Specter skeptical of domestic spy program

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee expressed skepticism Sunday over President Bush's domestic eavesdropping program, joining a chorus of Republicans and Democrats who are questioning its legal justification.
....
"I thought they were wrong," Specter said on ABC's "This Week." "There still may be different collateral powers under wartime situations. That is a knotty question."

A number of members of Specter's committee, including GOP Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, have expressed doubt about the administration's legal basis. The hearings, planned for early February, will feature Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Specter, speaking in general terms, noted that impeachment and criminal prosecution are possibilities in the event a president acted unconstitutionally.

But Specter added: "I don't see any talk about impeachment here. I don't think anyone doubts the president is making a good-faith effort. He's acting in a way that he feels he must."

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1153AP_Domestic_Spying.html

[RufusEarl]

1. Political double-speak

[pinerow]

2. Ahh yes...the old "Benign Dictator" lie...George knows what is

in our best interest...do not be surprised if the '08 elections get "suspended" for our own good...:tinfoilhat:

[babylonsister]

3. "I don't see any talk about impeachment here..." Then he's

not listening.
Knotty questions? Seems like Specter has been 'gotten to'. What happen to all that indignation when this story first surfaced?

[carolinalady]

4. He doesn't "see" it, but I bet he's heard it. Classic double speak.

[Rose Siding]

5. This article doesn't give a fully accurate account

and the ommission is misleading. Specter also said this, from Think Progress:

Specter: If Bush Broke The Law With Warrantless Spying, Impeachment Is A Remedy

Today on ABC’s This Week, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) — who plans to hold hearings on Bush’s warrantless domestic spying program — upped the ante. He said that if it is determined that Bush broke the law, both impeachment and criminal prosecution are legitimate remedies:

<snip>

STEPHANOPOULOS: You know, if the president did break the law or circumvent the law, what’s the remedy?

SPECTER: Well, the remedy could be a variety of things. A president — and I’m not suggesting remotely that there’s any basis, but you’re asking, really, theory, what’s the remedy? Impeachment is a remedy. After impeachment, you could have a criminal prosecution, but the principal remedy, George, under our society is to pay a political price.

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/15/specter-impeachment/

[babylonsister]

8. Thanks, Rose; this program just came on here. That

makes me feel somewhat better.

[MindPilot]

6. "There still may be different collateral powers under wartime situations"

We're at war? News to me. I heard we were blowing the shit out of a little county that doesn't even really have a military but war? I don't see much evidence of that. No bomb craters on my street, no rationing, no draft, no scrap metal drives, not even so much as a duck & cover drill. Pretty much life as usual, I'd say.

[pinkpops]

7. This here's a different kind of war, you see...

[leesa]

9. What a tool! And he's willing to put someone on the Supreme Court who

will make certain Bush is "acting correctly". He knows its illegal.

[Betsy Ross]

10. collateral powers under wartime stiuation?

What wartime situation? Tax cuts for the rich. Workers being laid off from auto plants and other factories while the equipment needed to protect our soldiers is backordered from a single factory. The only war everyone in the country is involved in is the battle to survive the current administration, keeping body and soul together.

[Wordie]

11. He therefore needs to re-consider his vote for Alito, who supports

expansion of Presidential powers. Connect the dots, Senator Specter!

[UpInArms]

12. Specter Remains Doubtful of Spy Program's Legality (impeachment possible)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-nsa16jan16,0,6073286.story?coll=la-story-footer&track=morenews

WASHINGTON — Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) on Sunday reiterated his reservations about President Bush's legal authority to order domestic spying, saying that Congress had not given Bush a "blank check" to order warrantless eavesdropping.

Specter also said that if planned congressional hearings determined that the president broke the law, one possible remedy could be impeachment, though he quickly added that such talk was theoretical — and premature.

"The remedy could be a variety of things," including impeachment or criminal prosecution, "but the principal remedy … under our society is to pay a political price," Specter told ABC's "This Week."

He said he was willing to follow the investigation as far as it needed to go, "but I don't see any talk about impeachment here."

...more...

[emad]

13. Specter: Bush has no `blank check' to spy

By Maura Reynolds, Tribune Newspapers: Los Angeles Times. Tribune news services contributed to this report
Published January 16, 2006


WASHINGTON -- The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sunday reiterated his reservations about President Bush's legal authority to order domestic spying, noting that Congress had not given Bush a "blank check" for warrantless eavesdropping.

But Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) said he is prepared to listen to the administration's case during the congressional hearings he intends to convene next month. If the hearings determine that the president broke the law, "the remedy could be a variety of things," including impeachment or criminal prosecution, "but the principal remedy . . . under our society is to pay a political price," Specter told ABC's "This Week."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0601160233jan16,1,413848.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

[second edition]

14. Do not trust Specter, he is all hot air. n/t

[sattahipdeep]

15. Bush "is the first president to admit to an impeachable offense"

"The thing is out of the box now, says Rep. Conyers. "People have had as
much as they can stand President Bush has taken for himself more
authority than any other president in the 20th century. I think censure will
highlight the incredible number of mistakes, manipulations of intelligence,
the encouraging of torture of prisoners, the surprising amount of retaliation
that this administration has indulged in against its critics and how they
determined to go to war before they had Congressional authorization. It
may lead to consideration of articles of impeachment."


http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_8002.shtml

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

16. Now you have to speak this three times, fast.

Specter skeptical, Specter skeptical, Specter skeptical.

[Up2Late]

17. Top Republican raises impeachment over surveillance flap (AFP)

(Isn't is funny how the AP story is so edited that Impeachment in almost a "non-issue?" I wonder why? Did AP edit their own reporter, or did someone intervene? Note: the AP story is edited at the AP website too: <http://staging.hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/D/DOMESTIC_SPYING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT>)

Top Republican raises impeachment over surveillance flap

16/01/2006 07h53

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A top US Republican senator for the first time mentioned impeachment in connection with President George W. Bush's authorization of electronic surveillance inside the United States without a court warrant. Arlen Specter, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, cautioned it was too early to draw any conclusions as his committee gears up for public hearings into the growing controversy early next month.

But in his appearance on ABC's "This Week" program, Specter insisted the Senate was not going to give the president what he called "a blank check." When asked what could happen if lawmakers find Bush in violation of the law, Specter answered: "Impeachment is a remedy. After impeachment, you could have a criminal prosecution, but the principal remedy ... under our society is to pay a political price."

He made it a point to clarify, however, that he was speaking theoretically and was "not suggesting remotely that there's any basis" for a presidential impeachment at this moment. The controversy erupted last month after the New York Times reported that Bush had repeatedly authorized the National Security Agency to monitor overseas telephone calls and e-mail traffic to and from people living in the United States without requisite permission from a secret court....

(clip)

...Specter assured he was prepared to listen to the administration's explanations, but warned, "I'm going to wear my skepticism on my sleeve." The chairman became the second Republican Judiciary Committee member to publicly question the president's rationale for authorizing the wiretaps. Senator Sam Brownback said last month he did not agree "with the legal basis on which they are basing their surveillance."

(more at link below)

[killbotfactory]

18. Oh, he's committing crimes in good faith. That excuses him!

Just like Ollie North!

[Charlie Brown]

19. Republicans believe the Prez can break the law

if their intentions are good. Nice to know our liberties are that inalienable to the Party of Lincoln.