Bush threatens veto of 30-day FISA extension.
Bush threatens veto of 30-day FISA extension.
“The White House told Democratic congressional leaders” today that President Bush would veto “a 30-day extension of an expiring eavesdropping law and instead wants an expanded version to be passed by Friday.” In a statement, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-CA) called Bush’s posturing “shamefully irresponsible,” adding that “if there is any problem, the blame will clearly and unequivocally fall” on President Bush:
The White House threat to veto a short extension of the Protect America Act is shamefully irresponsible. The President is simply posturing in advance of Monday’s State of the Union address. [...]
The House has already passed a FISA bill, and the Senate was ready to pass its own bill until Republicans blocked all amendments. At the same time, Democrats are ready to extend current law for as long as necessary, but Republicans are blocking that extension and the White House is threatening a veto.
Full statement:
The White House threat to veto a short extension of the Protect America Act is shamefully irresponsible. The President is simply posturing in advance of Monday’s State of the Union address.When it comes to providing a strong long-term Foreign Intelligence Surveillance bill, Democrats in Congress are focused on solutions, while Republicans are obviously playing politics.
The House has already passed a FISA bill, and the Senate was ready to pass its own bill until Republicans blocked all amendments. At the same time, Democrats are ready to extend current law for as long as necessary, but Republicans are blocking that extension and the White House is threatening a veto.
It is shenanigans like this that make Americans so eager for change. We hope the American public will remember these Republican stunts when they go to the polling booth this November.
In any event, current law ensures that no ongoing collection activity will be cut off on February 1. There will be no terrorism intelligence collection gap. But if there is any problem, the blame will clearly and unequivocally fall where it belongs: on President Bush and his allies in Congress.
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Will Harry stand up for the Constitution or will he fold again?
Why does Shrub hate America?
January 26th, 2008 at 6:11 pmThe United States is a lost cause. There is nothing that will fix it, short of violent revolution, and Americans are too fat, stupid and lazy for that.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:14 pmbut but but… we are in such GRAVE danger!!!
why would he VETO something that will ENDANGER us even MORE!!!
OH NO!!!!
January 26th, 2008 at 6:14 pmBush needs to sweep this under the rug….because he was probably conducting WARRANTLESS WIRETAPPING before Sept 11th.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:18 pmCue up TrollSmearâ„¢ canned blather…
Rolling… 3… 2… 1…
January 26th, 2008 at 6:19 pmbecause he was probably conducting WARRANTLESS WIRETAPPING before Sept 11th.
Comment by Badger — January 26, 2008 @ 6:18 pm
There certainly are indications of that, aren’t there?
January 26th, 2008 at 6:19 pmIMO Here’s how it will go down:
WH: Give us what we want!!
Sen. Reid: No.
WH: Give us what we want!!
Sen. Reid: No.
WH: Give us what we want!!
Sen. Ried: Fine, here you go…
IMO, The Democrats need to hold the line, LET the GOP Filibuster and let the Pres. Veto it …
January 26th, 2008 at 6:20 pmThe ONLY terrorists we need to be concerned with are those in the White House and Congress running this entire charade on the American people.
How did we go from a situation where, for months and months, this country was subjected to countless color-coded terror threats – until such time as the country caught on to the fact that they were actually being manufactured by the Administration, and then magically…no more terror threats?
“Every pretext for war is created by those with the capacity to profit from it.”
Plunger
http://www.rense.com/general31/cyc.htm
The CIA’s “Operation
Cyclone” – Stirring The Hornet’s
Nest Of Islamic Unrest
FriendsOfLiberty.com
10-27-2
Zbigniew Brzezinski not long ago revealed that on July 3, 1979, unknown to the American public and Congress, President Jimmy Carter secretly authorized $500 million to create an international terrorist movement that would spread Islamic fundamentalism in Central Asia and “de-stabilise” the Soviet Union…
The CIA called this Operation Cyclone and in the following years poured $4 billion into setting up Islamic training schools in Pakistan (Taliban means “student”).
Young zealots were sent to the CIA’s spy training camp in Virginia, where future members of al-Qaeda were taught “sabotage skills” – terrorism.
Others were recruited at an Islamic school in Brooklyn, New York, within sight of the fated Twin Towers.
In Pakistan, they were directed by British MI6 officers and trained by the SAS.
The result, quipped Brzezinski, was “a few stirred up Muslims” – meaning the Taliban.
The Wall Street Journal declared: “The Taliban are the players most capable of achieving peace. Moreover, they were crucial to secure the country as a prime trans-shipment route for the export of Central Asia’s vast oil, gas and other natural resources.”
No American newspaper dares suggest that the prisoners in Camp X-Ray are the product of this policy, nor that it was one of the factors that led to the attacks of September 11.
Nor do they ask: who were the real winners of September 11?
The day the Wall Street stock market opened after the destruction of the Twin Towers, the few companies showing increased value were the giant military contractors Alliant Tech Systems, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon (a contributor to New Labor) and Lockheed Martin.
As the US military’s biggest supplier, Lockheed Martin’s share value rose by a staggering 30 per cent.
Within six weeks of September 11, the company (with its main plant in Texas, George Bush’s home state) had secured the biggest military order in history: a $200 billion contract to develop a new fighter aircraft. The greatest taboo of all, which Orwell would surely recognize, is the record of the United States as a terrorist state and haven for terrorists.
This truth is virtually unknown by the American public and makes a mockery of Bush’s (and Blair’s) statements about “tracking down terrorists wherever they are.”
They don’t have to look far.
THERE IS NO OSAMA BIN LADEN.
AL QAEDA IS MERELY AN IDEA.
THERE IS NO “WAR ON TERROR”
THERE IS MERELY TERROR, CAUSED DIRECTLY BY THOSE WHO GAIN THE MOST FROM IT.
AFGHANISTAN’S OPIUM PRODUCTION IS AT ALL TIME HIGHS SINCE 9/11 AND OUR RESULTING INVASION.
GEORGE HW BUSH’S CIA/DEA DRUG IMPORTATION OPERATIONS ARE AS PROFITABLE AS EVER.
THE US IS LEADING THE “WAR OF TERROR.”
GOOGLE: “FALSE FLAG”
January 26th, 2008 at 6:21 pmThere are simple legal problems and there are complicated legal problems. Whether Bush can wiretap without obtaining a warrant is a simple legal question that most first-year law students can answer in under an hour. The Fourth Amendment and the Supreme Court decisions that have interpreted it prohibit the government from wiretapping without judicial authorization. That is, a law enforcement official has to provide a factual basis that establishes probable cause to believe that a person is committing a crime, and due to the circumstances of the case, a wiretap is the only reasonable way to obtain evidence against that person. In other words, standard investigatory procedures haven’t worked. The law enforcement official submits the factual basis in writing under oath. A judge reviews the application and if he or she determines that the affidavit establishes probable cause (which means a reasonable basis to believe that a person is committing a crime), and there is no other way to collect additional evidence, the judge will sign an order authorizing the wiretap. The wiretap authorization always contains an expiration date and the law enforcement people monitoring the wiretap are required to minimize the information gathered. That is, they can record only information that is pertinent to the investigation. The rest has to be deleted from the recording. In other words, wiretaps are kind of a last resort and they are strictly limited in scope.
FISA broadened law enforcement’s ability to wiretap, as all of you know. FISA concerns wiretapping for intelligence gathering purposes as opposed to investigating specific criminal activity. The legal standard is the same, however (probable cause), and as you’ve all read, the government can start the wiretap without obtaining judicial authorization as long as they seek authorization within 72 hours.
There is no other legal authority to wiretap.
Gonzales, Miers, and Ashcroft apparently told Bush that his inherent powers under the Constitution and Congress’s authorization to invade Iraq give him legal authority to do anything that he deems necessary to fight the war on terror. They likely based their opinion on Assistant Attorney General Woo’s legal opinion that drew that conclusion. However, there is no language in the Constitution or the Congressional authorization that authorizes the President to violate the Constitution or existing laws. Therefore, Woo’s argument is as lame as lame can get. The truth of the matter is that this is a no-brainer legal “problem.” This is not a matter about which reasonable people can differ, which is why so many conservatives are offended by Bush’s attempt to justify the wiretaps. No one in legal circles is buying Woo’s non-sensical argument.
This matter illustrates that no matter one’s political orientation, everyone must agree to respect the Rule of Law. Society unravels without it, which is why not even the President is above the law.
He has admitted that the Republican controlled Congress would not have passed a law giving him the power to wiretap the way he wants to do it. That pretty much says it all, doesn’t it?
Woo, Ashcroft, Miers, and Gonzales should know better. Thirty minutes reviewing legal authorities would have resolved any questions they might have had regarding the legality of Bush’s wiretaps. They just told him what he wanted to hear and now they’re trying to protect his butt by selling this totally bogus argument politically. They certainly can’t sell it to lawyers and judges. That they’re willing to sacrifice their reputations by making this ludicrous legal argument says a lot about the kind of people that they are:
WHORES!
Posted by: mason on December 27, 2005 at 12:50pm
January 26th, 2008 at 6:23 pmIMO, The Democrats need to hold the line, LET the GOP Filibuster and let the Pres. Veto it …
Comment by S.D. — January 26, 2008 @ 6:20 pm
Unfortunately, that would take “b*lls”, S.D., ya know, “huevos”, “cojones”, “nads”, “stones”…
TESTICULAR FORTITUDE!!!!
January 26th, 2008 at 6:24 pmHey Karl…here’s one for ya…
Prior to 9/11, those numbers in that sequence signified an emergency number to call for help in the United States.
What was the significance of selecting that date for the attack?
Clearly, it was so that it tied into our prior media conditioning about 911.
You thought of that – didn’t you Karl?
You selected the date for what it represents to Americans.
No man in a cave in the desert came up with that.
No one is more clever than you.
You picked the date for the attack, didn’t you Karl?
You are sooooooooooo clever.
And now to imply that if only we had allowed the NSA to violate the Constitution prior to 9/11, it might never have happened…well you know that’s bullshit, because the NSA WAS performing warrantless wiretaps prior to 9/11 – weren’t they, Karl?
You and the boys were relying on Comverse wiretaps to keep track of what the intelligence agencies were up to.
That’s how you knew to order the stand-down of the Able Danger Operation.
That’s how you knew to order the FBI to stop all work on the Bin Laden family in advance of 9/11.
That’s how you managed to run interference for the Mossad, the ISI, Cheney and others in advance of the actual event on 9/11.
Only a few of us actually know and appreciate your particular genius, Karl.
We know how many balls you are capable of juggling at the same time.
We know that you are the master of misdirection and manufactured reality.
We know you are the mastermind of THE 9/11 COVERUP.
We know, Karl.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:25 pmhttp://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=7127
The “Able Danger” data-mining operation that supposedly uncovered the New Jersey cell of the 9/11 plotters was – for some reason yet to be determined – blocked and prevented from apprehending key figures in the plot, according to the testimony of at least three people who have direct knowledge of this matter. Shea’s memo opens up a possibility that may relate to (and explain) the “Able Danger” blockage: was surveillance of Arab terrorist groups in the U.S. subcontracted out to the Israelis, with the knowledge and complicity of the CIA, so that “Able Danger” was considered poaching on the Israelis’ preserve? Shea cites a piece in The Forward that describes Israeli covert activities in the U.S. as a violation of “a secret gentleman’s agreement between the two countries,” and avers:
“The real question today, however, appears to be whether the ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ did indeed prevail here and, because we lacked adequate warning from our surrogates who were keeping the Arabs under surveillance, helped bring us to disaster.”
http://www.antiwar.com/israeli-files.php
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article7545.htm
Israeli Company Provides U.S. Wiretaps
One company reported to be under investigation is Comverse Infosys, a subsidiary of an Israeli-run private telecommunications firm. Comverse provides almost all the wiretapping equipment and software for U.S. law enforcement.
Custom computers and software made by Comverse are tied into the U.S. phone network in order to intercept, record and store wiretapped calls, and at the same time transmit them to investigators.
The penetration of Comverse reportedly allowed criminals to wiretap law enforcement communications in reverse and foil authorized wiretaps with advance warning. One major drug bust operation planned by the Los Angeles police was foiled by what now appear to be reverse wiretaps placed on law enforcement phones by the criminal spy ring.
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/12/18/224826.shtml
January 26th, 2008 at 6:27 pmCOMVERSE & KOBI ALEXANDER:
Kobi Alexander is the founder of the Israeli high-tech company Comverse and is wanted by the FBI for alleged financial wrongdoings. After fleeing the law in the US, Alexander was recently found and arrested in the African country of Namibia and has posted bail. He is awaiting extradition.
The U.S. government will send a request to Namibia next week for the extradition of Jacob “Kobi” Alexander, the former Comverse Technology Inc. chief executive officer wanted for securities fraud.
Alexander, 54, was freed Oct. 3 by a Namibian judge on $1.34 million bail.
The U.S. wants Alexander to face charges related to stock-option backdating, including conspiracy, securities fraud, making false filings to U.S. regulators and money laundering.
SO WHAT DID KOBI HAVE TO DO WITH WARRANTLESS WIRETAPPING?
WHAT DID KOBI HAVE TO DO WITH 9/11?
ASK FOX NEWS:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article7545.htm
And this official DEA report:
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/deareportisraelispying.html
Kobi Alexander should be arrested and interrogated about his knowledge of the events of 9/11. His company acquired the other Mossad firm, Odigo, shortly after it was revealed that Odigo employees had been forewarned of the attacks on the World Trade Center.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:28 pmLet him veto the extension. Then let the repuglies fillibuster their asses off, until the entire damn law expires.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:33 pmAlexander is fighting extradition to the US in the Namibian courts, which have already postponed the extradition hearing six times. The next hearing in Alexander’s case is scheduled for February 25th.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3495515,00.html
Cheney has him in the witness protection program.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:33 pmAnd I certainly hope Bush brings this up in the SOFU, and screeches about Democrats ‘holding the nation hostage’…
Then the response from whomever shows up for the Dems is just to lay the facts out, showing that the repuglies are blocking the legislation…
More nails in the GOP coffin, version 08.11
January 26th, 2008 at 6:36 pmThe Administration’s FISA defense is factually false
In light of Gen. Hayden’s claim that the reason the Bush Administration decided to eavesdrop outside of FISA is because the “probable cause” standard for obtaining a FISA warrant was too onerous (and prevented them from obtaining warrants they needed to eavesdrop), there is a fact which I have not seen discussed anywhere but which now appears extremely significant, at least to me.
In June, 2002, Republican Sen. Michael DeWine of Ohio introduced legislation (S. 2659) which would have eliminated the exact barrier to FISA which Gen. Hayden said is what necessitated the Administration bypassing FISA. Specifically, DeWine’s legislation proposed:
to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to modify the standard of proof for issuance of orders regarding non-United States persons from probable cause to reasonable suspicion. . . .
In other words, DeWine’s bill, had it become law, would have eliminated the “probable cause” barrier (at least for non-U.S. persons) which the Administration is now pointing to as the reason why it had to circumvent FISA.
During that time, the Administration was asked to advise Congress as to its position on this proposed amendment to loosen the standard for obtaining FISA warrants, and in response, they submitted a Statement from James A. Baker, the Justice Department lawyer who oversees that DoJ’s Office of Intelligence Policy and Review, which is the group that “prepares and presents all applications for electronic surveillance and physical search under the Act to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA Court or Court).” If anyone would be familiar with problems in obtaining FISA warrants, it would be Baker.
And yet, look at what Baker said in his Statement. He began by effusively praising the Patriot Act on the ground that the 72-hour window provided by the Patriot Act had given the Administration the speed and flexibility it needed in order to engage in eavesdropping:
The reforms in those measures (the PATRIOT Act) have affected every single application made by the Department for electronic surveillance or physical search of suspected terrorists and have enabled the government to become quicker, more flexible, and more focused in going “up” on those suspected terrorists in the United States.
One simple but important change that Congress made was to lengthen the time period for us to bring to court applications in support of Attorney General-authorized emergency FISAs. This modification has allowed us to make full and effective use of FISA’s pre-existing emergency provisions to ensure that the government acts swiftly to respond to terrorist threats. Again, we are grateful for the tools Congress provided us last fall for the fight against terrorism. Thank you.
And then, regarding DeWine’s specific proposal to lower the evidentiary standard required for a FISA warrant, Baker said that:
The Department of Justice has been studying Sen. DeWine’s proposed legislation. Because the proposed change raises both significant legal and practical issues, the Administration at this time is not prepared to support it.
So, in June, 2002, the Administration refused to support elimination of the very barrier (”probable cause”) which Gen. Hayden claimed yesterday necessitated the circumvention of FISA. In doing so, the Administration identified two independent reasons for opposing this amendment. One reason was that the Justice Department was not aware of any problems which the Administration was having in getting the warrants it needed under FISA:
The practical concern involves an assessment of whether the current “probable cause” standard has hamstrung our ability to use FISA surveillance to protect our nation. We have been aggressive in seeking FISA warrants and, thanks to Congress’s passage of the USA PATRIOT Act, we have been able to use our expanded FISA tools more effectively to combat terrorist activities. It may not be the case that the probable cause standard has caused any difficulties in our ability to seek the FISA warrants we require, and we will need to engage in a significant review to determine the effect a change in the standard would have on our ongoing operations. If the current standard has not posed an obstacle, then there may be little to gain from the lower standard and, as I previously stated, perhaps much to lose.
http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2006/01/administrations-new-fisa-defense-is.html
January 26th, 2008 at 6:38 pmIt’s good to know the President is willing to put the financial interests of Verizon and the other telecoms ahead of national security.
Democratic leaders should use that sentence all week.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:39 pmWHY DID NO MEDIA OUTLET REPORT THIS REVELATION?
F I S A
W O R K S
B U S H
V I O L A T E D
T H E
L A W
N E E D L E S S L Y
O’Reilly Reveals Truth About FISA Courts in interview with Chertoff
Homeland Security Sec’y Michael Chertoff on Foiled Terror Plot
Friday, August 11, 2006
FOX NEWS INTERVIEW
EXCERPT:
O’REILLY: OK. Last question for you. The fact that the NSA was able to intercept some of these phone calls that were made in the United States to Al Qaeda in Britain by using the very controversial — although I understand warrants were obtained for this by the FISA court. In your opinion, does that mean that the Bush administration is justified now in its original policy? Is this a big win politically for you guys?
CHERTOFF: Well, Bill, of course I’m not going to confirm particular techniques were used, but I do think this.
O’REILLY: You won’t deny, though.
CHERTOFF: Obviously I’m not going to discuss classified techniques.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,207930,00.html
Contrary to O’Reilly’s SPIN, this revelation actually destroys the Administration’s original claims relative to the FISA courts being too slow and cumbersome.
Did the Administration CLASSIFY the fact that they used FISA?
Did O’Reilly reveal classified information?
Chertoff implied as much.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:39 pmFederal Judge Orders End to Warrantless Wiretapping
By DAVID STOUT
Published: August 17, 2006
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 — A federal judge in Detroit ruled today that the Bush administration’s eavesdropping program is illegal and unconstitutional, and she ordered that it cease at once.
District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor found that President Bush exceeded his proper authority and that the eavesdropping without warrants violated the First and Fourth Amendment protections of free speech and privacy.
“It was never the intent of the Framers to give the president such unfettered control, particularly where his actions blatantly disregard the parameters clearly enumerated in the Bill of Rights,†she wrote, in a decision that set the stage for further court battles.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/17/washington/17cnd-nsa.html?hp&ex=1155873600&en=a6f8950517248da0&ei=5094&partner=homepage
January 26th, 2008 at 6:40 pmI think the GOP is doing this so the Democrats will look like the do nothing congress before the elections.
Ergo, the Dems will let Bush has his way, its not like he needs the legislation to wiretap….
January 26th, 2008 at 6:41 pmLike a spoiled brat who’s going to hold his breath until he turns blue.
I think blue is a lovely color. Let him hold his breath til he passes out or dies.
This is beyond ridiculous. Can we get some adults in government, please??
January 26th, 2008 at 6:44 pm#7: actually, S.D., it seems to be going like this:
January 26th, 2008 at 6:45 pmWH: Give us what we want!!
Sen. Reid: No.
WH: Give us what we want!!
Sen. Reid: No.
WH: Give us what we want!!
Sen. Reid: Fine, here you go…
WH: Give us what we want!!
Sen. Reid: hunh?
WH: Give us what we want!!
Sen. Reid: but I…
WH: Give us what we want!!
Unfortunately, that would take “b*llsâ€, S.D., ya know, “huevosâ€, “cojonesâ€, “nadsâ€, “stonesâ€â€¦
TESTICULAR FORTITUDE!!!!
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity @ 6:24 pm
reminds me, i haven’t seen COLBERT’s BRASS BALLS AWARD lately…
January 26th, 2008 at 6:45 pmblue is my favorite color…
i might even like dubby better if he were blue…
fact, i know i would…
January 26th, 2008 at 6:47 pmRight alongside the gutless, feckless, eunuched performance of the so-called ‘opposition’ Congress.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:48 pmWhat are we to do when the entire process of elections becomes subverted, controlled by an outside force that takes US tax payer dollars, offshores them, then launders them right back into the political process thereby ensuring that only their hand-picked candidates become government officials?
When all that cash is utilized to purchase media time to promote AIPAC’s hand-picked candidates – the executives of the media companies can clearly see who they need to support in order to enrich themselves. The news departments are instructed to perpetuate the game for profit.
Our tax dollars have been used to destroy Democracy. The electoral process is completely broken as a result of the money in politics. It is ironc that there is a new cry for publicly funded campaigns. They already are publicly funded…it’s just that the entity responsible for distributing the public funding is AIPAC.
While the vast majority of Americans are crying out for lobbying reform, every Jewish organization is actively campaigning against it – to protect AIPAC’s grip on the system.
Remember this?
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/101704A.shtml
In the summer of 2002, after I had written an article in Esquire that the White House didn’t like about Bush’s former communications director, Karen Hughes, I had a meeting with a senior adviser to Bush. He expressed the White House’s displeasure, and then he told me something that at the time I didn’t fully comprehend — but which I now believe gets to the very heart of the Bush presidency.
The aide said that guys like me were ”in what we call the reality-based community,” which he defined as people who ”believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality.” I nodded and murmured something about enlightenment principles and empiricism. He cut me off. ”That’s not the way the world really works anymore,” he continued. ”We’re an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you’re studying that reality — judiciously, as you will — we’ll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that’s how things will sort out. We’re history’s actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.”
- Ron Suskind “Without a Doubt”
All that cash leads to that kind of arrogance. Frankly, I’d rather fix the problem now than study it later.
DEPORT AIPAC and win back your Democracy.
It really is that simple
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/AIPACClinton.html
Hedrick Smith noted in his book Power Game that AIPAC had become a “superlobby … [It] gained so much political muscle that by 1985 AIPAC and its allies could force President Reagan to renege on an arms deal he had promised to [Jordan's] King Hussein. By 1986, the pro-Israel lobby could stop Reagan from making another jet fighter deal with Saudi Arabia; and Secretary of State George Shultz had to sit down with AIPAC’s executive director — not Congressional leaders — to find out what level of arms sales to the Saudis AIPAC would tolerate.”
“You are the most effective general interest group…across the entire planet.” Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich
“Aipac has a lot of influence on foreign policy,” says JJ Goldberg, editor of the Jewish newspaper The Forward. “They work hard to ensure that America endorses pretty much Israel’s view of the world and the Middle East.”
“A great asset to our country”. Condoleezza Rice describing AIPAC in March, 2003.
“Fully three-fourths of America’s foreign aid budget is devoted to Israeli security interests is a tribute in considerable measure to the lobbying prowess of AIPAC and the importance of the Jewish community in American politics.” — Prominent conservative lawyer and political commentator, Benjamin Ginsberg.
“I asked Rosen if aipac suffered a loss of influence after the Steiner affair. A half smile appeared on his face, and he pushed a napkin across the table. “You see this napkin?†he said. “In twenty-four hours, we could have the signatures of seventy senators on this napkin.†Jeffrey Goldberg (The New Yorker).
“AIPAC’s Israel lobby has the power to pump up to a million dollars into the campaign coffers of any friendly member of Congress, or into the campaign of the opponents of an unfriendly member.” — Richard Curtiss, executive editor of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.
“A lobby is a night flower, it thrives in the dark and dies in the sun.” — AIPAC research director Steve Rosen, 2001.
“The friendship between Israel and the United States is a great asset to our country. And AIPAC is a great advocate for this vital relationship.” White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card.
“Congress is ‘terrorized’ by AIPAC… In practice, the lobby groups function as an informal extension of the Israeli government.” — “They Dare to Speak Out,” — Congressman (1961-1982) Paul Findley.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Israel_Public_Affairs_Committee
January 26th, 2008 at 7:03 pmOur sons and daughters were encouraged to join the fight in the Middle East to avenge the 9/11 attacks…
But then they learned that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, and neither did Bin Laden according to the FBI.
The troops were there on the what they were told was the “front lines of Freedom and Democracy”…
When in reality, Freedom and Democracy needed defending right here at home.
Our own home front needed our National Guard in time of crisis…
But our Nation’s First Defenders had been called away for a police action they were under-trained to take on – with the wrong strategies, tactics and armor to keep themselves safe.
They were told it would be a short war – with a quick victory…
But the plan was a lie…and the goal is forever-occupation and depopulation.
They were told to uphold and defend the Constitution and to follow International rules of law – while behind the scenes – their leaders were instructing them to violate the Constitution and the Geneva Conventions – all while their elected leaders were busy gutting the Constitution and the Bill Of Rights back home.
The troops were sent abroad “to defend freedom at home”…
Only to learn that now, our most basic freedom – TO SPEAK – is threatened by these Treasonous bastards whose only other career opportunity would be “Used Car Salesman.”
The politicians are frantic to cover their own asses from the investigations and War Crimes Trials that they so richly deserve – while they are content to call for additional meat for the grinder of human flesh that is Iraq.
Moral Bankruptcy is the cancer on the Presidency and the Cancer on Congress.
AIPAC has ensured that only men of low moral character – suseptible to bribes, blackmail and sexpionage – are capable of entering the political arena.
AIPAC is the root of the entire problem.
They have stolen your treasure and bankrupted your country.
Israel is the source of 9/11 – blackmail – bribes – sexpionage and every manufactured terror event we have witnessed.
Save the Troops.
Deport AIPAC
IMPRISON THE TRAITORS.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:04 pmJuly 25, 2006
Madison’s Warning and the Israel Lobby
http://www.antiwar.com/scheuer/?articleid=9400
Mr. Madison never imagined that the two houses of the United States Congress and the federal executive branch could conceivably combine with what today is called a “private interest group” – namely AIPAC – to be exactly the sort of faction that would threaten both “the rights of other citizens” and “the permanent interests of the community.” And yet today, that is precisely the spectacle we behold as the Bush administration and both houses of Congress – Republicans and Democrats – continue a bipartisan, three-decade-old policy of supporting Israel without qualm or stint, and without the least concern about what such support means for the welfare and security of American citizens and their families.
Finally, this two-branch, AIPAC-funded, mid-term-election-minded faction agreed on the weekend to very publicly dispatch large consignments of U.S.-made precision weapons to fill the recently depleted stocks of the Israeli military. All of these actions were, of course, played out against a backdrop of editorial screeches, claiming “Israel is bravely and nobly fighting America’s and/or the West’s war,” from the likes of such noted U.S.-interests-be-damned voices as Ann Coulter, Mr. and Mrs. Clinton, the Wall Street Journal’s editorial page, William Kristol and the Weekly Standard’s crew of certifiable zanies, and the reliably hysterical FrontPageMag.com.
The real question of moment is not the red-herring of Israel’s right to defend itself, but rather what possible U.S. national interest is at stake that requires America to put its security at risk on Israel’s behalf.
So, how to explain the extraordinary power of America’s tiny but dominant pro-Israel faction? In the context of the enduring alliance between the executive branch, the Congress, AIPAC, and their media acolytes, Alexander Hamilton’s warning in Federalist No. 6 that in the pursuit of private and selfish interests men are “ambitious, vindictive, and rapacious” is a good place to start.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:06 pmAre you kidding me? Talk about acting like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum when he doesn’t get what he wants. Bush 2.0 continually lowers the bar when it comes to using the “war on terror” as a political football. This is truly disgusting.
Mr. Purple
January 26th, 2008 at 7:23 pmGood let him Veto it. If he wants to veto it say F-you veto it then. NO TELECOM IMMUNITY. Its about time someone stands up for out civil liberties and the constitution.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:25 pmPresident Bush would veto “a 30-day extension of an expiring eavesdropping law and instead wants an expanded version to be passed by Friday.â€
And we worry about not passing any law because…..?
He has NO political muscle left. Leave him twist in the fu(king wind.
BYE, BYE GEORGIE YOU FU(KING TRAITOR!!!!
January 26th, 2008 at 7:47 pmOne thing to note people:
This is not about telecom immunity in the past, folks…..
This is about telecom immunity and eavesdropping on us in the future…
January 26th, 2008 at 7:52 pmThis is a fight for the heart and soul of America is what we have right here
Bush can do whatever he wants, Harry. Remember he’s the Commander-in-chief, decider guy and impeachment is off the table.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:54 pmHe can burn the Constitution on the White House lawn, p*** on it to put it out and then go over to Congress and give you a wedgie and there’s NOTHING you can do about it.
Clearly, Bush has become the “enemy within” and needs to go. IMPEACH BUSH & CHENEY NOW BEFORE THEY DO MORE HARM TO THIS COUNTRY.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:25 pmFlavorino: And the only thing Bush hasn’t done is wipe his ass with the Constitution on the White House lawn!
January 26th, 2008 at 8:25 pmFlavorino: There IS something we can do about it if the people of this country get off their collective derriers and take back this country. These criminals within have all but destroyed our country and they must pay for what they’ve done. Prison time will be in their futures.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:26 pm#33 You got it! This is about Bush covering his sorry butt about violating the constitution. This is all about what they intend to do in the future – making us a total fascist nation. Congress cannot knuckle under here and must make a stand on this for the future of this democracy. It’s “cryin time” for congress. If they can’t take the heat, then let’s pitch every sorry one of them out on their ears.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:28 pmAnd the next time we go around the world espousing our greatness based on our democracy, people will begin throwing rotten tomatoes at any politician!
January 26th, 2008 at 8:29 pmThe People To Congress: Let this moron “run out the clock” on this FISA stuff and let him twist in the wind. Then go after the traitorous telecoms for “aiding and abetting” in the violation of our constitutional rights.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:30 pmSo well put.
“…and then go over to Congress and give you a wedgie…”
I can actually see this happening. Great post, flavorino.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:30 pmLet the Lameduck bully eat his words. Let him veto it. His made his line in the sand now with the people of this country and The People will prevail – we always do. This lameduck bully has just called his last and parting shot and will lose.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:31 pmThe operative word here, flavorina, is “thinks” (as in thinks he can do whatever he wants). While that may be true at the moment, his actions carry dire consequences and these consequences don’t disappear the moment he leaves office either. He can still be impeached in absentia and expunged from the history books. He can still be put on trial and sent to prison. Once the fury of the people unifies, there will be hell to pay.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:33 pmPlunger: Amen! Imprison the traitors. And the traitors “within” are well exposed at this point. The storm cloud of american anger is gathering and Bush may be driven from office. The People may appear to be distracted now by the elections but hell hath no fury like an american who’s been shafted, robbed, lied to and made a fool of…..their days are coming.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:35 pmI think King George is about to have a breakdown myself. This little temper tantrum is indicative of the fragility of his ego right now with people loathing him within his own country and a sense of defeat and disgust about his non-existent legacy. He’s coming apart at the seams and congress needs to let this baby twist in the wind, crap in his pants if he wants to and use the constitution to wipe himself…..whatever…..this bully’s day is over.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:38 pmStomp your feet a little harder George and maybe throw in a couple of Waaaaah, waaaaaaahs.
This clown looks more childish with each passing day. They can continue the practice for up to a year. There is no urgency. Let’s let the adults debate this after Mr. All hat and no cattle goes home.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:43 pmThe clock is ticking on this lil dictator and he knows it, let him squack,and get pissed. He’ll have to live with his damage for the rest of his life,probably out of a bottle.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:02 pmRemember, twelve Democrats voted with the Republicans to defeat the Leahy substitute for the Intelligence Committee’s FISA bill. CALL, EMAIL AND FAX the following Senators (especially if you are a constituent) and demand that they stand up against Bush and the Senate Republicans.
Here are the twelve:
Evan Bayh (IN), Tom Carper (DE), Daniel Inouye (HI), Tim Johnson (SD), Mary Landrieu (LA), Clare McCaskill (M0), Barbara Mikulski (MD), Bill Nelson (FL), Ben Nelson (NE), Mark Pryor (AR), Jay Rockefeller (WV)*, and Ken Salazar (CO).
* Rockefeller chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee and probably is a lost cause.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:23 pmany ideas on why those 12 voted that way?
January 26th, 2008 at 9:36 pmespecially mccaskill, and tim johnson?!
anyone?
Bush could care less about terrorists (remember Osama bin Laden?). He could care less about the Telcos. What he does care about is getting himself retroactive immunity for breaking the law. Bush was using the NSA to wiretap the media and Democrats before 9/11. He used this power as his personal weapon to find dirt and blackmail his enemies.
Threaten to veto FISA? Fratto must be freaking out because that means the terrorists will attack us!
January 26th, 2008 at 10:11 pmkaty, both are from relatively conservative constituencies, S. Dak and Mo…
January 26th, 2008 at 10:36 pmi understand that, RU, but are their people so dumb as to not understand the ramifications and truth about this deal?
i can’t help but wonder just what kind of blackmail is going on…
January 26th, 2008 at 10:45 pmIs it blackmail, or are our legislators simply that corrupt and spineless?
January 26th, 2008 at 10:46 pmi think it’s blackmail… of some kind…
January 26th, 2008 at 11:00 pmwhick makes them spineless…
they’re not all corrupt…
Comment by Veritas — January 26, 2008 @ 8:35 pm
Your post is right on veritas!
The People may appear to be distracted now by the elections but hell hath no fury like an american who’s been shafted, robbed, lied to and made a fool of…..their days are coming.
I believe that they are no longer distracted. Every election result thus far has shown Dems and Indies coming out in huge numbers. Not so on the rethug side. There is no real enthusiam for the sick slate of candidates on their side.
“Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceedingly small
Though with patience He stands waiting, with exactness grinds He all.”
BushCo and its sock puppet front man Bush. Their day of reconning cometh!
Read it and weep, trolls.
January 26th, 2008 at 11:27 pmI’m missing something here. I agree with the above remarks that Bush and his threat are those of a petulant brat.
What I don’t get: Let’s say Congress passes a 30 day extension while they do further study (a quite reasonable move).
What does Shrub gain and what does he lose by vetoing it ? After all, this extends FISA (and does what Shrub wants – albeit temporarily). So the extension doesn’t loose anything for Bush except delaying the final answer. At the same time, Bush vetoes a measure that he says is an urgent need for safety. He runs the threat of even more people seeing him as ranging from a petulant brat to a frankly insane person who can’t see reason.
January 27th, 2008 at 12:29 amAt the same time, Bush vetoes a measure that he says is an urgent need for safety. He runs the threat of even more people seeing him as ranging from a petulant brat to a frankly insane person who can’t see reason.
Comment by MapleStreet — January 27, 2008 @ 12:29 am
and the koolaid drinkers and Bush-blowers will continue their blind loyalty to a sick, deluded idiot of a president.
January 27th, 2008 at 4:07 amurning it into something it never was simply is not an option.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — January 27, 2008 @ 7:31 am
Your knowledge of history is on the same level as your patriotism: non-existent.
January 27th, 2008 at 9:29 amThe FISA/Protect America Act must be made permanent.
Congress needs to quite playing political games with America’s safety.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — January 27, 2008 @ 7:41 am
Impeachment is the only way to quit playing political games with America’s safety. Bushco is, and has been for 7 years, the biggest threat to America’s safety, and bigfoot’s embrace of Nazi Germany’s and Stalin’s USSR tactics will only hasten the death of this country as a free nation.
January 27th, 2008 at 9:31 amthis bully’s day is over.
Comment by Veritas
HOW TRUE.
BYE, BYE IRRELEVANT GREORGIE PORGIE PUDDING AND PIE
FU(KED THE WORLD AND MADE THEM CRY
BYE BYE YOU FU(KING MUTHER FU(KING TRAITOR
SWING, SWING FROM THE GALLOWS SCUMBAG
January 27th, 2008 at 10:16 amO. Bigfoot in mouth…
“The FISA/Protect America Act must be made permanent. ”
FISA IS PERMANENT. Your crazy-assed sick muther F(ker wants the UNconsitutional CHANGES to become permanent.
Fu(king TRAITOR, Yes, you O. BIgfoot.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:17 amshorter u.yeti ~ 4th Amendment? We don’ need no stinkin 4th Amendment!
January 27th, 2008 at 10:32 am—-
Bush threatens veto of 30-day FISA extension.
—-
Good. And Bush can take his threats for the remainder of his term and shove them up his backside.
- Tom
January 27th, 2008 at 5:01 pmBush is a traitor. His recent trip to Saudi Arabia, and fawning kiss-kiss, his failure to lead on anything but support for the oil companies, his total neglect of of the law, must be front and center in the congress. But will they say a word? Of course not.
January 27th, 2008 at 7:52 pmThe FISA law should be allowed to expire, with NO FURTHER considerstion of it. And the Republicans get credit for stopping further corruption of the Fourth Amendment, so be it. The Democrats should be the ones refusing to extend it in any form.
January 27th, 2008 at 8:06 pm