[traderrob6]

For once he's right.

[originalbuckeye]

Wow. A glimmer of responsibility in our Senate?? Maybe NOW they will understand that they aren't above the law. Oh, wait, I forgot about whom we were talking.

[digger48]

I thought the three Branches of Government were "co-equal".

Since 2 of the 3 signed off on this, what the Hell makes the Legislative Branch think they are off limits?

[Cinnamon]

Go d blesshim. being a U.S. Senator should not mean getting a get-out-jail-card, or be above the law. unless this isa matter of national security, I don't see why the documents are being sealed. this is clearly a case of major bribery going on, a treasonous act against the constituents of his state

[chemicalman]

Noooo! According to the news media, everyone is saying it was illegal! </ sarcasm>

[lilylangtree]

Will wonders never cease? Frist musta put his index finger up in the air to see which way the political wind was blowing and changed his position. The spineless POS.

[el_texicano]

Humph...even Frist can tell the arguments decrying the FBI search is bogus. But I don't think that's what motivates this. He has obviously heard how this plays with the rank and file voter and the arrogance this displays.

[ErnBatavia]

Sounds like Durbin got the "back away from Jefferson" memo, fershur...otherwise there is NO way he'd give even that lukewarm "blessing".

[jwalsh07]

"No House member, no senator, nobody in government should be above the law of the land, period," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said.

Frist has managed to stick a wet finger in the air and determine that their is no sense in urinating into the wind ala Hastert and Boehner.

Almost as good as a stopped clock but not quite yet.

[river rat]

EVERY "Lawmaker" should be like "Caesar's Wife" -- beyond reproach"....

If one is required to be drug tested, searched, filmed or undergo anal inspection to achieve that status -- so be it.

They are after all -- PUBLIC SERVANTS, aren't they?

Semper Fi

[calex59]

He also said he wasn't sure the "speech and debate" protections in Article 1, Section 6 of the Constitution were violated, as some of have argued.

What a wimp, give him credit for standing up for this but at the same time saying he "isn't sure" if this violates the debate section when there was a 1972 court ruling that specifically stated that it does not VIOLATE the debate clause since the debate clause does not give congressmen immunity from the law.

Either he is a wimp or he is very stupid when it comes to the constitution, maybe both.

[Thumper1960]

What?

A 'pubbie with a backbone?

Maybe the 'pubbie leadership took a peek at PA's primary election results and found that voters have an aversion to those who have a notion they're above the law.

Frist may have seen the diaper brigades lurking 'round Pennsylvania Avenue.

[calex59]

Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, said there needs to be "hard look" at whether the FBI violated the Constitution. But he said the FBI has raided judge's chambers before, so there is precedent for crossing branches of government for searches.,/I>

I got news for you Dickie boy, there has already been several hard looks at this type of action by the courts, at least two rulings state the senate and reps are not above the law and the debate clause doesn't protect them from search and prosecution in the event of a felony.

Why everyone is not aware of that I can guess, in the case of politicians it is pretend ignorance, in the case of citizens it is a simple lack of knowledge.

[Liz]

Frist said on "Fox News Sunday. ......"I think there's allegations of criminal activity, and the American people need to have the law enforced."

Too often, it goes unnoticed that the Constitution is intended to protect the people from the government. The gov't sometimes acts like it is the reverse equation.

The citizenry does not exist to serve the government.

The Founders intended to protect the people's rights by limiting the powers of government. Any action which is intended to protect the people's interests from an errant government---and corrupt legislators like Jefferson---is in keeping with Constitutional imperatives, and is to be applauded.

(That the Constitution is intended to protect the people from the government goes unnoticed..........and untaught. Unfortunately, liberal thought police have indoctrinated generations with Marxist/Socialist agit-prop so that many see the gov't as the solution to problems, and work to grant gov't more and more power over the lives of the citizenry. For example, we see in the Senate immigration bill what happens when an arrogant gov't gets too much power.

[Brytani]

If Pelosi Inc are correct any CongressCritter/Senator could commit murder in their official office, hide the body in their office and be protected from a search of the crime scene.

Hasert is making a disgrace of himself and conservative/Republican principles with his stand on this issue. I'm glad a high-level member of the party is speaking out against this.

Nobody, even an elected official, should be above the law.

[The Electrician]

Wonder whether that means that he finally heard the thunderous howls of derision aimed at the Congress from outside of the Beltway... Now if he could only hear (and act on) that same derision on the topic of the Senate's abominable immigration bill, there might be a glimmer of hope...

[Prost1]

I just read the article and here it is on FR getting commentary...

---

And "Durbin said. "In the next several weeks, we ought to take a hard look at it. I'm not going to rule it in or out at this moment.""

---

Lawyer talk for seeing if they can further weasel word the Constitution. This is why we need judges who do not interpret, but who can read and understand the written word.

There is nothing there that provides for Congressmen to be above the LAW! To the contrary, the Founders were worried that the elected officials might come to that position and provided means other than VOTING to remove them from office!

[Prost1]

Just noticed - AP report by Nedra Pickler.

The whole story is probably not being told.

FREE REPUBLIC should have an AP or REPORTER Alert so we can be more careful in reading the reporting.

[capt. norm]

That section states that members of Congress "shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective houses

Is this not a felony investigation?

[hermgem]

Whatever clogged up Hastert's brain can be attributed to excess, or flushed upwards cholesterol.
Does he really think this body of lawmakers is above the law, while at other times issuing subpoenas in other directions including to the executive branch.
Time for this lawmaker to cease and resist, ala retire.
Frist did set procedures straight.