Think Progress

Specter: Adminstration’s Legal Arguments Are “Strained and Unrealistic”»

On Meet the Press, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) strongly rejected one of the administration’s key legal justification’s of Bush’s warrantless domestic surveillance program:

RUSSERT: The administration says that they didn’t need to, that they already had authority from Congress when, back in October 2002, Congress voted an authorization to go to war against Iraq. And that is part of that war.

SPECTER: I believe that contention is very strained and unrealistic. The authorization for the use of force doesn’t say anything about electronic surveillance.

The issue was never raised with the Congress. And there is a specific statute on the books, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which says flatly that you can’t undertake that kind of surveillance without a court order.

Specter is one of many conservative Senators who have been very critical of the program. Hearings on the program, chaired by Specter, start Monday.

UPDATE: Crooks and Liars has the video.




Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date

133 Responses to “Specter: Adminstration’s Legal Arguments Are “Strained and Unrealistic””

  1. Gus, the Loving OBGYN Says:

    If he can say that then he can say they broke the law. Noone is saying these guys are breaking the law. Noone other than private groups is doing anything to stop it. We have a real problem here with our government. Both parties.


  2. RepublicanTeamLeader Says:

    Shut your piehole no one broke the law.What your party needs to do is try to have a plan,but since you dont shut the hell up and sit back we’ll take care of everything.


  3. california_reality_check Says:

    I don’t think Specter gets it yet. They don’t care what Congress says. You watch. Congress will be judged as “Quaint”.


  4. california_reality_check Says:

    Gus - You need to watch that free speech of yours. :)


  5. Ben Says:

    It’s pretty plain and clear to me. The Administration broke the law. President in 2005, I think, said that wiretapping required a court order. Gonzalez, in his confirmation hearings told Russ Feingold the administration doesn’t do wiretapping. Now, I’m not too sure here, but there has to be one thing that is obvious: they’re lying.


  6. John the Elder Says:

    As to #2 above. The dems have plenty of plans, but all your buddies in Congress want to do is listen to themselves and the Chimp and his crew in the WH. Every plan the Dems propose has been shouted down by the dumbasses in your party. You guys are so corrupt, your rot stinks to the heavens. Go take a bleach bath. You and your ilk, don’t belong in the same company that speaks here.


  7. Krazny Says:

    I think #2 was being sarcastic, I hope. Crossing my fingers that this will be the final straw to destroy the bush admin and bring this country back to sanity.

    my thoughts anyway.


  8. Gus, the Loving OBGYN Says:

    #2
    The Dem and the Republicans plans are the same in foreign matters. That’s why Dems aren’t fighting this any harder than what they have to to get votes.
    On the homefront policies are very different. I don’t think it’s a great mystery the differences in plan twixt the parties.


  9. the fly-man Says:

    I think the Administration will claim, due to technological circumstances not addressed in the FISA statues, coupled with the fragility of the program’s secretive nature, article II was all they had to go on. If they let anyone know, the cat was out of the bag. Here is the problem, was the program set up to be just that. Exactly where it is now? Sounds like there will be more of these claims justifying their behavior for other adventures too. Can the Vice-President claim executive privilege for anything else he thinks of that can’t be bothered with by having to notify someone with a pulse in Congress?


  10. Gary Ruppert Says:

    Arlen stabs us all in the back again by going into this hearing with bias against the President and his essential program.

    Arlen should read the authorization, it says:

    SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

    (a) IN GENERAL- That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.

    You’re crazy if you don’t think that this is being done to prevent more terrorist attacks, therefore it is necessary under the law.

    MSM whores like Specter can’t recognize that fact.


  11. Marie Says:

    Ben, You’re correct. Bush reassured the public at one of his controlled, prescreened events that wiretapping “requires a court order” - that was in April of 2004. When Feingold inquired specifically of Gonzales on this matter at his confirmation hearings(Feingold was unaware at the time that he had struck gold), Gonzales denied a program that he signed off on and was ongoing.
    Why do 47% of the people still not see that the Bushies lie with a straight face.


  12. Max-1 Says:

    #6 Comment by John the Elder

    True, the DNC has plenty of plans.

    Just not A plan.

    Multiple ideas are great when you are brainstorming. But the DNC has been in this “brainstorm” for far too long. Summate, form, present.

    HELLO!!!

    The DNC is stuck on conceptualize.


  13. Gary Ruppert Says:

    Surprisingly, The DNC finds it hard to argue against monitoring terrorists.

    I’m sure that Howard Dean or one of his friends will justify ignoring terrorists soon enough.


  14. Gus, the Loving OBGYN Says:

    Yeah, that’s good Max-1. The Dem plan is similar to the Bush Iraq plan. That’s a hoot!

    “Stay the course is a slogan, not a strategy.” -Carl Levin


  15. purvis ames Says:

    Ruppert
    All you fascists like to chew on the fine points of Bush’s so-called authority and say it’s a tough call. I suggest you read the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, asshole.


  16. the fly-man Says:

    Is the DNC running the country right now.? Where is it written that the opposition party has a responsibility to have a counter platform, agenda or mandate? The party in control should be responsible for obeying the laws, and the GOP will eventually decide if they are willing to give all of this questionable, but oh so necessary power to the next administration. I think those who know about the details of this have got to recognize this.Imagine HRC as President and newly briefed Justice Dept. people dive into this. I would put money on it Dick Cheney will be the GOP nominee, hands down.


  17. Gary Ruppert Says:

    Wiretapping has been held as constitutional before.


  18. Gus, the Loving OBGYN Says:

    Gary is right. Dems can’t fight the spying without looking soft on terror. It’s the same ole same ole with these moron Dems.
    Murtha’s the only one with any balls. Feingold makes good points but only rocks the boat just enough.


  19. Gary Ruppert Says:

    Is the DNC running the country right now?

    They’re certainly haven’t shown America any reason to let them run the country.


  20. jackovel Says:

    [comment censored by admin]


  21. jackovel Says:

    I mean
    [comment censored by admin]


  22. the fly-man Says:

    Why couldn’t the White House also make the argument that the President should remain in office, due to the necessity of a cohesive continuation of the war on terror?


  23. jackovel Says:

    [Cheney speech] The only thing we have to fear is nothing to fear itself. Its important that you understand that these scary little brown men we need to bomb and who hate you are more of a threat every day and we don‘t know where they are. Ask not how on your life your country is fooling you but how you can give your life for a fool. They hate our sacred freedoms that’s why we can’t reach them any other way but to bomb and bomb…and then strafe them and bomb. As the election draws near and your fears rise you will need our protection more. I know you are all patriotically terrified now but ask not why your country is torturing your rights but who you can torture for your country’s rights…and hope not to get tortured, right? Awuk awuk [end of speech]


  24. Max-1 Says:

    A famous president once said,

    When a president does it, it means that it is legal
    -R.M.Nixon

    When the current president, back in 2004, expressed that when tapping, when spying, when doing this, that he is getting warrants from the NSA courts, then he means just that, RIGHT???

    So why are they on parade to show off their innocence in not following the FISA laws???

    A president does not look credible when he speaks from both sides of his mouth. His reassurance to the American public that he is following the law only now hearkens back to Nixon’s cry of innocence in that the NSA is on the “It’s o.k. if we do it” stance.

    When Bush was stroking our Psyche back in 2004 and saying it’s all o.k. ’cause I’m following the FISA laws, HE WAS LYING.

    PERIOD.


  25. Gus, the Loving OBGYN Says:

    Gary, the wiretapping argument you guys constantly try to make really hinges on splitting hairs. It’s really weak. Especially when Bush said wiretaps “still require warrants”. If the Republicans thought they were in the clear they wouldn’t be talking about this. It’s that simple.
    The real question, Gary, is “do Americans care?”. And I don’t think they do. If Bush is using the power to do political things we won’t know about that for a long time. But some time they’re going to have to start serving up convictions of terrorists or it will implode.


  26. Gary Ruppert Says:

    Bush only said that wiretaps require warrants in order to closely guard the secret nature of the Terrorist Surveillance Program.


  27. Gus, the Loving OBGYN Says:

    No, he said it in the context of propagating the Patriot Act. He said it as a comfort that police powers wouldn’t get out of hand. But still, splitting hairs. The bottom line is “where are the convictions?”.
    Kennedy alluded there can’t possibly be 5, 10, 20 thousand terrorists at the ready in America. The next logical question is “so how are those trials of the terrorists going?”.


  28. For Truth Says:

    Pretty solid right wing points today.


  29. For Truth Says:

    #10,

    Any of your own disagree with you, just turn on them.


  30. RemoveBush Says:

    Gary Ruppert - you’ll notice that the statement says FORCE.
    “all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.”

    As you can see, there is the word force. I doubt that you can claim that wiretapping is force? Wiretapping is not FORCE. This authorization gives the president the authorization to allow the military to use this FORCE to invade the countries in question.

    You cannot say that force is the same as wiretapping. What part of FORCE do you not understand?
    Here’s the definition for you… Please show me in there where it talks about wiretapping.

    # military unit: a unit that is part of some military service; “he sent Caesar a force of six thousand men”
    # power: one possessing or exercising power or influence or authority; “the mysterious presence of an evil power”; “may the force be with you”; “the forces of evil”
    # coerce: to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means :”She forced him to take a job in the city”; “He squeezed her for information”
    # (physics) the influence that produces a change in a physical quantity; “force equals mass times acceleration”
    # impel: urge or force (a person) to an action; constrain or motivate
    # push: move with force, “He pushed the table into a corner”
    # group of people willing to obey orders; “a public force is necessary to give security to the rights of citizens”
    # a powerful effect or influence; “the force of his eloquence easily persuaded them”
    # impose or thrust urgently, importunately, or inexorably; “She forced her diet fads on him”
    # wedge: squeeze like a wedge into a tight space; “I squeezed myself into the corner”
    # violence: an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists); “he may accomplish by craft in the long run what he cannot do by force and violence in the short one”
    # physical energy or intensity; “he hit with all the force he could muster”; “it was destroyed by the strength of the gale”; “a government has not the vitality and forcefulness of a living man”
    # force into or from an action or state, either physically or metaphorically; “She rammed her mind into focus”; “He drives me mad”
    # do forcibly; exert force; “Don’t force it!”
    # a group of people having the power of effective action; “he joined forces with a band of adventurers”
    # effect: (of a law) having legal validity; “the law is still in effect”
    # pull: cause to move by pulling; “draw a wagon”; “pull a sled”
    # force out: a putout of a base runner who is required to run; the putout is accomplished by holding the ball while touching the base to which the runner must advance before the runner reaches that base; “the shortstop got the runner at second on a force”
    # storm: take by force; “Storm the fort”


  31. purvis ames Says:

    “Bush only said that wiretaps require warrants in order to closely guard the secret nature of the Terrorist Surveillance Program.”

    Say wha? Take your meds, Gary. You’re getting incoherent. I love how the wingnuts pick up on Mehlman dictated Newspeak so quickly. I guess the Terrorist Surveillance Program has a nicer ring to it than Illegal, Warrantless Wiretapping by an Agency whose Charter explicitly forbids Spying on people in the United States.


  32. Jay Randal Says:

    Senator Specter knows that he cannot condon or defend Bush’s warrant-less wiretapping program! Dubya has willfully violated the FISA Statutes and has opened himself up to articles of impeachment against him! The House and Senate must do their DUTY and remove King George from office!


  33. Sharon Cooper Says:

    A public speaking teacher of mine taught us that when someone responds to a statement with personal insults, insinuations, anger, rudeness, and yelling, the person really has no response to the answer and therefore tries to bully to win the argument: the argument was won by the one being attacked by the bully. Obviously, he was correct, judging from the responses here by the administrations supporters. They cannot dispute the validity of the fact that the administrations actions were unconstitutional; therefore, the insult the person who makes the point. Typical.


  34. Max-1 Says:

    A’all read this

    Washington - An intense debate erupted during former U.S. president Gerald Ford’s administration over the president’s powers to eavesdrop without warrants to gather foreign intelligence, newly disclosed government documents revealed.

    Former president George Bush, current Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Vice-President Dick Cheney are cited in the documents. The roughly 200 pages of historic records reflect a remarkably similar dispute between the White House and Congress fully three decades before President George W. Bush’s acknowledgment he authorized wiretaps without warrants of some Americans in terrorism investigations.


  35. thot's Says:

    Judd there was a post about what Gen Hayden said,this morning about ‘The Homeland’ I was posting my reply and it disappeared of the radar.

    He was expousing Facists speak of protecting the Homeland

    George S was interviewing him about the wire taps.

    When did ‘When Did Our Country” become “The Homeland” sounds like hilters “Motherland” North Korea Fatherland

    For 55 yrs I had heard and spoke Our Country .Are we changing our song to : To My Homeland Tis Of Thee ?


  36. RemoveBush Says:

    #35 Ya vol!


  37. RemoveBush Says:

    Can someone from TP please tell me why I have to enter a 4 character code everytime I post????

    I know your there because there are new thresds. Please answer this.


  38. thot's Says:

    I didn’t use any code but a really good thread just disappeared before my eyes on Gen Hayden..


  39. Jay Randal Says:

    Post 35 thot’s > I tried to post to that thread about 15 minutes ago about General Hayden! As soon as I sent the number one comment, the thread shut down, and then few minutes later was removed! Somebody pulled it due to error or threat to thinkprogress > perhaps NSA demanded it be pulled?


  40. Max-1 Says:

    I’m being told I’ve been flaged for span and can not post. On those that I can post, I have to confirm a code.


  41. Marie Says:

    #33 Sharon Cooper
    The Rethuglican toadies are masterful at this tactic. Watch them on every talk show, they interrupt, they attack the speaker and when all else fails, they call in the Clinton card.
    Dems are not always right, but when Reps are bullies. The strategy is that the wonks make very-long term policy decisions (i.e. PNAC, WHIG) while the toadies go out and secure the short term victories (TV/media circuses. Baby steps toward their goal.


  42. RemoveBush Says:

    Hey TP, according to #40 the issue I’m having is suggesting that you have me on a spamming list. Is this correct? Now I’m a spammer?


  43. thot's Says:

    #39 that’s exactly what happened to me .I was posting about his Facist speak of The Homeland its time we called this adminstration on this trash of theirs.

    Only countries that are non-democratic wire taps their citizens .

    I fear this government as it has used words of fear to subdue its citizens……..my thot’s


  44. Jay Randal Says:

    Post 43 > We will never know why that General Hayden thread was pulled from this site! Very odd how it went dead then vanished? I think “Big Brother” has arrived on the Internet!


  45. I-RIGHT-I Says:

    Can someone from TP please tell me why I have to enter a 4 character code everytime I post????

    I know your there because there are new thresds. Please answer this.

    Comment by RemoveBush

    Really? What code? I’m just guessing but I’d bet it’s to help the NSA track ratbastardcommiefucktards like you. They are probably redirecting you posts to their hard drive to use as evidence during your thirty second trial for treason.


  46. Spudge_Boy Says:

    Ben,

    It was APril 20, 2004 that George Bush said:

    White House
    April 20, 2004
    President Bush: Information Sharing, Patriot Act Vital to Homeland Security
    http://www.whitehouse.gov/ news/ releases/ 2004/ 04/ 20040420-2.html

    “Secondly, there are such things as roving wiretaps. Now, by the way, any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires — a wiretap requires a court order. Nothing has changed, by the way. When we’re talking about chasing down terrorists, we’re talking about getting a court order before we do so.”

    How many more lies will it take for Gary Ruppert to pull his nose out of the administrations butt?


  47. Spudge_Boy Says:

    Really? What code? I’m just guessing but I’d bet it’s to help the NSA track ratbastardcommiefucktards like you. They are probably redirecting you posts to their hard drive to use as evidence during your thirty second trial for treason.

    Wow, talk about tinfoil hat. Sheesh.

    Are you posting from your bomb shelter?

    The four digit code is only seen by those that post here a lot. The system is to keep spam (ie a bot posting over and over) from getting posted.


  48. thot's Says:

    Orwell was right and his date 1984 was right also as that was when the neo con movenment went into high gear to take over the country and put through their “peace through force” plan. They used the verbage of there’s a spirit blowing the land many people thot it was about the holy spirit but it was about the spirit of war to entrap and subdue its citizens.


  49. RemoveBush Says:

    This site now sucks……. I’m not even able to post anymore. I’m outa here until they fix this crap.

    See Ya


  50. Spudge_Boy Says:

    As to #2 above. The dems have plenty of plans, but all your buddies in Congress want to do is listen to themselves and the Chimp and his crew in the WH. Every plan the Dems propose has been shouted down by the dumbasses in your party. You guys are so corrupt, your rot stinks to the heavens. Go take a bleach bath. You and your ilk, don’t belong in the same company that speaks here.

    Comment by John the Elder — February 5, 2006 @ 12:51 pm

    John, et al,

    Did any of you see the State of the Union?

    Most of what Bush proposed were Democratic ideas.

    School Funding
    Alternative Energy Sources
    Etc. etc.

    The problem is that he didn’t put any meat behind any of the plans and as usual screwed them up.

    Like when Bush spoke about reducing our dependence on foriegn oil by 75% by 2025. The next day OPEC said “WTF” and the Bush administartion said “We sisn’t really mean that. It was an example.” It’s not good to piss off your dealer (OPEC) when you are “addicted” to drugs (oil).


  51. Jay Randal Says:

    Post 48 > 1984 arrived officially in 2004 > 20 years after Orwell’s dire prediction of totalitarian government in Oceania/America! I do believe that Reagan tried to actually do it in 1984, but Iran-Contra Scandal sidetracked him! In 2004 Bush became “Big Brother” so freedom will vanish soon!


  52. Spudge_Boy Says:

    Marie,

    Here is the transcript of what Russ Fiengold asked Alberto Gonzales:

    Washington Post
    January 6, 2005
    Text: Gonzales Nomination Hearing
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/ articles/ A53883-2005Jan6.html

    FEINGOLD: You also, I am told, said that many presidents have asserted the power not to enforce a statute that they believe is unconstitutional. But there is a difference between a president deciding not to enforce a statute which he thinks is unconstitutional and a president claiming to authorize individuals to break the law by torturing individuals or taking other illegal action.

    So what I want to do is press you on that, because I think, perhaps, you’ve misunderstood the question.

    And it’s an important one. It goes to a very basic principle of the country, that no one, not even the president of the United States, is above the law.

    Of course, the president is entitled to assert that an act of Congress is unconstitutional. This president did so, for example, with respect to some portions of our McCain-Feingold bill when he signed it. But his Justice Department defended the law in court, as it is bound to do with every law duly enacted by the Congress. And his campaign and his party complied with the law, while a court challenge was pending.

    No one asserted that the president had the power to ignore a law that he thought was unconstitutional.

    The question here is: What is your view regarding the president’s constitutional authority to authorize violations of the criminal law, duly enacted statutes that may have been on the books for many years, when acting as commander in chief? Does he have such authority?

    The question you have been asked is not about a hypothetical statute in the future that the president might think is unconstitutional; it’s about our laws and international treaty obligations concerning torture.

    The torture memo answered that question in the affirmative. And my colleagues and I would like your answer on that today.

    And I also would like you to answer this: Does the president, in your opinion, have the authority, acting as commander in chief, to authorize warrantless searches of Americans’ homes and wiretaps of their conversations in violation of the criminal and foreign intelligence surveillance statutes of this country?

    GONZALES: Senator, the August 30th memo has been withdrawn. It has been rejected, including that section regarding the commander in chief authority to ignore the criminal statutes.

    So it’s been rejected by the executive branch. I categorically reject it.

    And in addition to that, as I’ve said repeatedly today, this administration does not engage in torture and will not condone torture.

    And so what we’re really discussing is a hypothetical situation that…

    FEINGOLD: Judge Gonzales, I’ve asked a broader question. I’m asking whether, in general, the president has constitutional authority — does he at least in theory have the authority to authorize violations of the criminal law when there are duly enacted statutes, simply because he’s commander in chief?

    FEINGOLD: Does he have that power?

    GONZALES: Senator, in my judgment, you phrase it as sort of a hypothetical situation. I would have to know what is the national interest that the president may have to consider.

    What I’m saying is, it is impossible to me, based upon the question as you’ve presented it to me, to answer that question.

    I can say is that there is a presumption of constitutionality with respect to any statute passed by Congress. I will take an oath to defend the statutes.

    And to the extent that there is a decision made to ignore a statute, I consider that a very significant decision and one that I would personally be involved with, I commit to you on that, and one we would take with a great deal of care and seriousness.

    FEINGOLD: Well, that sounds to me like the president still remains above the law.

    GONZALES: No, sir.


  53. Spudge_Boy Says:

    Surprisingly, The DNC finds it hard to argue against monitoring terrorists.

    Gary Ruppert, once again, there isn’t anybody res/blue, republican/democrat, liberal/conservative that doesn’t want terrorists monitored, captured and hung.

    WE DON’T WANT EVERY CITIZEN IN THIS COUNTRY MONITORED.


  54. Spudge_Boy Says:

    Wiretapping has been held as constitutional before.

    Comment by Gary Ruppert — February 5, 2006 @ 1:18 pm

    When, where and why? Post a link.


  55. Spudge_Boy Says:

    Max-1, et al,

    Here is a link to the video of Richard Nixon stating: “Well when the president does it, that means it is not illegal.”

    via Crooks and Liars
    http://movies.crooksandliars.com/nixon77b.wmv
    null


  56. Spudge_Boy Says:

    Bush only said that wiretaps require warrants in order to closely guard the secret nature of the Terrorist Surveillance Program.

    This is a lie. Anybody want the truth, click on the link in post #46.


  57. Spudge_Boy Says:

    Max-1,

    Good link in #34. Very interesting that most of the players in this current wiretapping crime are the same people for whom the 1978 Federal Information Surveillance Act was created to stop.


  58. Max-1 Says:

    And somehow I spam… er… at least that what the automated system tells me. LOL NSA HAXORZ


  59. Marie Says:

    #52 SB
    Thanks, there it is in black and white. Let’s watch him weasel out of this. Specter said he would let Feingold further question Gonzales on this very question.


  60. Spudge_Boy Says:

    Marie,

    “Just the facts mam.”

    I love facts. I love the fact that I can get anything I want on these guys right from my PC. Not articles about a specific hearing, but the actual transcript. Easy to argue a story on interpretation. Impossible to argue a word for word transcript of a speech or hearing.


  61. unbelievable Says:

    If he can say that then he can say they broke the law. Noone is saying these guys are breaking the law. Noone other than private groups is doing anything to stop it. We have a real problem here with our government. Both parties.

    Comment by Gus, the Loving OBGYN — February 5, 2006 @ 12:38 pm

    We just need to drop the party system entirely. Let the candidates run on policy alone.

    I’m getting the four code captcha thing occasionally as well. Just started happening last week. Not every post, but enough to be annoying. Thought after I enter the code, it says that it accepts my post and it appears when I refresh the screen…. See, once again, it’s the greedy Capitalists with their spam machines that ruin all the fun for everyone else…


  62. Spudge_Boy Says:

    When we’re talking about chasing down terrorists, we’re talking about getting a court order before we do so.

    Ha, I just reread my own post #46. This tears apart the adminstrations arguement. Bush says that even when they are going after terrorists, they are “talking about getting a court order before we do so.”

    Gary Ruppert…..SLAP!


  63. Max-1 Says:

    #57 Comment by Spudge_Boy

    Coincidence???

    I think not.

    It fits well with the wacko-conspiracy theorists that believe Bush masterminded 9/11.

    I don’t endorse that idea, but in light of that article, it does suggest that the “CO”. spent 23 years planning and waiting for an opportunity to utilize the spy option. 9/11 gave them such an opening in the American psyche.


  64. Spudge_Boy Says:

    Max-1,

    You are correct, there is no way am idiot like Bush could have planned and executed 9/11. It took a huge conspiracy, but we don’t want to talk about 9/11 or our posts will get deleted.

    As for it being a coincidence, I meant it in a “exactly” kind of way.


  65. Gus, the Loving OBGYN Says:

    Noone’s job is safe without the party system. The party system is the natural progression of people looking out for one another. It’s not going away.
    Devotion to Israel and financial relations with countries that harbor terrorists are what unite Democrats and Republicans. Until there is a party that can overcome these loyalties we’re never getting off this train. Never.


  66. katy Says:

    spudge - “I love the fact that I can get anything I want on these guys right from my PC.”
    from what i’m hearing, you’d best print out all you want to keep before it’s too late …these guys are creepy…


  67. mr ho Says:

    #Shut your piehole no one broke the law.What your party needs to do is try to have a plan,but since you dont shut the hell up and sit back we’ll take care of everything.

    Comment by RepublicanTeamLeader — February 5, 2006 @ 12:45 pm

    What SIR have you taken care of?
    The Backloaded Taxes?
    Larger Goverment?
    Corruption?
    Deficits?
    Osama Bin Laden?
    Eminent Domain?
    The Lost 8 billion in Iraq?
    The Deaths of American Soldiers?
    The Cherry Picked Intelligence?
    The Pathetic No Child Left Behind Act?
    The Porous Borders?
    Illegal Aliens?

    What HAVE you DONE?


  68. Marie Says:

    This is chilling.
    http://www.democrats.com/node/7668
    Is this rehearsal for stormtroopers in Toledo, Ohio?


  69. Max-1 Says:

    Spudge_Boy

    Although I would’t consider the idea that “Pappy” Bush dropped the idea in his son’s ear either, seeing that “Pappy” was the director of the CIA at the time. I mean, well, er… there only dots.


  70. Spudge_Boy Says:

    from what i’m hearing, you’d best print out all you want to keep before it’s too late …these guys are creepy…

    katy,

    As a technology professional, the first thing you learn is make back up of your back ups of your back ups. I have multiple copies of everything at different locations.

    Another important thing I do is convert web pages into Word documents. Articles tend to disappear offline and are sometimes put into an “Archive” where you have to pay for them.

    Don’t worry, as the keeper of the truth I will not fail.


  71. mr ho Says:

    #

    Can someone from TP please tell me why I have to enter a 4 character code everytime I post????

    I know your there because there are new thresds. Please answer this.Comment by RemoveBush

    Really? What code? I’m just guessing but I’d bet it’s to help the NSA track ratbastardcommiefucktards like you. They are probably redirecting you posts to their hard drive to use as evidence during your thirty second trial for treason.

    Comment by I-RIGHT-I — February 5, 2006 @ 2:33 pm

    As usual IRI is Flaming something he doesnt understand.

    The 4 letter code is a Spam filter designed to keep the BOTS, that is Computer SPAMMER & TROLLs out.
    The ‘Bot’ (automated) programs cant READ the 4 letter code as a Human Does, and thats Why You must enter it.
    It has NOTHING to do with tracking anyone, or Hardrives, as IRI thinks. Of course hes a Neo-con so he BUYS Conspiracy theories.
    Its to keep out SPAMMER Bots and Troll Bots.
    Such as the guy who used to Post the BUSH t-shirts.
    That was a SPAM program posting on the Blogs

    Understand IRI?


  72. Spudge_Boy Says:

    Max-1,

    The Project for the New American Century’s “New Pearl Harbor” quote has always resonated loudly in my head.


  73. mr ho Says:

    katy,

    As a technology professional, the first thing you learn is make back up of your back ups of your back ups. I have multiple copies of everything at different locations.

    Another important thing I do is convert web pages into Word documents. Articles tend to disappear offline and are sometimes put into an “Archive” where you have to pay for them.

    Don’t worry, as the keeper of the truth I will not fail.

    Comment by Spudge_Boy — February 5, 2006 @ 3:44 pm

    Agreed Spudge. It may also be advisable to burn that DATA to CDS, or DVDs.
    An EMP burst would fry unprotected hard drives, memory, and Data Sticks and the Computer Chips.


  74. Pete Bogs Says:

    does the Specter of impeachment lie ahead for Bush?


  75. mr ho Says:

    Cheney wrote “A Clean Break” for Netanyahu back in 1996.
    Wurmser played a Role as Well;
    http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1392
    In 1996 he helped write a report for Israel’s Likud party that urged Israel to break off then-ongoing peace initiatives. The report, which was titled “A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm” and was published by the Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political Studies (an Israeli- and DC-based think tank) advised then-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “to work closely with Turkey and Jordan to contain, destabilize, and roll-back” regional threats, help overthrow Saddam Hussein, and strike “Syrian military targets in Lebanon” and possibly in Syria proper. Coauthors of the report included Richard Perle, Meyrav Wurmser, and Douglas Feith. (6)

    See link above for full Article –mr ho


  76. Spudge_Boy Says:

    So, since I hate not having the specific quote, I went and track it down for you guys.

    Project for the New American Century
    September, 2000
    REBUILDING AMERICA’S DEFENSES
    http://www.newamericancentury.org/ RebuildingAmericasDefenses.pdf

    Further, the process of transformation, even if it brings revolutionary change, is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event – like a new Pearl Harbor.

    And one year later, we all know what happened.


  77. Spudge_Boy Says:

    Well, people are starting to show up now, so I need to go. I will see you guys later tonight or tomorrow.

    null

    Go Seahawks



  78. mr ho Says:

    #does the Specter of impeachment lie ahead for Bush?

    Comment by Pete Bogs — February 5, 2006 @ 3:53 pm

    Good Q.
    Bush sr. managed to skate out of the Iran-Contra Scandal by claiming he was out of the Loop. Dubya will likely Claim the Same thing…
    Anyway heres part of the Congressional Record Concerning Domestic Spying–
    Congressional Record: January 20, 2006 (Senate)
    Page S28-S30
    SENATE RESOLUTION 350–EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT SENATE
    JOINT RESOLUTION 23 (107TH CONGRESS), AS ADOPTED BY THE SENATE ON
    SEPTEMBER 14, 2001, AND SUBSEQUENTLY ENACTED AS THE AUTHORIZATION FOR
    USE OF MILITARY FORCE DOES NOT AUTHORIZE WARRANTLESS DOMESTIC
    SURVEILLANCE OF UNITED STATES CITIZENS

    Mr. LEAHY (for himself and Mr. Kennedy) submitted the following
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

    S. Res. 350

    Whereas the Bill of Rights to the United States
    Constitution was ratified 214 years ago;
    Whereas the Fourth Amendment to the United States
    Constitution guarantees to the American people the right “to
    be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects,
    against unreasonable searches and seizures”;
    Whereas the Fourth Amendment provides that courts shall
    issue “warrants” to authorize searches and seizures, based
    upon probable cause;
    Whereas the United States Supreme Court has consistently
    held for nearly 40 years that the monitoring and recording of
    private conversations constitutes a “search and seizure”
    within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment;
    Whereas Congress was concerned about the United States
    Government unconstitutionally spying on Americans in the
    1960s and 1970s;
    Whereas Congress enacted the Foreign Intelligence
    Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), commonly
    referred to as “FISA”, to provide a legal mechanism for the
    United States Government to engage in searches of Americans
    in connection with intelligence gathering and
    counterintelligence;
    Whereas Congress expressly enacted the Foreign Intelligence
    Surveillance Act of 1978, and specified provisions of the
    Federal criminal code (including those governing wiretaps for
    criminal investigations), as the “exclusive means by which
    domestic electronic surveillance . . . may be conducted”
    pursuant to law (18 U.S.C. 2511(2)(f));
    Whereas the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978
    establishes the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
    (commonly referred to as the “FISA court”), and the
    procedures by which the United States Government may obtain a
    court order authorizing electronic surveillance (commonly
    referred to as a “FISA warrant”) for foreign intelligence
    collection in the United States;
    Whereas Congress created the FISA court to review
    wiretapping applications for domestic electronic surveillance
    to be conducted by any Federal agency;
    Whereas the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978
    provides specific exceptions that allow the President to
    authorize warrantless electronic surveillance for foreign
    intelligence purposes (1) in emergency situations, provided
    an application for judicial approval from a FISA court is
    made within 72 hours; and (2) within 15 calendar days
    following a declaration of war by Congress;
    Whereas the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978
    makes criminal any electronic surveillance not authorized by
    statute;
    Whereas the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978
    has been amended over time by Congress since the September
    11, 2001, attacks on the United States;
    Whereas President George W. Bush has confirmed that his
    administration engages in warrantless electronic surveillance
    of Americans inside the United States and that he has
    authorized such warrantless surveillance more than 30 times
    since September 11, 2001; and
    Whereas Senate Joint Resolution 23 (107th Congress), as
    adopted by the Senate on September 14, 2001, and House Joint
    Resolution 64 (107th Congress), as adopted by the House of
    Representatives on September 14, 2001, together enacted as
    the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-
    40), to authorize military action against those responsible
    for the attacks on September 11, 2001, do not contain legal
    authorization nor approve of domestic electronic
    surveillance, including domestic electronic surveillance of
    United States citizens, without a judicially approved
    warrant: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That Senate Joint Resolution 23 (107th Congress),
    as adopted by the Senate on September 14, 2001, and
    subsequently enacted as the Authorization for Use of Military
    Force (Public Law 107-40) does not authorize warrantless
    domestic surveillance of United States citizens.


  79. Ergy Earp Says:

    Anyway, hats off to Spector, Graham, Bob Bahr, George Will and other Republicans who, at least for now, stand up to executive abuse of separation of power. If the Republicans were truly united on this issue, there would be no chance of holding the Emperor off. I hope it is more than just a show.

    Look, I’m as liberal as the day is long, but most all of my Republican friends easily see this as abuse of office. The only ones that don’t are “faith based” in Bush as if he were The Savior. That’s one we lose every time because you can’t argue points with belief.

    They can not win this argument in any legal sense. The only way to win is to politicize, associate with terrorists, and criminalize dissenters and any others who question the legal point. I expect to see the politicizing turn highly funded and violent before this is over. The violence won’t be coming from the rational or left. It will come from the “win at all costs” right, similar to storming vote counting centers in Fla. in 2000.

    I hope I am wrong, but Twain is right about history.


  80. mr ho Says:

    Wiretapping has been held as constitutional before.

    Comment by Gary Ruppert — February 5, 2006 @ 1:18 pm

    Notice gary says ‘HAS BEEN’


  81. mr ho Says:

    Resolution 64 (107th Congress), as adopted by the House of
    Representatives on September 14, 2001, together enacted as
    the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-
    40), to authorize military action against those responsible
    for the attacks on September 11, 2001, do not contain legal
    authorization nor approve of domestic electronic
    surveillance, including domestic electronic surveillance
    of
    United States citizens, without a judicially approved
    warrant:


  82. mr ho Says:

    Look, I’m as liberal as the day is long, but most all of my Republican friends easily see this as abuse of office. The only ones that don’t are “faith based” in Bush as if he were The Savior. That’s one we lose every time because you can’t argue points with belief.

    Ahh, but we Do have those means. Pat Robertsons mining company folly, Falwells connection to Delay. Even Better, The NCCC speaks of The Radical Neo-COns..Lemme find that link..


  83. Spudge_Boy Says:

    I got one mroe before I am out of here:

    CNN
    February 5, 2006
    USS Cole plotter escapes prison
    http://www.cnn.com/ 2006/ WORLD/ meast/ 02/ 05/ cole.escape/ index.html

    (CNN) — Interpol has issued “an urgent global security alert” after 23 “dangerous individuals” — including a man identified as the mastermind of the attack on the USS Cole in 2000 — escaped from a Yemeni prison.

    Haven’t we been told all this time that Osama bin Laden was the mastermind behind the USS Cole attack?

    Why am I the frist to ask this basic question?

    How come the MSM can’t seem to do its “liberal” reporting?


  84. tom from pa Says:

    I have very little faith in Specter as I just recieved an email from him today in reply to an email I sent him linking the protection “right to bear arms” to Shrub’s violation of
    the 4th ammendment. He told me we have to avoid partisan politics and see what happens in the hearings, Shrubs argument of partisan politics!


  85. afterthought Says:

    Just say no to fascism.
    It is the patriots verus the BushCo fascists
    and enablers.
    Win one for the founding fathers Arlen!


  86. Mark Says:

    #26 even if Bush had followed the law and gone through the FISA courts, the progam would have been secret. Not only would it have been secret it would have been legal too. But Gonzales said it all when he said that the administration did not ask because they knew they could not get permission for what they wanted to do. That pretty much sums it up. If they felt the need to ask, and they knew they could not get permission then there is no way they were interpreting the 9/11 authorization as allowing them to do this. At least not until they saw this was not going away and they needed some nefarious excuse. Either way neither the president nor congress has the authority to override the constitution, or that “god damned piece of paper” as Bush calls it, regardless of whatever reason they try to think up.

    But I’ll play your game, since the Bush administration started this program prior to 9/11 (confirmed) how did they know in advance that they were going to get this supposed permission from congress?


  87. jackovel Says:

    Is that a picture of your uncle, Spudge?


  88. jackovel Says:

    Those two tapes of Bush speeches you linked last week, Spudge, were incredible. I laughed my guts out at the one and how’d they do the other one?
    I think I’ll put on a pot of coffee and see if I can stay awake to see part of the game.


  89. jackovel Says:

    Curling. What game.


  90. jackovel Says:

    Is anyone able to read my posts?


  91. Spudge_Boy Says:

    jackovel,

    I just found another one for you to laugh your guts out:

    via Crooks and Liars:

    http://movies.crooksandliars.com/ Funniest_Video_of_the_Year_1.wmv

    null

    I almost choked.


  92. Spudge_Boy Says:

    Is that a picture of your uncle, Spudge?

    I don’t have any birds in my family ;)


  93. jackovel Says:

    Thats funny! Do you make those?


  94. jackovel Says:

    I didn’t see your comment. I meant the video.
    But that bin laden like guy, thats a hoax right.


  95. Spudge_Boy Says:

    Thats funny! Do you make those?

    I wish I had the time. Another great site besides Think Progress in a site called Crooks and Liars. They link a lot of the same kinds of stories as Think Progress, but they have a fun side too.

    Check it out:

    http://www.crooksandliars.com


  96. Spudge_Boy Says:

    But that bin laden like guy, thats a hoax right.

    I take it you are talking about the prisoner escape. I just find it weird that we have been lead to believe this whole time that bin Laden orchestrated the USS Cole bombing, but now all of a sudden, it is some guy named Jamal Ahmed Badawi.

    Never heard of that dude. You?


  97. Marie Says:

    #85
    On September 29, 2004, a Yemeni judge sentenced Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri and Jamal al-Badawi to death for their roles in the bombing. Al-Nashiri, believed to be the operation’s mastermind, is currently being held by the U.S. at an undisclosed location. Al-Badawi, in Yemeni custody, denounced the verdict as “an American one.” Four others were sentenced to prison terms of five to 10 years for their involvement, including one Yemeni who had videotaped the attack.
    From Reuters:
    On February 3, 2006, 23 suspected or convicted Al-Qaeda members escaped from jail in Yemen. This number included 13 who were convicted of the USS Cole bombings and the bombing of the French tanker Limburg in 2002. Among those who reportedly escaped was Al-Badawi. Al-Qaeda’s Yemeni number two Abu Assem al-Ahdal may also be among those on the loose. [5]
    On September 29, 2004, a Yemeni judge sentenced Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri and Jamal al-Badawi to death for their roles in the bombing. Al-Nashiri, believed to be the operation’s mastermind, is currently being held by the U.S. at an undisclosed location. Al-Badawi, in Yemeni custody, denounced the verdict as “an American one.”

    The attack, organized by Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida terrorist organization, was carried out by suicide bombers Ibrahim al-Thawr and Abdullah al-Misawa.


  98. The Daily Background Says:

    […] [Permalink] No Comments so far Leave a comment RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI Leave a comment Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTMLallowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong> […]


  99. WaltTheMan Says:

    Spudge_Boy,
    I’ve never heard of the guy before, but they all look the same to me - ugly as sin.
    The game is coming up - get the snackies out and feed the crowd. I have the steaks marinating, the oysters shucked, the shrimp cooked, deveined & peeled and the hot sauce is about chilly enough in the fridge. Chips and dips are ready as well as the brew.
    Enjoy the game! Reduce your blood pressure.


  100. jackovel Says:

    Thanks for the info Marie, and no I have never heard of this. But I wasn’t looking for it. You would think that after a trial it would be definitively known who had what role. ‘Considered’ seems like no one knows for sure. I wonder if there is a transcript of the trial.
    The picture looks like they snapped him in mid-escape, Bye, I’m out of here.
    You would think they would have dispersed those inmates to different jails. 13 terrorists together like that in jail, why so they can plot more?
    Anyway, Im too tired to make it to game time. I’m just going to crash.
    Enjoy the halftime show, heh heh heh, I mean the game.
    Good night all.


  101. jackovel Says:

    Sounds good Walt. You are about 1000 miles south of me - I’ll never make it in time. But I’m barely going to make it to my bed. See you another day


  102. mr ho Says:

    That’s one we lose every time because you can’t argue points with

    Never a winner in an argument of opinion

    Read the Letter I posted closely from the IRD to the NCCC about the Falwellian frends called the Radical Right Neo-Cons.
    “Abolition of Min wage, Harvesting, Poor Farms, pretty much the Abolishment of government vis a vis abolishment of our constitution”
    This Letter is factual, Bushco seem to think that poor people are simply to be left out in the cold, or harvested at poor farms.-AJ

    I have a copy of that NCCC letter, and this is WHAT is says, so the ‘conspiracy’ theory is not mine. Im repeating what was on that Letter.
    Churches have become Political fodder for Politico Ideology, to them ‘Faith’ is Fair Game, and if they CAN use it to get your Vote, they WILL. Your Bush Saviour friends should be aware of this ploy. If this DOESNT force them to look at facts, then they will at least see the Connection to both LEFT AND RIGHT groups.
    http://www.mediatransparency.org/story.php?storyID=42
    The IRD board members operate and have access to conservative publications and media such as First Things, Good News, Christianity Today, Washington Times, The Weekly Standard and Fox News. IRD also has the same group of benefactors that regularly contribute to radical-right causes such as the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, the Smith Richardson Foundation, the John M. Olin Foundation, the California billionaire Howard Ahmanson and the Sarah Scaife Foundation (Blumenthal, 2004; Cooperman, 2003; Howell, 1995).


  103. mr ho Says:

    The attack, organized by Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida terrorist organization, was carried out by suicide bombers Ibrahim al-Thawr and Abdullah al-Misawa.

    Comment by Marie — February 5, 2006 @ 5:22 pm
    WTG Marie
    another lethal Blogger.
    Watch out Corrupt Officials and Trolls. ;-P


  104. Smedley Says:

    READ THIS EVERYBODY WAR IS COMING SOON

    http://www.craigmurray.co.uk/ archives/ 2006/ 02/ battle_plans_fo_1.html#more


  105. BluePearl Says:

    arlen will act tough but in the end will put party over the law.


  106. mr ho Says:

    #

    And somehow I spam… er… at least that what the automated system tells me. LOL NSA HAXORZ

    Comment by Max-1 — February 5, 2006 @ 3:19 pm

    Naw your not spamming, Depending on the Site setup, it may be your BLOCK of IP numbers that Spam is coming from so they FILTER out those numbers, or ask for the Code.

    Lets say Im on MSN and my PC’s IP is 172.35.255.255
    Thats only ONE of the IP nummies in MSNs Block of IP numbers.
    If I Wanted to Stop spam, As an I.T. guy to my Email server, I would BLOCK those IP numbers.
    Instead of Blocking you from posting, they ask you to give the four letter number, when entered.
    After it says COMMENT approved, Go Backwards to the webpage to the POST you just made, and RELOAD that page. Your Comment should now be there.


  107. mr ho Says:

    You’re crazy if you don’t think that this is being done to prevent more terrorist attacks, therefore it is necessary under the law.

    MSM whores like Specter can’t recognize that fact.

    Comment by Gary Ruppert — February 5, 2006 @ 1:05 pm

    YOU left OUT part of that to make it FIT your OPINION Gary.
    Thats NOT what it Says.
    Whereas the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978
    has been amended over time by Congress since the September
    11, 2001, attacks on the United States;
    Whereas President George W. Bush has confirmed that his
    administration engages in warrantless electronic surveillance
    of Americans inside the United States and that he has
    authorized such warrantless surveillance more than 30 times
    since September 11, 2001; and
    Whereas Senate Joint Resolution 23 (107th Congress), as
    adopted by the Senate on September 14, 2001, and House Joint
    Resolution 64 (107th Congress), as adopted by the House of
    Representatives on September 14, 2001, together enacted as the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-
    40), to authorize military action against those responsible
    for the attacks on September 11, 2001, DO NOT contain legal
    authorization nor approve of domestic electronic
    surveillance, including domestic electronic surveillance of
    United States citizens, without a judicially approved
    warrant:


  108. mr ho Says:

    Read my last post Gary Ruppert.?

    These Signals Intelligence Programs have been around since the 70’s . Bush pulled a Nixon, for Political Gain demise of Enemies, and Got Caught.


  109. Marie Says:

    Yes! Isn’t it curious that all of those involved in the Cole incident were in the same prison?


  110. Tom Says:

    It seems to me that the real question regarding this issue, was the surveilance limited to terrorist activities as the administration claims or has the administration been using this as a cover to keep tabs on anyone that doesn’t agree with their programs.

    Afterall, this is the administration that brands anyone that doesn’t agree with their activities as traitors, unpatriotic and any other tag that it can put on people for expressing views that aren’t theirs.

    Maybe the media needs to start asking just WHO this administrations actually spied on.


  111. afterthought Says:

    Forget it.
    Arlen will sell out the patriots:

    President GEORGE W. BUSH: Now, by the way, anytime you hear the United
    States government talking about wire tap, it requires—a wire tap requires a
    court order. Nothing has changed, by the way. When we’re talking about chasing
    down terrorists, we’re talking about getting a court order before we do
    so.

    (End videotape)

    MR. RUSSERT: Was that misleading?

    Glenn says:
    Gee, is it misleading? Just becasue the President said that “anytime you hear the United States Government talking about a wire tap, it . . . requires a court order. Nothing has changed” — even though the Government had been eavesdropping for years without a warrant when he said this? Here is what Specter said in response:

    SEN. SPECTER: Well, it depends on what the President had in mind. I think it’s a fair question for the President. If the President was talking about what goes on domestically in the United States, I think it is accurate. If he had in mind the entire program, including what goes on when one of the callers or recipients is overseas, it’s incorrect.

    You can not count on any replublican to stand
    up for the constitution. They are all afraid
    of Karl.


  112. C&L Says:

    My “Meet the Press” clip got corrputed so I have to re-record it tonight and I’m going to post the video of the Specter segment in a couple of hours


  113. mr ho Says:

    Look, I’m as liberal as the day is long, but most all of my Republican friends easily see this as abuse of office. The only ones that don’t are “faith based” in Bush as if he were The Savior. That’s one we lose every time because you can’t argue points with belief.

    They can not win this argument in any legal sense. The only way to win is to politicize, associate with terrorists, and criminalize dissenters and any others who question the legal point. I expect to see the politicizing turn highly funded and violent before this is over. The violence won’t be coming from the rational or left. It will come from the “win at all costs” right, similar to storming vote counting centers in Fla. in 2000.

    I hope I am wrong, but Twain is right about history.

    Comment by Ergy Earp — February 5, 2006 @ 4:09 pm

    Took me a While to Find this Again Ergy Earp, You might want to show this to your friends. The Amoral Straussians (Neo-Con) via Falwell and his ties to the Radical Right should cause them to rethink their Position on Bush Admin and the Neo-Cons

    Heres the IRD NCCC Letter

    To; Mark D. Tooley
    Institute on Religion and Democracy

    Dear Mark,

    Rev. Falwell and His Friends are certain that the problems of America can be solved
    by more of the radical right agenda that they have long espoused. It is sometimes hard to fathom just how radical and mean spirited the hard right fundamentalists really are and how long they have been at it.
    The January/February 2004 issue of “Zions Herald” published a special report on the activities of the Washington think tank the Institute of Religion and Democracy (IRD). It Documented that the United Methodist Church (UMC), other mainline protestant denominations, as well as the National Council of Churches of Christ have been the targets of an orchestrated attack by determined right wing ideologues since 1981.
    At the Heart of many of the Attacks is a “Reconstructionist” recipe for America. (blah blah blah skip) According to Christian Century, in the Reconstructionists’ brave new America; minimum-wage laws and Social Security for younger workers would be eliminated; most old-age
    security would be covered by personal retirement plans or by care from adult children; and the federal government would play no part in regulating businesses, public education or welfare….all
    inheritance and gift taxes would be abolished, while income taxes would be no more than 10 percent of gross income (an then only until goverment was shrunk further) Gleaning for the poor on private farms after harvesting would be encouraged..

    I cannot Reconcile this Vision with my reading of the Bible. Jesus introduced his first by quoting the Prophet Isiah :
    (quote Here Luke 4-18)
    In the United States, For more than three decades, the leaders of the fundamentalist faith community and the political right have worked in tandem to build intellectual, organizational and political structures
    rooted in easy certainty and dedicated to placing “Certain” politicians in the seat of power in the United States. With the 2004 Election, the ‘almost veto proof’ capture of the Senate, and with the prospect of a court system that will embrace fundamentalist principles, their victory seems near enough to grasp..Except…

    a) NCC reject Hubris of easy Certainty

    B)” true Believers” piled up pyramids of skulls, organized the death camp and inflicted anguish on untold Millions

    Blah blah……Because we reject the Fundamentalist confidence that disasters, whether Natural or caused by Humans, are to be welcomed as an “end-time signs” pointing the select few toward the paradise beyond armageddon

    It is Now Clear We Grossly Underestimated the the impact of the “gospel of easy certainty”

    we need your help, and that of other progressive and compassionate thinkers, to strengthen the infrastructure of compassion and justice, to once again preach and build toward the beloved community. What can you give to preserve freedom, compassion, and sustainability?
    Peace and Justice
    Rev. Bob Edgar.
    ~~~~
    It would Appear that Mr Edgar has had a Change of Heart FROM the Radical Right of Falwell and is now ASKING for help from the progressives. I Dont know if the poor camps are TRUE, this was taken from the Letter,,–mr ho


  114. Ron Says:

    “Strained and Unrealistic”

    He really means the war in Iraq.

    Listen up, Mr. Bubba Bush:

    An Open Letter to Bubba

    By Charlie Anderson, Iraq Veterans Against the War

    I’ve seen you around. I’ve seen you driving your gas guzzling SUV with the “Support Our Troops” ribbon on the back. I’ve seen you wearing your pro-war/pro-bush t-shirts as you walk right past me in my Iraq Veterans Against the War t-shirt as if I don’t exist. And I’ve seen you at anti-war rallies and meetings where I often speak, as you wave your American flag and call me a traitor. In this country we have freedom of speech. But you owe me and every other veteran of this war the respect of listening to our experience.

    Your magnet says “support our troops,” but what have you done for us? Not a penny of the proceeds go to us, instead they go to sweatshops in China. You say that I am not supporting the troops when I say that they should come home. But I am, because I know that there was no threat to our nation from Saddam Hussein, I know that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction, and I know that we were not welcomed in Iraq as liberators. I know that the Iraq war was not worth fighting. I know, because I fought there. You say I’m confused. But what do you know about Iraq? You’ve never been there.

    You have the audacity to claim that by not supporting the president, I don’t support the troops. Yet, the president chose to send over 160,000 of us to Iraq unprepared and without a defined mission. We had no body armor, no vehicle armor, and poor supplies of ammunition. Our families spent thousands of dollars that they did not have to supply us, while President Bush did nothing. In fact he didn’t even scold his Offensive Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, when he told our forward deployed troops, “you go to war with the army you have, not the army you wish you had.” Moreover, the mission was originally about weapons of mass destruction, but there were none. Then it was making Iraq a democracy, but yet the “insurgency” worsens. Now the president has decided that in order to honor those who died for nothing, more must die for nothing.

    At present, 2,241 of my brothers and sisters in arms have died. In some way, they may be the lucky ones. Over sixteen thousand others have been wounded in this war, thousands more than planned. The term wounded sounds sterile, bland, and inoffensive. But, in reality, many of them have been so horribly damaged that medical science had to create a new word to describe their wounds: polytrauma. These people would have died in earlier wars, but because of the gallant efforts of brave doctors and medics, they get to live. They get to live with teams of ten or more doctors just trying to get their broken, mangled bodies through another day, as their families look on in horror. They get to live in a physical and emotional hell, not able to recover and not able to voice the pain they feel or the psychological demons they face. All the while suffering with a Veterans Administration under funded by nearly three billion dollars and unable to care for them in the manner they deserve.

    So which one of us supports the troops? You, who has never set foot in Iraq and wants to leave my brothers and sisters there until they complete whatever the undefined mission of the week is, or me, the veteran of this war who has seen the carnage of battle, the rampant indifference of my countrymen, and just wants to bring my brothers and sisters home alive and care for them when they get here?

    Keep coming to the rallies. Maybe I’ll get through your thick skull eventually. But remember I waved my flag in Baghdad, so you can sit down, shut up, and listen to me.

    http://www.teambio.org/ 2006/ 02/ an-open-letter-to-bubba/


  115. mr ho Says:

    The Gospel of Easy Certainty…
    Im sorry this is off topic, but the subject is too important to ignore given the recent behavior of the MSM to publish facts.
    ~~~~~~~~~~
    Without a Doubt
    By Ron Suskind
    The New York Times Magazine
    Saturday 17 October 2004
    http://www.yuricareport.com/Bush’sBody/BushAndEasyCertainty.html
    Bruce Bartlett, a domestic policy adviser to Ronald Reagan and a treasury official for the first President Bush, told me recently that “if Bush wins, there will be a civil war in the Republican Party starting on Nov. 3. ” The nature of that conflict, as Bartlett sees it? Essentially, the same as the one raging across much of the world: a battle between modernists and fundamentalists, pragmatists and true believers, reason and religion.

    “Just in the past few months,” Bartlett said, “I think a light has gone off for people who’ve spent time up close to Bush: that this instinct he’s always talking about is this sort of weird, Messianic idea of what he thinks God has told him to do.” Bartlett, a 53-year-old columnist and self-described libertarian Republican who has lately been a champion for traditional Republicans concerned about Bush’s governance, went on to say: “This is why George W. Bush is so clear-eyed about Al Qaeda and the Islamic fundamentalist enemy. He believes you have to kill them all. They can’t be persuaded, that they’re extremists, driven by a dark vision. He understands them, because he’s just like them. . . .


  116. mr ho Says:

    Keep coming to the rallies. Maybe I’ll get through your thick skull eventually. But remember I waved my flag in Baghdad, so you can sit down, shut up, and listen to me.

    http://www.teambio.org/ 2006/ 02/ an-open-letter-to-bubba/

    Comment by Ron — February 5, 2006 @ 8:31 pm

    I want to thank Ron for those moving words. The Bush administration not only attacks Soldiers who have gone and fought. The Bush Administration Smears groups of People, while never knowing any. The Bush administration hides behind desks, papers, laws, and official sounding titles.
    The Soldiers of Iraq War will never have to worry about people cursing them as they did in the Vietnam War.
    Which today we know that the Gulf Of Tonkin Sigint was Altered to Foment War.

    You have my support Ron


  117. Lily Says:

    Look, I’m as liberal as the day is long, but most all of my Republican friends easily see this as abuse of office. The only ones that don’t are “faith based” in Bush as if he were The Savior. That’s one we lose every time because you can’t argue points with belief.

    Comment by Ergy Earp

    The “faith based” need to wake up and recognize that Bush is the anti-Christ.


  118. carl Says:

    i think you should publish the whole interview. i didn’t come away thinking that this man is truly convince that the preznit broke the law. they all talk tough but in the end they have to minimized the legality of this so it looks like they took a good “hard” look and found that in their corrupt minds georgie boy did it in the best interest of our “fatherland,motherland,holyland, etc.” what a crock


  119. WaltTheMan Says:

    W is attending Coretta Scott King’s funeral service and expects to speak there. He has yet to attend the funeral of a single service person who he claims to support while he will attend the funeral of this great woman who he vilified. Does this tell you anything about the man?


  120. Peeping Tom the Retardlican Says:

    Spying is just human nature. Bush is a great leader.


  121. WaltTheMan Says:

    PT,
    So should I snell him?


  122. WaltTheMan Says:

    For those not into fishing, snell is a term used for tying hooks to leaders.
    The following link is as good as any:
    http://www.fish4fun.com/snell.htm
    I used to pre-snell my trout flies befor I made them. Two and four pound Krylon(sp?) was best as it was light and strong.


  123. Peeping Tom the Retardlican Says:

    Bush makes a better sinker than leader.


  124. Jay Randal Says:

    I am curious to hear what baloney Gonzales will spew tomorrow during the Senate Hearing on the NSA Spygate Scandal? He should remember what happened to Nixon’s Attorney General and wise up! It always surprises me that some officials will sacrifice themselves to protect thugs!
    Scooter Libby for one would rather go to prison, than admit that VP Dick Cheney told him to out Valerie Plame! Now Alberto Gonzales would rather LIE, than say Bush broke the FISA laws!


  125. WaltTheMan Says:

    PT,
    Sinker/leader.
    Good pun - I must find your writer.


  126. Vaughn D. Taylor Says:

    “Bush only said that wiretaps require warrants in order to closely guard the secret nature of the Terrorist Surveillance Program.”

    Gary: You freaking idiot. What you mean to say is that Bush lied to cover up the fact that he was breaking the law. It’s fine with me if you give up your civil liberties in exchange for “security”, but don’t the rest of us to just accept it. You are a weak minded fool.


  127. WaltTheMan Says:

    Vaughn,
    Keep your cool! Gary claimed he was a Brit a few days/weeks ago. He has nothing to lose (Except Tony Blair) if the truth comes out. We have a nation at stake should it not.


  128. Lora Says:

    To Gary, I-RightI, and other trolls,
    Leaving aside questions about the legality of Bush’s wiretapping program, the fact is that the various government intelligence agencies are woefully lacking in competent interpreters/translators of Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, and other languages spoken in the Middle East to Pakistan/Afghanistan. That’s why a call intercepted on Sept. 10 from one of the 9/11 hijackers mentioning the “glorious event tomorrow” didn’t get translated until sometime after the terrorists struck. And that’s why this warrantless wiretapping won’t prevent any more terrorist attacks. Get it? The potential terrorists don’t converse in English but in Arabic, Faris, etc., and the Bush administration has done nothing to increase the number of interpreters, just as it gets mostly failing grades for mostly not following the recommendations of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission, headed by a Republican.


  129. Peeping Tom the Retardlican Says:

    I’m not wearing any pants!


  130. Blackside Says:

    #106…I found another article claiming that We will be attacking Iran by March…Using Tatical nukes…Don’t know how truthful or relevant it is but I thought it interesting…
    http://www.globalresearch.ca/ index.php?context=viewArticle&code=%20CH20060103&articleId=1714

    The problem is will the sheep see that he is lying?!? I doubt it..but they can’t keep ignoring the moutain of evidence against this administration and it’s Ring Master Shrub…


  131. thot's Says:

    The Faith Base that many speak of are the mega buck preachers such as Robertson,Dobson,land ,Perkins,F.Graham(his dad doesn’t have a dog in this fight) This faith base also has mini leaders among the smaller wealthier local preachers . Like Mr Ho saids and pay attention everyone to the NCCC(National Council Of Churches)

    I worked with both the NCCC and The CWS (Church World Service) That was when the Faith Base was in their full bulding mode of ddiscrediting the Mainline Churches.

    In Central America bush/reagone supported the most murderous regime that was starving,looting,murdering their own people .Nuns,Priest,Clergy,Missionary’s were murdered on the church steps.

    millions of dollars were stolen from teh American tax payer for brick roads that went no where.Just like Iraq billions.

    IN order to understand what is happening today we need to look back at the Iran/Contra affair and look at who has been dropped into Key Spots in the bush cabal. Negropronte needs to be in prision for war crimes against humanity and others for shredding doc.s at that time kinda like hitting the ‘Delete button” today.

    We saved lots of lives backthen but we also saw lots of murdered,napalm villages with children lying out in the dirt covered with white powder there are still many good books on that sordid paste of ours and The Middle East will be another sordid paste. Its all about power,greed,control of the world through the Neo Cons eyes and damnable greed and disregard for human life.

    Read,Reseach and hold your senate and congress people feet to the fire to help bring America back to her senses.

    The Consitution and Bill Of Rights are at Stake.


  132. Marie Says:

    I may be wrong, but I think we have two posters here named Gary. One Gary Rupert is the insane, fascist, who loves Bush. The other one, Gary, is the one from Great Britain.
    Correct me if I am wrong.



Jump to Top

About Think Progress | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy (off-site) | RSS | Donate
© 2005-2008 Center for American Progress Action Fund