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.
Is McCain attempting to make Dean appear sane?
Is it just me, or is it time for another revolution by the people to take back that which we have lost over the years?
McCain and Specter...is there no end to these pompous a$$es?
I agree, it's very sad.
McCain thinks that the MSM is his constituency.
Indeed. Perhaps McCain doesn't realize just how unpopular he is with rank-and-file Republicans, but even here in blue California, I doubt he'd win our primary. He won't win New York's primary. Rudy has that locked up assuming he runs.
The only place McCain is a leading contender is in his own mind -- and the collective pea-sized thingy that passes for a brain in the media.
Newt has the intellect and the communications skills, but I think the media has been able to demonize him personally to make a presidential bid for him near impossible to win.
Allen seems to be adrift, which is not surprising, the senate is a body that is incapable of producing anyone with real leadership abilities.
Allen has his hands full trying to win reelection to the senate.
The GOP ticket in 2008.
yes, but the point is, when this story broke today - that should have been the message right away, from Bush himself at a microphone. instead, we get McClellan falling all over his words trying to rebut this.
DeLay would smack these punks down if he were Senate Majority Leader or Whip. They would get primary'd so fast they wouldn't know what hit them.
I think McCain would tout his Vietnam experience to prove he'd be a capable leader in the war on terror and that would play to Californians...Rudy doesn't play well west of the Hudson...NYC, sure... he's a viable NATIONAL candidate b/c of 911...but no primary win...
and what's his agenda for his senate re-election? voting for the McCain "torture" bill? if he is going to have that much difficulty winning Virginia, he's not going to be much of a presedential candidate.
If you are a United States Senator- You are not viable to be President of the United states.
I think we should investigate "Dumb and Dumber" before we spend more good money on another useless Congressional investigation.
So voters, can now expect a serious investigation to identify then prosecute the person who leaked the classified information.
Right?
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