Posted on 12/16/2005 4:04:00 PM PST by Goldwater-Reagan Republican
To the surprise of perhaps no one, Senators Arlen Specter and John McCain have jumped on this morning's reports of NSA spying within the United States as another opportunity to grab the limelight.
Report of NSA Spying Prompts Call for Probe (AP)
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter put the Bush administration on notice Friday that his panel would hold hearings into a report that the National Security Agency eavesdropped without warrants on people inside the United States. "There is no doubt that this is inappropriate," said Specter, R-Pa., calling hearings early next year "a very, very high priority." He wasn't alone in reacting harshly to the report. Sen. John McCain R-Ariz., said the story, first reported in Friday's New York Times, was troubling.
[...]
"This is Big Brother run amok," declared Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., called it a "shocking revelation" that "ought to send a chill down the spine of every senator and every American."
But, as the NYT story made clear, the Senate has long ago been apprised of the practice. Even Democrats like Jay Rockefeller knew about it. Indeed, the AP brings this up several paragraphs into the story:
The administration had briefed congressional leaders about the NSA program and notified the judge in charge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, the secret Washington court that handles national security issues. Aides to National Intelligence Director John Negroponte and West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, declined to comment Thursday night.
So, if this was "inappropriate," "troubling," and "shocking," why wait until it hits the front page of the Times to say something about it? Couldn't they have held private hearings on this a year ago?
Update: An informed source e-mails and DC Loser comments below taking me to task for writing "the Senate has long ago been apprised of the practice" when, in fact, all I know for sure is the the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence had been apprised. A fair point. I was operating on the presumption, perhaps incorrect, that the leadership of the Judiciary Committe, which would have oversight responsibility on FISA, and the Armed Services Committee, which has oversight over NSA, would have been similarly briefed.
Sphincter and McLame. At it again.
"There is no doubt that this is inappropriate..."
In that case, why do you need hearings, Alen? Just vote to ban it.
"This is Big Brother run amok," declared Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
That's pretty funny... Kennedy criticizing Big Government.
McCain is just trying to get those BLUE STATE VOTES for '08...but yet doesn't realize that he has to win the primary first...ain't gonna happen John...
McCain has made us less safe...his "Torture Bill" and now this investigation at a time of war...further handcuffing the administration...
I call for a Constitutional Amendment to abolish the United States Senate.
They can all go to hell.
Didn't the Dems run the Senate when this change was made?
Note to McCain: YOU LOST! You came across as a pompous jerk, both in person and on TV. You are not the President, and you never will be. Stop trying to run the country!
Teddy is little brother run amok
show me one viable republican candidate for 2008 who is to the right of McCain on these issues? sure, you'll get some "Gary Bauer" type candidates in the primaries who might take him on. But where is George Allen on these issues, for example.
Someone needs to point out to Sen. Armlong Sphincter that the NSA allows the government to monitor foreign communications, even if one party is an American inside the US.
The man is a threat to American security.
Suprised McCain didn't hurt Arlen in the rush to be in front of the camera first. These dumb bastards...Go join the democrats.
And the corrupt liars certainly didn't have a problem when Gore was trying to tap every phone in America with the Clipper chip... or when Billy Boy got caught tapping the Internet with Carnivore.
They really are opportunistic whores.
That is ALL these idiot politicians want to do...is hold hearings, which gets their ugly faces on TV!!!
BTW...I hope the FIRST people they call are Sen.Rockefeller, DEMOCRAT...and the others that knew about this all along...
Which, makes this a wrong headed investigation like the Plame thing...
Since Bush TOLD congresscritters he was doing it...then they can't keep saying he was "secretly" breaking the law, can they?
McCain - that vain, egotistical, showboating, backstabber.
ARGGGG!
Take a breath.......
My loathing for him increases day after day.
This smarmy little pimp wants to get his hands on everything.
Right now you have Allen and Newt...just wait, there will be a governor stepping out of the shadows to fill the conservative void...Don't expect a Reagan...but we'll get a conservative...maybe Allen, maybe not...
It's sad that McCain sits in the seat once occupied by Barry Goldwater.
where do I sign up?
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