Cheney: We Asked If We Needed Approval For Wiretapping, Congress Told Us ‘Absolutely Not’
Cheney: We Asked If We Needed Approval For Wiretapping, Congress Told Us ‘Absolutely Not’
In an interview with Fox News’s Chris Wallace yesterday morning, Vice President Cheney defended the Bush administration’s warrantless wiretapping program, and claimed that the congressional leaders briefed on the program wholeheartedly approved. In fact, Cheney claimed, when the White House asked if it needed congressional approval for the program, they unanimously agreed it did not:
CHENEY: We briefed them on the program and what we’d achieved and how it worked and asked them should we continue the program. They were unanimous, Republican and Democrat alike. All agreed: Absolutely essential to continue the program. I then said, Do we need to come to the Congress and get additional legislating authorization to continue what we’re doing? They said absolutely not. Don’t do it.
Watch it:
Cheney’s startling claims run directly counter to accounts by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV). Rather than asking for congressional input, Pelosi and Rockefeller said in 2005 that Cheney simply informed them of what was going on — and ignored their objections:
PELOSI: The Bush Administration considered these briefings to be notification, not a request for approval. As is my practice whenever I am notified about such intelligence activities, I expressed my strong concerns during these briefings.
ROCKEFELLER: The record needs to be set clear that the Administration never afforded members briefed on the program an opportunity to either approve or disapprove the NSA program.
Other congressional members who attended those briefings have said that they were told only the barest outlines of the program. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Jane Harman (D-CA) said that the White House never disclosed that it was skirting the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to eavesdrop on Americans without warrants. Former Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL) said the same thing:
The assumption was that if we did that, we would do it pursuant to the law, the law that regulates the surveillance of national security issues. And there was no suggestion that we were going to begin eavesdropping on United States citizens without following the full law. … There was no reference made to the fact that we were going to use that as the subterfuge to begin unwarranted, illegal — and I think unconstitutional — eavesdropping on American citizens.
What’s more, Rockefeller, then vice-chairman of the Intelligence Committee, wrote a hand-written letter to Cheney in 2003 to “reiterate [his] concerns” about the wiretapping program. “I feel unable to fully evaluate, much less endorse these activities,” he wrote.
Cheney claims to have suggested seeking congressional approval right away. However, the White House put up a stiff fight just a few years later, when Congress finally sought to impose oversight of the wiretapping program. The Vice President has already presented misleading information about the dates and frequency of these supposed briefings; now he appears to be offering misleading descriptions of them.
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THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS ROTTEN.
WHERE’S MY PITCHFORK AND BURNING SPEAR?
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:10 amThis is flat-out freaky…
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:13 amAh, this whole transition period is becoming so surreal. Biden and Obama want to look forward. Cheney spins what they told some small subset of Congressional leaders in private, secret meetings no one took note at or reported on contemporaneously.
See what happens when you trust the devil? You get played. Plausible deniability all the way around (what, you think I said that? No, I said this, I’m sorry you were mistaken Madam Speaker). It is as bad as some of us thought at the time and they’ll all get away with it.
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:18 amp.s. the American “dream” is a lie, a myth sold by the power elite.
The mere notion that anyone in DC is concerned with America is insanely laughable.
Anyone with a net worth over 1 million is heavily invested overseas. They’ve seen the writing on the wall, they wrote it:
America is a great place to acquire great wealth at the expense of the populace in general.
There is NO united states other than geographically speaking.
It’s a “free-for-all”, one-for-all mentality for those who control the money and flow of it.
Everything else is meaningless.
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:20 amOh, come ON! Don’t be naive. It is entirely possible that Cheney is completely truthful in this.
It would explain A LOT about why the Dims are so reluctant to investigate and prosecute the Pukes for their criminal acts: They (the Dims) are complicit in the crimes…
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:20 am…”all-for-one”…
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:20 amDNFP Says:
THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS ROTTEN.
WHERE’S MY PITCHFORK AND BURNING SPEAR?
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:10 am
Me? I’m with Mencken: “Every normal man must sometimes want to spit on his hands, raise the black flag, and commence to cutting throats.”
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:22 amWould a “unitary executive” ask permission to do something?
Would a “decider” ask permission to do something?
Would a liar tell the truth if he did ask permission to do something?
Would Cheney be more likely to ask permission as opposed to say “fu** Congress”?
NO, NO, NO, and NO
The sun rose in the east. Snow is cold. Hell is hot. Cheney lied. No news.
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:23 amThey (the Dims) are complicit in the crimes…
Anyone who believes politicians (R or D) are caring, honest people who just love to serve, I’ve got some choice waterfront property on the Atchafalaya Basin I’ll sell ya for a cool 4 mil – a real steal!
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:23 amhahahaha – Cheney asking anyone or anything for approval to do anything? That’s the funniest thing Cheney has ever asserted.
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:27 amLies, lies, and more damn lies. Cheney’s smug disdain
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:41 amis written all over his face. The rabble (that’s us, folks) needs to clamor for the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the Bushies’ crimes. If we don’t, we’re as guilty as they are. If we don’t, then the rule of law in the United States is well and truly dead.
The Dick hasn’t told the truth since taking the oath of office (he lied about that too). No reason he should tell the truth now.
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:41 amIt is a lie, of course, but it is worth pointing out that it was a REPUBLICAN-MAJORITY CONGRESS that was in power when all this went down. The Congressional Republicans never said no to Bush/Cheney, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Congressional Republicans passed on approving it.
But it’s a new day….
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:51 amBeen said, but man is it worth repeating:
I am expected to believe that Cheney ASKED ANYONE FOR PERMISSION FOR ANYTHING? REALLY?!!???!!??
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:55 amDickhead, Nancy, and Rocky all live under the same rock. Believe not a one!
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:00 amQuite a few Democrats do deserve criticism for their frankly staggering naivety—it is the politicians who are supposed to look at every angle and implication.
The implications of the surveillance program, however vaguely it was described to them were blindingly obvious–indeed, precisely because the details were lacking they should have immediately demanded more or else objected more vociferously.
BUT of course, whilst the Dems failed to raise an effective alarm it was Cheney and the GOP (supported by their proxies in the media) who conceived of and committed the crime, whilst the Dem;s just failed to go to the aid of the victim.
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:06 am“Misleading”? “Misleading”? He flat out lied. Why is it that we can’t call these people out when they flat out lie to us? Why do we have to say they were “misleading” us? Bah.
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:06 amThe FISA law is very clear, and didn’t have any loopholes. Anyone can understand it, without needing a law degree.
Hey, now we know why the administration demanded that no recording of those briefings be made – so he could lie about it later.
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:12 amPelosi: “Stong disapproval.”
Oooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
I’m sure Richard Bruce Cheney was shaking in his boots. I know I am.
No wonder they went ahead and violated the US Constitution. Strong disapproval! Wow!
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:14 amIt seems Darth Cheney is so confident he won’t be prosecuted that he’s admitting to just about everything in public and on tape. I hope he’s dead wrong about that.
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:15 amThe American people have cheap gas again so they go back to ignoring the shredding of the Constitution, and torture, and cronyism, and the gutting of the EPA and…
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:19 amConducting policy in absolute secrecy means never having to say you’re sorry. Or even admit you’re wrong.
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:21 amWHO CARES??? The Dems would never have pushed back on Cheney nor would they ever, ever have stood up to him.
They are frightened of him, he knows it & milks it and the country has suffered greatly from this incredibly disfunctional relationship in DC.
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:32 amIf they asked any Democrat, it was a has been named Lieberman
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:42 amit’s incredibly hard to swallow pelosi’s and rockefeller’s claims that they were “concerned.”
and didn’t cheney and rockefeller pencil an awful bill together later on, asking for immunity?
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:04 pmCheney: Constitution? What the F— is that? Little people don’t need rights. We know what is best for them.
I hope Pelosi doesn’t break a nail picking up that pencil. Oooo, look out for paper cuts too. Heaven forbid she would uphold the OATH SHE SWORE TO UPHOLD AND PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION! GET A GOD DAMN SPINE AND DO THE JOB YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO!
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:06 pmkey words:
“it will reveal to the enemy how we are reading their mail.”
in other words, the manner in which we are reading “their” mail (which could mean ANYONE’s mail), does not fall within the confines of the law.
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:08 pmYou know what’s funny – in a closed meeting even if Congressional leaders did tell him he didn’t need legislative changes to conduct warrantless wiretapping, that still wouldn’t change the fact that warrantless wiretapping was and is illegal.
You either follow the law as it reads, or you don’t. Knowing the laws you’re supposed to follow is your job, not someone else’s.
A judge’s response to this argument should be “well, I guess Pelosi sure punked you, ‘cuz now you’re going to JAIL!”
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:38 pmRove’s rewriting of history via Cheney is happening in earnest.
Whether Cheney is telling the truth or Pelosi is, it doesn’t matter. Why? Because Cheney knows only one thing. That NO MATTER what he says, the Dems led by Pelosi and Reid will NOT consider much less act on holding BushCo accountable….Ever! It’s never gonna happen with Reid and Pelosi in charge.
Armed with this “protection” Cheney can continue to tell the American people and the Constitution to go to hell. Controlling the past in order to control the future. No one to stop him.
Again, WHEN are we going to call for the ouster of the countries worst “conspirators”?
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:51 pmWhen will this fat facist pig get arrested???? What is going on in the USA?????????!!!!!! This criminal should be behind barrs waiting for his trial and executuion!
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:59 pmIt seems to me that Cheney is attempting to provoke Dems into bringing charges against him for constitutional crimes quickly so that Bush can pardon him before he leaves office.
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:00 pmThe revisionist history book continues to be written. In invisible ink, of course. We’d have to kill you otherwise.
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:12 pm49erDem Says:
It seems to me that Cheney is attempting to provoke Dems into bringing charges against him for constitutional crimes quickly so that Bush can pardon him before he leaves office.
That’s what I thought at first, too! Kinda like a serial arsonist. Returning to watch his fires burn while basking in the twisted sexual deviance of his crime.
But, I don’t think so now. Pelosi and Reid have Cheney’s back. W’s & Roves, too. After all, Pelosi and Reid say accountability is “Off-The-Table”. And it has been.
Cheney’s safe to rewrite history as long as those two are in power.
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:14 pmSafe to Watch His Fires Burn!
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:15 pmI don’t think “Pelosi and Reid have Cheney’s back” is accurate. We’ll see. Pelosi got a lot of press for that statement, but somehow they absentmindedly forgot to report that Pelosi also said, “if there are consitutional crimes that have been committed, we’ll look into them and take action.” Keep in mind that Pelosi and Reid have stronger majorities now and a new boss. I don’t think Cheney is off the hook just yet.
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:59 pmAre you implying that in the briefing, the WH may have left out some pertinent facts (such as instead of baking a pound cake, they were really gonna spy on domestic targets) ???
I’m shocked you would imply such a thing.
And to be clear, if they told Congress that they were gonna bake a pound cake, and no one objected, silence implies consent.
Right ?
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:25 pmHe’s the worst liar. You wouldn’t ask Congress, you would ask the Justice Department (and notify, at the very least, the Judiciary Committees)
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:53 pm49erDem Says:
“I don’t think Cheney is off the hook just yet.”
With every fiber of my being, I hope you are right.
December 22nd, 2008 at 4:02 pmDarth Cheney may wish to save these comments for his war crimes tribunal. Where can we sign up to get the rope, build the gallows, pull the lever, etc. to hang this pile of pig excrement? If only we could all have true justice.
December 22nd, 2008 at 4:09 pmObama voted to give the telecoms more surveillance power, in case you all forgot.
CHANGE!!!!
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00168
December 22nd, 2008 at 7:01 pmCheney is an inveterate liar, but I think he’s telling the truth here. We already know that Pelosi and Rockefeller knew about and approved torture and lied about it afterwards. Harman allegedly expressed some reservations but did nothing to stop it. And even Obama voted for giving immunity to telecoms companies for violating Americans’ constitutional rights, and is disinclined to investigate and prosecute the abuses.
The horrifying, nearly fascist turn taken by our government in the past 8 years may have been directed by Bush and Cheney, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the gleeful support of the Republicans and the more tacit support, or at best craven inaction, of the Democrats.
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:42 pmNo he is NOT telling the truth. They ASKED for this type of power when getting the AUF passed and were told NO it would never pass Congress. As for Rockefeller and Pelosi knowing YES they were informed but in a classified meeting they COULDNT reveal it as that would be illegal. Both said from the very beggining that they told Bush it was wrong. I am STILL mad at Obama for voting for the telecom immunity.
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:17 amOne of the great tragedies of Obama’s, and the majority of congressional Democrats’, disinclination to investigate and prosecute serious human rights violations in the “war on terror” is that we lose the moral standing to denounce violations elsewhere. Because we will not acknowledge the humanity and the suffering of the victims, uphold the legitimacy of law by enforcing it, signal our friends that we share their norms of decency and our potential enemies that we understand their grievances and have truly changed, uphold the honor of the Nuremberg and other tribunals by continuing the tradition when our own citizens are the defendants, and seek to deter future wrongdoing by US officials, we must perforce cede the high moral ground to more civilized nations and sit in stony silence or reveal ourselves as hypocrites by speaking.
December 23rd, 2008 at 3:36 amEven if true, it wouldn’t matter if the Gang of Eight said, “Yeah, OK, keep up the good work.”
They have no power to pass or ‘revise’ statutory law unilaterally. Nor does FISA give their assent any legal weight.
Cheers,
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:16 amDoesn’t it seem most likely that they’re all lying?
Cheney tells Reid and Pelosi as little as possible, if that.
The Dems just mumble about how it better not be illegal.
Cheney assures them he’s got the DOJ backing him up.
The Dems can easily prove me wrong:
Arrest the SOB and charge him with treason.
December 23rd, 2008 at 6:13 pm