House Democrats Fail in Bid for NSA Spying Docs

[sabra]

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1927768,00.asp

House Democrats Fail in Bid for NSA Spying Docs

In a partisan debate going to the heart of the balance of power in American government, House Democrats overseeing the judiciary sought vehemently, but ultimately unsuccessfully, for a resolution asking the U.S. attorney general to turn over documents relating to National Security Agency's warrantless electronic eavesdropping program.

Republicans favored giving the administration two weeks to answer a list of questions sent by the chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary, Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wisc., seeking an explanation of the authority under which the surveillance was conducted.

...

"With all due respect, I don't think this committee has taken its oversight responsibilities seriously," said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. "It doesn't matter to al Qaeda whether we go to a (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) court or not. It does matter to all of us whether we uphold our own Constitution, whether we have checks and balances."

Several Democrats, including Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., took Sensenbrenner to task for sending questions to the administration rather than conducting an investigation into the NSA surveillance, arguing that written responses from the executive branch frequently are less than satisfying.

Sensenbrenner is such a sleaze-ball!

[babylonsister]

1. What is with this partisanship? It boggles the mind that

these repugs think this is A-OK. What about their constituents?

[wordpix]

4. repuke constituents will hopefully send reps a message in 06-08

and throw the bums out!

[Webster Green]

2. Sounds like obstruction of justice...

Enough is enough!

The Torture Czar has got to go.

[stop the bleeding]

3. surprise surprise n/t

[wordpix]

5. Repuke Franks using nuke bomb scare to keep Congress toting * line

snip: Cautioning that if terrorists achieve their goals, there will likely be a nuclear bomb detonated in the United States, and possibly in Washington, D.C., Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., said Sensenbrenner "has acted in good faith and with wisdom," in sending the letter.

Sensenbrenner said that if the response to the written questions is "irrelevant or non-responsive or evasive," he will ask the Administration to submit more complete answers.

[Mithras61]

12. Interesting that the link is now broken...

"Active Server Pages error 'ASP 0126'

Include file not found

/article2/0,1895,1927768,00.asp, line 345

The include file '/component/util_generate_article_discussion_info/0,1460,a=171674,00.asp' was not found."

when I click on the link...

I was wondering if Franks knows how many terrorist investigations have been successful solely because of the NSA's wirteap programs (that is, the information was not available through other, more reliable sources as the FBI claimed)...

Last time I checked, the number was still at 0...

[Greeby]

6. What is this? the 10th Resolution of Inquiry to fail?

:shrug:

[Triana]

7. They are probably spying on the Democrats (n/t)

[NJCher]

8. I called the repukes on the intelligence committee yesterday

Trent Lott didn't even answer the phone. Others took note of my position but I could tell there was an "attitude" in the tone of their voice.




Cher

[rodeodance]

10. its a get lost you pest attitude.

[JulieWisc]

9. Sensenbrenner is a

FASCIST PIG I wish I was in his district so I could vote against him! He has to go. I'm ashamed he is from the same state as I.

[demgrrrll]

11. I thought I just read that some Judge has given the US 20 days to hand

over the information on the wiretaps and that the DOJ is looking over the ruling right now.

[Javaman]

13. "two weeks to answer a list of questions" let's have a peeky shall we?

1)Have you or have you ordered spying on Americans?

answer: maaaaaaaaaaybe

2) have you or have you ordered spying on political candidates?

answer: I'll get back to you on that one.

3) have you or have you ordered warrant-less searches on American phone calls?

answer: Warrants? Warrants? We don't have to show you any stinking warrants!!

4)Have you answered all the questions truthfully and to the best of your ability?

answer: Bwahahahahah, oh, ah hem, yes.