[peyton randolph]

Specter exemplifies everything that is wrong with the GOP. Here's hoping he retires soon.

[Wasanother]

He's going to play both sides against the middle and in the end he will claim that censure maybe warranted but it's premature. Hell with the Judiciary and take it to the floor now like Frist should have done to start with.

[gov_bean_ counter]

"The FISA Court has an unblemished record of integrity and the ability to maintain a secret,"

I do not think this is a factually correct statement.

[b4its2late]

Specter is the best screw up I know. Everyone has the right to be stupid, but Specter's abusing the privilege.

[mrsmith]

"Specter Tuesday said the White House has "pretty much abandoned" the "preposterous argument" that the National Security Agency's warrantless-surveillance program was authorized by Congress when it passed the authorization for the use of military force in the war on terror. "

While inherent powers let the president surveil defensively, the AUMF is the source for his power to surveil offensively. That may not be germane to most, if any, of the criticism of the program. But it's true, not "preposterous".

[jazusamo]

It looks like either Spechter or Feingold is flat out lying and I'd like to know who.

[CharlesWayneCT]

"You have been briefed," Specter said to Hatch. "You say you believe it is constitutional...but you are not a judge."

I would trust Senator Hatch to understand constitutional law as much as I would trust the average judge. Judges are just people who got appointed.

[Cboldt]

Text of Specter's proposed NSA Bill
Text of DeWine's proposed NSA bill
DeWine's NSA Bill passed from Intelligence to Judiciary Committee

Thanks for posting Byron's piece. I was wondering how today's hearing went. Leahy issued his opening comments, and that is all I'd seen 'til now.

And I agree with Specter that the AUMF argument was weak, if not an outright self-set trap by the White House. The argument had the effect of pssing off some of the people that the President wants to have on his side, Congress.

[P-40]

"The FISA Court has an unblemished record of integrity and the ability to maintain a secret,"

He should read some of the hysterically funny parts of the 911 Commission Report that deal with FISA...especially where it deals with FBI agents debating on what could be done about searching a certain laptop computer.

[sefarkas]

Please, remind me why Specter was so desperate to be Judiciary Chairman.

[longtermmemmory]

FIRST and FOREMOST: THIS IS AMNESTY PURE AND SIMPLE.

Attempting to say it is not amnest is an insult to any intligence.

This is about as absurd as clinton's attempt to say tax increases were "contributions"

The fact these people are illegal should ban them from EVER obtaining citizenship.

When you consider the CURRENT LAW HOLDS you have to hide for 10 years, the McCain bill is a RELAXING of current law!

[Dan(9698)]

"The FISA Court has an unblemished record of integrity and the ability to maintain a secret," Specter said.

That is a misstatement. The FISA Judge refused to recognize the Patriot act, and then told the New York Times the President was violating the law.

The FISA Court of Review smacked them down over it. One of the FISA Judges resigned after the Court of Review said the President was right, and the FISA Judge was wrong.

He is probably one of the "sources".