LAT: GOP showcases wiretapping decision; Democrats have fallen silent

[DeepModem Mom]

Domestic Surveillance Program: A Tricky Issue
By Maura Reynolds, Times Staff Writer
August 18, 2006

WASHINGTON -- The major federal court ruling declaring the president's warrantless wiretapping program unconstitutional was a blow to the Bush administration and a victory for its critics. But in a reversal, it's Republicans who are showcasing the decision and Democrats who are sidestepping it.

A day after a Detroit judge said the president "blatantly disregarded" the Constitution when he authorized the domestic surveillance program, top Republicans issued a stream of memos discussing her ruling. And President Bush seemed eager to take on the matter during a brief question and answer session with reporters at Camp David....

***

Democratic leaders, by contrast, after issuing a few terse comments Thursday, have fallen largely silent.

"The Republicans are celebrating it secretly, even though it went against them," said Marshall Wittman, a former aide to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) who is now a senior fellow at the center-left Progressive Policy Institute. "My guess is that Democrats won't touch it…. To embrace the decision would underscore Democratic vulnerabilities, especially the charge that they are not tough enough on national security."...

***

The domestic surveillance program "is probably the trickiest issue for us to deal with," conceded a senior Democratic Senate aide. "The goal is to try to embrace the goals of the program, and everyone has done that. What we have to try and avoid is falling into the trap being set for us by the Republicans, suggesting that we are soft on the war on terrorism."...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-081806nsa,0,1306222.story?coll=la-home-headline

[NC_Nurse]

1. Well that's just bullshit

They should keep pointing out that the FISA law allows it - IF they would bother to get a WARRANT! Which is what makes the whole program suspect to begin with, don't they have a good enough reason to spy to allow a warrant? What ARE they up to?

[lgn19087]

4. one by one

our rights are being taken away from us. that's what they're up to.

[blm]

11. Fascist agenda at play.

.

[rubberducky]

2. Dems need to wrap themselves in the flag!!!!!!!!!

Hold that ruling high for freedom. FREEDOM from the oppression of the nest of vipers in the white house. One small step for freedom, one giant leap for our constitution.

[blm]

3. Kerry said the NSA decision proves NO ONE is above the law.

Gee - why doesn't that ever register with reporters so quick to claim that Dems are silent?

[Cha]

6. Well, there ya go! Kerry's a Dem and

he's not silent!

[fedupinBushcountry]

7. Another example

of media distortion, and spin against the Democrats. It is just so disgusting.

[sandnsea]

9. I emailed the national desk

Surely Ms. Reynolds received Senator Kerry's press release yesterday morning. How can she interpret this as silence??

“The court ruled today that no one is above the law. Now we need an honest debate and constructive steps, not another public relations onslaught from an administration that’s good at hiding the truth and spinning the politics and sorely lacking when it comes to making America safe in the world or bringing people together at home.”

[e-mail]

[blm]

10. The corpmedia ignores the truth if it doesn't fit the storyline they have

worked up with Rove to deal with these sticky issues.

[Cha]

5. I don't know why they would

be silent..the repukes are the one who are soft on national security!

9/11 happened on their watch as well as the anthrax terrorist attacks in the Senate building.

I don't want to hear what that bloody mccain has to say..let's hear from some Dems!!

There's no way that Dems should be silent on this!

[MissWaverly]

8. by embracing the goals they are making us less secure

too bad they are jellocrats; our hopes are riding on them.

[alvarezadams]

12. PPI is "center left"?

Gimme a break. Leave it to a neocon thinktank to criticize dems - even if they DO belong to the DLC.

[leesa]

13. What more is there to say? They agree. It's illegal.

What incredibly biased "reporting"