Did Bush willingly commit a ZOT? Please say it ain't so

[always thr constitution]

I have been arguing with stupid libs for two days saying that Bush committed no crime because under the provisions of the USSID 18 and the FSIA, he could with perfect legitimacy eavesdrop on aliens involved in terrorist activities if he had AG approval.

However, what was puzzling is that Gonzales did not cite USSID 18; he cited the more dubious rationale of war powers approval. This would seem to indicate that Bush was spying on US citizens without a Court Order which clearly violates USSID 18 and the FSIA, and was using war powers approval to cover for it.

Now such actions are not unprecedented during wartime; however, since there has been no officiial declaration of war, there seems to be Constitutional as well as legal issues at work here.

I never thought Bush would resort to such extreme measures to skirt the law. I hope I am wrong. Please tell me why Bush didn't do this.

[DocRock]

[Wolfstar]

Something passes the smell test if you'd approve of a President you DON'T like doing it. Does this?

Took me a moment to diagram your sentence, but the answer is a resounding YES! It sure as heck does.

In the same Los Angeles suburb where I live, some Asian-American men were arrested earlier this year. They have since been indicted on multiple counts, including a conspiracy to smuggle missles into this country for the purpose of selling them to the highest bidder.

No one reveres the Constitution more than I do. I consider myself a Constitutional conservative, and have often said on these boards how I wish we could repeal both the 16th and 17th Amendments. Both were passed and ratified at the height of the "Progressive" era (1913), and both were huge mistakes in my opinion.

However, the Constitution is not a suicide pact. It does vest the conduct of foreign policy and the conduct of war in the Commander-in-Chief for a reason.

[chesley]

I also wonder if poster is a troll. I got in too late to see his sign-up date.

Although, I think the President is going to be shown right on this issue, if it ever gets to court.

[TheForceOfOne]

Run along Troll

[Boondock_Saint]

Andrew Napolitano: The president has violated the law in the name of national security, not wanting to violate the law, believing he’s doing the right thing, but he violated it nonetheless. He can’t pick and choose which laws to obey and not to obey any more than the rest of us can.


Jonathan Turley: I don't consider this a close case at all. I think that this operation was based on a federal crime.


Alan Dershowitz: I think the President broke the law. I think congress should hold hearings.


Lindsay Graham: I don't know of any legal basis to go around that. We can’t become an outcome-based democracy. Even in a time of war, you have to follow the process, because that's what a democracy is all about-a process.

[Wolfstar]

I got in too late to see his sign-up date.

Today.

[texas_mrs]

[confederacy of dunces]

Viking Kitties don't need no steeenkin' showers. Dirt runs away from them.

I was thinking more along the lines that maybe the moose hid the kitty's cheese in the shower, and he had to retrieve it.

[Wolfstar]

Re your listing of Napolitano, Dershowitz, Turley, and Graham, I don't give a rat's butt what they say. First, talking heads on TV carry zero weight with me. They are all whores who sell their law degrees and other credentials for TV spots. As for that McEgo sychophant, Sen. Graham, he's an embarrassing little phony (or maybe I should say pony). Quite possibly one of the worst senators ever, and that's saying something.

[shield]

Sorry...those turds are ALL WRONG!!!!

THANK YOU FOR WIRETAPPING

Unwarranted Outrage The Times blew our cover.

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act

[Paul_Denton]

ZOT!

[hosepipe]

Credit Bureaus spy on us, all, all the time.. legally..
Course U.S. President fighting a war is has less power than a credit bureau
Unless he is a democrat president..
Why is that?..

[chesley]

OK, then, he's a troll.

[talleyman]

The Constitution is a living, breathing, highly adaptable document - your side told us so...

[Dashing Dasher]

Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.

[jboot]

Nice color scheme. That heavy cruiser needs more escort. Mine never go into action without 10 multigun corvettes in sphere formation.

[Mike Darancette]

what was puzzling is that Gonzales did not cite USSID 18

The strict language does not support Bush's authorization of NSA.

[Chode]

[AliVeritas]

Reid... is that you?

Can't spell your own handle... should be a clue; At least act intelligent when you come to FR.

[AliVeritas]

If those foreign nationals or U.S. citizens are talking with terrorists, damn right they'll be tapped.

The constitution is not a suicide pact. Lincoln