Feinstein made a point - NSA is under DOD - doesn't that put Congress...

[FormerRepublican]

...in charge of making the rules that they follow? The President is Commander in Chief, but he doesn't write the UCMJ, does he? Wouldn't the President overriding Congressional rules for a DoD agency itself be unconstitutional? If an NSA guy doing illegal wiretaps is military, doesn't that subject him to certain penalties under the UCMJ?

And doesn't looking at Gonzales all day long in these hearings make you want to :puke:?

[stepnw1f]

1. Good Catch!

Amazing... so much is happening all at once... make the room stop....

:crazy:

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Hmmmm..Must think heaabou this. And it's not looking at Squeaky so much as

hearing him that gets to me.

[Straight Shooter]

3. Gonzales doesn't make me want to puke. He makes me want to slap him.

His schtick gets really old really fast.

[Coastie for Truth]

4. A catch 22 -

only somebody "subject to the code" can bring charges under the Code.

[cindyw]

5. Why do you think they are arguing for the "unitary executive"?!

It means all departments answer only to Bush.

[Sadie5]

6. I noticed that slick smile on his face

all day long. Wanted to slap it off his mug

[KittyWampus]

7. Commander in Chief only applies when we are officially at war.

[PaganPreacher]

8. Incorrect.

The President is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces from the time he takes the oath, until the next guy takes his oath.

Article II, Section 2 of the US Constitution says, "The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States;"

You won't find "but only when we are officially at war" or anything resembling it in the Constitution, or in any Federal law (which would be unconstitutional if it had ever been enacted).

The Air Force was included under the National Security Act of 1947, after it was split off from the Army.

The Pagan Preacher
I don't turn the other cheek.

[KittyWampus]

9. "when called into the actual Service of the United States;"

explain that, please?

[PaganPreacher]

12. Glad to!

The phrase is, "and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States". You are only quoting half of it.

The Army and Navy are always "in the service of the United States". They are Federal armed forces, always paid from the Federal budget and always subject to the command of the President.

The Organized Militias of 1787 were the precursor of today's National Guard. They could be called into duty by their state Governors to "quell insurrections", keep the peace, and later to respond to natural disasters. When those Militias (or National Guards) were on state active duty, the Governor of their state was the Commander-in-Chief. Those militas could also be called into Federal service, and the President assumed command.

Today, if the National Guard is activated under Title 10 of the United States Code, the President becomes the Commander-in-Chief; if the Guard is activated under Title 32, the Governor retains control.

The Pagan Preacher
I don't turn the other cheek.

[KittyWampus]

13. Thanks PaganP>

[Sugarcoated]

10. I thought Gonzales was condescending towards her at times

[AtomicKitten]

11. and they're going to keep doing it until someone calls bullshit

Just like that, bullshit. They seem to be pussy-footing around the obvious.