Cheney Falsely Claims The House ‘Allowed’ FISA To ‘Expire’
Cheney Falsely Claims The House ‘Allowed’ FISA To ‘Expire’
During a speech yesterday at the conservative Manhattan Institute, Vice President Dick Cheney claimed that Congress “does have a way, at times, of missing big opportunities and losing sight of big responsibilities.” As an example, Cheney criticized House Democrats for allowing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to expire:
In the field of international security at present, the House leadership has allowed a critical statute to expire — the FISA, or Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a law that gives intelligence professionals the tools they need to monitor terrorist-related communications.
However, there is one slight kink in Cheney’s argument: House Democrats have not allowed FISA to expire. FISA is the law passed in 1978 — and still on the books — that governs the federal government’s communications monitoring. House Democrats actually “allowed” the Protect America Act (PAA) to expire, a revision to FISA that expanded the government’s authority to eavesdrop on Americans’ domestic-to-foreign communications without a warrant. Indeed, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) noted after the House voted to reject the PAA’s extension:
[T]he underlying Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which provides for the surveillance of terrorists and provides that in emergencies surveillance can begin without warrant, remains intact and available to our intelligence agencies.
In the speech, Cheney seemed to be referring to the PAA, saying “[t]his is not an old law we’re talking about.” But in claiming that FISA “expired” in prepared remarks, Cheney is advancing the false White House line that because House Democrats did not extend the PAA permanently — with immunity for telecommunications companies — the government can no longer eavesdrop on suspected terrorists.
In fact, not only did the White House and their GOP allies in Congress reject the Democrats’ plan to temporarily extend the PAA, the government still has the authority under FISA to listen in on the communications of suspected terrorists — without a warrant for 72 hours in emergency situations — and with a warrant thereafter.
Perhaps Cheney was engaging in a little wishful thinking because it was, after all, the White House that figuratively allowed FISA to “expire” when it authorized warrantless spying on Americans.
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Let me be the first to say, “So?”
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:16 pmMore word/language abuse from Republicans.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:16 pmbig brother dick is watching you
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:17 pmhe falsely claims he is “american” too.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:18 pmThe only people who will buy this stuff any longer are the 28%ers. Everyone else knows the truth. What Cheney thinks he is going to accomplish by lying to the American public is beyond me. But, then, he probably didn’t want to shock the public by actually telling the truth for once.
Nancy Pelosi really does need to find a table and quickly. All the revelations that have come out about approval of torture in the last week or so go way beyond impeachment standards. For the life of me I don’t understand what her trip is. She also needs to get impeachment going because that is probably the only way we can prevent Bush/Chaney from 1) attacking Iran and 2) declaring martial law and canceling the election.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:19 pmI say no immunity for:
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:19 pm-Telecoms
-Bush
-Rumsfeld
-Gonzales
-Ashcroft
-Addington
-Hadley
-Rove
and last, but first on the trial docket,
-CHENEY
Why be truthful, when it is so much more advantageous to be devious. In fact, why have integrity, morals, ethics, honesty and character at all when it is so much more fun to create dissention and confusion for one’s amusement?
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:19 pmCheney engages in Orwellspeak, as does St. John McBush, my friends. It’s not lying, or if it begins to come close, then it’s called “misspeaking.”
Let’s get it right.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:19 pmDick Cheney is a well-documented liar. Everything he says about the war in Iraq, and any connection it might have actually had to reality, are based on the false premise that they were right to go into Iraq and remove Saddam Hussein from power in the first place. Since they start with a false premise, nothing they say has validity in our reality.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:20 pmI’s like to see a judge & jury allow Cheney to espire….
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:20 pmCaption:
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:20 pm‘I eat Progressives for breakfast’
How surprising that Cheney and the truth have only a passing acquaintance….
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:20 pmthat’s EXPIRE
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:20 pmAnd there again . . is the face of pure evil.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:22 pmlie: to tell an untruth; pretend with intent to deceive
- - -
Cheney did not “Falsely Claim.”
He Lied.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:22 pmIf a Cheney speaks in the forest, does it make a sound or does anyone listen? I believe the shelf-life of this guy’s views expired in March 2003 about the time of the illegal invasion of Iraq and all the lies he spewed to support it.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:26 pmdid ANYone in that room know otherwise?
or was it just a sea of bobble heads…
LIES - it’s what they do.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:27 pmso photogenic, dick.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:32 pmi have yet to see a single picture of dick that doesn’t make him look like he’s trying to pass bush thru his cheney
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Well, thank you, Larry, for the introduction. And I appreciate the opportunity to join all of you this morning. Larry, you mentioned some of my career highlights, but left out the fact that one of your New York senators has recently taken to calling me “Darth Vader.” (Laughter.) I didn’t take that personally. (Laughter.) I’ve been asking—asked my wife Lynne if the nickname didn’t bother her, and she said, no. She said, “It humanizes you.”
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:32 pmCheney should choose his words with great care. As a practice run for Den Hague, 09.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:33 pmDoes anyone manufacture exploding bow ties ?
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:34 pmI had this gift idea . .
Don’tcha love the names they come up with for these bills.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:34 pmThe Patriot Act Protect America Act? How about The Pissing on the Constitution Act, or the Enterrment of the Fourth Amendment Act.
When we hear his lie repeated on the msm with no truthful counter comment, we must write to them and tell them of their neglect and error.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:35 pm“Cheney falsly claims..”…just rolls off the lips so naturally, doesn’t it?
Kind of like, “Cheney’s profanity laced tired…” or “Today, Dick Cheney shot….”.
Hey DICK: Go F**K yourself.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:35 pmKeith, I had thought the ultra high velocity razor edged spinning bow tie might be a big seller.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:35 pmIsn’t it time for Cheney’s pacemaker battery to expire?
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:36 pmDid the ‘Protect America Act’ protect us Americans from Cheney?
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:37 pmMore from his “speech”:
“Back in the 1980s, we were heavily engaged in Afghanistan, lending support to the Mujahadeen in their struggle against the Soviet Union. It was a successful policy.”
Didn’t the Mujahadeen morph into Al-Qaeda? And, you know, supposedly pull off 9/11?
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:37 pmAfter Jan 20, 2009, Cheney can get a job teaching rabid dogs how to snarl.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:37 pmOT- Sorry — Casualty count is 4044.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:39 pm“Cheney’s profanity laced tired…”
I meant “Cheney’s profanity laced tirade…”.
That war criminal dick is making me so angry I can’t spell right!
I’m ordering that his bed be surrounded tonight by 100 continually running microwave ovens.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:40 pmmary Says: More from his “speech”:
“Back in the 1980s, we were heavily engaged in Afghanistan, lending support to the Mujahadeen in their struggle against the Soviet Union. It was a successful policy.”
Didn’t the Mujahadeen morph into Al-Qaeda? And, you know, supposedly pull off 9/11?
You are correct, Mary.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:41 pmThe part our illustrious VP neglected to mention is that it was OSAMA BIN LADEN that led that fight after we trained him.
Now, we’re using Russian choppers to deliver supplies to troops in Afghanistan.
Oh, and we’re delivering 40 year old Chinese ammunition to Afghan troops.
‘Iraq. A War made in Washington’
octamenthyl -
Dick Cheney’s Schock and Awe
no further comment…
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:41 pm“I’m ordering that his bed be surrounded tonight by 100 continually running microwave ovens.”
And a side order of a 55 Gallon drum full of pretzels for GW!
Hear Hear!!
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:41 pmWhy does even this blog give Cheney a pass when he simply lies? Mr. Cheney is a big boy. He can speak for himself. He knows the difference between FISA and PAA. When he chooses to tell his listeners that Congress has allowed FISA to expire he does so because he knows that that is much more inflammatory than the fact that they simply “allowed” PAA to expire. The simple minded hate radio listeners will be repeating this meme for weeks.
The reality of course is that the law was not “allowed” to expire. The Congress is prepared to renew the PAA and has extended it several times, but they are not willing to put retroactive immunity for the telecom companies who broke the FISA law prior to the PAA originally being passed into it. There is currently a veto threat from the President for any PAA extension which does not include retroactive immunity. The President thus has forced Congress to allow the law to expire since he has unconscionable demands attached to its renewal.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:41 pmre 31
And that number doesn’t include the successful suicides the VA has been hiding. What else are they hiding? Why doesn’t cheney care about that?
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:42 pmNote: Exclusion on warranty of LyingBastard-O-Meter 9000.
Repeated exposure to Dick Cheney ‘talks’ voids warranty, and manufacturer cannot be held liable for bodily injury resulting from overuse and frammle implosion.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:42 pmI want to see Cheney’s net worth in ‘02 and then in ‘07.
I suspect he’s personally made over a $100 million by invading Iraq.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:43 pmRUC,
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:44 pmPlease be careful with that thing; you could poke your eye out!
Ha ! Good idea . .
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:44 pmThe Time to arrest this FAT FACIST, the War Criminal Dick Cheeny is over due!
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:44 pmah, ZimZone beat me to it, but Mary you are correct, OBL was a part of the mujahadeen in Afghanistan — yes, wasn’t so very successful to arm that guy!
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:51 pmmary Says:
“Back in the 1980s, we were heavily engaged in Afghanistan, lending support to the Mujahadeen in their struggle against the Soviet Union. It was a successful policy.”
Didn’t the Mujahadeen morph into Al-Qaeda? And, you know, supposedly pull off 9/11?
Yes,I still have old Soldier of Fortune mags from the 80’s (I was subscribing while in the military). They ran several articles about the CIA hired mercs training the mujahadeen, who were calling themselves “The Base” at that time.
Al Qaeda means literally “The Base”.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:53 pmOh don’t worry about Mr.Chaney, the Hauge will take care of him after the new President takes the office. It’s to bad firing squads are not in use today.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:53 pmNOLIESPLEASE Says:
Oh don’t worry about Mr.Chaney, the Hauge will take care of him after the new President takes the office. It’s to bad firing squads are not in use today.
Firing squad would be too good for Cheney.
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:01 pmHell, for that matter, dunking him in boiling lye would be too good for him
Yup, Daddy Warbucks would lie on anything that will help him to gain a buck. He is still playing “Blame the House Democrats” game as usual.
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:03 pmIs he still alive and if he is then what’s that stink?
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:06 pmRemember electing Dems could lead to a terrorist attack..a falling dollar..collapse of housing sales..a failing democracy..voter fraud..loss of global respect…hmmmmm did I say electing Dems?
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:07 pm1) Cheney was addressing the “conservative” Manhattan Institute. Because they’re conservative, they’re used to being lied to. In fact, conservatives actually PREFER being lied to. How else could anyone explain the Fox “News” Network?
2) Congress does seem to miss big opportunities. For example, they should have impeached Reagan. They should have impeached Cheney during the first Bush misadministration and Bush immediately afterwards. But they didn’t, and they missed a big opportunity.
3) Congress does tend to lose sight of big responsibilities: like defending the constitution. They should NEVER have given the chimp administration permission to use force in Iraq. Big mistake. (Give a chimp a chance to screw something up and he’ll do it, every time.) They should never have passed the Military Commissions act, or allowed Bush administration officials to ignore subpoenas as this allows the administration to continue to skirt the law and avoid accountability.
4) Finally, Cheney, like Bush, can’t string two sentences together without telling a lie. (Bush simply can’t string two sentences together, period.) FISA never expired Dick. You’d like to pretend it did because that sounds better than the truth: you’ve been violating the FISA laws since you got into office in 2001.
I don’t think Congress should miss another opportunity: they should impeach Dick Cheney IMMEDIATELY.
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:08 pmDo we have any pictures of Cheney where he doesn’t look like he’s gone too long without eating any live puppies?
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:10 pmZIM~
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:13 pmI have Cheney’s schedule, and keep mine unplugged whenever fresh puppies have been ordered…
49. Regular Joe,
Are you making the argument that if Congress had acted on the war crimes of Iran-Contra Reagan, the the others wouldn’t have done their crimes later ?
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:14 pmDuring a speech yesterday at the conservative Manhattan Institute, Vice President Dick Cheney claimed that Congress “does have a way, at times, of missing big opportunities and losing sight of big responsibilities.” As an example, Cheney criticized House Democrats for allowing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to expire:
At this point, telling the truth to a room full of koolaid drinkers would have them all choking on their chateaubriand.
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:14 pmMapleStreet Says:
Are you making the argument that if Congress had acted on the war crimes of Iran-Contra Reagan, the the others wouldn’t have done their crimes later ?
IMHO,if Congress had aggressively gone after Nixon(and his cronies), then Iran/Contra, actually putting the crooks in jail, the Bush Administration would have been partially deterred at least.
If the Congress does not act to prosecute the crooks of the Bush Administration, these cronies will be back in 4 to 12 years doing it all over again.
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:27 pmFree Speech TV, the other night, reprised “Our Own Private Bin Laden.” Must-See-TV! Put it in your Netflix cue; get it from your local library, somehow see to it that you and everyone in your household sees it…
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:28 pmOur Own Private Bin Laden, a fascinating work piecing together the roots, reality and myth of Islamic extremism. The film highlights the links between the Cold War politics played out in Afghanistan in the 1980s and the emergence of new forms of terrorism. (Auteur) Goetschel has assembled an impressive list of talking heads, ranging from retired CIA officer Milton Beardon, who served in Pakistan from 1986 to 1989 and played a key in role in training the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan; to Jimmy Carter’s national security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, architect of US involvement in Afghanistan in the 1980s, and Pakistan’s former (and now-deceased) prime minister Benazir Bhutto. When asked how she achieved such access, Goetschel explains, “I don’t really know why people agreed to talk to me. I’m a nobody.I’m not even a journalist. Milton Beardon was fascinated by the fact that when he ‘googled’ me nothing came up. He was convinced I had another agenda. He kept asking ‘Who are you really working for?’ He couldn’t accept the truth that I was private individual. People couldn’t figure out who I was. They would dream up a reality based on their own fears and anxieties rather than believe the truth.” (MG)
I think we would all be shocked if Cheney ever told the truth. The reason he is growling in the picture is that he didn’t get his way.
Me, personally, I liked it better during the first 4 years when Cheney was in hiding. Whatever rock he crawled out from underneath , he needs to go back. He gets very cranky when doing public appearances. I have yet to see one picture with a smile on his face.
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:36 pmLies, deceit, along with total and complete arrogance.
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:43 pmSo NeoCon fascists like cheney lose their minds at the end?
hmmm … maybe this is better than a heart attack!
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:44 pmOf course say hello to the gospel truth, brought to you by the LAPDOGS of the MSM…
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:48 pmWhy don’t you post the rest of what Vice Pres. Cheney said?
How hard is it to be a little honest?
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:53 pmJebus. I think it would be bigger news if that bloody old bastard ever told the truth about anything.
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:02 pmHow could anyone doubt a man with such a warm, genuine, smile?
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:08 pm/sarc off
My favorite pic of the Big Dick is the one of him wearing his parka and looking pissed because no one told him it wasn’t “Wear Your Parka” day.
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:37 pmCaption Contest:
“and this is my impression of a bulldog.”
Grrrrrr!
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:49 pmmissmolly @50 - see #33 at 3:41 pm …
great smile!
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:09 pmYou gotta love Cheney’s growl face. It just gets me all warm and fuzzy about the lyin’ sack of manure. When has he or Bush ever accepted the blame for anything? No, these guys think they have special dispensation from God. What they say goes right? Wrong! They have made a mess of our country and our relations in the world. And thanks for nothing Nancy Pelosi for lacking the courage to drop the jail on cheney’s head (figuratively speaking).
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:19 pm52. MapleStreet,
You bet. I would also suggest that Nixon should NEVER had been pardoned so he could have been tried for his crimes, but Nixon’s pardon had nothing to do with Congress.
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:23 pmHe lies. How is it even possible to parse this otherwise. He’s grossly incompetent? That one’s already taken.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:37 pm