Another Key Conservative Comes Out Against Bush's Warrantless Surveillance

[JABBS]

The White House and its friends in the conservative media would have you believe that Democrats are alone in protesting President Bush's warrantless surveillance program.

For example, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said on Jan. 22:

Senate Democrats continue to engage in misleading and outlandish charges about this vital tool. ... It defies common sense for Democrats to now claim the administration is acting outside its authority. ...

Don't believe the empty spin.

Grover Norquist, a long-time conservative leader, declared the surveillance program illegal:

Referring to what some see as a choice between fighting terrorists and upholding civil liberties, Norquist said: “It’s not either/or. If the president thinks he needs different tools, pass a law to get them. Don’t break the existing laws."

Norquist is the latest Republican to suggest the program is in violation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and circumvents rules that say the National Security Agency must obtain a warrant before proceeding.

George Will called Bush's actions a mistake. William Safire said he sided with Bush's critics. Bruce Fein, former deputy attorney general in the Reagan Administration, and Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute have actually suggested Bush's personally authorizing the surveillance was an impeachable offense.

Additionally, at least 11 Republican Senators have publicly questioned the program: Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, as well as Sam Brownback of Kansas, Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, Susan Collins of Maine, Larry Craig of Idaho, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Dick Lugar of Indiana, John McCain of Arizona, Olympia Snowe of Maine and John Sununu of New Hampshire.

The question that should be asked is: what will it take for the 44 other Republican Senators to agree?

***

This item first appeared at JABBS.

[blm]

1. WELL DONE. This is a VERY USEFOOL TOOL for all of us. THANKYOU JABBS!!!

Recommended.

DU - Please send this to ALL your local newspapers.

[JABBS]

3. thanks

[Hosnon]

2. I'm working on a paper dealing with the issue of the Fourth Amendment:

There appear to be judicially created exceptions to the amendment which the Administration is relying upon. Check out the DOJ release defending the wiretapping.

I've just started my research but it seems that the Admin. is relying on the extreme outer edges of the concept to make its case.

Plus, out of 42 pages the DOJ only defends against the Fourth with 6 pages - hinting to me that it may be the chink in the armor.

[MissWaverly]

9. See my link

I put the wrong heading on the story, the FBI demanded financial records for 1 million
people who were in Las Vegas for New Years eve in 2004. This is not just what the
administration keeps saying, this is not judicially created exceptions, this is complete
surveillance of the populace.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2437364&mesg_id=2437364

[Tigress DEM]

12. Well, that's all well and nice if there never WERE a FISA court.

Georgie may think he can live in a world where only the 4th ammendmendment applies, but since FISA was specifically designed to keep the Exec happy and in line, he has to abide by it or go to jail.

Because of those loopholes, which Nixon STILL didn't evade, the FISA court was created to give the pRes instant access... the assumption being that no pRes would spy without at least probable cause that there was some sort of wrong doing involved.

After all, that isn't even spyig - it's peeping and that is so perverted.

heh heh, heh heh

[blm]

4. Keep Kicking

.

[blm]

5. kick....powerful tool for our rebuttals.

.

[JABBS]

6. appreciate your efforts, blm

[Jeffersons Ghost]

7. Nice Shot!

Did you know repuke season just opened in my state? Great post JABBS! :kick:

[druidity33]

8. valuable resource...k&r...n/t

...

[Catrina]

10. Great post ~ let's hope more real Conservatives get the courage to

stand up for their country.

[fooj]

11. This is not a partisan issue. This is about being an AMERICAN.

A true patriot is a patriot. Political party affiliation can't change that.

Peace.

[blm]

13. Kicking for VALUE.

.