BREAKING: Bush Admits Authorizing Secret Domestic Spying Program
BREAKING: Bush Admits Authorizing Secret Domestic Spying Program
From his radio address this morning:
This is a highly classified program that is crucial to our national security. Its purpose is to detect and prevent terrorist attacks against the United States, our friends, and allies. Yesterday, the existence of this secret program was revealed in media reports after being improperly provided to news organizations. …I have reauthorized this program more than 30 times since the September the 11th attacks
Bush claimed it was consistent with U.S. law and the Constitution. Many experts disagree.
Full transcript:
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH DELIVERS WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS
DECEMBER 17, 2005
SPEAKER: GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
BUSH: Good morning. As president, I took an oath to defend the Constitution, and I have no greater responsibility than to protect our people, our freedom, and our way of life.
On September the 11th, 2001, our freedom and way of life came under attack by brutal enemies who killed nearly 3,000 innocent Americans. We’re fighting these enemies across the world, yet in this first war of the 21st century, one of our most critical battle fronts is the home front.
And since September the 11th, we’ve been on the offensive against the terrorists plotting without our borders. One of the first actions we took to protect America after our nation was attacked was to ask Congress to pass the Patriot Act.
The Patriot Act tore down the legal and bureaucratic wall that kept law enforcement and intelligence authorities from sharing vital information about terrorists threats, and the Patriot Act allowed federal investigators to pursue terrorists with tools they already used against other criminals.
Congress passed this law with a large, bipartisan majority, including a vote of 98-1 in the United States Senate. Since then, America’s law enforcement personnel have used this critical law to prosecute terrorist operatives and supporters, and to break up terrorist cells in New York, Oregon, Virginia, California, Texas and Ohio.
The Patriot Act has accomplished exactly what it was designed to do. It has protected American liberty, and saved American lives. Yet, key provisions of this law are set to expire in two weeks. The terrorist threat to our country will not expire in two weeks. The terrorists want to attack America again, and inflict even greater damage than they did on September the 11th.
Congress has a responsibility to ensure that law enforcement and intelligence officials have the tools they need to protect the American people. The House of Representatives passed reauthorization of the Patriot Act, yet a minority of senators filibusters to block the renewal of the Patriot Act when it came up for a vote yesterday.
That decision is irresponsible, and it endangers the lives of our citizens. The senators who are filibustering must stop their delaying tactics, and the Senate must vote to reauthorize the Patriot Act.
In the war on terror, we cannot afford to be without this law for a single moment. To fight the war on terror, I am using authority vested in me by Congress, including the joint authorization for use of military force, which passed overwhelmingly in the first week after September the 11th.
I’m also using constitutional authority vested in me as commander-in-chief. In the weeks following the terrorist attacks on our nation, I authorized the National Security Agency, consistent with U.S. law and the Constitution, to intercept the international communications of people with known links to al Qaeda and related terrorist organizations.
Before we intercept these communications, the government must have information that establishes a clear link to these terrorist networks. This is a highly classified program that is crucial to our national security. Its purpose is to detect and prevent terrorist attacks against the United States, our friends, and allies. Yesterday, the existence of this secret program was revealed in media reports after being improperly provided to news organizations. As a result, our enemies have learned information they should not have, and the unauthorized disclosure of this effort damages our national security and puts our citizens at risk.
Revealing classified information is illegal, alerts our enemies, and endangers our country. As the 9/11 Commission pointed out, it was clear that terrorists inside the United States were communicating with terrorists abroad before the September the 11th attacks. And the commission criticized our nation’s inability to uncover links between terrorists here at home and terrorists abroad.
Two of the terrorist hijackers who flew a jet in the Pentagon, Nawaf Alhazmi and Khalid Almihdhar, communicated while they were in the United States to other members of al Qaeda who were overseas, but we didn’t know they were here until it was too late.
The authorization I gave the National Security Agency after September the 11th helped address that problem in a way that is fully consistent with my constitutional responsibilities and authorities. The activities I have authorized make it more likely that killers like these 9/11 hijackers will be identified and located in time.
And the activities conducted this authorization have helped detect and prevent possible terrorist attacks in the United States and abroad. The activities I authorized are reviewed approximately every 45 days. Each review is based on a fresh intelligence assessment of terrorist threats to the continuity of our government and the threat of catastrophic damage to our homeland.
During each assessment, previous activities under the authorization are reviewed. The review includes approval by our nation’s top legal officials, including the attorney general and the counsel to the president. I have reauthorized this program more than 30 times since the September the 11th attacks, and I intend to do so for as long as our nation faces a continuing threat from al Qaeda and related groups.
The NSA’s activities under this authorization are thoroughly reviewed by the Justice Department and NSA’s top legal officials, including NSA’s general counsel and inspector general.
Leaders in Congress have been briefed more than a dozen times on this authorization and the activities conducted under it. Intelligence officials involved in these activities also receive extensive training to ensure they perform their duties, consistent with the letter and intent of the authorization. This authorization is a vital took in our war against the terrorists. It is critical to saving American lives.
The American people expect me to do everything under my power under our laws and constitution to protect them and their civil liberties, and that is exactly what I will continue to do so long as I am the president of the United States. Thank you.
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Yeah, right. Any moron can look at recent and past history and know this has been going on since before chimpy was born. But wait… he’s not any moron. He’s an exceptional moron!
December 17th, 2005 at 11:08 amOne the one hand, Bush is doing what we asked of him years ago - to admit his mistakes. But even with this radio address, it is too little MUCH too late. He has waited more than half way through his fake Presidency to admit mistakes. And this is only because of the poll numbers which he says he doesn’t look at. If his numbers go back up, his ability to admit mistakes will go back in the closet.
To add insult to injury, these apologies and acceptance of responsibility are not met with much action. I’ll give him some recognition for asking money for rebuilding the NO levies, but that is a microcosm of the “too little too late” scenario.
December 17th, 2005 at 11:13 amIs ThinkProgress concerned about this leak of classified material, Judd? Or only about leaking the name of bureaucrat Valerie Plame?
December 17th, 2005 at 11:15 amOn MSNBC:
Americans already distrust the President for a multitude of reasons. And now he’s asking Americans to trust that he will spy on them in a trustworthy fashion?
The appearance on Jim Lehrer was a dead giveaway that the President is in serious trouble. He could have had judicial oversight that would have maintained the alleged needed secrecy to do this spying. He chose not to.
December 17th, 2005 at 11:15 amWhy is a man who has, for the last 5 years of his presidency, denied anything and everything, suddenly started to come clean? Granted, it is with much spin, but none-the-less there have been two admissions in one week. What’s with that? What is he trying to divert out attention away from? I’m almost afraid to ask…
December 17th, 2005 at 11:15 amAre there any liberals besides Joe Lieberman who actually want to defend America?
December 17th, 2005 at 11:17 amWE CAN’T LET THE PRO-WAR MEDIA CONTINUE TO SUPRESS THE CRIMES OF THIS GOVERNMENT.
. Control acquired.
1. On 30 January 1933 Hitler became Chancellor of the German Republic. After the Reichstag fire of 28 February 1933, clauses of the Weimar constitution guaranteeing personal liberty, freedom of speech, of the press, of association and assembly were suspended. The Nazi conspirators secured the passage by the Reichstag of a “Law for the Protection of the People and the Reich” giving Hitler and the members of his then cabinet plenary powers of legislation. The Nazi conspirators retained such powers after having changed the members of the cabinet. The conspirators caused all political parties except the Nazi Party to be prohibited. They caused the Nazi Party to be established as a paragovernmental organization with extensive and extraordinary privileges.
http://www.yale.edu/ lawweb/ avalon/ imt/ proc/ count1.htm
December 17th, 2005 at 11:18 amWhen Will the Bush Gangsters Lies End ?
Whe Are they All Going to JAIL ?
When Will U Stand Up and Say
NO-MORE - KILLING of USA DEMOCRACY & People
http://www.RogerART.com
Thank U,
December 17th, 2005 at 11:18 amJoe Lieberman can burn in the hell which his religion does not believe in.
December 17th, 2005 at 11:19 amwwallace,
December 17th, 2005 at 11:20 amI, like the terorists, assumed the terrorists were being watched. I assume that MY stuff is being surveilled. You know wwallace, at some point the chemotherapy becomes worse than the cancer. That point was a long time ago.
#3
wwwwingnut, are you concerned with illegal government activities or just annoying people?
December 17th, 2005 at 11:20 amMagnum, thank you for demonstrating yet again that Democrats do not tolerate any dissent.
#7, Tribunal has triggered Godwin’s Law, so this thread is over. LOL
December 17th, 2005 at 11:21 amwhen shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house?
-Patrick Henry
December 17th, 2005 at 11:22 amLet’s not be surprised: Remember Dec. 2000?
We’re almost there.
December 17th, 2005 at 11:22 amCarl, the Democratic party is the cancer at this point. They seem unwilling to defend America.
unbelievable, what illegal activities?
December 17th, 2005 at 11:22 amAre their any neocons who respect the Constitution?
December 17th, 2005 at 11:23 amwwallace…here’s your cracker you Limbannity parrot.
December 17th, 2005 at 11:24 amHe admits it. There have been a few admissions of behavior recently — he knows he must come “clean” so the American public might then pardon him.
December 17th, 2005 at 11:25 amThe liberal public is the nurturing, and forgiving segment of society, and the conservative public is the authoritative, punishing, segment of society. Will Bush now fall on his knees to the liberal public and beg forgiveness?
No.
He must be impeached for federal crimes, notwithstanding the fact that he has violated international law with his invasion of Iraq based upon insufficient evidence, selected intelligence and fabrications.
SPYGATE…the beginning of the end. The girl who got a visit from the secret service who had a anti-bush picture developed. Our phones,internet any history of us recorded is against the law,no matter how bush defines it. Using 911 is just a ‘control’ excuse for the dictatorship we have taking over us. Impeach
December 17th, 2005 at 11:27 am#15
Are you serious? Are you really serious? Did you completely ignore the article yesterday about our government ILLEGALLY tapping American citizens without the appropriate court documents in accordance with the LAW??? Which, Heir Bush has since admitted in his radio address? That illegal activity.
Your inability to see past your own ass is really amazing. It’s ignorant egocentric people like you who inspired our brilliant, progressive forefathers to instill the electoral college.
December 17th, 2005 at 11:28 am#16
NO
December 17th, 2005 at 11:30 amBecause you said it ,it ain’t so ” Mr president ” .
A Lie is a lie is a lie is a lie ……
It’s against the law to spy on american citizens without due cause and due court order . It is not the NSA’s role .
You have broken the law
December 17th, 2005 at 11:30 amMr president . Yours is to defend the CONSTITUTION , not to tear it apart . If you wish to be King george ,Mr president , may i suggest England . You will be well received there , Mr president.
Judd…can you put Feingold’s response up front, too?
December 17th, 2005 at 11:31 amI wonder if there are any people left that believe this administration should not be watched very carefully? I mean, how could anyone, even if they say they trust Bush, not be at least concerned, if not absolutely convinced?
The Constitution is the highest law in the land, as it should be. That is why we have a Supreme Court.
I support anyone in the government that releases information that shows violations to our Constitution, over any oaths or other duties they may have.
December 17th, 2005 at 11:32 amMore than ever we must not let Alito to the supreme court .
December 17th, 2005 at 11:40 amthe SCOTEUS will more important than ever in the near future.
Is ThinkProgress concerned about this leak of classified material, Judd? Or only about leaking the name of bureaucrat Valerie Plame?
Comment by wwallace — December 17, 2005 @
I don’t know. Was Valerie Plame commiting a crime that violated our laws and our constitution? As fas as which info was more sensitive… I’d bet it was Plame’s status as a covert op, a NOC involved in WMDs.
December 17th, 2005 at 11:49 amCarl, the Democratic party is the cancer at this point. They seem unwilling to defend America.
We are more interested in defending the constitution. because without it we are just like any other righ wing dictatorship.
December 17th, 2005 at 11:51 amBesides, it’s moral cowardice not to defend the constitution. And the constitution is under a greater threat than the country and most of the people know that now.
December 17th, 2005 at 11:52 amAre their any neocons who respect the Constitution?
Comment by WaltTheMan — December 17, 2005 @ 11:23 am
Good question! Much more info here with links:
December 17th, 2005 at 11:54 amThis is the headline that people like wwallace want to see:
December 17th, 2005 at 11:55 am“December 31, 2007 (BBC) - After claiming that yesterday’s fire that consumed the Capitol building was the work of terrorists, Bush issued Executive Order 666 declaring martial law throughout the entire United States, closing off its borders and suspending the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Several critics of his Administration were immediately arrested on charges of treason, including Senators Specter, Hagel, Kerry, Kennedy, Byrd, Reid, Biden, and Feinstein and held at undisclosed areas. An emergency session of both houses of Congress presided by Vice President Cheney was called, and all political parties except for the Republican party were banned. Newspapers critical of his administration and the war in Iraq such as the NYT and Washington Post and major television networks including ABC, NBC and CBS were immediately shut down until further notice. Fox News was allowed to continue to operate as the official government news network. Bush said that he was forced to do so in order to “protect Americans and to safegauard and defend our freedoms.” He said that future plans included pushing for amendments to the Constitution that would declare the USA to be a Christian nation and establishing Christianity as the official religion.”
The answer is no. Far more dangerous than terrorism.
December 17th, 2005 at 11:56 amNonsense, liberal Democrats have no interest in the Constitution.
December 17th, 2005 at 11:56 amRick wants to burn down the capitol building. Rick is obviously unamerican.
December 17th, 2005 at 11:58 amThere’s a petition at MoveOn.org for those who want to use the mightiness of the pen…
http://political.moveon.org/patriotact/
December 17th, 2005 at 11:59 amNonsense, liberal Democrats have no interest in the Constitution.
Comment by wwallace — December 17, 2005 @ 11:56 am
George Bush doesn’t either. Neither do you.
George Bush and wwallace are anti-American.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:01 pmWe cannot dignify the stupid, nonsensical remarks by wwallace with replies. He makes no sense, he is full of contradictions, he repeats himself endlessly and he is not worth our time.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:03 pmTreat him as an insignificant mite; ignore him/it.
wwallace…you must be hungry today…have another cracker
December 17th, 2005 at 12:03 pm#32
Based upon what wwwwwingnut? Cite your sources and explain your supposition for this ignorant generalization.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:05 pmwwallace is a shyster. I know some good lawyers. wwallace is a hack like those corporate jackasses at powdwertools. I can tell he is because of the facile way he casts off complete falsehoods. He may well be a sociopath as well, so was Ted Bundy. Bundy was a better lawyer.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:05 pmwwallace argues like a fourth grader on the school yard “you are” “no, I’m not,” “you are,” endlessly going in a circle.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:07 pmYeah, Marie, and he communicates like one too…
December 17th, 2005 at 12:08 pm#27, Isn’t that something Bush aspires to? Dictatorship, as long as he’s the dictator.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:09 pmI believe that is a paraphrased quote of his, and he is well on his way to fulfilling his own goal. He must be stopped.
From teh President’s radio address today, calling out the Democrats who are undermining the war on terror:
December 17th, 2005 at 12:10 pmCalling me names won’t change the fact that liberals are undermining US national security.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:16 pmwwallace…you are right…
The battle lines have been drawn. On one side, the ends justify the means. Other wish to protect the constitution at all costs.
Which side are you on?
December 17th, 2005 at 12:16 pmmeinkampf bloedwormAT SKYherme
BloedfagginHousen
Queerkens
and
schlottmornemES!!
HASHITOFF
HASHITOF
‘n grie
das programmTatale\
BushenwaffenSSAT
December 17th, 2005 at 12:17 pmYour “fact” is a fantasy you made up so you can justify turning the United States into a one party dictatorship run by you and your cohorts.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:19 pmBye Bye Bushy
December 17th, 2005 at 12:20 pmFunny about Leo Strauss. He wrote a book vilifying Machiavelli and then he goes and advocates Machiavelli’s suggested tactics. Well, I guess everyone has the right to change their mind.
Where you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently men with the mentality of gangsters get control.
The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the party that succeeds, by force or fraud, in carrying elections.
~Lord Acton
December 17th, 2005 at 12:21 pmThat meddling in other people’s affairs…formerly conducted by the most discreet intrigue is now openly advocated under the name of intervention.
Justice itself tends to be corrupted by political passion.
~T.S. Eliot
December 17th, 2005 at 12:21 pmwally, all that they are calling out is a corrupt president. What the President did IS NOT allowed in the Constitution. He MUST obtain authorization throught Congress or a search warrant. Neither were done. This is PLAIN AND SIMPLY AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION. Please take your communism somewhere else, and once again this will be my last reply to you as you are a person that provides ZERO facts to your comments. Please show me where in the CONSTITUTION that it states that the President does not have to obtain proper authorization to perform these things? He is not a king, he is a President (well at least until we can get congress off their butts to impeach him, and he does not have power to do that without oversight.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:22 pmCan you say Soviet Union! Ronald W. Reagan must be turning over in his grave. How did we go from democracy to dictatorship so fast. Since when does the president have the authority to do what ever he pleases without having to conform to the laws of the United States? Apparently 9-11 gives the president the power to: (1) Hold American citizens without Charge. (2) Hold enemy combatans without charge. (3) Torture people.. (4) Spy of the American people without approval from any Court of Congress. (5) Make up the Law as he goes along. (6) Spy on people’s medical records. (7) Check the Library to see what books people read.
If I remember correctly all of the things I mentioned above were exactly why we fought the “Cold War” and opposed Communism. What has happened to America? Why do we stand for this kind of stuff being done in our name. Why are we fighting in Iraq to give them freedom and at the same time taking away our own rights. The Constitution has been screwed by this president and his administration. They remind my of Stars Episode III when the emporer was given emergency powers.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:22 pmWwallace has interests in the German Nationale Capitalis COmmunists
AKA
Wwallace
is a
Wannabeee
BloedKingcreePE
Arent ya Wwallace?
December 17th, 2005 at 12:22 pma VRIL light loving
GremANNFREEKZ
Whose GOD
ISTKAPITAAL?
YES!
Wwallace is da Commie! Nationale!
#44
the fact that liberals are undermining US national security
Prove it… all you posted was some spin wwwwingnut. It’s a sales pitch - an opinion to sell a point of view that is unsubstantiated by either reality or evidence. That is not a fact. Are you even capable of thinking or speaking with your own words and thoughts? Or do you always turn to some talking head to think|speak for you?
December 17th, 2005 at 12:23 pmMLDB - I, unlike you, am on America’s side.
RemoveBush, This…
…is bunk.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:25 pmThose who give up essential liberties for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
~Benjamin Franklin
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.
~George Washington
Although tyranny…may successfully rule over foreign peoples, it can stay in power only if it destroys first of all the national institutions of its own people.
~Hannah Arendt
The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same.
~Marie Beyle
I guess every generation is doomed to fight its war…suffer the loss of the same old illusions, and learn the same old lessons on its own.
~Phillip Caputo
Before the war is ended, the war party assumes the divine right to denounce and silence all opposition to war as unpatriotic and cowardly.
~Senator Robert M. La Follette
After every ”victory” you have more enemies.
~Jeanette Winterson
The great error of nearly all studies of war… has been to consider war as an episode in foreign policies, when it is an act of interior politics…
~Simone Weil
Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war.
~Donald Rumsfeld
Violence can only be concealed by a lie, and the lie can only be maintained by violence.
~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
December 17th, 2005 at 12:25 pmWWW , How is Karl Rove is paying you . Is it by each posting or monthly , weekly ? And how much .
Nobody , but nobody can be insensitive to the news and facts as you are unless , yes a paid agent provocateur . And if you are not paid , you are some blind hard headed brain .Surely you’re mot made of stone .
December 17th, 2005 at 12:26 pmAnonymous, this is historical revisionism:
Liberal Democrats opposed Reagan’s fight against communism, not communism.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:26 pmI just thought a comparison between wwallace’s stilted and parrot like talking points and the words of some truly eloquent persons might be illustrative of something.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:27 pmhardass, calling me names like that will not change the fact the Democrats and their MSM allies are undermining US national security.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:27 pmStop responding to wwallace’s idiotic blather.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:28 pm#54 Unbelievable, you know the answers to your questions. wwallace is simply a Limbannity talking point parrot.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:28 pmLiberal Democrats opposed Reagan’s fight against communism, not communism.
Comment by wwallace — December 17, 2005
Now you know he’s an idiot propagandist. Did Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson know this?
December 17th, 2005 at 12:29 pmBye Bye Bushy, “Did Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson know this?”
They weren’t around when Reagan was president, you ignoramus. LOL
December 17th, 2005 at 12:30 pmThose who make peaceful revolution impossible, make violent revolution inevitable.
-John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963)
December 17th, 2005 at 12:30 pm“Protect and defend the constitution of the United States.”
Not protect us…the peasants.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:31 pmStop responding to purvis ames’ idiotic blather.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:31 pm[Comment deleted by admin.]
December 17th, 2005 at 12:32 pmI will say this. Bush sure knows how to energize the base. He’s just energized the opposition’s base in this case, and it includes many members of his own party. Bush has wagered his political life on it. You and he will regret it, I’d wager your life on it wwallace.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:34 pmWwallace your GERMAN Bush
Side
is about 20%
NOT very good ODDS.
AND DROPPING RAPIDLY
YOUR gonna REGRET BACKING THESE
GERMAN NATIONALISTES
GOT YOUR NUMBER
December 17th, 2005 at 12:34 pmPAL.
#62 MLDB
Yes, but I wasn’t sure that wwallace was :)
I point these things out because I know that there are people on the fence who come here. I was once a Republican conservative, and when I began to question that system, I found that my ability to break away from it came from listening to the people who were willing to point out that the Emporer had no clothes… They simply made the most sense.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:37 pmThey weren’t around when Reagan was president, you ignoramus. LOL
You are the ignoramus for thinking I suggested they were. They were liberal Democrats who opposed communism, and fought it, whereas Reagan just blustered about it alot and reaped the benefits of the previous 40 years of the Cold War.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:37 pmIt’s been known since the Kennedy administration that intercepts of international communications were being carried out via taps on undersea cables and radio monitoring. Furthermore, this practice was carried out since the onset of WWII and publicized in books, TV documentaries and newspapers. Why is this practice suddenly classified?
The real issue is the interception of information exchanges within the United States without a warrant. This is both illegal and unconstitutional. You might notice that W carefully parses his words to link only to the legality of international intercepts. Karl must have been up all night penning the spin.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:39 pmI’m going to suggest that what’s on many minds right now, though many don’t wish to say it, is that Feingold is right. This changes everything. I have nothing left to say to wwallace. Civil war may be avoided in Iraq. I wonder if it can be avoided here. I think he will be impeached before it comes to that. Too bad really.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:43 pmThe Democratic party changed after the Vietnam war, Bushy. They stopped being anti-communist. They opposed Reagan’s successful efforts to end the Soviet Union at every turn.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:47 pmWalt, the real issue is the Democrats want to defeat Bush more than they want to defeat al Qaeeda.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:49 pmWhy the hell are we not starting inpeachment proccedings against this bastard? Oh I forgot,they are in charge and are just as big a bunch of criminals as he is.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:50 pmI find it interesting,although understandable given the kind of feelings that Mr. Bush engenders, that in this whole thread, not one person mentioned the most significant fact in the story.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:51 pmThe NYT had this story over a year ago,you remember,before the election and somehow managed only now to conclude its negotiations w/the gov’t and release the story.
Between this story,Time mag sitting on the Matt Cooper/Libby disclosures, Woodward at the WaPo etc. the “press” in this country has seriously defaulted on its responsibility.
Mr. Bush may have given the order but the criticism here should be addressed to the NYT and the other components of the “liberal” press.
Limbannity talking parrot? I like that one!!!!!
December 17th, 2005 at 12:53 pmIf someone LASHES Out At You, Are You supposed to Sit Idoly
December 17th, 2005 at 12:54 pmAnd Take The Crap?
Because I,ve noticed ALOT Of Bushes Headlines LASHING OUT!
Does That mean He wants a REAL FIGHT?
Al Qaeeda = Bush :)
December 17th, 2005 at 12:55 pmWallace;We Dems tolearate dissent,we don’t tolerate stupidity and criminality,both of which Bush and his ass kissers such as yourself have given us in spades.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:55 pmLeaders in Congress have been briefed more than a dozen times on this authorization and the activities conducted under it.
Isn’t this the other big scandal here? Who was briefed and why didn’t they object?
December 17th, 2005 at 12:55 pmWWALLACE -
Lincoln suspended habeas corpus during the war and this is what the Supreme Court had to say about that and other infringements on civil liberty:
Ex Parte Milligan (1866)
“The constitution of the United States is a law for rulers and people, equally in war and peace, and covers with its shield of protection all classes of men, at all times and under all circumstances. No doctrine involving more pernicious consequences was ever invented by the wit of men that any of its great provisions can be suspended during any of the great exigencies of Government.”
December 17th, 2005 at 12:56 pm#81
I would say it more like this:
Al Quaida {hearts} Bush
He is their #1 recruiting tool.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:57 pmwwallace is a traitor to the American people. wwallace and Bushco hate the American people’s freedom.
December 17th, 2005 at 12:58 pm#60
I guess you’re just going to have to start looking for the terrorists under your OWN bed. Booga-booga!
If you don’t mind, I’ll take freedom and the rule of law over safety provided by my Benevolent Overseer.
If you hate freedom so much, wallace, why don’t you move to Russia?
December 17th, 2005 at 12:58 pmThe world’s stupidest man who is also supposed to be President is now officially the world’s most stupidly stupid man in the solar system. I knew he’d bring up 9/11 as a reason for anything he does to destroy this country.
Even if his speech is going to cut into Desperate Housewives time, I ain’t watching it. I don’t watch it, but given the choice between Dubya and the Housewives, I’d take the latter.
What will he say in the address? The SOS that he has been saying and he’ll probably pre-screen the TV audience as well. He’ll bring up 9/11 about 20-25 times. He’ll bring up the words, Freedom, Victory, God and America about 40-50 times.
The little C**T won’t explain himself to his daddy or Mike Wallace, but he chooses to take his self-serving dribble to an already pissed-off public just for an boost in his polls. I hope he stumbles, again. How’s that Patriot act working out, Georgie? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
December 17th, 2005 at 12:59 pmIdly
December 17th, 2005 at 12:59 pmBUSH LASHES.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:03 pmDoes that Mean he is Angry at Us?
Shouldn,t We be Fearing Bush when He Lashes Out At us?
December 17th, 2005 at 1:04 pm#78 TJM
December 17th, 2005 at 1:07 pmYou’re reading my mind. Early this morning I wrote to the NYT and chastised them for holding back information under the guise of “national security” when in truth, it would have most likely affected the national election. Considering the MSM scandals (Miller, Blair, Gannon, et al.) one would think they would reconsider their complicitity with the White House. And yet, the ill-informed still believe the press is “liberal.”
I was allways taught that if someone trys to bully you, You hit back and Hit back HARD!
December 17th, 2005 at 1:07 pmNot only Impeah but, tribunal For the UNJUSTIFIED WAR On Iraq And AFGANISTAN!
P.S. He let Osama Bin Laden Get Away, Now All Sorts of Terrorist are starting to Grow!
How will He explain the Deaths of over Two Thousand American Soldiers?
December 17th, 2005 at 1:10 pmPlus the Deaths of 911, Which , Had he Listened, Could have been Preventable.
Hey, has anyone noticed that wwallace’s posts are almost always under two lines and they end with either “LOL” or “ROFLMAO”? Its almost like wwallace is one of those automatic radio DJ’s… “Good Morning Everyone! Bush is Great! Its 58 degrees outside, and here is John Ashcroft singing Let the Eagle Soar!” I love reading his posts, its just like my Bush-isms calendar. :)
December 17th, 2005 at 1:10 pmBushes problem is He Knows too Much, Yet, Knows Nothing at all!
December 17th, 2005 at 1:11 pmall Intell, no wisdom .
Come on fellows ease of on poor WWW . He’s having an epiphany . He loves the constitution and swears to defend it . Now if only he reads it … we may be getting some where. and creeping fascism will be defeated.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:12 pmand why is wwallace , laughing so much? does wwallace think this is a game? or a joke? wwallace for your info. over two thousand american soldiers are D.E.A.D.! its not a game, its difinitely NOT a Joke. The Joke is on you if you think Repubs are getting away with anything.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:14 pmthe hammers going to drop!
I am going to D.C. and Personally Make a Citizens Arrest of GWB!
December 17th, 2005 at 1:17 pmWhat I would like to see on these threads is the author posted at the top line instead of the bottom. It would make it so much easier to skip past inanities like those posted by hot tip. Here’s a hot tip, you’re boring,boring boring.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:18 pmThe fact that a sitting president would knowingly and willingly disregard the constitution and american values is such a blatant way should bring about immediate impeachment! Now THIS is a HIGH CRIME!
December 17th, 2005 at 1:19 pmDecember 17th, 2005 at 1:20 pm
• Bush defends spying
December 17th, 2005 at 1:21 pmDec. 17: President says he personally approved eavesdropping in U.S. and blasts lawmakers for revealing secret program.
MSNBC
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Article 2
Using the powers of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in disregard of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has repeatedly engaged in conduct violating the constitutional rights of citizens, impairing the due and proper administration of justice and the conduct of lawful inquiries, or contravening the laws governing agencies of the executive branch and the purposed of these agencies.
This conduct has included one or more of the following:
He has, acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, endeavoured to obtain from the Internal Revenue Service, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, confidential information contained in income tax returns for purposed not authorized by law, and to cause, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, income tax audits or other income tax investigations to be intitiated or conducted in a discriminatory manner.
He misused the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secret Service, and other executive personnel, in violation or disregard of the constitutional rights of citizens, by directing or authorizing such agencies or personnel to conduct or continue electronic surveillance or other investigations for purposes unrelated to national security, the enforcement of laws, or any other lawful function of his office; he did direct, authorize, or permit the use of information obtained thereby for purposes unrelated to national security, the enforcement of laws, or any other lawful function of his office; and he did direct the concealment of certain records made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of electronic surveillance.
He has, acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, in violation or disregard of the constitutional rights of citizens, authorized and permitted to be maintained a secret investigative unit within the office of the President, financed in part with money derived from campaign contributions, which unlawfully utilized the resources of the Central Intelligence Agency, engaged in covert and unlawful activities, and attempted to prejudice the constitutional right of an accused to a fair trial.
He has failed to take care that the laws were faithfully executed by failing to act when he knew or had reason to know that his close subordinates endeavoured to impede and frustrate lawful inquiries by duly constituted executive, judicial and legislative entities concerning the unlawful entry into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, and the cover-up thereof, and concerning other unlawful activities including those relating to the confirmation of Richard Kleindienst as Attorney General of the United States, the electronic surveillance of private citizens, the break-in into the offices of Dr. Lewis Fielding, and the campaign financing practices of the Committee to Re-elect the President.
In disregard of the rule of law, he knowingly misused the executive power by interfering with agencies of the executive branch, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Criminal Division, and the Office of Watergate Special Prosecution Force, of the Department of Justice, and the Central Intelligence Agency, in violation of his duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.
In all of this, Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:22 pmWherefore Richard M. Nixon, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office.
We’re fortunate to have Think Progress. Most administrators don’t allow this kind of free sppech. We should thank them for establishing this forum and not worry so much about the format…
December 17th, 2005 at 1:23 pmArticle 3
In his conduct of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, contrary to his oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has failed without lawful cause or excuse to produce papers and things as directed by duly authorized subpoenas issued by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives on April 11, 1974, May 15, 1974, May 30, 1974, and June 24, 1974, and willfully disobeyed such subpoenas. The subpoenaed papers and things were deemed necessary by the Committee in order to resolve by direct evidence fundamental, factual questions relating to Presidential direction, knowledge or approval of actions demonstrated by other evidence to be substantial grounds for impeachment of the President. In refusing to produce these papers and things Richard M. Nixon, substituting his judgment as to what materials were necessary for the inquiry, interposed the powers of the Presidency against the the lawful subpoenas of the House of Representatives, thereby assuming to himself functions and judgments necessary to the exercise of the sole power of impeachment vested by the Constitution in the House of Representatives.
In all of this, Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.
Wherefore, Richard M. Nixon, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:24 pmSay , all they have to do is replace the name. I.E…erase nixon and put in Bush
December 17th, 2005 at 1:24 pmThis is Worth Many Repeatings,
Can’t wait for the investigation as it will show once again that Bush ignored intellegence that might have stopped 9/11 from happening.
Bring it on!
Comment by Spudge_Boy — December 16, 2005 @ 4:17 pm
December 17th, 2005 at 1:27 pmHope you dont mind Spudge
December 17th, 2005 at 1:28 pm
This is the act of a DICTATOR, not an american president.
IMPEACH
December 17th, 2005 at 1:28 pmIMPEACH
IMPEACH
December 17th, 2005 at 1:28 pm
Winston Churchill, contrary to the lies conservatives will tell you was a conservative at 15 and a liberal from then on, till his death. He was also a staunch anti-Stalinist. Once, when asked his opinion by a reporter about the British communist party, and if he feared them, he replied, “Of course not. They are Englishmen after all.” Churchill would spit on Bush, Reagan, Nixon and wwallace.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:29 pmHave No Fear. The Truth Shall Make You Free!
December 17th, 2005 at 1:30 pmWallace, let me fix that for you:
Walt, the real issue is the Republicans want to defeat freedom more than they want to defeat al Qaeeda.
The Democrats don’t hate Al Qaeda, they just want the people in power to be held accountable for their actions.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:31 pmSuch filthy liars neocons are. As bad as the Stalinists
Quotes Falsely Attributed
These quotes make
for good story-telling
but popular myth has
falsely attributed them
to Churchill.
“Conservative by the time you’re 35″
December 17th, 2005 at 1:32 pm“If you’re not a liberal when you’re 25, you have no heart. If you’re not a conservative by the time you’re 35, you have no brain.” There is no record of anyone hearing Churchill say this. Paul Addison of Edinburgh University makes this comment: “Surely Churchill can’t have used the words attributed to him. He’d been a Conservative at 15 and a Liberal at 35! And would he have talked so disrespectfully of Clemmie, who is generally thought to have been a lifelong Liberal.
wwallace likes being unaccountable because he can’t count :()
December 17th, 2005 at 1:32 pmThe Smoking Gun
Yesterday, I wrote about Scott McClellan’s remark that the number one priority of the President was “to save lives.” In my mind that is not and should never be the President’s number one priority. Well, this morning, in his weekly…
December 17th, 2005 at 1:35 pmever notice how poll takers word their questions to the audience?
QUICKVOTE
Do you agree that greater trade liberalization benefits developing countries?
Yes
No
or View Results
Instead of saying” Do You Disagee?”
December 17th, 2005 at 1:37 pmor” Do the greater trade liberalization benefits developing countries?”
December 17th, 2005 at 1:38 pmDont believe the polls. Propagandas tool.
Well, that’s it. Bush admitted that he authorized the program. As known, what Bush has done is illegal under the law. And for this, a review / investigation will likely be conducted that could very likely lead to an impeachment process.
As for who leaked this information that brought to light of this criminal conduct, that identity will probably not land to an definitive conclusion. But as to how it will be seen in the eyes of the people, it will indeed go down as another Deep Throat.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:40 pmI bet the left won’t ask for investigations into who leaked this confidential information to the New York Times.
In the view of the left
“Leaking” the name of a non-covert agent who works at a desk = Baaaaaaaaad
December 17th, 2005 at 1:44 pmLeaking vital national security information to the New York Times = Gooood
If Bush’s #1 priority is to save lives, he would have done better as a paramedic. Or any profession where you kill fewer than 100,000 people.
Also… can we impeach the Sonofabush now? I understand that incompetence and lying (in speeches) is not an impeachable offense, so we had to wait until he actually committed high crimes, but I think he has satisfied the constitutional requirements for impeachment now.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:44 pmFight the Power said, in #114: “The Democrats don’t hate Al Qaeda”
Thanks for the admission.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:45 pmCNN Gets A BIG FAT F For Failure By propagating its Polls/
QUICKVOTE
Do you agree that greater trade liberalization benefits developing countries?
Yes
No
QUICKVOTE
it should read like this, Do “greater trade liberalization(free trade).” benefit developing countries?
yes
December 17th, 2005 at 1:46 pmno
cynical, the president hasn’t engaged in any wrongdoing, let alone impeachable wrongdoing.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:46 pmIt’s bad because it was a COVERT agent, and it is yet another clear example of the Bush administration’s desire to keep the people in the dark about the truth.
The leak to the Times is good because it protects our right to know about any and all government corruption. Spying on ordinary American’s does not make anybody safer. It is wrong and the people need to know about it. If you need government spying on your neighbors makes you safer, you need psychological counseling desperately.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:48 pmwwallace, in your opinion, who are Al Qaeda? where did they originate from? how many are there? is there a link between Afganistan, Iraqs leadership/people? How old is the Al Qaeda Klan? who started Al Qaeda and who Sponsored Al Qaeda? These are serious Question, because I heard Rumour that Republicans May have Sponsored Al Qaeda during the Afganistan/Russian War.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:51 pmPlame hasn’t been covert since the mid-1990s.
How is it corrupt to protect America?
We are monitoring terrorists, not ordinary Americans.
The enemy is aided by being told that he is under scrutiny by the Government. They’ve surely changed their tactics to evade detection.
My neighbors aren’t terrorists. If they were, I would hope the Government was monitoring them.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:53 pmBush thinks he is a king sent on a mission from God to defeat the evil-doers. That’s why he wipes his ass with the Constitution and the Geneva Convention.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:54 pmwwallace thinks that Democrats and anyone who criticizes Bush and his policies are all terrorists.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:56 pm#128
Gary - Do you know the odds of being killed by terrorists verus being killed by second hand smoke? Your fears are in the wrong place. Be afraid of Big Tobacco… They are trying to kill Americans and succeeding.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:57 pmWill someone in congress not stand up and begin the impeachment proceedings?
December 17th, 2005 at 1:58 pmJust go through the motions so that we won’t think you are all paid off stooges.
we know the GOP will block it. But the people will know if their representative is for or against. This will help a lot in the new elections to defeat the GOP and allow for the punishment phase of treason and other high crimes to begin. even if it is in 2007
if we make it that long.
Tobacco Companies don’t plan ways to kill millions with WMDs to bring the world under a dictatorship.
Terrorists plan ways to kill millions with WMDs to bring the world under an Islamic Dictatorship.
And Bush should move fast to find the leaker and put him on trial for endangering the War on Terror.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:59 pmWe all need to start writing our Senators demanding Impeachment for this. Mine are Neocons, but even some of the less fascist ones seem to be disassociating themselves from the Bush Regime, and might be ammenable to the choice between Bush’s job or their own…
December 17th, 2005 at 2:00 pm“How is it corrupt to protect America?”
How is hiding corruption protecting America?
“We are monitoring terrorists, not ordinary Americans.”
The government doesn’t have to prove someone is a terrorist to secretly monitor their activities, or waterboard them in a secret prison. That means the government can just single out brown people and watch them for no reason and there’s nothing to stop the government from doing so other than the press exposing such actions.
December 17th, 2005 at 2:02 pm“Terrorists plan ways to kill millions with WMDs to bring the world under an Islamic Dictatorship.”
Ever hear of PNAC? It’s the Republicans who want a world-wde fundamentalist Christian dictatorship.
December 17th, 2005 at 2:03 pm#133
Gary - Really? You know this because… What, you have the mindset of a terrorist and can speak from personal perspective here?? Saddam did not have weapons of Mass Destruction. Big Tobacco has tiny, billions of little WMD’s called cigarettes. They kill thousands of people every day. So far, not one single American has died from WMD. Not one. Seems a bit paranoid, or arrogant, to think that other people exist to kill you, well not without a profit…
December 17th, 2005 at 2:05 pm#136
Of course he has, because that would be fine by him. After all, it’s a benevolent Christian dictatorship and not, gasp, an evil Islamic one. Egocentrity has no sense of reality…
December 17th, 2005 at 2:08 pm#138
Dictatorships and theocracies come in only one type: evil. A benevolent Christian, Islamic or Jewish dictatorship will never exist.
December 17th, 2005 at 2:14 pmJust read 1984. You will find all the troll talking points in there. Almost word for word.
December 17th, 2005 at 2:15 pmActually, this is the best thing that could ever have happened. Bush has lost states like Idaho and Montana and vast parts of many other red states. He’s further splitting his base and his own party.
December 17th, 2005 at 2:17 pmThis could be Bush falling on his sword. He must know the consequences of domestic spying, he’s surely heard of Nixon, so he’s just too tired of the lies that he wants out. Perhaps subconsciously, like the thief that leaves clues to get caught. He knows he can’t just abdicate.
Congress could use this as impeachment made easy, without having to go through all the convoluted lies and deceipt up till now, or take the blame for their oversight failures.
To my surprise, we do seem to have some quality people in Congress ready to carry on once the trials are over. I wonder how they got in there?
December 17th, 2005 at 2:18 pmwwallace should definitely be skipped over. If you see a post signed by, just ignore it. He has nothing of importance to add
December 17th, 2005 at 2:21 pm#139
I agree, was doing a satire of Gary… :)
December 17th, 2005 at 2:21 pm#144,
Sorry about that. I should have checked your earlier comments and realized you’re not a troll.
December 17th, 2005 at 2:23 pmWhat the President has done is not a crime. And it was expected of him after 9/11 to aggressively try to prevent another 9/11.
9/11 was sort of like a big deal people that called for action, not long slow steps through the judiciar.
And most importantly nobody’s liberty has been seriously affected by this… unless you’re believed to be involved in terrorism or close to it.
Cry me a river people.
December 17th, 2005 at 2:27 pmGary, the NSA contains provisions to go to a secret court to get authorization to wiretap domestic calls. The President authorized these wiretaps without that authorization. The hunt for and monitoring of terrorists is unaffected by the disclosure of a presidential order allowing the wiretap of American citizens without even the semblance of court ordered authorization. You have set up the usual straw man argument that is simply irrelevant.
December 17th, 2005 at 2:28 pm#145
No problem, I did the same thing to ChuckLA yesterday. Sometimes it’s not hard to get caught up in it. Am definitely on your side.
December 17th, 2005 at 2:32 pmLyle,
December 17th, 2005 at 2:34 pmIts Called “Invasion of Privacy Act”.
Then of course, this is nothing new. As freedom loving people who want their privacy not involked on, don,t mind if its someone elses privacy. double standards for sure.
That is why I do NOT Mind if you Lose your Rights, Freedoms, Liberty, or whatever else you might call it. I call it Propagande of the Third Riech.
December 17th, 2005 at 2:35 pm#146
What the President has done is not a crime. And it was expected of him after 9/11 to aggressively try to prevent another 9/11.
Lyle, You really should READ the Constitution. No where does it give the President unlimited powers to act above or beyond it. You might also wanna go check out a book on Political Science, which will explain the three equal branches of our governemnt (legislative, judical and executive), which created as a checks and balance system to prevent any one branch from assuming too much power. So, to respond to your comment, no, no it was not expected of him.
December 17th, 2005 at 2:36 pmAnd most importantly nobody’s liberty has been seriously affected by this… unless you’re believed to be involved in terrorism or close to it.
Cry me a river people.
Comment by Lyle — December 17, 2005 @ 2:27 pm
December 17th, 2005 at 2:39 pmLyle, I pray to God that You LOSE Your liberties one day.
90% of NSLs are not related to terrorism.
Those people that think that violating our Constitutional rights is necessary are by definition Un-American.
We either have a Bill of Rights, or we don’t. I don’t see a middle ground anywhere.
December 17th, 2005 at 2:40 pmLyle, Just maybe You will get caught doing something ILLEGAL, One Day.
December 17th, 2005 at 2:41 pmThen You,ll Lose your Liberties Hopefully.
AAnd dont think you wont get caught.
Thank You, Toys. Exactly my Thought.
December 17th, 2005 at 2:51 pmWhats good for the Gander is Good for the Goose.
Maybe we ought to Spy on Them.
I liked it better before I did the math. At first, I read more than 30 operations. Now, it looks like
(30+ authorizations) times (45 days reauthorization period) = (every day between Sept. 11th and today).
December 17th, 2005 at 2:52 pmGiven that this surveillance was a) started immediately after 9/11 when we