Specter strikes NSA deal (no longer asking to know if it is legal)

[Robbien]

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and conservative members of his panel have reached agreement on legislation that may determine the legality of the National Security Agency’s (NSA) surveillance program, GOP sources say. Specter has mollified conservative opposition to his bill by agreeing to drop the requirement that the Bush administration seek a legal judgment on the program from a special court set up by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978.

Instead, Specter agreed to allow the administration to retain an important legal defense by allowing the court, which holds its hearings in secret, to review the program only by hearing a challenge from a plaintiff with legal standing, said a person familiar with the text of language agreed to by Specter and committee conservatives. Conservative Republicans who pushed for the change say that it will help quell concerns about the measure’s constitutionality and allow the White House to retain a basic legal defense.

An expert in constitutional law and national security, however, said that the change would allow the administration to throw up huge obstacles to anyone seeking to challenge the program’s legality.

. . .

In other words, individuals or groups that merely take an interest in a case, such as a privacy-rights advocacy group in the example of the surveillance program, cannot ask for a ruling from a federal court. Because the administration can use questions of standing and other tactics to keep plaintiffs out of court, the requirement that a plaintiff challenge the surveillance program — instead of mandating that the administration itself ask for a ruling on the program’s legality — gives the White House an important advantage.

more
http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/051606/news1.html

[Drum]

1. shite! nt

[aquart]

2. So much for Specter saving us from a dictatorship.

Treasonous bastard. But then, he always was.

[radfringe]

28. did I call it or what with this toon?

[The Witch]

65. damn straight :)

nice work. does DU have a cartoonists' group?

[Zorra]

93. One more time: Never, ever trust a republican. Never ever.

They are corrupt, treasonous, lying fascist pigs.

Apologies to pigs.

[babylonsister]

3. What did Cafferty say? Specter is the connection between

democracy and facism? Well, this isn't boding well for any of us.
This FUCKING SUCKS!

Thanks, Robbien, for posting. My sighs are full of outrage overload.

[Robbien]

8. You are welcome, I almost didn't post it because it pissed me off

so much I had to turn the computer off and do something else for a while. Almost missed the cut-off deadline for posting in LBN.

[nicknameless]

17. Cafferty regarding Arlen Specter:

"He might be all that stands between us and a full-blown dictatorship"

So much for that hope.

:grr:

[Julius Civitatus]

67. Are we Mexico already? Is the GOP the new PRI?

This is despicable. No checks-and-balances at all. None!

Party loyalty is above respect for the rule of law and the Constitution.

Are we Mexico already?

:grr:

[nicknameless]

68. It seems that we are.

No fear of reprisals for breaking the law or shredding the Constitution either.

:grr: is right.

[Protagoras]

84. He just jumped the hell out of the road

so I hope today Cafferty says "THere is NOTHING standing between us and Full-blown Dictatorship, We're screwed boys and girls!"

[Kikosexy2]

85. Typical Arlen...

all bluster and no balls...just nothing but hot air from him when it comes to "getting to bottom" of anything...just more b*llsh*t!

[IndianaGreen]

4. Specter just betrayed the United States of America

and has given a carte blanche to the tyrant in the White House. You know what the ultimate fate of tyrants is!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

6. Nothing new for Specter...he's being doing that since 1963-1964.

[EVDebs]

75. Magic bullet #2, this time thru the heart of Democracy. eom

[file83]

98. bingo.

[flyarm]

9. he is a filthy nazi traitor to this country! and i am calling his

office tommorrow and i am saying so..!! i am so pissed..

k&R we need to all call tommorrow and raise holy hell!

fly

[The Backlash Cometh]

45. I'm sorry his chemo worked!

[fooj]

20. Sealed his fate as a treasonous, spineless traitor.

:grr:

[shance]

22. Specter was involved in JFK's murder cover up.

Would you expect anything different?

[rodeodance]

38. says about 20 cases are already in the pipeline (will be compromized).

....But a GOP aide familiar with the compromise said more than 20 cases are “in the pipeline” in which plaintiffs have challenged the surveillance program. It was very likely that the court would rule on one of the cases if Specter’s bill passed, the aide added.

Cheh noted that administration lawyers could file a future motion to challenge any of the plaintiffs’ standing.

Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley (Iowa), Jon Kyl (Ariz.), Jeff Sessions (Ala.), John Cornyn (Texas) and Tom Coburn (Okla.) were said to have concerns about Specter’s bill. All are members of the Judiciary Committee, and their support is crucial to passing NSA-related legislation though the panel because Democrats say it is premature to pass a bill until more details of the surveillance program are known.

Since the program’s existence became known last year, Democrats have called for greater disclosure of its details, something the Bush administration has resisted.

[The Wizard]

72. Let me guess

A bunker in Berlin? Mussolini treatment? Marshall Applewhite?

[Heywood J]

80. It's sad

I had hoped that he would have done better - having presumably seen even a tiny bit of the light resulting from this. I actually had an iota of faith in him, that he would do the right thing.

Too bad it's squished into a stain now.

[wryter2000]

82. Welcome to DU

I was taken in by him, too. Bastard.

I imagine this is something that can be overruled if we take the Congress. I wonder if a federal court can rule it illegal, as well.

[Supersedeas]

83. Eh? We pretty much knew the magic bullet man would in the end

[anitar1]

91. Any thinking person who has watched Spector through the

years, should know that he is just another crook.I loathe the guy for all he has done.

[babylonsister]

5. Recommend this for everyone and his brother and sister to see! nt

[flyarm]

7. HEIL ...WHAT A DISGRACE..AND THAT FILTHY MAN HAS

the damn nerve to say he is a constitutionalist..what a filthy fucking pig...

so its ok to break our laws as long as you are a nazi republican right??

i can no longer take this shit.,.honestly..i hate my country now..i really do..this disgusts me beyond what i tought these fuckers could disgust me anymore!

fuck you republican nazi's!

may you all rot in hell!

fly

[MessiahRp]

10. Like he was ever credible...

Three Words:

Magic. Bullet. Theory.

Rp

[Media_Lies_Daily]

11. Kick.

[flyarm]

12. seriously we need to do a calling campaign..we need to start a shit storm!

[fooj]

18. I'm in. I'll be on it first thing in the morning.

Treasonous, rat bastard. This is NOT George Bush's America. It is OUR America.

Arlen---you are a traitor to your country. That, Mr.Specter, is what history will judge you as...a treasonous, spineless traitor. Pathetic.

[rodeodance]

35. count me in;

[babylonsister]

13. Activist Corps? This needs to happen; Specter needs about 50,000

e-mails or letters or phone calls. He shouldn't be able to slide on this one. It's too damned important!

He's a tool, and we need someone in the repug party to find their balls! There are balls in the Dem party that won't make a hill of beans if we can't find a repug to fight this.

Does anyone have any other ideas?

GODDAMN IT! YET AGAIN! If we don't do anything, THEY FUCKING WIN! Civil liberties, anyone?

[Oak2004]

24. 50.000? Lets try for 500,000!

This is the kind of thing that warrants leafletting and perhaps a demonstration in front of Spector's office.

I am far from certain that I can contibute anything here :( I'm having surgery and am doing a lot of prep stuff to make sure I'll have food in the house/things tidied up/etc. But if I can I will draw up a generic leaflet tomorrow A.M. and make it available as soon as I have it done.

[Mythsaje]

14. I've been saying all along

that Specter is a fucking fascist bastard. He's a drug warrior of the first caliber, and has about as much respect for the Constitution as any of the Bushies.

Big surprise.

[Robbien]

15. Another outrage in the article is

The panel had been expected to mark up Specter’s and DeWine’s bills Thursday but, instead, the committee will work on legislation on same-sex marriage.

So divisive issues come first before citizen's right to privacy.

[rumpel]

25. but it says

The delay of the markup on the NSA-related bills could imperil the compromise on the Specter and DeWine bills. The longer the agreement has to last before committee action, the more likely it is to be mulled over and picked apart, a GOP aide said.

I think all Senators in the judiciary have to hear from their constituents on this.

Changing the laws to accommodate breaking the law? What kind of a country is that!

[leftchick]

43. what kind of country is that?

can you say a fascist dictaorship? :(

[rooboy]

16. Where's a second 'magic bullet' when you need one? n/t

[xxqqqzme]

88. it is coming in November - you think

the Democrats will make any gains? guess again...oh, don't be surprised when California turns red!

[wellst0nev0ter]

19. Never. Trust. Republicans.

Never EVER trust Republicans, no matter how "concerned" they may sound or whatever they promise, they alway put party over country.

[pokercat999]

42. Trust Republicans? Put your trust in a bullet and the bullet

in a republician......figureitively of course.

[tsuki]

21. Way to go Specter. Come out swinging, then cave. Right on

cue.

[shance]

23. You and I both know he was never going to swing. Wake up

and look at how we are being duped.

[tsuki]

26. We are not being duped. This is pure Arlen Specter. Make

a lot of brave statements, then back down. "I'm going to have hearings, but I'm not going to swear anyone in. They might have to lie, and I don't want them facing perury charges."

Arlen should have retired after the 'magic bullet.' He's just been taking up space since.

[The Backlash Cometh]

46. You think Specter is the Republican's Biden?

[rumpel]

27. Paging Mr. JonathanTurley...

Looking forward to his op-ed

[laylah]

29. Does anyone have

this traitor's e-mail address? :mad: WTF is happening to us????????????????? :scared:

[lamp_shade]

30. We saw that coming, didn't we...

... the day he expressed his outrage over the surveillance program. Seems to be the "part" he's been assigned to play whenever a scandal hits. The phony outrage. Tsk.

[ArbustoBuster]

31. Specter, you motherf---er!

I'm sorry I ever voted for you back in the 90s. If I could go back and undo those votes, I would. You're either a coward who knuckled under to the Bush Administration, or you're a corrupt monster who's selling out our freedoms.

Either way, you don't deserve to be in our Senate. You deserve either a retirement without pension, or hard time in jail.

[Lasher]

32. Nothing to see here, move along

What did you expect, integrity? Wake up, Specter's a republican! This is a predictable move to retroactively ordain the NSA spying to be legal, before those pesky Democrats take control of Congress. It's in the same category as the latest Paris Hilton tax cuts.

But don't worry, there's not enough cat litter in the box to cover up everything these corrupt fascists have done since January 2001. The very first Congressional oversight since that time will be quite revealing, I'm sure.

[brazil]

33. Someone's got something on him...

He just had to be reminded, real gentle-like, because who would want the truth to get out.

Just like McCain and Powell.

Or maybe not. But hey, I'm just trying to be nice...

[rodeodance]

34. my gawd!! This is more than an 'advantage' for the WH!

.....In other words, individuals or groups that merely take an interest in a case, such as a privacy-rights advocacy group in the example of the surveillance program, cannot ask for a ruling from a federal court. Because the administration can use questions of standing and other tactics to keep plaintiffs out of court, the requirement that a plaintiff challenge the surveillance program — instead of mandating that the administration itself ask for a ruling on the program’s legality — gives the White House an important advantage.

[mithnanthy]

97. I think so too..

Somebody has something on ol' Arlan. It's got to be a threat or blackmail.

[HuffleClaw]

36. orwell and heller would be impressed

by this stunningly contemptuous travishamockery of 'justice'. really they would.

[rodeodance]

37. Look--the committee has other 'priorities' at the moment" same sex marriag

......Republicans say that under the new compromise all Republicans on the Judiciary Committee are expected to support the Specter bill. Support for that legislation is seen as smoothing the way for the DeWine bill. Several Judiciary Committee Republicans have demanded that either both bills pass out of committee or nothing NSA-related does.

...“We are working close to an agreement on the Republican side as to my bill, and I would like to move ahead with Senator DeWine’s bill and Senator Schumer’s bill at the top of our agenda next week,” Specter said during an executive session of the Judiciary Committee last Thursday. Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.) is a Democratic member of the committee.

The panel had been expected to mark up Specter’s and DeWine’s bills Thursday but, instead, the committee will work on legislation on same-sex marriage. Two prominent conservative leaders, Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family and Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, met Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Assistant Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) last week.

The delay of the markup on the NSA-related bills could imperil the compromise on the Specter and DeWine bills. The longer the agreement has to last before committee action, the more likely it is to be mulled over and picked apart, a GOP aide said.

[rodeodance]

39. Recommend.

[w4rma]

40. I think everyone here expected this from Specter. I'm surprised it caught

anyone off guard who has been keeping up with these scumbags.

[katinmn]

52. I sure expected it! Specter plays "good cop" for the cameras

but he's just pig dung like all the rest of the Bush Cabal.

[annabanana]

41. "it will help quell concerns "??

How on earth does this quell concerns? How can this move make ANY skeptic feel like any light is being brought into the equation?

WE MUST TAKE CONGRESS

[The Backlash Cometh]

44. "R" for Robber Barons.

Whoever had any faith that Specter would be an honest broker in this was a fool.

[flordehinojos]

47. a. specter was true to himself.

[CreekDog]

48. Senator Nevermind strikes again!

That's how Specter deals with issues, "stakes out a strong position...and then...
NEVERMIND."

He had us going there for about 2 weeks.

[Demeter]

49. Why, It's Good Old Reliable Arlen!

(Sung to "Nathan Detroit" from Guys and Dolls)

Why it's good old reliable Arlen,
Arlen, Arlen, Arlen the Ghost!

If your looking for action, your rights to increase,
He'll be sure that you're enslaved in quiet and peace!

In a dice game presided by Arlen,
Where there are no libruls to squawk

It's the oldest, established, permanent floating crap game near New York!

[JerseygirlCT]

50. So... to prove you're being spied on, you need to prove you're

being spied on?

[JerseygirlCT]

51. Every time, he caves. nt

[0007]

53. Argh! How many times has he done this very thing?

What a piece of shit!

[dusty64]

54. Is anyone really surprised?

EVERY rethug is a fascist traitor and specter is among the worst.

[stop the bleeding]

58. No not surprised just pissed

love the avatar!

[ShortnFiery]

55. Specter needs to wake the hell up! Even Republicans should be wary! n/t

[Canuckistanian]

56. Cha-ching! Arlen's got a new retirement plan

I knew that wouldn't last long. I held back any praise for Specter, waiting to see what concrete actions he would take.

It's worse than I thought. They're even resurrecting the DeWine "Get-out-of-jail-free" bill.

What a gift to the administration. There's not even a hope of a chance now IF those bills pass.

Let's hope some GOP members know that they're killing the 4th amendment by passing these bills and might reconsider.

I'm not holding my breath for that.

[Chimichurri]

57. Specter always does this. I think he threatens the administration

then they give him something he wants - he backs off.

This man is a Bush apologist. period.

[BlueManDude]

59. He gets a few days headlines as a Maverick...

then quietly plays nice a few weeks later. He does this all the time. Why anyone is shocked or even angered by it by now is beyond me.

[GOTV]

60. Once again, Spector talks a good game...

... but does nothing

[Evergreen Emerald]

61. where is the oversight?

What is the purpose of Congress? I am tired of the free-pass these guys are giving their leader. Another failed opportunity for Congress to demand accountability. Specter and his ilk should not be getting their paychecks.

[demo dutch]

62. When is this going to STOP!

[myrna minx]

66. I know! I am on outrage overload.

:cry:

[Rude Horner]

63. This is part of their game plan

Spector does this every time and the sheep eat it up. He feigns outrage at something, and then a week or so later he comes out and says something like "now that I've seen the details, it's all ok". And so the people think "gee, he was mad about this program just like me but now that he knows more about it, he's ok with it. Guess it must be ok".

Right out of the ol' Republican playbook.

[The Witch]

64. :head in hands:

Oh Arlen... I knew you would betray us but just a smidgen still held out hope...

:sigh:

[havocmom]

69. Specter finds out more that journalists got taps.

Here's some select tidbits from your calls, Senator... Now, here's a broom. Under the rug or up your ass?

[shantipriya]

70. Specter?????

I said at that time that this jerk is not going to do anything. This is not a democracy. It is a one party system where the "elected" reps work for themselves and have no principles or morals. Ours is a banana republic.

[natrat]

71. brings new light to the phrase "gone bad"

[stepnw1f]

73. Specter is a Traitor to His COuntry and Constitution

His action or inaction here is unredeemable. I knew he would do this, just as he always does.

[formercia]

74. Specter's M.O.

Make a big scene for public consumption and then tow the line when it comes down to doing something.

[yellowcanine]

76. So in other words people who don't know they if they were spied on have

the right to bring a lawsuit - but only if they can prove they were spied on - which they can't, because the proof, if it exists, is a secret. O.K., that makes sense to me.

[KansDem]

78. It sounds like a "Catch 22"

Perhaps time for an updated version of the old "Catch 22?"

There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle. 'That's some catch, that Catch-22,' he observed. 'It's the best there is,' Doc Daneeka agreed.

Wikipedia

[Up2Late]

77. Oh, I see. 2+2 does equal 5

Thanks for selling out the Nation Arlin.:banghead: :mad:

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

79. FWIW, I contacted Senator Specter's office re: this story

Made my points re: Specter knowing the law and respecting the law above party politics. Also expressed my disappointment with Specter not aggressively investigating this NSA program and putting a same-sex marriage bill ahead of an issue that actually has an impact on all Americans..."where are his priorities???"

Anyway, the staffer said the story was not released from their office and it is not accurate. I suggested that Senator Specter may want to put out an official statement of his position ASAP!!!

:shrug:

[Robbien]

89. The article says Specter isn't talking; so the GOP must be the source

Whether it is accurate or not, it is what the GOP says the agreement is. Usually what the GOP says, goes. Especially with their members.

Specter is probably hoping the interest will die down and his compromise bill can be quietly passed in a week or two.

[DirtyDawg]

81. Chuck Coulson was right...

Remember, in the final analysis, 'when you've got 'em by the balls...etc.' Don't forget, this administration has fine-tuned the process and there ain't a Republican out there that can't be had. Arlen may talk a good game but when they 'put the squeeze on', he squeals just like everybody else. You'd think that a guy suffering from the 'Big C' wouldn't be as vulnerable and would be at liberty to follow his conscience, but when it hurts, it hurts...so now we see that saving us from a dictatorship isn't as important as getting his balls out of the vice.

[beingthere]

86. Specter is a sleazeball , always was, always will be. n/t

[Miss Chybil]

87. They must have some good recordings of Specter's phone calls.nt

[november3rd]

90. Spector's web form

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

Here's the link. Let him know what you think.

I predict his server will crash before tea time.

[radio4progressives]

92. Kicking and Rating this Up - But there Sure as Hell better be

a massive level of Serious Push Back Activism against Specter on this.

Not just on the internet. There needs to be a ground swell of on the street public outcry against this.

People back east should be hitting the streets in Washington DC and in front of Specters offices in PA AND in front of WAPO NYT, CNN, ABC, NBC, MSNBC, etc.

[radio4progressives]

94. I just called his office and the staffer hung the phone up on me

First I was put on hold for several minutes, and then when my line was finally picked back up - i asked to speak with the Senator. (I didn't really expect to be through to him) She, the staffer said he wasn't available and said she would be "happy" to take a message.

Instead of taking the message, she hung up the phone just as let her know that i just finished reading the article indicating that he was about to make legal all the Illegal crimes this administration has been doing in the name of "intelligence" gathering with the Domestic Spying program. Paraphrasing, i said i was not surprised that he would introduce such a bill, after he's been engaged in covering up high crimes and treasonous activities ever since JFK's assassination - i guess that's what triggered the hang up.. needless to say, i shouldn't have mentioned that part - i also indicated that i was calling from California, presumably they have caller id and she could see that i wasn't calling from PA, but i could have fibbed and said i was on a business trip in California, but that I am from PA - I would have needed to come up with a zip code to identify a specific constituent region but i didn't do that. Perhaps others should consider that the message won't get taken if anyone does what i did - so i strongly advise doing what I was NOT able to do - and that is excersise a bit of self restraint.

Just the same, i made a call to his office (even if was a worthless endeavor) and thought i should report here in this thread.

I really hope there is organized push back on this outrageous effort.

[Mr_Spock]

95. Boy! And I was criticized for bashing Specter.

Huh! I knew this son of a bitch was just spewing the right words to make it look like he was going to do something. He's a piece of crap.

[Tight_rope]

96. I hope he spins restlessly in his grave. MAY SPECTOR "NEVER" RIP!