Key senator says Democrats will not be soft on terrorism

[The Straight Story]

Key senator says Democrats will not be soft on terrorism

By Andrew Noyes, National Journal's Technology Daily
The Vermont Democrat who is poised to regain control of the Senate Judiciary Committee rejected charges that his party is soft on terrorism during an interview that aired on C-Span.

Patrick Leahy, who chaired the committee from 2001-2003, will replace Pennsylvania Republican Arlen Specter next month. Leahy has outlined an aggressive oversight agenda for the 110th Congress, which includes a re-examination of the National Security Agency's wiretapping program without warrants and the creation of government databases and dossiers on American citizens without their knowledge or consent.

But oversight doesn't mean softness on terrorism, Leahy said. Democrats joined Republicans in support of the Bush administration after al Qaeda's attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon even though the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks "happened on watch and even though as their own independent analyses have shown, they did drop the ball."

He added: "We say, 'How do we make it better so that you don't drop the ball next time?'"

When his party questions the efficacy of the Homeland Security Department, Leahy said, "it's not to say we're in favor of terrorists. It might say, 'You're the guys who are supposed to protect us on a moment's notice. ... When are you going to get around to protect us?'"

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=35732&dcn=todaysnews

[Rex]

1. This should not be a valid question. NO ONE is going to be soft

on terrorism. Geez, will the Dems ever get the respect they deserve?

[Der Blaue Engel]

2. Not as long as the media is bought and paid for n/t