Leahy: Bush seeks agency 'above the law'

Reuters / CNN ^

[RCW2001]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) --U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy charged Wednesday that the Bush administration was effectively asking Congress to put its proposed department to combat terrorism "above the law."

Leahy told Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge that to win swift congressional approval of the department -- designed to guard against another September 11-like attack -- the administration must revise or drop provisions that would exempt the operation from a number of legal requirements.

[steve50]

Grassley seems like one of the few reasonible republicans we got. Wish to hades they'd give him Lotts' job.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

I noticed Senator Leahy didn't have a problem putting Bill Clinton "above the law."

[quark]

"LEAKY LEAHY" -- Castro Butt-Boy and American Traitor

[1rudeboy]

This is great news. Every minute that Leahy, Conyers, these committees, et al., worry about this proposal is one less minute they worry about their own agendas.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

And just last year, the National Commission on Terrorism — chaired by former Reagan counterterrorism head Paul Bremer — issued a report with the eerily foreboding image of the Twin Towers on its cover. A bipartisan effort — led by Jon Kyl and Dianne Feinstein — was made to attach the recommendations of the panel to an intelligence authorization bill. But Sen. Patrick Leahy feared a threat to "civil liberties" and torpedoed the effort. After the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole, Kyl and Feinstein tried yet again. This time, Leahy was content with emaciating the proposals instead of defeating them outright. The weakened proposals died as the House realized "it wasn't worth taking up." President Clinton certainly could have encouraged Sen. Leahy to drop his opposition, but he didn't.Link, Nov. 2001, National Review.

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[Timesink]

That's it, Leahy. Keep on digging that hole ... deeper and deeper ....

[SCHROLL]

And may their first arrest for leaking classified info be Leahy's sorry a$$.

[Octavius]

Gov. agencies are already above getting fired. Who's complaining about that.

[OldFriend]

Conyers really means the governments history of leakiness!

[FryingPan101]

Leahy the Leak. Rings of patriotism, doesn't it?

[linton59]

Let's get all their names correctly: Patrick binLeahy, Dickie binGephart, Tommy binDaschole, Teddy binKennedy, Hillary binClinton, etc. etc.......

[BenLurkin]

"Above the law! How about his improperly holding up the President's judicial appointments. Talk about disdain for the rule of law.
Typical sleazy democrat party liar.

[ladyinred]

So? DemoRATS always think they are above the law, ala Clinton, so what is the big deal huh?

[The South Texan]

Leahey is a moron for lack of a better word and if the 9th circuit is the model judciary for Leahey, et.al then we better watch out because they will destroy so many rights that would make any cabinet deptartment that he is concerend about look like child's play.