Posted on 12/21/2005 3:47:01 AM PST by johnny7
President Bush's post- Sept. 11, 2001, authorization to the National Security Agency to carry out electronic surveillance into private phone calls and e-mails is consistent with court decisions and with the positions of the Justice Department under prior presidents.
The president authorized the NSA program in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America. An identifiable group, Al Qaeda, was responsible and believed to be planning future attacks in the United States. Electronic surveillance of communications to or from those who might plausibly be members of or in contact with Al Qaeda was probably the only means of obtaining information about what its members were planning next. No one except the president and the few officials with access to the NSA program can know how valuable such surveillance has been in protecting the nation. In the Supreme Court's 1972 Keith decision holding that the president does not have inherent authority to order wiretapping without warrants to combat domestic threats, the court said explicitly that it was not questioning the president's authority to take such action in response to threats from abroad.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Yes, but because it made Jay Rockefeller feel all "girlie" inside, it is illegal.
Rush was all over this yesterday but the brain dead talking heads find this fertile ground to bash the President. Makes my blood boil to see those ignorant SOB's along with the dumbcrats carp on issues that are baseless.
CNN was 'Impeachment-Central' yesterday afternoon. It was like watching a lunatic asylum conducting a fire-drill.
The dims are definitely "Stuck on Stupid" and have fallen for it again. Now they have exposed themselves once again as the party that would not defend America with plenty of sound bites for the 2006 election.
The Democrats are really saying that they want to fight a new war with old strategies. Bush may in fact end up to be shown working outside the law on this one. But until that is settled by a court or legislative act, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. The Democrats seem to think that every action in this WOT should be settled legally before taking action. They seem to forget that Bush is breaking new ground to do battle in a new type of war, and there are many issues that are unsettled. He needs to be given the freedom to continue to find new ways to win this war and make the best judgments he can at the time.
A virtual treasure-trove!
ping
Sh_t dude... I passed skeptical when Mapes made that phone-call to Joel Lockhart.
Four federal courts held that the president has inherent authority to authorize wiretapping for foreign intelligence purposes without judicial warrant.
How is the President "working outside the law"?
The only problem is that a major element of our national security network has now been compromised.
We have been put at hugely greater risk from terrorist attack because of this pathological, and, yes, treasonous disclosure of vital security operations.
Each of us and our families and the nation are today manifestly and significantly less safe from terrorist attacks, including those utilizing WMD's.
It is all over except the grandstanding. Unfortunately, grandstanding can go on for years!
The could be the Mother Of All Rope-A-Dopes. The Donks are going to move themselves further and further afield chasing the phantom of an impeachable offense, and by the time they realize what is happening, they will have left the American electorate completely behind.
It sure doesn't sound like it
On what page of the NYT and the WaPo was this story found? Anyone?
I don't think this has anything to do with the WOT. "Settled legally"? I don't think the Dems have that high a purpose. This is just another accusation that "leaker" DEMS have fed to the MSM to damage the "unsophisticated" President they both despise. A far more important goal of the MSM/DEMS than winning the WOT.
ABC and Foxnews (using Napolitano) is convicting and impeaching our President this morning. I have written both organizations and let them know that WE know that they are biased (and lying).
I also mentioned that a Child Rape, or a mass murder of Iraqi's (gassing the Kurds) carries the tag of an "alleged" crime, but no such respect is shown for our Great Leader. Excuse me, but SCREW ALL ENEMIES... BOTH DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN!
LLS
Ever notice it's dumba$$'s like Ted Kennedy saying that it's the wire tap is Big Bro run amok? Hey Ted, I wish you'd have drowned when you took Mary Jo for "the swim" and that she'd have survived. She would have been a hell of a lot better senator than you Ted *hick* Kennedy.
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