Obama's Pick for FBI Defied Bush Over Wiretaps

[Cali_Democrat]

(AP) – President Obama is preparing to nominate former Bush administration official James Comey to head the FBI. Three people with knowledge of the selection said Obama planned to nominate Comey, who was the No. 2 in George W. Bush's Justice Department.

Comey became a hero to Democratic opponents of Bush's warrantless wiretapping program when he refused for a time to reauthorize it. Bush revised the surveillance program when confronted with the threat of resignation by Comey and current FBI Director Robert Mueller, who is stepping down in September. Comey's selection was first reported by NPR and was not expected to be announced for several days at least.

In stunning testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2007, Comey said he thought Bush's no-warrant wiretapping program was so questionable that Comey refused for a time to reauthorize it. The White House, he said, recertified the program without the Justice Department's signoff, allowing it to operate for about three weeks without concurrence on whether it was legal. That led to a standoff with White House officials at the bedside of ailing Attorney General John Ashcroft. A day after the March 10, 2004, incident at Ashcroft's bedside, Bush ordered changes to the program to accommodate the department's concerns.

http://www.newser.com/story/168718/obamas-pick-for-fbi-defied-bush-over-wiretaps.html

[randome]

1. Wow. That puts a different perspective on things. Thanks!

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[arely staircase]

2. he should be aplauded for that

but if he signed off on torture he has no place in government. sorry. I love president Obama and this doesn't change that. but no way do I support his nomination. I still support the president.

[Coyotl]

15. James Comey testifies before Senate Judiciary

[Lasher]

3. And he voted for Sarah Palin

But I get it. That's how Obama rolls.

[forestpath]

4. If he's so against warrantless wiretaps, why does he want to work for Obama who

signed a 5 year extension of FISA?

All this trumpeting about how Comey stood up against Bush is ludicrous considering that Obama is for warrantless wiretapping himself.

[Cali_Democrat]

5. Maybe he's to the left of Obama

People on DU always talk about how they want Obama to become more progressive, well here it is?

[forestpath]

6. I don't consider being pro-torture "progressive."

[ProSense]

8. Because Obama doesn't approve of warrantless wiretaps? n/t

[forestpath]

9. He signed a 5 yr. extension to FISA. He approves of them all right.

[ProSense]

10. Signing

"He signed a 5 yr. extension to FISA. He approves of them all right."

...a FISA extension and approving warrantless wiretapping do not go hand in hand. The Bush administration engaged in massive warrantless wiretapping of Americans (http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022846263). That is not the Obama administration's policy.

STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY
H.R. 5949 – FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012
(Rep. Smith, R-TX, and 5 cosponsors)

The Administration strongly supports H.R. 5949. The bill would reauthorize Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which expires at the end of this year. Title VII of FISA allows the Intelligence Community to collect vital foreign intelligence information about international terrorists and other important targets overseas, while providing protection for the civil liberties and privacy of Americans. Intelligence collection under Title VII has produced and continues to produce significant information that is vital to defend the Nation against international terrorism and other threats. The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress to ensure the continued availability of this critical intelligence capability.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/sap/112/saphr5949r_20120910.pdf

[forestpath]

11. Yeah. They do go hand in hand.

[ProSense]

12. No, they don't

Obama isn't engaged in illegal spying on Americans.

[SidDithers]

7. DUrec...nt

Sid

[graham4anything]

13. DU rec.

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

14. hmmm, another bush fellow...

I'm sure that will raise more than a few eyebrows.

:shakes-head:

[Coyotl]

16. Deja DU's

babylonsister Jun-07-09 08:29 AM
Glenn Greenwald: What the new Jim Comey torture emails actually reveal
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5799041#5801267

maddezmom May-18-07 07:03 AM
More On Comey, NSA and The Politicization of Justice
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x282146

rodeodance May-15-07 02:57 PM
Comey Testifies that the President Broke the Law
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3265495

L. Coyote May-19-07 10:36 PM
Campaign 2004: Were Bush / Cheney / NSA illegal wiretaps spying on Dems?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=925247&mesg_id=925247