In Radio Address, Bush Hypes Consequences of Wiretapping Law Expiration
In Radio Address, Bush Hypes Consequences of Wiretapping Law Expiration
In his weekly radio address, President Bush not only blames Congress for tonight’s expiration of the Protect America Act, he says that his government will have a harder time keeping you safe:
Because Congress failed to act, it will be harder for our government to keep you safe from terrorist attack. At midnight, the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence will be stripped of their power to authorize new surveillance against terrorist threats abroad. This means that as terrorists change their tactics to avoid our surveillance, we may not have the tools we need to continue tracking them — and we may lose a vital lead that could prevent an attack on America.
Nothing about the measure’s expiration prevents either law enforcement or intelligence officials from carrying out new surveillance against suspected terrorists. They will simply need to get a warrant. Nor is exigency a factor, as warrants can even be obtained after the surveillance has begun.
Furthermore, Bush’s hype over tonight’s midnight expiration is undermined by the words of his own top aides. Just 24 hours ago, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell told NPR:
Some of the [surveillance] authorities would carry over to the period they were established for one year. That would put us into the August, September time-frame. However, that’s not the real issue. The issue is liability protection for the private sector.
McConnell let slip that the real goal in the debate over the Protect America Act is not to protect America, but to protect the telecommunication companies being sued for assisting in Bush’s illegal wiretapping. The president claims he wants to protect these companies to ensure their future cooperation. However, legal warrants compel cooperation.
The only reason to insist on telecom immunity is that the telecom lawsuits are the only remaining avenue for bringing to light the administration’s illegal activities. And that is what Bush and his conservative allies will not permit, regardless of how real the cost is to America’s intelligence-gathering apparatus.
– Tom
This post was submitted through our Blog Fellows program. Make your own contribution — and get paid for it — by clicking here.
UPDATE: Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released this joint statement:
The Protect America Act will expire only because the President and congressional Republicans refused to approve an extension of that law. Their true concern here is not national security. Rather, they want to protect the financial interests of telecommunications companies and avoid judicial scrutiny of their warrantless wiretapping program.
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Well, good on Harry and nancy, for a change. Bush looks like such a wuss and a coward, with his neverending bullshit and fearmongering.
February 16th, 2008 at 6:33 pmFreedom is harder than authoritanism, just as obeying the law is harder than breaking it. Didn’t Bush himself say a dictatorship would be easier? A truly small-minded man.
February 16th, 2008 at 6:36 pmHowever, legal warrants compel cooperation.
There’s the problem in a nut shell ; our idiot president and his equally useless and criminal administration don’t believe warrants mean anything , especially if it is issued to/for any of them ……………….
February 16th, 2008 at 6:39 pmBecause Congress failed to act, it will be harder for our government to keep you safe from terrorist attack.
– - Uh oh, more hard work, eh George? Man up.
February 16th, 2008 at 6:41 pmter·ror·ize (tÄ›r’É™-rÄ«z’) Pronunciation Key
tr.v. ter·ror·ized, ter·ror·iz·ing, ter·ror·iz·es
To fill or overpower with terror; terrify.
To coerce by intimidation or fear. See Synonyms at frighten.
Does this describe George Bush?
February 16th, 2008 at 6:44 pmThe issue is simple:
Corporate Profits are more important to Bush and the Republican Party than American lives.
February 16th, 2008 at 6:47 pmF E A R !!!! YOU DUMBASS AMERKANS!!!!
February 16th, 2008 at 6:47 pmAs Senator Kennedy reminded us in December:
“The President has said that American lives will be sacrificed if Congress does not change FISA. But he has also said that he will veto any FISA bill that does not grant retroactive immunity.
No immunity, no FISA bill. So if we take the President at his word, he’s willing to let Americans die to protect the phone companies.â€
February 16th, 2008 at 6:47 pmwell, you knew he would…
February 16th, 2008 at 6:48 pmevery story i read, the truthful facts are like an incidental footnote…
“Because Congress failed to GRANT IMMUNITY TO TELCOM CORPORATIONS, it will be harder for our government to keep you safe from terrorist attack. ”
There, chympie, I fixed it for ya. Bastard.
February 16th, 2008 at 6:49 pmWould someone in Congress, perhaps my own Congressman, John Hall (NY-19), please explain to me again why President Bush should not be impeached at once?
February 16th, 2008 at 6:49 pmAlso, Keith Olbermann’s excellent Special Comment on this issue (video and transcript):
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/77138/
February 16th, 2008 at 6:50 pmnot enough people have heard keith’s special comment of the other night…
i was so glad to see him back on the tv last night…
February 16th, 2008 at 6:51 pmHonestly, what else can you say: Bush is a dork. Plain & simple. All three apply.
February 16th, 2008 at 6:51 pmWayne,
February 16th, 2008 at 6:52 pmOne reason – Dick Cheney.
My Hero!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEcBjpsP1bU
Every time that Cimpie and the Repugnicunts start to fearmonger send ‘em this.
February 16th, 2008 at 6:52 pmÇorporate Profits are more important to Bush and the Republican Party than American lives.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire
That is the issue. And it’s not just American lives. How many Iraqis have died in the last 5 years? How many Afghani’s? Bush is a souless fraud and every christain who voted for that idiot is going to their version of hell.
February 16th, 2008 at 6:52 pmDoes this describe George Bush?
Comment by Mr. Evil — February 16, 2008 @ 6:44 pm
Why, yes…yes it does.
February 16th, 2008 at 6:54 pmAlso, Keith Olbermann’s excellent Special Comment on this issue (video and transcript):
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/77138/
Comment by Fritz — February 16, 2008 @ 6:50 pm
Ya beat me to the punch! ;)
I only wish that all of the other talking heads had the stones to keep this dialog alive…
February 16th, 2008 at 6:56 pmThis continued lying hype along with the the continued fear mongering in order to protect his arse is so unbelievably pathetic. Is anyone buying this load of crap?
February 16th, 2008 at 6:57 pmThis continued lying hype along with the the continued fear mongering in order to protect his arse is so unbelievably pathetic. Is anyone buying this load of crap?
Comment by had enough
Yeah, the usual 30% of the sheeple…and Democratic Senators, apparently…
February 16th, 2008 at 7:01 pmThere is only ONE reason why
And that reason is that Americans continue to support warriors and their wars. If parents stop sending their kids off to be sacrificial lambs on the altar of greed then the govt would have to change their foreign policy as well as many domestic policies in particular our energy policy.
In the interim your govt will continue to make poor decisions and blame it on keeping us safe. They’ve got most of you by the balls.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:05 pmsee, that’s what’s wrong with commenting before reading through
the whole post… i should’ve said this first:
great post, tom!
and good on the dem leaders for the followup statement…
February 16th, 2008 at 7:09 pmdid THAT get national play also?
Bush once again proves that fascism is alive and well in America today. Goebbels would be proud of that statement he gave.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:12 pmJust because you can, doesn’t mean you should!
February 16th, 2008 at 7:12 pmIf you don’t support covering the telcoms’ asses, you support the terr’ists.
Scared yet?
February 16th, 2008 at 7:15 pm#1
It wasn’t Harry at all. He undercut Pelosi by bringing the wrong bill to the floor. He knew all along that the Republicans would require 60 votes to remove the immunity clause for the telecoms. Also, he should have insisted on a true filibuster vote (67 ayes) to close debate in order to pass the bill. I think Nancy has been too patient with the Senate and has finally found a pair. I wished I could say the same for Harry. Go Nancy.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:16 pmFrom Glenn Greenwald:
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/02/15/7079/
newspaper headlines throughout the year have invariably (and accurately) used verbs such as “surrender†and “bow†and “succumb†and “capitulate†and “lose†to describe what Democrats have done on key issues with regard to George W. Bush. But look at how they are described today by The Washington Post:
House DEFIES Bush on Wiretaps
Steny Hoyer was all over the airwaves today exhibiting a backbone.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:16 pmAnd NPR is asking the right questions.
About time!
Check out the FISA clock on the Heritage foundation:
http://www.heritage.org/
We’re all gonna die!!!! I say we party like it’s on sale for $19.99
(my apologies to Apu)
February 16th, 2008 at 7:27 pmComment by Badger — February 16, 2008 @ 7:16 pm
NPR has had the last Bush budget affecting its operations, submitted. Now they can speak for the people instead of their survival.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:30 pmSame horseshit different day Bush. We need it to save American lives, we are weaker because of it, we are vulnerable, because “they” did this and did that. You, Mr. imposter, have done more to this country than any 10 presidents could have done to destroy civil liberties, shun the separation of powers and legislate on your own, started a war on a stack of fairy tales, spied on us, and of all things Mr. I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour, ok’d torture and kidnapping. You are such a bullshitter.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:30 pmHow much longer will we continue to allow these megalomaniacs to ruin our country and planet? Their delusional, self serving, perceived superiority over the rest of us needs to be confronted once and for all. Bush says that Americans will die as the result of not renewing the Protect America Act. We should take that in more than one way; protect the telecoms at all costs or the terrorists will attack us (like the terrorists give a shit about telecom immunity), or without the ability to spy on all Americans at all times the government won’t be able to catch the terrorists, or maybe George and the PNAC cabal will prove they’re right by staging another ‘terrorist attack’ to make sure the telecoms get their precious retroactive imminity.
Bush and Cheney need to be renditioned to parts unknown and forgotten. Why do we let them get away with this? Why do we pay trillions of dollars so such a tiny fraction of humanity can play with our lives and treat us like cattle to be slaughtered or bugs to be squashed and steal and squander our money, resources and future so his friends can obscenely enrich themselves? Why do we let him continue to be above the law as if he is special and an absolute necessity for our lives? Why won’t anyone in Congress finally stand up to this man and put an end to this madness?
We need to stand up now and decide, once and for all, just what kind of life we want on this planet. One in which we are constantly bombarded with fear usually based on cultural differences. Or one in which we learn to understand and revel in our cultural differences.
Today’s chaotic state is beneficial to only a very few. The rest of us are forced to pay for it in every way that can be considered bad.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:31 pm#31 williamf: And a sadistic, sociopathic, twisted monster.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:33 pm“Is anyone buying this load of crap?”
Comment by had enough — February 16, 2008 @ 6:57 pm
Yes, all of the cowards on the right…
February 16th, 2008 at 7:35 pmHeckuva job, Bushie — don’t stop, don’t stop! Take a couple of months and tour the whole country pushing for telecom immunity and warrantless spying, just like you did for social security three years ago!
February 16th, 2008 at 7:38 pm#34
Nothing that a couple of knee transplants and a year’s supply of Depends won’t cure. Frankly, I’m tired of these weak kneed bastards peeing in their pants every time Bush says boo. They’re so eager to give up other people’s rights to save their own cowardly souls. Enough is enough.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:47 pmTelecom immunity isn’t about national security; it’s all about protecting Bush
and those in his administration who broke the law, in a blatant and prima facia way.
If the telecoms had to defend themselves in court, they’d have to drag the White House into it as their only justification for knowingly breaking the law.
The lawsuits filed against the telecoms don’t concern the administration because of potential financial damage to the companies themselves. It’s because the suits will do what the Democratic Congress has failed to do: initiate discovery proceedings against the actions of the administration with regard to impeachable offenses.
Bush isn’t concerned about protecting the American people. He isn’t concerned about telecom company profits. That can be adressed at a later date with some kind of favorable legislation or court ruling. Bush and Cheney are concerned about prosecution and impeachment.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:49 pm“This means that as terrorists change their tactics to avoid our surveillance, we may not have the tools we need to continue tracking them — and we may lose a vital lead that could prevent an attack on America.”
Does anyone know what the idiot is talking about here?
February 16th, 2008 at 7:52 pmDid the Bush Administration conduct WARRANTLESS surveilance PRIOR to Sept. 11, 2001? And did this ILLEGAL surveilance FAIL to discover Bin Laden’s deadly plans?
Those are the Questions that the telecoms could answer.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:56 pmit’s all a moot point. Warrantless wiretapping which started BEFORE 9/11 failed to protect us from 9/11. If anyone thinks this is being used to protect America…
February 16th, 2008 at 8:03 pmBush says, “they hate us for our freedom.” So by that twisted logic I guess that’s why he’s doing everything possible to take away as much of our freedoms as he can. Then what will his excuse be?
February 16th, 2008 at 8:05 pmI finally got around to watching Keith Olbermann’s special comment on this subject and I have to tell you, I was shocked. Keith called Bush a liar. He didn’t say he “misspoke” or “misinterpreted” or any of the other euphemisms for lying, he came right out and called him a liar. He also called him a fascist. I am really amazed that the head honchos at MSNBC let him get away with it, but they did. How refreshing, someone on TV telling the truth and calling a spade a spade.
Bush is a miserable liar and I guess he still doesn’t realize that we don’t believe him any more.
February 16th, 2008 at 8:06 pmThe lawsuits filed against the telecoms don’t concern the administration because of potential financial damage to the companies themselves. It’s because the suits will do what the Democratic Congress has failed to do: initiate discovery proceedings against the actions of the administration with regard to impeachable offenses.
Comment by getplaning
I won’t say that Congress has failed to get the discovery. I will say that they have been prevented from it by the Bush Administration ignoring subpoenas and by their total control of the Justice Department. That’s why the telcom suits are so important. It will be out of the hands of the Bush Justice Department and in our regular judicial system where judges might just care about the truth.
February 16th, 2008 at 8:14 pmHark! O Hark! I think I hear a SNARK!
February 16th, 2008 at 8:17 pmTelecom lawsuit = truth about pre 9/11 wiretapping comes out = Bush Cheney impeachment, imprisonment and destruction of GOP for two decades +
February 16th, 2008 at 8:18 pmHow refreshing, someone on TV telling the truth and calling a spade a spade.
Bush is a miserable liar and I guess he still doesn’t realize that we don’t believe him any more.
Comment by bilbobaggins — February 16, 2008 @ 8:06 pm
Perhaps they can FINALLY sense the tide turning for good against this fear mongering little SOB.
DON’T LET UP!
February 16th, 2008 at 8:18 pmWhilst I can relate to your frustration, raymundo, you’re overtly calling for the executions of certain people here. Not really sure that’s all that good of an idea, if ya know what I mean.
February 16th, 2008 at 8:32 pmWhilst I can relate to your frustration, raymundo, you’re overtly calling for the executions of certain people here. Not really sure that’s all that good of an idea, if ya know what I mean.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity
February 16th, 2008 at 8:37 pmAgreed.
Impeachment, public disgrace and extended incarceration, certainly. Executions? No…
Bush the fascist liar and the criminally, morally dead Republican party should be thrown in jail!
“Intel chair to Bush on FISA
Because I care so deeply about protecting our country, I take strong offense to your suggestion in recent days that the country will be vulnerable to terrorist attack unless Congress immediately enacts legislation giving you broader powers to conduct warrantless surveillance of Americans’ communications and provides legal immunity for telecommunications companies that participated in the Administration’s warrantless surveillance program.
Today, the National Security Agency (NSA) has authority to conduct surveillance in at least three different ways, all of which provide strong capability to monitor the communications of possible terrorists.
First, NSA can use its authority under Executive Order 12333 to conduct surveillance abroad of any known or suspected terrorist. There is no requirement for a warrant. There is no requirement for probable cause. Most of NSA’s collection occurs under this authority.”
more at link…
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Intel_chair_to_Bush_on_FISA_0214.html
February 16th, 2008 at 8:38 pmThe only thing this will do is make it harder to hide the crimes of the Bush crime family. I don’t hold out a lot of hope that the House will refuse to cave, but maybe somewhere, someone who knows the whole story will be able to testify that they were spying on us all BEFORE 9/11. Maybe, Pelosi will finally realize that our constitution is at stake.
February 16th, 2008 at 8:39 pmExecutions? No…
Comment by Fritz — February 16, 2008 @ 8:37 pm
Especially at the hands of an enraged mob? No…
Again, whist I can relate to the frustration in raymundo’s comment…
February 16th, 2008 at 8:41 pmPer Bill Maher..
If Bush wants anymore money for anything, he has to suck my dick.
February 16th, 2008 at 8:47 pmGeorge Bush is:
The Torturer-in-Chief
February 16th, 2008 at 9:30 pmThe LIAR-in-Chief
I actually agree w/ you, raymundo, but discretion is sometime the better part of not getting TP into trouble, along w/ yerself.
February 16th, 2008 at 9:49 pmIt’s not HIS government, it’s OURS.
February 16th, 2008 at 10:53 pmLying bastard.
February 16th, 2008 at 11:19 pmAny word on the intensity of Bush’s temper tantrum when he didn’t get his way? Did he throw things? Hold his breath until he turned blue?
February 16th, 2008 at 11:26 pm#6 – Corporate Profits are more important to Bush and the Republican Party than American lives.
Money is only a small part of it. If the 40 or so lawsuits against the telecoms are allowed to go to trial, the details of Bush’s illegal behavior will be made public.
February 16th, 2008 at 11:32 pmGlenn Greenwald has it nailed in his usual devastating fashion. I’ve noted some of the hooters too.
Cheers,
February 16th, 2008 at 11:35 pmWe Have Everything To Fear … fear itself. – George W. Bush
February 16th, 2008 at 11:44 pmIt’s all BUSH-IT!
Are those lunatics in Wahington just lazy to get a warrant?
NO!
Bush is our Stalin. Same tactics, same discourse, same abuse of power. And crimes after crimes after crimes – and nothing happens.
America owes NIXON a big appology. Considering what those gangsters in Washington have been doing in the past 7 years, Nixon did nothing. How can we compare Watergate with all these repeates “gates” perpetrated by the Bush-Cheney administration!
What happened to America? It appears very sick and unable to get rid of its cancer!
And I will be puzzled if America elects McCain, who is just a perpetuation of the same BUSH-it.
February 17th, 2008 at 12:24 amOnly 25% of the voting public care what this buffoon thinks. And they are tooo busy buying band-aids for their knuckles.
February 17th, 2008 at 12:31 amAccording to the 9-11 commission we were way behind on translating the intelligence they already had. With added material it only makes sense that they would be further backed up. So,I am guessing it would be like, in the immortal words of Rick Moranis and Tim Russ as they “comb” the desert. “What about you guys?”; “We ain’t found shit!”
February 17th, 2008 at 12:51 am“Executions? No…”
Not even for a fake Texan AWOL silver spoon cheer leader turned international terrorist and war criminal?
February 17th, 2008 at 12:51 amWe definitely need a deterrent to any further criminal behavior by the executive branch. I thought the GOP was the law and order party. They also once claimed to be party of fiscal and personal responsibility. I’m wondering what’s left for the GOP. Greed? Fear and war mongering?
February 17th, 2008 at 12:57 amThis is the first time the House Dems have done something right. Incredible!
Is this a turning point, or did they miss their lobbyist’s check this month?
February 17th, 2008 at 9:01 amThis is the first time the House Dems have done something right. Incredible!
Is this a turning point, or did they miss their lobbyist’s check this month?
Comment by john7108
I guess what they did to save social security just didn’t count, huh?
February 17th, 2008 at 9:43 amI can think of a few other things too but I will let you reflect on your lack of knowledge about what is going on in the world for a while and maybe you can figure out some of it by yourself.
I like the joint statement! It’s so accurate and simple that maybe, just maybe, but i’m not holding too much hope, the mainstream media will pick up that it is the Democrats who are trying to do the will of the people, and the Republicans who are playing political games.
February 17th, 2008 at 10:32 amTime to feed the Chimp another bag of pretezels.
February 17th, 2008 at 10:51 amNext from Mr. Bush:
February 17th, 2008 at 11:10 am“They want to KILL YOUR CHILDREN”
oops. He already said that.
The whole point in Bush’s argument:
If I have to follow the Constitution, I cannot keep you safe.
Thus the Constitution, designed to keep us safe from our own government, must be scrapped in order for our government to keep us safe from unknown “terrorists.”
February 17th, 2008 at 11:30 amDoes anyone really believe with all this is the news all the time that any terrorist with 2 brain cells would phone or email anything?
This is not about just the telecoms, it is about Bush being exposed to the general public that does not pay attention enough as a criminal pResident.
Bush/Cheney
Hague Trials ‘09
Buck Fush
February 17th, 2008 at 11:33 amOn their knees, the war pigs crawling, begging mercy for their sins Satan, laughing, spreads his wings . .
February 17th, 2008 at 11:49 amThe story of the chimp who cried wolf.
After a while no one listened to him anymore.
I just hope we can move on without this dunce doing any more damage to our country and the world, get rid of the political hacks who have infested the Federal Gov (Justice Dept., Homeland Security) , get some competent professionals in there and hopefully prevent any possible attacks.
btw; How did this “Homeland” word get into the American culture.
February 17th, 2008 at 7:49 pmI don’t remember hearing any American using it before 9/11.
It sounds like something from Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union, fatherland…motherland……Americans have never used those expressions before. Americans used to call our country America or the United States.
Is it because “Homeland” fits in with the rest of the Orwellian language used by the Bush gang?
People should go back and read “1984″ i swear the Bush gang reads it not as fiction but as a how-to manual.
let the telecoms be sued, Mr. President… remember, they may win their cases…
February 17th, 2008 at 8:43 pmThankfully no one listens to Bush’s radio address — unless it’s already been incorporated into his “enhanced interrogation techniques.”
-AF
February 18th, 2008 at 4:35 pmBush is our Stalin. Same tactics, same discourse, same abuse of power. And crimes after crimes after crimes – and nothing happens.
America owes NIXON a big appology. Considering what those gangsters in Washington have been doing in the past 7 years, Nixon did nothing. How can we acer btp-51b3 battery,acer btp-68b3 battery compare Watergate with all these repeates “gates” perpetrated by the Bush-Cheney administration!
What happened to America? It appears very sick and unable to get rid of its cancer!
October 15th, 2008 at 3:13 am