Bush’s Snoopgate

Newsweek ^ | 12/19/06 | Jonathan Alter

[Xanadu2112]

Dec. 19, 2005 - Finally we have a Washington scandal that goes beyond sex, corruption and political intrigue to big issues like security versus liberty and the reasonable bounds of presidential power. President Bush came out swinging on Snoopgate—he made it seem as if those who didn’t agree with him wanted to leave us vulnerable to Al Qaeda—but it will not work. We’re seeing clearly now that Bush thought 9/11 gave him license to act like a dictator, or in his own mind, no doubt, like Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.

[Wasanother]

"I'm not a constitutional lawyer but I slept in a Hollywood Inn last night"

[muawiyah]

Technology has outstripped the traditional way of looking at electronic communications.

Today it's possible to search nearly all phone calls for certain keywords, e.g. BOMB, record that particular call, and make it available for human review in real-time later on.

Previously it was necessary to focus in on the messages generated by a "target" at a specific device in a specific location, and that individual could be identified to a judge who could make a leisurely decision.

In chasing down and destroying AlQaida, the President as Commander in Chief should avail himself of the capabilities of modern technology. The folks who criticise this idea really are supporting AlQaida, and most of us presume they know what they are doing.

[jveritas]

It is a war time. There are terrorists enemies living among us, including very few US citizens, and we should do every possible thing to capture them. Your uncomfort regarding wire tapping of terrorists suspects is a sign of extreme stupidity. Wake up from your utopia word. The President is using his legal and constiutional authorities in this matter.

PS: Hillary Clinton will never be President, I love that I burst you bubble on this one.

[frankjr]

"Snoopgate"? That is the best he could come up with. I think he used up all his creativity in writing the article. It was good for a few laughs. If Alter is now a Constitutional scholar, then I am a World Class Oncologist and I think the "Big C" spread to his brain.

[Texas Eagle]

Are they really calling this Snoopy-gate?

[Itzlzha]

My leftie friends are in a lather over this issue and it just seems kind of obvious to me.

Do some searching here on FR...both Klinton and Jimmah Carter used this very same "license".

Oh, and do tell your leftie friends that the lefties in Congress and Senate were informed regularly.

Then ask them if these leaks are more damaging to US assets than Valerie "Look at me, I'm in Vanity Fair" Plame's identity.

Then tell them to go to hell. Remove them from your life, you'll feel better immediately!

[finnman69]

The chemo has put the final zap on Alter's already soggy brain.

[an amused spectator]

Oh - Jonathan Alter. Yawn. He ain't got a problem with perjury, obstruction of justice and witness tampering, so what's he got his undies in a bunch over a perfectly legal war tactic for?

[sydbas]

Is this supposed to be Alter's idea of objective journalism? What is this "snoopgate" stuff? Almost sounds like some new hip hop bullcrap.

I say "snoopgate","poopgate".

[ruschpa]

This guy is a major league A hole... I've seen him dozens of times on tv just towing the left wing liberal agenda.

[ruschpa]

Anyone notice how the word "terrorist" or "Al Queda" wasn't mentioned in his article. He just wants the public to believe that this program spys on anyone in the country as opposed to those having terrorist connections... pathetic.

[Howlin]

Bush’s Snoopgate
Newsweek ^ | 12/19/06 | Jonathan Alter


One only need to read THAT far, right? I stopped there.

[Howlin]

[dead]

If the Bush Administration can produce even one example where this "snooping on American citizens" concretely prevented a terrorist attack, the Dems will take an unimaginable hit.

But it has to be a concrete result, with a target identified, a rough date of the attack, and arrested intended perpetrators.

If the Administration can't produce that, this story will largely be a wash for both parties.

[Baby Driver]

The "man" is a raving idiot, as well as a self
deluding lerftist lying piggie...spittle drooling
out of the corners of his mouth as he contemplates
is ego reinforing manufactured chimera, wherein
He and his fellow effete cocktail party vampires,
are able to rip the President apart with their
trumped up allegations, and restore themselves to
power, and reset thge country on a course of "feel
Good" ostrichism, and recreational degradation.

He's such a laugh..until you think long enough to
to contemplate what a cry, he and those like him are.

[STARWISE]

I urge you to read the whole article and PASS THIS ON .... you can almost see the drool cascading out of his hateful mouth. Now THIS is pure satanic evil ... being read by thousands (?) in the next week.

We need to pray for a hedge of protection around Pres. Bush, that he be lifted up in strength, health and grace, and that this perversion of humanity and the other monsters in this cult of hate are weakened and immobilized.

[indianrightwinger]

Oh yeah, how can anyone forget the QuranGate by NewsWeek promoting the utterly false story about it getting flushed down the toilet?

[indianrightwinger]

LOL! He is the super ultra loser of all those MSM losers.

[indianrightwinger]

Well said.

[Trajan88]

Newsweek?

That reminds me, I'm nearly out of Scott's toilette paper.