Cheney Says NSA Spying Should Be an Election Issue

[Judi Lynn]

Cheney Says NSA Spying Should Be an Election Issue

By Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 10, 2006; Page A07

Vice President Cheney suggested last night that the debate over spying on overseas communications to or from terrorism suspects should be a political issue in this year's congressional elections.

Speaking to Republicans gathered for the annual CPAC convention, Cheney said the debate over the National Security Agency surveillance program "has clarified where all stand" on an issue that has drawn criticism from congressional Democrats and some Republicans.

"And with an important election coming up, people need to know just how we view the most critical questions of national security, and how we propose to defend the nation that all of us, Republicans and Democrats, love and are privileged to serve," Cheney said.
(snip)

Cheney's comments were the closest a top White House official has come to calling for the NSA program to be a political matter.
(snip/...)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/09/AR2006020902514.html

[Peter Frank]

1. Bring it on!!!... n/t

[cantstandbush]

29. Now that Gretzy is caught up in a gambling scandal from wiretaps

how many ditto heads will be unable to seperate the two issues? If the Bushbots use wiretaps as a key issue, they may be getting ready to enrage half of their organized crime base.

[Blue_Roses]

30. I missed this

was Gretzky's wife caught by wiretaps? Do you have a link?

[Kagemusha]

46. Gretsky was caught on wiretaps talking to the ringleader about...

how the hell to keep his wife from going down with the ship.

The operation was known as 'Operation Slap Shot'. Of course, since the gambling ring head was one party to the call, this is, I presume, happily judge-approved with probable cause having been successfully argued.

[spooked911]

51. my thought exactly

nice pic, too

[EVDebs]

64. By all means, bring up REX 84 and 'suspension of Constitution...'

and arrest of 'dissenters during wartime', Operations CableSplicer and Garden Plot, and how private information is already 'offshored' with Global Information Group Ltd in the Bahamas, and how RFIDs are going to be used against US citizens yet they can't seem to locate OBL in Afganistan/Pakistan...They can track YOUR purchase of underwear at Wal-Mart but can't locate OBL's kidney dialysis equipment !

Total Surveillance
http://www.motherjones.com/interview/2005/12/albrecht.html ...

Couple this insidious technology with purposely erroneous background checks

Who is checking the background checkers?
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1128/p13s02-wmgn.html

They've offshored, outsourced, and privatized TIA. Now all they have to do is fire you for being 'of the wrong political party' and put false information in your background data...and voila ! You've just created the most insidious terror project in the US ever.

[Wilms]

2. And in a related story: Did the NSA help Bush hack the vote?

Bob Fitrakis

Did the NSA help Bush hack the vote?

January 9, 2006

snip

What are e-voting machines and central tabulators that pass the voting results over electronic networks from the internet to phone lines? No more than data easily spied on and tapped into. The Franklin County Board of Elections, for example, tells us that it was a “transmission error” in Gahanna Ward 1B, where 638 people cast votes and Bush, the Wonder Boy, received 4258 votes. It’s not magic, nor is it an accident or an act of God. If the vote total wasn’t so hugely illogical, no one would have caught it.

snip

http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/3/2006/1294

[Judi Lynn]

5. Great article. What a damned shame. Thanks. n/t

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

41. DU had a poster some time...

...ago that spoke to this particular case. I copied and pasted it to my site because I feel it explains a great deal. Here's a link if you're interested:

http://karlandkinggeorge.com/How_it_was_done.html

[EVDebs]

48. Pentagon dropped internet voting due to lack of security but public told

it was safe.

Pentagon drops Internet voting plans for military personnel--
It cited security concerns for the move but plans to keep studying the idea
Feb 5, 2004
http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,89902,00.html

""In a Jan. 30 memo to David Chu, the undersecretary of Defense for personnel and readiness, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz wrote that "in view of the inability to ensure legitimacy of votes that would be cast in the SERVE Internet voting project, thereby bringing into doubt the integrity of the election, I hereby direct you to take immediate steps to ensure that no voters use the system to register or vote via the Internet."

The memo was released today by a Defense Department spokesman who was asked about the status of the controversial voting program, which is called SERVE (Secure Electronic Registration and Voting Experiment).""

...but using web/internet voting for the general public is deemed 'secure' and 'reliable' ? Yet another lie from the most mendacious administration I've come across in my lifetime.

[Oversea Visitor]

3. Checkmate

The last offensive. The last move
Americans people better make the right choice.
CHECKMATE.

[AndyTiedye]

54. "Checkmate" Rather Implies It's Too Late to Make Any Move at All…

…because there is no move possible that will save us.
It may very well be an accurate description.

[54anickel]

4. Of course he wants to politicize it, and they've done a heck of a job

starting the "politicalization" with that thwarted attack on LA. Gotta reduce it to a simple matter of politics or face charges. He wants to belittle the discussion.

[EST]

6. (Sigh) The issue is not the spying,

Nsa is a spy agency, a communications spying agency, primarily electronic. It represents an important tool in the security considerations for the country.

The issue, which Cheney seeks to dodge, is illegal spying on Americans. This issue is one among many, all of which are concerned with illegality, incompetence, and lust for power. The total lack of concern for human rights, the apparent enjoyment of pain inflicted on others simply highlights or provides a background for their hypocritical claims of concern for the downtrodden of oil rich countries that are not in collusion with the evil empire.

We must maintain focus on this point and hammer it to death. Otherwise, these bastards will skew the argument to paint themselves with the white hats, instead of the miserable despots they actually are.

[rodeodance]

13. Yes, Cheney is very good at dodging/ignoring the domestic evesdropping

issue at hand.

[thecrow]

61. SAYING IT AGAIN: The issue is SPYING DOMESTICALLY

without warrants from FISA.

NOT "INTERNATIONAL SPYING"

Take note, Dr. Evil

[EVDebs]

65. (Sigh) BushCo has adopted Al Qaida's means and methods...

If they're emulating the evil of our enemy, then the enemy has won since they've effectively made our leaders shred the Constitution, the very document they were sworn to protect and defend from all enemies foreign and domestic. It baffles me how 'suspending the Constitution' (Rex84 etc and related executive orders) protects and defends said Constitution.

Burning the village to save it, redux.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

71. Even more significant than spying on America

The biggest issue is the one Lindsey Graham pointed out: the "president" is saying that he can do whatever he wants to in time of war, and there isn't a damned thing that Congress or the courts can do about it.

That is the issue. Not spying, domestic or foreign, with or without a warrant. If Bushco wins this one, either in Congress, the courts, or the minds of the voters, then it will have unlimited power until we have another Revolution -- which, given the current state of affairs, is pretty much improbable.

What's at stake is whether the American Experiment will come to an end.

[Binka]

7. Turning Their Weakness Into A Strength It's Their MO

Liars have a tendency to do that. It comes with being malignant narcissists. Come on Fitz toss the fuckers in the hoosegow. NOW!

[Whoa_Nelly]

8. STFU, DickWeed!

It's a LAW! FISA, 4th Amendment! So, STFU, DICKWEED!

[Trillo]

21. But AG Gonzales said,

that a number of Executive Branch administrations had done this (referring to illegal spying) Bill of Rights law violation.

[NMDemDist2]

23. yes, and all of them prior to the FISA law n/t

[Whoa_Nelly]

50. Gonzales needs to STFU, too!

I watched every minute of his evasive, lying ny ommission, bullshit chicldish neocon comparative elephant crap.

AG Gonzales also still claims himself as counsel to Chimpy McFuckwad....oops! That's not your position in life right now, so STFU, Gonzales!

[EVDebs]

66. Fruits of the poisonous tree/coming to court with 'clean hands'....

Two wrongs don't make a right; this is a nation of laws.

Just because you see TV shows that have cops breaking the law regularly, doesn't mean real life cops should follow suit. Especially when a corrupt official operating under color of authority is setting you up !

Gerald Posner was on KO's show recently speaking about 'turning on the Fear Spigot' whenever the administration's poll numbers are tanking. Like right now.

[MagickMuffin]

9. Be careful what you wish for Big Time "Dick"

Every US citizen should make sure IT IS a campaign issue. The Quakers, Peace Activist, Democrats, etc.

Will see if that has an effect on the voters!

[flordehinojos]

10. cheney's, "election issue", statement is a neasure of just how sure he is

he and bush can manipulate this emotional issue in their favor, along with thousands of DIEBOLD manipulated votes just as well. in his mind, turning this into an election issue means ZERO IMPEACHMENT, ZERO JUSTICE, ZERO NOTHING FOR THE BASTARDS ... AND a bag of bush shit for the rest of us, our constitution and our civil liberties.

[plasticsundance]

33. Exactly ...

They are using the classic techniques of a despot. They will manipulate the elections results, and fabricate that they have the mandate of the people. One little catch, they must keep biting off more than they can chew, because everything they represent is based off a number of lies, so they have to keep covering their tracks and enlarge the absurdity of their rational. It's like an old Bewitch episode.

It will take a number of years, but within the next several years, perhaps a little more, they're toast, and little meaning will come as a result of their lives, and they'll only furnish another historical example of where absolute power leads ... its own destruction brought upon by its very nature.

The very path they have chosen, has paved the way towards their destruction.

[Jawja]

37. Actually,

I believe it's a measure of just how sure they are that they will NOT LOSE another election. Then they will claim that "Americans approve of spying," just like they claimed that "moral values" was the reason for their surprise victory over Kerry in 2004 - you know, given as a "reason" for the discrepancy between the exit polls and the actual "vote."

[emanymton]

11. Illegal Spying _IS_ The Issue!

Frame the issue you win! Let the other side frame the issue you start from weakness. - Political Science 101.

One does not win at anything by playing the opponent's game. People need to understand the real issue and then fight the real fight. Don't let GOP frame anything. Stay active let them be reactive!

[loudsue]

12. K&R -- Plus the Fritkas article in this thread......

What part of "They're Spying On Americans" doesn't the mainstream understand?

GEEZ!!! This country needs to collectively wake up to what is going on.

:kick::kick::kick:

[rodeodance]

17. What part?--umm....They can not percieve that it is 'them' that may be

the targets. Then how would they/we know?

......What part of "They're Spying On Americans" doesn't the mainstream understand?

[rodeodance]

18. I do not think the dragnet approach to domestic evesdropping has been

emphasized enough.

[rodeodance]

14. VandeHei has been doing good stories for the Post

[rodeodance]

15. "GOP plan to make national security and terrorism the centerpiece" of

the upcoming election.
We lost on this issue last time.



His comments reflected the emerging GOP plan to make national security and terrorism the centerpiece of House and Senate elections. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove telegraphed the strategy last month when he told a Republican audience that "we are dealing with two parties that have fundamentally different views on national security."

[TomClash]

16. Dems have to turn the fear around

Make the point that the Bush Administration is spying on YOU. Otherwise, Cheney's smart to politicize this issue because they win unless you frame it as "ordinary Americans like you are being spied on."

[rodeodance]

20. I think this new poll reveals (if accurate) less people now agree with

evesdropping. The percentage may be in the margin of error--but seems that maybe at least people are turning?



.....Its unclear whether the GOP strategy will work, however.

In a new Associated Press poll, about half of those surveyed favored the wiretap program. In the same poll last month, 56 percent opposed it. White House officials privately argue that President Bush's greatest political strength is the same one that helped Republicans in the last two elections: fighting terrorism.

[rodeodance]

19. Cheney says people are downplaying 'the threat" and that is 'dangerous"

..In recent weeks, Bush has shifted his public focus away from Iraq and trained it on winning public support for the program. Some Democrats argue that Bush is breaking the law by spying on people in the United States without a warrant and without congressional or judicial oversight. Bush contends that the Constitution and the 2001 congressional war resolution give him the authority to take such steps to track down terrorism suspects.

"Some in Washington are yielding to the temptation to downplay the threat and to back away from the business at hand," Cheney said. "That mind-set may be comforting, but it is dangerous."

[donkeyotay]

68. This is a serious up-grade of our mind-sets. We've gone all the way from

dirty bombs going off in American cities to quibbling over a little, necessary spying. This is progress. Only took 5 years and 100's of bilions of dollars, 2 wars, some torture and a few shredded rights.

Cheney suggests nuclear threats
CARROLL, Ohio
October 20, 2004

Vice President Dick Cheney yesterday raised the possibility of terrorists bombing US cities with nuclear weapons and questioned whether Senator John F. Kerry could combat such an ''ultimate threat . . . you've got to get your mind around."

''The biggest threat we face now as a nation is the possibility of terrorists ending up in the middle of one of our cities with deadlier weapons than have ever before been used against us -- biological agents or a nuclear weapon or a chemical weapon of some kind to be able to threaten the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans," Cheney said.

''That's the ultimate threat. For us to have a strategy that's capable of defeating that threat, you've got to get your mind around that concept," he said.
...

In Des Moines, on Sept. 7, Cheney told supporters: ''It's absolutely essential that eight weeks from today, on Nov. 2, we make the right choice, because if we make the wrong choice, then the danger is that we'll get hit again, that we'll be hit in a way that will be devastating from the standpoint of the United States, and that we'll fall back into the pre-9/11 mindset, if you will, that in fact these terrorist attacks are just criminal acts and that we're not really at war."

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/10/20/cheney_suggests_possible_nuclear_biological_risks/Text

[remfan]

22. How "we" view...national security, Dick?

Apparently "we" view national security as a toy. Apparently "we" view national security as a public relations tool. Apparently "we" view national security as a political weapon. APPARENTLY "we" view national secuirty as an opportunity, and have no problem authorizing "our" chief of staff (and national security advisor) to LEAK classified information if it might benefit "us" politically and smear "our" enemies. "We" seem to think that is just dandy.

Protect me some more, you shitheel.

[area51]

24. "privileged to serve"?

Yes, Tricky Dick "go fuck yourself" Cheney, let's talk about how you couldn't be bothered to serve your country in the Vietnam war, yet you have no problem sending other people's children off to their deaths in another unnecessary war, you POS.

[JudyM]

36. That was the phrase that got me, too. Excuse me, but WHOM is he serving?

His own bloody pocketbook.

[SammyWinstonJack]

56. His Corporate Masters.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

25. Does there happen to be video of him saying this?

Might come in handy later on.

[Ecumenist]

26. Yes, Indeed it should

I can truly say that this is the first time I have agreed with this man. If this is used as a platform, CORRECTLY, repulicans would be turned out of office so fast, there'd be sparks flying from their rear ends. None of them could be elected village idiot, trust me. Despite what the "media" is saying, people are waking up everywhere and I live here in Sacramento AND am moving up two hours north of Sacramento. Trust me, I know. I have a lot of friends in the DEEP south and this bunch is HATED. I had one formerly conservative friend tell me recently that if she ever came across these folks on fire, she wouldn't spit to put them out. This is a VERY deeply religious Southern Baptist. Hope springs eternal.

[thecrow]

62. Welcome to DU Ecumenist!

Your views will be welcome here :)

[Ecumenist]

67. Thank you Crow...

I've never been one to pull my punches, much to my mother's chagrin even as a small girl. Thank you and I consider myself to be in good company.:pals:

[Gman]

27. Rest assured it WILL be an issue

as will the rest of the corruption of this "administration".

[WePurrsevere]

28. It's not about "spying" in general, it's the UNCONSTITUTIONAL ILLEGAL

spying on AMERICAN citizens WITHOUT "probable cause" proved and a LEGAL warrant issued. WAR has not been legally declared and Bush is NOT a "King" who can do as he pleases and run rough shod all over the CONSTITUTION that so many have fought and died to REALLY protect, that Bush and Cheney both swore to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution" and are doing their darnedest to shred to pieces.



(edited because apparently I need more coffee and to get my contacts in)

[iconoclastNYC]

31. Trying to intimidate the congress.

They know this could be the best issue to topple them.

[farmbo]

32. Yeppers...Bring out your bedwetter vote, Dick!

Ooohh were soo scarred of the Big Terror Meanies...we'll give up all our rights to The Great Protector to save us.


:cry: :cry: :cry:

[wordpix]

34. Dickhead would love to drag this out til Nov 06 but maybe the *admin won't

last that long.

[dogfacedboy]

35. Striking Fear Into Stupid People Since 9/12/2001

Cheney is the biggest asshole walking the Earth. As awful as it sounds, I can't wait until this cockroach has a fucking aneurism or other such malady.

[Binka]

39. I Want Him To Have A Massive Stoke!

Live on Meet The Tim.

[AndyTiedye]

59. That Is Not Possible For His Kind…

…unless he were to be so unfortunate as to fall on a

If he were found guilty of violating the Espionage Act, and it could be proven that one or more of Plame's agents were killed as a result of the disclosure, then Cheney might face the death penalty, which is his case might look something like this:

[RawMaterials]

38. He wants it to be an issues because the elections are rigged

that Way they can say see we won in a land slide spying is ok everyone wants it.

[boddhi]

40. and their logic makes no sense

they are now trying to turn the tables by saying that the real problem is that the spying was leaked. But if it is such a problem, why did they take a year to start investigating it? The Washington Post sat on the story for a year, since December of 2004, at the request of the White House. If the leak of the NSA program is a problem, why did it take a year for them to start an investigation? They're either criminals for wire tapping citizens without a warrant, or they're incompetent (and jeopardizing national security) for not investigating the leak.

[CarlSheeler4U]

42. Sheeler The Fascist Doesn't Believe in Honest Elections

I hate to say it, but in a twisted way I agree with this child of Satan. Anyone who is running for office that has anything to do with this Haliburton Hack needs to be solidly trounced.

Semper fi'

Carl

www.carlsheeler.com

[Tight_rope]

43. It's he on his way out...He should be packing up his personnel belongs!

[htuttle]

44. He's bluffing! He's got nothing but a pair of twos!

Time to go 'all in' on this one!

[tabasco]

45. Here's the real election issue:

Do we live by the rule of law or do we have to just trust the government?

[ninkasi]

47. Excellent response

Now THAT picture should be easy even for the most stupid Bushie to understand. I would also propose that we change the words to a certain patriotic song...because if Bush wins this battle, we will no longer be "land of the free and home of the brave." Maybe better lyrics should be "land of the spied on and home of the scared."

[mirandapriestly]

49. Sounds like he knows the election will be stolen again

and that they dopn't have to do anything they don't want to.

[AndyTiedye]

52. What Cheney Actually Meant Was That The PRODUCTS of the Spying…

…WILL be leaked to the press so they can be all be used against the Democrats as election issues.

[WhiteTara]

53. no debate, arrest that criminal! n/t

[savemefromdumbya]

55. Cheney himself should be an issue

if he told Libby to leak a CIA agent's identity?

[fooj]

57. Hey, you rat bastard!

Go to hell! Or better yet...GO FUCK YOURSELF!

Peace.

[Zenlitened]

58. No, the ILLEGAL spying should be an issue.

Dem leaders, any chance you can all get on message and frame this thing properly? Dr. Dean has set it all up for you. What say we try to speak with a unified voice this election year?

:shrug:

[0007]

60. The Penguin strikes again, as he beat his cane on the backs of

the poor.

Yes! We'll make it an election issue where the voting machines are just waiting for suckers like you & me, eh? The Penguin ain't stupid, the Penguin just can't fly.

[Danieljay]

63. of course the bastard does...he can't lose with rigged voting machines n/t

[depakid]

69. Framing the issue

And the media's going to help in any way they can.

Question is- what are the Dems going to do about it.

Cower, like Iowa's Vilseck suggests?

Or reframe the issue.

[pat_k]

70. If Dems in Office don't, Primary challengers can and will. . .

The NUMBER 1 election issue for all Dems must be Impeaching Bush and Cheney.

You don't submit "plans for the future" to a CEO that's embezzling from the company and ignoring dictates of the board -- you boot them out on their asses, accuse them of their crimes, and see that law enforcement brings them to justice.

Any leader with a scintilla of respect for our most basic tenets has only one option: accusing the criminals in the White House, and doing everything possible remove them from power and bring them to justice.

And if the Dems currently representing us don't get it, we must do whatever we can to run challengers who DO get, and who have the resources to win big -- wealthy or well-known people (David Letterman to take out Lieberman? May not be as far fetched as you think).

Or, if we have Gems like Carl Sheeler who have already stepped up to the plate, we must send an UNMISTAKABLE message by raising BIG money to support them – show the rank and file Dems that getting on the Impeachment bus is not just the right thing to do, it’s the WINNING thing to do.

No more shoe-string efforts. No way. No how.