Bush backing down in FISA fight?

[Nitrogenica]

Raw Story
Nick Juliano

After months of using politically loaded rhetoric and hyping "bogus" terror threats to push Congress to give him the domestic spying bill he's demanding, President Bush seems to be backing down.

The Wall Street Journal reports Tuesday that the White House is softening its hard-line approach to updating the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The steps toward moderation and compromise come as House Democrats proved last month that they have enough votes to pass a FISA bill that includes more oversight of surveillance efforts within the US than Bush would like and also to block the immunity he has demanded for telecommunications companies that facilitated his warrantless wiretapping program.

Over the two-week spring recess, administration officials contacted Democratic leaders to suggest they were open to compromise on updating the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. "We definitely want to get it done," said White House spokesman Tony Fratto. "We've had some initial conversations with Congress about the need to get FISA reform done quickly." He added that Mr. Bush still prefers the Senate measure, which the White House negotiated with Senate Democrats. In addition to rejecting immunity for companies, House Democrats want tougher judicial oversight of any eavesdropping effort. People familiar with the matter said the White House has floated ideas to find common ground but hasn't offered a formal compromise proposal. Officials in both parties said judicial oversight might be an easier area for the administration to make concessions.

In brief remarks Monday, Bush continued to push for action on the FISA bill. But he declined to invoke one of the GOP's favorite bogey men and backed away from previous accusations that Democrats were in the pocket of "trial lawyers" in failing to pass a long-term FISA update.

While the White House is striking a "more conciliatory posture," as the Journal says, recognizing their waning clout on national security issues, it remains unclear just what -- if anything -- of substance will come from the reported negotiations between the Bush administration and Congress.


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