Posted on 11/12/2006 4:19:37 AM PST by KeyLargo
Durbin Asks Bush To Put Partisanship Behind Him
Bob Roberts Reporting
CHICAGO (WBBM) -- The Democrats are talking co-operation with President Bush, but already there is evidence that controversial legislation backed by the Bush administration won't move forward.
WBBM's Bob Roberts reports.
President Bush has asked the lame-duck Congress to give him legislation that would specifically authorize the wiretapping of foreign phone calls and computer traffic of suspected terrorists.
The issue came up Friday during a meeting hosted by the President with Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).
Instead, Durbin told WBBM Saturday, he is asking Mr. Bush to try something less controversial.
"We need to find more partnership and put behind the partisanship of the past," Durbin said. "I think we can do it. I suggested yesterday in the meeting, let's have some confidence-builders. Take some issues out that we agree on first and let's get them passed to prove to the American people that we can come together."
Durbin said agreement could come in areas where they has been confrontation in the past, such as judicial nominees.
"We encouraged him to send us moderate, centrist people and we would gladly approve them -- and do it quickly," he said.
Durbin made it clear he would rather wait until next year to look at more controversial issues.
"We just don't want to break down into a fight," he said. "There are so many things we need to do for this country and this economy."
After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Mr. Bush ordered the National Security Agency to monitor communications potentially related to al-Qaida between people in the U.S. and those overseas. He bypassed normal requirements for court approval of such eavesdropping, and the program came under harsh criticism after it was disclosed last December by The New York Times.
Democrats and Republicans on the intelligence and judiciary committees spent much of the year trying to find out details from the administration, to little avail. Much of the information is classified, and the White House has insisted that revealing it would mean compromising the war on terrorism.
The House passed a bill in September to allow warrantless wiretaps under certain restrictions. House and Senate intelligence committees and congressional leaders would have to be notified, the president would have to believe that a terrorist attack is imminent, and certification would have to be renewed every 90 days.
A Republican measure in the Senate favored by the administration would require the Justice Department to report twice a year to the House and Senate intelligence committees the number and kind of any such operations. It would permit the surveillance to continue for up to one year without a warrant. --- The House bill is H.R. 5825; the Senate bill is S. 3931.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Well, no, the others suck too because they did not rise up in rebellion (lawful means only) against the barbarians in their state who keep sending Dick Durbin to the Senate.
This is the S***bag who called Americans serving in Iraq Nazis. He never deigned to serve in the military himself, of course.
I think he means higher taxes. The Democrat fix for everthing regarding the economy. Remember Bubba came in and raised taxes the highest in US history.
Durbin said agreement could come in areas where they has been confrontation in the past, such as judicial nominees.
Ummmm, if they were issues you agreed on, why didn't you pass them before?? Bush should send up Bolton and generally conservative nominiees and if they are rejected, send up tougher and tougher candidates, let the people SEE just what kind of "nonpartizan" behavour they are going to get from the Dims.
"And in my first act of bipartisan outreach since the election, I shared with her the names of some Republican interior decorators who can help her pick out the new drapes in her new offices."
G.W. Bush
Bi-partisan means all lib, all the time.
Yes, but the Repubs have not stepped up to the plate. They, instead have kissed up to the MSM, hoping for a favorable review. If Repubs fight the MSM propaganda, then and only then will the public at-large realy consider the one-sideness of the press. Repubs have to get thier side of the story out there and not kiss up to them. Lynn Chenny did and its' was great.
"We have access to the press too"
Really ? In ratios such that our nation voted for the party endorsed by those sworn to kill us all.
Some access.
"Durbin Asks Bush To Put Partisanship Behind Him"
I cannot think of an analogy for Durbin nasty enough and yet socially acceptable enough to be in print here!
Nancee
The GOP should follow the example of "bipartisanship" that Dems have given us since they have been in the minority.
I did not say we have equal access to the press, but we have enough to thwart the democrat plan if we put it to use. Republicans are going to have to get out in the media and fight for their ideas. The days of being the complacent majority are over.
why is it only "partisanship" to the dummocrats when it's a Republican issue?
when gas goes back up above $3.00 a gallon, we will be told that it's okay because it's "good for the environment", just like algore or some other leftist wacko wrote.
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