With Focus On Shooting- Cheney Wages Stealth Defense of NSA Wiretapping

[kpete]

With Attention Focused Elsewhere, Cheney Wages Stealth Defense of NSA Wiretapping

While the public attention has been very focused on his shooting accident, Vice President Cheney has been using the time to wage a vigorous, behind-the-scenes defense of Bush’s domestic surveillance program.

The AP reports Cheney has been playing “the role of point man in the National Security Agency’s warrantless wiretapping program in the war on terror.” And the Washington Post claims Cheney is winning the argument by lobbying critics of the program:

attributed the shift to last week’s closed briefings given by top administration officials to the full House and Senate intelligence committees, and to private appeals to wavering GOP senators by officials, including Vice President Cheney. “It’s been a full-court press,” said a top Senate Republican aide…

It appears Cheney may be figuring out a way to placate critics in Congress. The Post explains what the compromise might be:

Senate intelligence committee member Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) said in an interview that he supports the NSA program and would oppose a congressional investigation. He said he is drafting legislation that would “specifically authorize this program” by excluding it from the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

http://www.thinkprogress.org/

[bryant69]

1. meetings last week?

I admit that the timing of this is fortuitus though - for other reasons beyond this one. I don't find it believable that he shot a guy to distract attention away from quiet lobbying efforts to pass the spying act.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[woodsprite]

2. OK - Is there a chance that Mr. W. is OK and not shot at all? n/t