Repubs Block Investigation of Domestic Spying Program-By John Conyers

[kpete]

Republicans Block Investigation of Domestic Spying Program
by Congressman John Conyers
Wed Feb 15, 2006 at 01:30:42 PM PDT

.............

Today, the House Judiciary Committee considered my resolution of inquiry on the domestic spying program. The Resolution was rejected 16 to 21, with all Democrats and one Republican (Congressman Hostetler) voting for it.

A few quick impressions: first, I was surprised at how half hearted the Republican defense of the program was. I would even go further -- while some offered a full throated defense of the program, many of my Republican colleagues seemed almost sheepish about it, and many did not speak about it at all.

Second, Republicans repeatedly asserted that the documents were not needed because Judiciary Chairman Sensenbrenner has unilaterally submitted 51 questions (pdf) to the Attorney General, and that the Attorney General would testify at a general oversight hearing at some undetermined point in the future. I and the other Democratic Members responded that this was wholly inadequate, and that to fulfill their constitutional oversight role the Committee needed to obtain documents from the Administration and hold separate hearings on the NSA issue.

More to the point, while some news outlets touted the Chairman's letter, his questions are, in my view, inadequate. A close reading of them reveals that the first 38 questions essentially ask the Department whether they think the program is legal. They have already given us their answer on that. The remaining questions are so general, that they can be answered by a google search of what is already in the press.

A few are such softballs it is hard to take them seriously. Take number 18, for example -- "Do you agree that it is debatable as to whether the United States homeland is still a target of al Qaeda?" Wonder what the Justice Department will answer. That sounds like the Fox News question of the day.

My third impression is a very positive one: every single Democrat present spoke passionately and eloquently about the legitimate questions surrounding this program and the desperate need for Congressional oversight of it.

To me, this is one of the most serious problems with one-party, Republican rule: there is no check and balance of Executive Branch wrongdoing. The refusal to assert basic prerogatives to obtain documents and engage in oversight is dangerous and disheartening. We are not giving up -- we, meaning every House Judiciary Democrat, have sent our own questions to the Chairman and asked for a series of hearings on this issue.

Some Republicans are breaking ranks, however, particularly those in competitive districts. They know what many may learn the hard way in November -- the American people expect the Congress to be a check and balance, not to give the President a blank check.

more at:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/2/15/153042/824

[MadMaddie]

1. 51 questions to investigate

to determin if the NSA is conducting illegal surveillance on American citizens?

<snip>
Second, Republicans repeatedly asserted that the documents were not needed because Judiciary Chairman Sensenbrenner has unilaterally submitted 51 questions (pdf) to the Attorney General,
<snip>

My partner asks me more questions than that about my trip to the store?

[Just Me]

2. Make sure those campaign ads point out the pukes who are supporting,...

,...spying on Americans.

[rock]

3. I thought it was going to end up

the American people expect the Congress to be a check and balance, not to give the President head.

[kpete]

4. UPDATE: Adds Slaughter...

UPDATE: Adds Slaughter...

"Congress is rejecting its Constitutionally mandated responsibility to oversee the actions of the President, and is choosing instead to make itself irrelevant," Rep. Slaughter said. "The Bush Administration has provided us with a false choice. The notion that we have to choose between our national security and our civil liberties is an indefensible and dangerous precedent to set for this nation. We can, and must, have both."

"As the world's greatest democracy, we must defend our citizens from outside threats to their security. But we must also defend their liberties from internal attack," Rep. Slaughter continued. "We must show the world that no one is above the law - not even the President of the United States."

http://www.dccc.org/stakeholder/archives/004340.html