NYT/Reuters: Senator Specter: White House will deny Democrats details on spying, interrogation

[DeepModem Mom]

W.House Will Defy Democrats on Security: Republican
By REUTERS
Published: November 30, 2006

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration is unlikely to allow the incoming Democratic majority in Congress to learn details about its domestic spying program and interrogation policy, a Republican senator said on Thursday.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, who has criticized the Bush White House's secrecy about national security issues, said he would welcome detailed congressional oversight of the National Security Agency's warrantless eavesdropping.

"It would be ideal,'' said Specter, whose committee was blocked by the administration this year from conducting a full review of the program, despite an outcry among some lawmakers that the spying was illegal.

"We have to really get into the details as to what the program is, as to how many people they are tapping, what they're finding out,'' he told an American Bar Association conference on national security.

But he said he had "grave reservations'' that Congress would end up getting the information from the administration....

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-security-spying-specter.html

[Mojambo]

1. There are Republicans who will support investigation/impeachment

But the Democrats have to pick up the ball.

[Dr.Phool]

2. Hey Arlen, you dick!

Maybe when you were Chair, and in power, and you like maybe made them testify UNDER OATH, and issued a few suboenas, they wouldn't be so cocky now.

[Doctor_J]

3. Why don't they speak the truth?

It should read

White House will deny americans details on spying, interrogation

BTW, the reason they won't come clean is because all the spying is done against Dems.

[aaronbees]

10. Absolutely

The not-so-subtle implication is that the American people don't have to know the details about BushCo spying. What ever happened to open, responsible government for the people and not beholden to the power interests and elites?

[DavidDvorkin]

4. And when that happens, will the Democrats stand firm?

Not long ago, I would have predicted that they'd crumble. But they do seem to have rediscovered their spines.

Let's hope those spines are the real thing.

[Vidar]

12. Right. That's why they are all running headlong from impeachment.

[Qutzupalotl]

17. Right. That's why they are all pushing for investigations that will no doubt lead to impeachment.

[David Zephyr]

5. To hide their crimes on spying on their American political opposition: the Democrats.

Of course, the obvious thing is that Bush along with Abu Gonzales and John Asscroft before him were spying on Democrats in the Senate and the House. Nixon did it. Nixon was Prescott Bush's boy. Why should his grandson do differently?

What too many Americans don't know is that the hush money during Watergate (illegal spying on Nixon's opponent, George McGovern) that Nixon got to Gordon Liddy to keep quiet came from, you got it: Prescott Bush.

What do people think that Oliver North and Fawn Hall were shredding in the basement of the White House after Bush's Iran/Contra crimes were revealed? NSC spying on Democrats like John Kerry.

They have been spying on Democrats. And that's why they will fight this to the Supreme Court and even then, defy that Court, too.

[humbled_opinion]

7. I know and go figure even with the spying on opponents in the 04

election B@sh had such a terrible showing in the debates... go figure... obviously even with the details he has a hard time...

[CRK7376]

6. Use the power of the Subpoena

Then go for impeachment if that fails!

[anotherdrew]

8. if Arlen wants anything to happen, he needs to switch parties very soon n/t

[TomClash]

9. Why should the elected representatives of the people know?

These powers are reserved for the unelected fascist elite.

[Zhade]

11. The Dems will find a 'magic bullet' to defeat the conservative werewolves.

Fuck you, Specter. You're scared, and you know it.

[Zorra]

13. Then Dems can open a giant can of worms and turn 'em loose

all over the WH.

[rodeodance]

14. the news last night said Pelosi will prob. not push this.

[magellan]

20. Unacceptable! (nt)

[Vinca]

15. Won't they have to produce the goods when subpoenas start to fly? nt

[bobthedrummer]

16. How come citizens at political websites are better informed

about these mechanisms of the BFEE as compared to the political "leadership" and "experts"-actually it's citizens that are more knowledgeable in many respects than most committees, staff and researchers.

This is just another "fuck you" from the BFEE, to both sides of the aisle and to all citizens-it's only a month since the people sent our message that things have got to change.

[gratuitous]

18. Gee Arlen, you only had four years yourself

Hardly enough time to pick out the drapes. No wonder you couldn't get to your "ideal" solution of, I dunno, convening hearings and subpoenaing witnesses?

Posturing blowhole. Retire already, Arlen.

[312MIB]

19. Intercepts for foreign intelligence and not law enforcement should be taken up

in the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, not by the Judiciary Committees. They have secure rooms where classified hearings can occur and they are used to dealing with sensitive material.