Posted on 08/18/2006 1:48:59 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
CAMP DAVID, Md. - President Bush on Friday criticized a federal court ruling that said his warrantless wiretapping program is unconstitutional, declaring that opponents "do not understand the nature of the world in which we live."
"I strongly disagree with that decision, strongly disagree," Bush said, striking his finger on a podium to underscore his point. "That's why I instructed the Justice Department to appeal immediately, and I believe our appeals will be upheld."
U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor in Detroit on Thursday was the first to find the National Security Agency surveillance program unconstitutional. The program involves monitoring international phone calls and e-mails to and from the United States involving people with suspected ties to terrorists.
"If al-Qaida is calling in to the United States, we want to know why they're calling," Bush said.
Critics say the surveillance program skirts the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which requires court warrants for domestic eavesdropping. The administration has argued that obtaining warrants from a secret court set up under FISA is a time-consuming process unsuited for the government's fast-moving war on terror.
The judge said the government, in defending the program, appeared to be saying the president had the "inherent power" to violate laws of Congress.
"It was never the intent of the framers to give the president such unfettered control," Taylor wrote in a 43-page opinion. "... There are no hereditary Kings in America and no powers not created by the Constitution. So all 'inherent powers' must derive from that Constitution."
On other issues, Bush said it would take the world time to view the war between Israel and Hezbollah as a loss for the Islamic militant group.
"The first reaction, of course, of Hezbollah and its supporters is, declare victory," Bush said. "I guess I would have done the same thing if I were them, but sometimes it takes people a while to come to the sober realization of what forces create stability and which don't. Hezbollah is a force of instability."
Bush also expressed some disappointment with France's contribution to an expanded peacekeeping force in Lebanon.
France had been expected to make a significant new contribution that would form the backbone of the expanded force. But French President Jacques Chirac disappointed the United Nations and other countries by announcing France would contribute just 200 combat engineers to its current 200-member contingent in Lebanon.
"France has said they will send some troops," the president said. "We hope they'll send more."
Members of Bush's economic team stood alongside the president as he spoke under bright sunshine at the Camp David helipad. Among attendees were Vice President Dick Cheney, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, National Economic Council Director Allan Hubbard and White House budget chief Rob Portman.
The meeting came at a time when only 37 percent of Americans support Bush's handling of the economy, according to AP-Ipsos polling in early August. It's also just weeks before congressional midterm elections that will determine whether Republicans continue to control the House and the Senate.
Bush declared the economy solid and strong because of tax cuts his administration pushed through Congress. He rattled off a series of economic indicators, including the nation's 4.8 percent jobless rate in July and 4 percent annual economic growth rate through the first half of the year.
But House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi took issue with Bush's upbeat comments on the economy, saying, "President Bush may think the economy is moving forward, but many hard working Americans are stuck living paycheck to paycheck.
"Under President Bush and the Republican Congress, the economic situation for too many Americans is going in the wrong direction," said the California Democrat. Since Bush took office, she said, "real median family income has dropped by $1,700 while families are paying $3,200 more in household costs."
Bush did not mention that the July unemployment rate had inched up from 4.6 percent in June, reflecting a slowdown in job creation that reflects weaker economic growth. And while the gross domestic product expanded at an annual rate of 5.6 percent in the first quarter, it slowed to just 2.5 percent in the April-June quarter.
On Friday, a University of Michigan survey showed consumer confidence fell sharply in early August to the lowest level in 10 months as Americans were rattled by new terrorism concerns and gasoline prices above $3 per gallon.
Bush did not mention the jump in gasoline prices, although he did discuss the need to invest in new energy technologies.
Paulson, speaking to reporters later, said the team spent much time talking about long-term challenges such as changing Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid in view of the pending retirement of 78 million baby boomers.
"We think it is quite possible to come up with a fix that is quite doable," Paulson said of reforming the government programs. "The question is whether we can get the support of Congress to get something done."
___
AP Economics Writer Martin Crutsinger contributed to this report.
Every single time a Muslim speaks out against Islamism and Islamist Terrorism, the FR chorus chants the same mantra: "one down one billion more to go".
Moderate and liberal Muslims worldwide see the spread of Islamism as a dangerous cult of ignorant savages.
But that doesn't sell papers---because that isn't what WE want to hear.
I am looking for a book. Anyone read "Modern Day French War Heroes?" Must be in big demand.
I want this to be true. Please "ding me" whenever you encounter articles that support this. If this Islamic mayhem can't be checked sooner than later, this world is going to be a very unpleasant place to live, indeed.
I'll read what you post and what you ping me for. I want to believe. I just haven't seen any evidence that it is true.
Yes. Life is much better now. MUCH better!
You must be one of those who think the Ozzie and Harriet days of the 50s and 60s were idyllic.
Being next to Mexico is a blessing. A lot better than having Iran as a neighbor.
And thanks for the polite reply.
The TSP Act only comes into play when a foreign terrorist is talking to a contact here in the States.
IOW, two terrorists talking to each other. That one happens to be domestic is beside the point.
I never saw any American Catholics protest IRA terrorist acts, either.
There are no innocent Muslims. They all rejoiced on 911.
You qualify for the Dumbest Post of the Day.
Besides being incorrect, it is bigoted.
You do realize this is the first reference of the "TSP Act" in this thread.
He needs to bomb the crap out of something. Say.... Iran for instance. Bust up those nuke operations on say ... August 22nd. Use a couple of MOABS on the outskirts of Terhan just for kicks. That'd make him feel better I betcha. Would me.
" The mantra of the media and dems today was its 'domestic eavesdropping' "
Saturday, August 12 on CNN, Carol Linn was interviewing John Mercurio from the Hotline.
Actually, " interview " is not the correct term, the two of them acted like DNC operatives.
Linn asked Mercurio how the Democrats planned on capitalizing on the fact that " President Bush was spying on average Americans. "
All this talk about "domestic surveillance," which is MSM-speak for "domestic-to-domestic", is not covered by the TSP.
Well, those years were are great deal better than now. This is not a "think" this is an observation. Of course, those years were not "perfection". They were just better.
The crud present today is peretrated largely by a government that is stupid, over-reactionary, overbearing, distrustful of its own citizens, and working hard to curb Constitutional Rights. Political correctness and chronyism shackels those in government who are good and would do the right thing.
The restrictions on good law-abiding citizens are now remarkable. Symptoms include controls on amatuer rocketry, scientific experimentation, mere possestion of some things, and so on. Children can be arrested for taking a TOY GUN (shudder) to school. The number of things that have become felonies are mind boggling. You'd have to walk awhile in my shoes to understand the differences. The government just plain mistrusts and hates its own citizens now. Do you call all of this an improvement?
I hate to break it to you but isolationism has failed in the past (case in point in WWII), and it will always fail...
Nah. It just observation. Political correctness aside.
Simply because the other blokes can't behave themselves without US policing the damn world.
Don't forget the "gunboat diplomacy". It worked. Its the old "walk softly and carry a big stick". That worked.
Still, if we just refuse to admit anyone into this Nation from any "hot spot" in the world, we'd be a lot better off. We'd also be a lot better off to rid ourselves of Islamics. Just say no.
I remember how good they were. Most men worked like dogs in hard, physical labor, women didn't go to college, and blacks had to drink out of separate water fountains.
The restrictions on good law-abiding citizens are now remarkable. Symptoms include controls on amatuer rocketry, scientific experimentation, mere possestion of some things, and so on.
Amateur rocketry? What a bizarre thing to be concerned about!
I'm 55, and I don't have any fewer freedoms than I had when I was 25. And I suspect you don't either. You just THINK you do.
And the southern border is not 'wide-open.' Disagree or not with the President's immigration policy, you completely negate any argument you may have by deliberately misstating the facts.
The President is only a 'globalist' in your imagination...........not in reality.
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