Bush Says, Bring It On; the Critics Will

Time Magazine ^ | Jan. 03, 2006 | KAREN TUMULTY, MIKE ALLEN

[ncountylee]

Up until a couple of weeks ago, George W. Bush's script to put the misery of 2005 behind him had seemed destined for a smooth rollout. Buoyed by the apparent success of the Iraqi elections, the President would score a quick confirmation victory with Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, follow it up with a soaring State of the Union address and then return to full campaign mode with a sweep around the country, talking about big issues like immigration and Medicare and throwing the spotlight on a resurgent economy. But the revelation that his Administration has been spying in this country without warrants--illegally, critics say--may have put a crimp in Bush's plan to climb back on top of the agenda as the new legislative session begins. "When Congress comes back," warns a top G.O.P. congressional aide, "domestic surveillance and privacy issues will be all over the front pages."

To which the President and his strategists seem to be saying, Bring it on. From practically the moment news of the domestic-surveillance program hit the front page of the New York Times, the White House decided its strategy would be to "overwhelm the skeptics, not back off, not change anything about the program and really home in very strongly on the fact that this is a legitimate part of presidential warmaking power," says an adviser. Bush launched a ferocious defense in his Dec. 17 weekly radio address, inviting in a network camera to capture the rare live delivery of the speech as he declared that the no-longer-secret surveillance program makes it "more likely that killers like these 9/11 hijackers will be identified and located in time." G.O.P. strategists argue that Democrats have little leeway to attack

[Williams]

The "domestic" spying is such a non-story. It's international and the public supports it.

[airborne]

Oh, it's TIME.

I thought it was something relevent.

My mistake.

[mnehring]

From practically the moment news of the domestic-surveillance program hit the front page of the New York Times, the White House decided its strategy would be to "overwhelm the skeptics, not back off, not change anything about the program and really home in very strongly on the fact that
this is a legitimate part of presidential warmaking power,"

..and here is the law..(one of many actually, but this is the most clear, cut and dry arguments..)


EXECUTIVE ORDER 12949

- - - - - - - FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE PHYSICAL SEARCHES



By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including sections 302 and 303 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 ("Act") (50 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.), as amended by Public Law 103- 359, and in order to provide for the authorization of physical searches for foreign intelligence purposes as set forth in the Act, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Pursuant to section 302(a)(1) of the Act, the Attorney General is authorized to approve physical searches, without a court order, to acquire foreign intelligence information for periods of up to one year, if the Attorney General makes the certifications required by that section.

Sec. 2. Pursuant to section 302(b) of the Act, the Attorney General is authorized to approve applications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court under section 303 of the Act to obtain orders for physical searches for the purpose of collecting foreign intelligence information.

Sec. 3. Pursuant to section 303(a)(7) of the Act, the following officials, each of whom is employed in the area of national security or defense, is designated to make the certifications required by section 303(a)(7) of the Act in support of applications to conduct physical searches:

(a) Secretary of State;

(b) Secretary of Defense;

(c) Director of Central Intelligence;

(d) Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation;

(e) Deputy Secretary of State;

(f) Deputy Secretary of Defense; and

(g) Deputy Director of Central Intelligence.

None of the above officials, nor anyone officially acting in that capacity, may exercise the authority to make the above certifications, unless that official has been appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON
THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 9, 1995.

[Puppage]

From practically the moment news of the domestic-surveillance program hit the front page of the New York Times

Somebody tell me again WHY the NY Slimes held on to the story for A YEAR?

[Semper Paratus]

The MSM just ricochets from one non-story to another to try to nail the President and have come up with nada.

[anton]

Inside the Beltway crowd thinks this is an issue.

Outside the Beltway, we think people in Buffalo talking on the phone to Al Qaeda in Pakistan should be surveiled, and how.

[EQAndyBuzz]

"But the revelation that his Administration has been spying in this country without warrants--illegally, critics say--may have put a crimp in Bush's plan to climb back on top of the agenda as the new legislative session begins."

Critics say? How about what the Constitution says?

[Doogle]

Bush Says, Bring It On; the Critics Will

..lol...Time makes it sounds like it's a new tactic

Doogle

[Puppage]

Critics say? How about what the Constitution says?

Nice catch!

[DieHard the Hunter]

As a foreigner, I have this to say from an external viewpoint about your President.

George W Bush is a fine President, alot smarter than the media seem to want to admit. You don't get to be Governor of Texas or the President of the United States if you are stupid -- which he clearly isn't.

If the brats in Hollywood and Broadway don't like him, good. All the better: he's obviously doing his job right.

Moreover, he is a good War President. A steady hand at the helm in a difficult time. Doing a good job, no matter what the Lunatic Fringe say. My God! Imagine if Gore or Kerry were running the show??? I shudder to think.

You Yanks got it right, twice, by electing Bush. Don't impeach him yet -- he has a few great moves that we haven't seen, that will confound his critics and astound the rest of us.

Thanks!

[OldFriend]

LOL....the dopes just don't get it. We WANT the President to spy on terrorists.

It's about CONNECTING THE DOTS, you dolts.

[babaloo]

And like the Wile E. Coyote they will run into the tunnel and come running out again trying to escape the train of public opinion supportive of the President's WOT.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> LOL....the dopes just don't get it. We WANT the President to spy on terrorists.

And waterboard 'em once they're caught. No objections here...

[Signalman]

Thanks for the compliments re: our President.

Had it not been for the "New Media", websites like FR, talk radio (Rush Limbaugh) and the like, the MSM would have been able to get away with destroying the Bush administration. Now, when they put out a story, it is immediately challenged.

Case in point: the C-BS National Guard story.

It is a different world in which we live.

[tioga]

The American people say whatever it takes.........why don't the dems get it?

[Doogle]

..at least Wile E. Coyote WOULD think before the inevitable. The occasional scratch of the chin,sly sideways glance and one eyebrow raised with the ever present smirk of satisfaction accompanied by the humming of a happy tune indicated THOUGHT!!...LOL


Doogle

[dead]

"But the revelation that his Administration has been spying in this country without warrants--illegally, critics say--may have put a crimp in Bush's plan to climb back on top of the agenda as the new legislative session begins."

The revelation is a hammer heading into the next round of elections, the media is just confused as to the identity of the nail.

[geezerwheezer]

What is really funny to me is how the demorats and the MSM keep thinking the American public is so stupid we would never be able to think for ourselves. They keep stepping in their own b.s. and stinking up the place. President Bush keeps setting snare traps for them, and like the lemmings going to sea to drown, they walk into it every time!! It is truly amazing to watch.

[Soul Seeker]

Why is it everytime the Liberals try to sound tough, they come across lame? The prez can say, "Bring it On" and it sounds right. The press responds with, "We will", and they sound like a four year old stuck for an intelligent rejoinder so they fall back on sticking their tongue out.

To which the President and his strategists seem to be saying, Bring it on. From practically the moment news of the domestic-surveillance program hit the front page of the New York Times, the White House decided its strategy would be to "overwhelm the skeptics, not back off, not change anything about the program and really home in very strongly on the fact that this is a legitimate part of presidential warmaking power," says an adviser. Bush launched a ferocious defense in his Dec. 17 weekly radio address, inviting in a network camera to capture the rare live delivery of the speech as he declared that the no-longer-secret surveillance program makes it "more likely that killers like these 9/11 hijackers will be identified and located in time."

All that proved to me was that the W.H. finally learned their lesson and went on attack immediately. The Libs are whining because it wasn't expected, and now they have to compete for public opinion rather then having months free to beat down the public with before a response from the administration arrives.

BTW, NYT's? The only ones upset are preening members of Congress, Kos loonies and those in your business. The rest of the country was thrilled to learn Congress and the MSM hadn't completely gutted our ability to defend itself.

The Alito Hearings? LOL You were going to try to fry him all along, big deal if you have a new losing talking point. The fact is that Daschle, other red state Dems, DeWine's son losing, Miers etc...all have resulted in letting these critters know their futures are on the line if they don't confirm Alito. Specter can bloviate, Kennedy can declare the Apocalypse, McCain can try to stab us in the back again but red state Dems that block a Supreme Court Justice, as well as those Reps like DeWine, up for relection will lose on this issue. And they know it. I respond with, "bring it". I dare the losers in the U.S. Senate to obstruct his confirmation.

Patriot Act wasn't blocked because of NSA, it was the NYT's cover for them to block. No one is falling for that spin job either.

Bottom line Liberals and RINO's are on losing end if they run against NSA taps and Patriot Act and Alito.

I still fully expect McCain to author legeslation to try to take a constitutional weapon of the Executive branch to fight the WOT away, but it will not hurt the President or Republicans on the right side of this. TIME is still in it's bubble.