean, there has to be a constitutional excuse to overcome the 4th amendment"

"just keep saying '9/11, terra-ism, osama bin laden.' always works for me!"

"got it, boss! as commander-in-chief, you can prosecute the war however you see fit. you're keeping america safe!"

"i like the sound of that, gonzo!"

OK. I do know why i believe it. Just seems like something that would have happened, doesn't it?

The Professor