What is going on here

[txswinner]

Gonzales: Bush Blocked Eavesdropping Probe


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Jul 18, 11:12 AM (ET)

By MARK SHERMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Tuesday that President Bush personally blocked Justice Department lawyers from pursuing an internal probe of the warrantless eavesdropping program that monitors Americans' international calls and e-mails when terrorism is suspected.

The department's Office of Professional Responsibility announced earlier this year it could not pursue an investigation into the role of Justice lawyers in crafting the program, under which the National Security Agency intercepts some telephone calls and e-mail without court approval.

At the time, the office said it could not obtain security clearance to examine the classified program.

Under sharp questioning from Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Arlen Specter, Gonzales said that Bush would not grant the access needed to allow the probe to move forward.

"It was highly classified, very important and many other lawyers had access. Why not OPR?" asked Specter, R-Pa.

"The president of the United States makes the decision," Gonzales told the committee hearing, during which he was strongly criticized on a range of national security issues by Specter and Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, the panel's senior Democrat.

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: What is going on here

Please don't make competition for my troll! 8)

 

[LFK]

Re: What is going on here

SSDD.

 

[txswinner]

Re: What is going on here

W got caught by his own man. Ouch and now his party is dropping him in the grease, got to be a beach to be the dummy that trusted all and stood up for them.

 

[JB]

Re: What is going on here

Some folks just don't understand what SECRET means or why it is secret.

What chance would there be that some bleeding heart idiot wouldn't spill the details to the NYT and give Al Qaeda all the details? NONE

Good for you, W. 8)

 

[Dave Abrahamson]

Re: What is going on here

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! JB Let's tell everybody EVERYTHING we know....He!! the world needs to know these things. No more top secret documents...give 'em to the New York Post!!! How are the bad guys supposed to know these things???!!!
Your first sentence said it all "Some folks just don't understand what SECRET means "
Wait....I forgot....let's talk to these freakin' uncivilized animals....you know...compassion.....PLEASE!:devil::devil::devil:

 

[12Footer]

Re: What is going on here

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Thank God for Bush.
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------------------------------------------------From SW Florida, A proud member of iboats since
March 25, 2001
The old me

 

[PW2]

Re: What is going on here

I guess there are those that are indeed above the law.

JB, I have to admit I am surprised that you, being a kind of "Libertarian", would consent to allowing any government official, whatever their politics, to be above the rule of law.

Kind of a dangerous precedent, don't you think?

 

[LFK]

Re: What is going on here

The Article wrote:

At the time, the office said it could not obtain security clearance to examine the classified program.

They weren't cleared for the information.

You must understand, it would be illegal for anyone to assist with that investigation if the people investigating did not have the appropriate clearance.

The Article wrote:

It was highly classified, very important and many other lawyers had access. Why not OPR?

OPR lawyers do not have a need to know how we hunt terrorists. You have other lawyers for that.

 

[JB]

Re: What is going on here

No, PW2, I don't think anyone is above the law. Nixon proved that.

But at the same time, I trust my President to do things that need doing in time of war, and I would like to trust the media and my fellow citizens to honor the meaning of SECRET.

There is no evidence, now that the blabbermouths and the media have hold of it, that anything against the law was involved. Just legal spying on international communications of suspected enemies, authorized by Congress.

Maybe W should hold daily press conferences for the terrorist media. Would that make you Bush bashers happy?

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: What is going on here

If we could find Osama Bin Boy we could hook up one of those red phones in his cave then W could just call him and tell him our plans. I really don't understand what you libs don't understand about us being at war. We are at war with a scumbag bunch of murders that want us dead. I have enough confidence that my government is going to do everything it can to circumvent these animals from being able to kill another 3000 Americans on our soil. Like it or not during time of war certain factions have to work outside the frame work in order to head off these attacks. PW, I have read enough of your posts to know even though we are on opposite political sides we are both dedicated to our country and way of life. I think that the mainstream media is in such a hysterical feeding frenzy to make Bush look bad that they are selling us out a little at a time to try and accomplish it. There are times when the letter of the law and the spirit of the law are not the same thing.

 

[PW2]

Re: What is going on here

FTR, JB, the NYT did sit on the story for sometime before publishing it.

There is no evidence of its legality, one way or another, since the congress has abdicated its reponsibility for oversight, and W has chosen to ignore the (secret)courts set up for that precise purpose.

I have no doubt had the administration informed the NYT that he had obtained court authorization, they would have realized it was a non-story and be done with it---but then the patriot that leaked it first to the NYT probably would not have done it to begin with.

This may surprise you, but I do care that we are successful in this endeavor--but when there are specific ways already set up to ensure the legality of a particular course of action, and I learn we ignore those ways, I naturally assume it was done that way for a reason.

I'm just naturally suspicious of power, I guess

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: What is going on here

It doesn't surprise me at all that you wish for our country to be successful in this endeavor, I think one of the big differences between us is I see a lot of gray areas (outside of work) and grew up with more of a trust in authority figures. I don't know if I'm right or not but I'm to old to change my out look now. I have kind of a faith that if we all do our best things will turn out OK. I don't mean to sound like Pollyanna either. I just think that a lot of media types are on a witch hunt. Do I agree with everything W does? No, I certainly don't but I think he is doing a better job than most would given all that has happened during his time as POTUS.

 

[txswinner]

Re: What is going on here

1. We are not at war, the war is over W said so and I heard him.

2. Who leaked the info, is this another fire the leaker just kidding the leaker is my guy, Rove.

3. Does W even know word was leaked, why would he read the NYT, might be something intelligent in it.

4. Admit it all this administration is in a world of s... but remember they have a plan, and what is it? Let the next administration try to straighten it out. W said it and I heard it.

 

[PW2]

Re: What is going on here

Well, we fundamentally disagree on this.

I grew up with the mantra "never trust anyone over 30" and I stiil don't. I have subsequently learned not to trust those under 30, either.

I do have a huge respect for our founding fathers, who had a huge fear of concentration of power in any one branch of government---and anything that tends to undermine that separation of power is to be viewed as suspect.

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

 

[txswinner]

Re: What is going on here

Hope we make it to the next administration.

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: What is going on here

What do you think is going to happen that we won't make it to the next administration txs? It must take so much energy to be so angry and cynical all of the time about W. :$

 

[JB]

Re: What is going on here

1. Nobody, including our President, said the war is over.
2. Mixing up your stories again, TXS. We are talking about surveillance.
3. Means nothing.
4. One does not show your hand to your opponent.

When are you gonna come up with something with meat in it? You are cherry picking scandalous gossip and applying the gossip to different matters.

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: What is going on here

Boy TXS... some people must think you are a Super Dummy! 8)

 

[CJY]

Re: What is going on here

JB,

"In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed." –President Bush, standing under a "Mission Accomplished" banner on the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier, May 2, 2003

What did W mean by this?