President says Congress makes country less safe

[ZombieHorde]

WASHINGTON - President Bush said yesterday that lawmakers' failure to renew an eavesdropping law will make it more difficult to track terrorists and "we may lose a vital lead that could prevent an attack on America."

Democrats faulted the president, who taped his weekly radio address before he left on a trip in Africa, for "whipping up false fears and creating artificial confrontation."

"Their true concern here is not national security," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, both Democrats, said in a statement.

"Rather they want to protect the financial interests of telecommunications companies and avoid judicial scrutiny of their warrantless wiretapping program."

At issue is a law that made it easier for the government to spy on foreign phone calls and e-mails that pass through the United States. The expiration time: midnight yesterday.

The president wanted the House to approve a Senate bill that would have renewed the law. Bush opposed a temporary extension; lawmakers left for a 12-day recess without extending the law.

The Senate measure included legal protections for telecommunications companies that helped the government wiretap U.S. computer and phone lines after the Sept. 11 attacks without clearance from a secret court that oversees such activities.

"Some congressional leaders claim that this will not affect our security," the president said. "They are wrong. Because Congress failed to act, it will be harder for our government to keep you safe from terrorist attack."

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Are you terrified yet?
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.bush17feb17,0,4553016.story

[whistle]

1. Less safe for Bush and his fascist cronies

[Hydra]

2. Expect another 9/11 if Congress keeps balking

Bushco isn't long on patience when people say "No, you can't have the shiny thing!" to them.

[madrchsod]

3. who really cares what he says anymore?

[Mojambo]

4. Yeah, by not standing up to you, Mr President. n/t

[ixion]

5. piss off, chimpy

I'm sick of your protection racket. :grr:

[Disturbed]

7. Busholini is like the Mafia Boss demanding pay offs for

protection. "Pay up or your business is in danger."

[bluestateguy]

6. If the telecom companies didn't do anything wrong, then they don't need immunity

Just applying the same logic that is used to say "if you haven't done anything wrong, then you have nothing to worry about with having your phone tapped."

[L. Coyote]

8. K & R. Thanks too.

[Edweird]

9. "it will be harder for our government to keep you safe from terrorist attack."

That freak has no shame. What a douchebag.