Congressmembers write White House, ask if reporters were bugged

[kpete]

Congressmembers write White House, ask if reporters were bugged
RAW STORY

Congressman John Conyers, Jr. and 21 other House Democrats sent a letter to President Bush today requesting that he provide a range of information concerning the controversial warrantless surveillance program by the NSA, RAW STORY has learned.

In light of recent disclosures by NBC that CNN Reporter Christiane Amanpour's telephone calls may have been intercepted by the Bush Administration -- a fact caught by AmericaBLOG's John Aravosis. The Democrats asked for information regarding whether any reporters or other members of the media have had phone calls intercepted under the NSA program.

The congressmembers also asked the President to propose statutory language that would specifically authorize the program so that it could be considered as part of a possible extension of the USA PATRIOT Act scheduled to sunset Feb. 3.



The text of the letter follows:

#
January 5, 2006
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500


Dear Mr. President:

We write to you regarding the National Security Agency's use of warrantless surveillance involving people in the United States. While we believe it is critical that communications with Al Qaeda representatives be scrutinized, it is also imperative that it be done in a manner that respects the law and the privacy rights of individuals in this country, and as has been done by prior Administrations.

read whole letter at:http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Congressmembers_write_White_House_ask_if_0105.html

[LeftNYC]

1. If Conyers issues a memo and no one listens,

is he still a member of Congress.

I love John, nobody does more.

[SharonRB]

3. Go to the Michigan forum and see the instructions for

nominating him as a Michiganian of the Year. I've also posted my nomination. You don't have to live here to nominate him.

[LeftNYC]

5. will do

I've posted way too much today...

[blm]

9. Unfortunately, it seems the more you do the LESS you get noticed.

Certainly true of the corporate media who ignores the Dems who stick their necks out the most.

[LeftNYC]

12. maybe Conyers should get in touch with Ralph Reed

He probably has a trick up his dirty sleeve...

Keep it real, John.

[SharonRB]

2. Of course Conyers is at the forefront of this

He's always at the forefront. I just hope someone listens to him this time.

[mikelewis]

4. I wonder if he even expects an answer...

I doubt it but at least he's asking the right questions. I wish more on both sides of the fence did the right thing.

[LeftNYC]

7. Cheney got some nice new toilet paper

to wipe his hemorroidal ass with...Bastard..

[Oreo]

6. Here is who signed the letter

Yay Sabo! I need to call to thank him for this one

Rep. John Conyers, Jr.; Rep. Bobby Scott; Rep. Lofgren; Rep. Nadler; Rep. Tauscher; Rep. Jackson Lee; Rep. McDermott; Rep. Meehan; Rep. Olver; Rep. Wexler; Rep. Inslee; Rep. Schakowsky; Rep. Doggett; Rep. Kucinich; Rep. McCollum; Rep. Berman; Rep. Baldwin; Rep. Van Hollen; Rep. David Price; Rep. Tom Udall; Rep. Ackerman; Rep. Wasserman Shultz; Rep. Sabo; Rep. Tierney; Rep. Hinchey

[LSK]

8. Congress should ask if Congress was bugged

[Just Me]

10. Took the words right outta' my mouth! n/t

[TahitiNut]

11. "statutory language that would specifically authorize the program"???

Gawd help us! An extension to the Enabling Acts. Fascism digs in deeper.

[Just Me]

13. I *imagine* a response would confirm they know it's illegal.

Nevertheless, this country seems in the shitcan, right now. Good God, I never imagined it would get this bad. I feel sick. I feel sick because the state of this nation will likely get far worse before this abuse of power and rights and people is ended.

[TahitiNut]

14. Before late 2000, I wouldn't have imagined it either.

Since then, however, I agree with Nader when he said it'll either get worse fast or get worse slowly. We'd be better off if it's fast ... but it won't stop getting worse until even the most clueless person feels the pain. It'll be a long, long road back ... and one election isn't even a drop in the bucket compared to how far back we have to go. It's taken 25-30 years to get where it is now. We can be sure it won't turn around soon - even though some may regard a slowing of the pace as such. After we turn it around we'll still have decades to go before we recover from the damage in the last 25 years.

I won't live long enough to see it. I know that for sure.

[aquart]

15. Bet that gets a quick response.