Senate GOP defends wiretaps

[sabra]

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20060202-111830-7051r.htm

Senate GOP defends wiretaps

THE WASHINGTON TIMES


Senate Republicans defended President Bush's warrantless spying program yesterday, days before the Judiciary Committee holds public hearings on the matter.

"The president is acting within his authority; he was legitimate in what he did," Sen. Jeff Sessions, Alabama Republican, said yesterday. "What he did was legal and reasonable and necessary."

They also warned that members of the committee should not politicize a sensitive issue that has outraged both liberals and conservatives.

"Congress and the president should be partners, not adversaries, when it comes to protecting the American people," said Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican, noting that some have even mentioned impeachment. "Clearly, they are trying to use this national security matter for partisan political purposes."

[Nickster]

1. "What he did was legal and reasonable and necessary."

Nope sorry, but thanks for playing anyways.....

[Kierkegaard]

17. Let's not forget unconstitutional...

"See, what we have here is this bat. And what we're going to do is, we're going to hit you repeatedly with the bat so as to protect you from harm. Understand?"

:eyes:

[saigon68]

2. Sessions

supported by rustic sheep

[FloridaPat]

3. Protect the American people? Everything I've seen them do the

last 5 years is to protect THEM from US. They've done next to nothing to protect us from terrorists.

[leveymg]

4. "Congress . . . should be partners when it comes to protecting the Pres

Why doesn't he just say what he means:

"Clearly, (we, the GOP) are trying to use this national security matter for partisan political purposes."
"Congress and the president (are) adversaries . . to the American people,"

[SillyGoose]

5. Is Sessions a constitutional scholar? I think not.

These hearings are likely to be a sham. Already they are playing the partisan politics card.

**sigh**

[wtmusic]

9. He is a lawyer and served as a US attorney

and the fact that he's doing exactly what he's cautioning other NOT to do is shameful.

[BOSSHOG]

6. Ain't that cornyn the sharpest knife in the drawer

"Congress and the president should be partners when it comes to protecting the american people." No shit dumbass, he, like you, took the oath to protect the constitution. "Conservatives" must be genetically ignorant.

If bush went to the capitol building and murdered ten demcrats, the republican senate would find his actions "legal", "reasonable" and "necessary."

The republican party and their "conservative" base are the number one domestic enemy of our constitution.

[saltpoint]

7. ...and their defense of human bondage is scheduled at 4:00 p.m. / nt

[BR_Parkway]

11. Bolton must be jumping the shuttle from JFK for that one

[saltpoint]

14. LOL! That's an excellent image of John Bolton, BR_Parkway. Leaping from

an airplane out to the tarmac to get to a conference in which he has two express missions: 1) to undo any good that might have come from an international body of peaceful diplomats; and 2) to growl and snarl and huff and puff his way into dominating the others.

Bolton is among the very worst of several extremely bad appointments Bush has made. And that's sayin' somethin'.

[Kagemusha]

8. Congress refusing to challenge this makes it de facto legal.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the courts were not envisioned to save the country from an executive branch unwilling to obey the rule of law. That is a political matter that Congress can choose to solve, or Congress can choose to not solve.

In which case Kos is right. Elect more Democrats. There's your solution. Don't trust in special counsels or stuff like that. It's not nearly enough.

[DeepModem Mom]

15. You're right. Scary stuff. These GOP legislators, for the most part...

just fall in line behind anything. The Founders' system breaks down with people like this in charge.

[InternalDialogue]

10. I'm sick of senators exhibiting beaten wife syndrome.

Congress members: The president's arrogant grab at executive power saps your legislative potence, demeans your position, and threatens the future of America more than terrorism ever will. This nation will defend itself from terrorism, but we will do it in such a way as to preserve the Constitution and the privacy and essential freedoms of all Americans. Those of you who don't understand that are going to hear soon enough from the growing number of Americans who sense the danger of ruling from fear.

[GodlessBiker]

12. Necessary doesn't cut it.

A president can't do whatever he thinks is necessary. It must be legal in the first instance. It is so clear that this was not legal.

The military or security people I heard speak before some committee refused to even disclose how many Americans were eavesdropped upon. I bet it's a big number that would shock the conscience.

[stepnw1f]

13. The GOP Used Wiretapping to spy on Political Opponents

This is why the President should NOT have the power to spy without going through the proper channels. The GOP is in a panic, because they don't want us all to know how they broke the law and why they wanted to break the law.

[wishlist]

16. Repubs consistent failure to provide oversight is worse 'politicizing'

'They also warned that members of the committee should not politicize a sensitive issue that has outraged both liberals and conservatives'

Dems need to get message across that Repubs have consistently and unethically put politics ahead of needed oversight and accountability by providing damage control and cover for Bush Administration abuses instead of investigating and holding the Bush Administration accountable.

[sybylla]

18. That's it - and don't forget to sign that political suicide note

in big, legible letters.

Their hubris will hang them sooner or later. After six years of pukes in charge, I'm starting to think sooner.

[warrens]

19. Ignoring the fact that Smirk said last fall

That we would NEVER eavesdrop without a warrant. A flat-out lie.