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Title: Bush Vows to Continue Domestic Surveillance
Source:
The Los Angeles Times
URL Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationw ... 1.story?coll=la-home-headlines
Published: Dec 19, 2005
Author: James Gerstenzang, Times Staff Writer
Post Date: 2005-12-19 13:21:02 by robin
Keywords: Surveillance, Continue, Domestic
Views: 142
Comments: 24
Poster Comment: Bush Vows to Continue Domestic Surveillance
By James Gerstenzang
Times Staff Writer
9:52 AM PST, December 19, 2005
WASHINGTON — President Bush today repeatedly defended his decision to let the government conduct, without court warrants, domestic spying operations aimed at American citizens and U.S. residents suspected of having terrorist ties, and demanded congressional approval of the USA Patriot Act before it expires on Dec. 31.
In a 55-minute news conference that focused almost exclusively on the war in Iraq, and counter-terrorist programs in the United States and abroad, the president sought to justify the domestic spying program, while seeking to defend it as legal and as a necessary and constitutional step in protecting the country from terrorist attack.
Its disclosure in a New York Times article published Friday has brought a storm of criticism, including from some Republicans, questioning whether it crossed the border into a violation of constitutional protections of citizens' privacy. Critics, including some experts in Congress, have said that current law, which demands approval by a special national security court, should have been followed.
Bush said that the program he began, by avoiding the court — which has been known to give nearly instantaneous approval to all but a very few administration requests — "enables us to move faster and quicker, and that's important."
"We've got to be fast on our feet, quick to detect and prevent" terrorist attacks," he said.
At the same time, he angrily denounced the decision to make the program public. He seemed to suggest that both the newspaper, and its sources with knowledge of the classified program, deserved blame.
"My personal opinion is it was a shameful act, for someone to disclose this very important program in time of war," the president said. "The fact that we're discussing this program is helping the enemy."
Bush, who refused to talk about it in public on Friday, used an expanded version of his weekly radio address, which he allowed television cameras to record, on Saturday to issue his first public justification of the program.
With a bust of Abraham Lincoln appearing over his right shoulder, and Christmas decorations forming a backdrop as he spoke in the White House East Room, the president insisted that the program, which was begun after the Sept. 11 attacks, was within the law.
"Having suggested this idea, I then, obviously, went to the question, is it legal to do so? I swore to uphold the laws. Do I have the legal authority to do this? And the answer is, absolutely," he said.
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#1. To: All, Uncle Bill, OKCSubmariner, Red Jones, Eoghan, BTP Holdings, Jhoffa_, Zipporah, aristeides, Dakmar, Jethro Tull, lodwick, christine, Phaedrus, mehitable, Elliott Jackalope, Itisa1mosttoolate, timetobuildaboat, Flintlock, wbales, Bayonne (#0)
ping!
War is never a solution; it is an aggravation. Are vows to break the law and disregard the Constitution grounds for impeachment?
And I'm optimistic. See, I think you can be realistic and optimistic at the same time. I'm optimistic we'll achieve -- I know we won't achieve if we send mixed signals. I know we're not going to achieve our objective if we send mixed signals - gwbush
...while taking a black magic marker to what is now formerly known as the Fourth Amendment.
In all of German-occupied Europe , there were 2.4 million Jews. After the war, 3.8 million Jews applied for Holocaust reparations. Tragically, the remaining 6 million were lost.
http://impeachpac.org/ Also at that website: *************************************************************** Imperial Bush? Submitted by davidswanson on Mon, 2005-12-19 11:41. Grounds for Impeachment By Dave Lindorff, http://www.thiscantbehappening.net In an interview last week, George McGovern, former US Senator from South Dakota, outspoken opponent of the Vietnam War and 1972 Democratic candidate for President, told me that President Bush’s announced new policy of pre-emptive war--his justification for invading Iraq--puts America in the same camp as Imperial Japan in 1942. McGovern, who was a decorated bomber pilot in Europe during WWII, said, "You cannot just invade a country. That is clearly a violation of international law. The argument that you are going to invade another country because it might become a threat is exactly the one that the generals in Japan used to justify their attack on Pearl Harbor." Unless I'm mistaken, Japanese generals were executed for that crime. **********************************************************
War is never a solution; it is an aggravation. I watched most of this mess. His extremely lengthily answers to short direct questions struck me as a tactic designed to "run the clock out." As usual, I came away from his Q&A session with nothing (why do I continue to watch these things). Did anyone else notice this ploy of his?
I can no longer watch the sock puppet in any setting.
I hear ya', but it's like a train wreck. I feel compelled to watch. Last night Rove obviously told him to be animated, so he waved his hands about completely inappropriately. Today, he was in "protect the lead - run out the clock" mode. He's a fucking nut...no question about it.
I watched him last night and was amazed to learn that no one actually believes the war is wrong, there are just lot of us who didn't think the US had enough bombs, planes, tanks, missles, greanades, bullets, humvees, and troops to win.
And I'm optimistic. See, I think you can be realistic and optimistic at the same time. I'm optimistic we'll achieve -- I know we won't achieve if we send mixed signals. I know we're not going to achieve our objective if we send mixed signals - gwbush
Everything he's done since he was "elected" has been grounds for impeachment.
Nor I.
In all of German-occupied Europe , there were 2.4 million Jews. After the war, 3.8 million Jews applied for Holocaust reparations. Tragically, the remaining 6 million were lost.
Funny, but I've never been able to watch him. If I watch him for more than 5 minutes, I get this violent urge to tear at my own flesh and stick hot irons in my eyes. it's probably just me though.
WTF???? What about the constitution (that "damn piece of paper")? Didn't that moron swear an oath to uphold the constitution? I would say "UNFUCKING BELIEVABLE" but I'm past that these days.
If the Ds can get the #s in the Senate and the House, we could see impeachment proceedings. Christ, if they take both bush and cheney out, can you say President Pelosi?
Christ, if they take both bush and cheney out, can you say President Pelosi? Boy, I wish I were still back where you are today........
Nixon: "I am not a crook." Bush: "I am not a dictator."
Luv the graphic.
Bush: "I am not a dictator." Peas in a pod.....
Smirk will never resign though. christine posted last night that MSNBC showed protesters chanting "RESIGN, RESIGN" outside the WH.
War is never a solution; it is an aggravation. All I have to say is, "Hey Bush, you can kiss my... "The consolidation of the States into one vast empire, sure to be aggressive abroad and despotic at home, will be the certain precursor of ruin which has overwhelmed all that preceded it." General Robert E. Lee
"Hey Bush, you can kiss my... It's not me, really. ;0)
"The consolidation of the States into one vast empire, sure to be aggressive abroad and despotic at home, will be the certain precursor of ruin which has overwhelmed all that preceded it." General Robert E. Lee
This is interesting from Wikipedia on the FISA..there is good reason Bush didnt use the FISA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_Intelligence_Surveillance_Act "there is "no substantial likelihood" of a US citizen being party" Electronic surveillance Generally, the statute permits electronic surveillance in two scenarios. First, the President may authorize, through the Attorney General, the surveillance without a court order where it is directed at the acquisition of "technical intelligence" or the contents of communications of foreign powers (not including terrorist organizations), there is "no substantial likelihood" of a US citizen being party, and the procedures, among other things, minimize the impact on United States citizens.
Click to see: Making a difference in Iraq
In addition, the statute creates a cause of action for private individuals whose communications were unlawfully monitored. The statute permits actual damages of not less than $1,000 or $100 per day. In addition, that statute authorizes punitive damages and an award of attorney's fees. 10,000 citizens being tracked in a database since 9/11. And another ~3 dozen cases where Smirk personally broke the law. Wouldn't you like to know how many were patriotic American citizens who just have a healthy hatred for this administration? I hope there are some lawsuits due to these revelations.
War is never a solution; it is an aggravation. This is a slight misquote. Actually he said it was a "G--d---ed" piece of paper in order to emphasize that He personally was damning it. In his demented mind, he long ago fused with the Almighty a la Caesar.
~Benjamin Disraeli
#2. To: robin (#1)
#3. To: robin (#0)
I swore to uphold the laws. Do I have the legal authority to do this? And the answer is, absolutely," he said...
#4. To: Dakmar (#2)
~Benjamin Disraeli
#5. To: robin (#1)
In a 55-minute news conference that focused almost exclusively on the war in Iraq, and counter-terrorist programs in the United States and abroad, the
#6. To: robin, all (#4)
#7. To: Jethro Tull (#5)
Did anyone else notice this ploy of his?
#8. To: lodwick (#7)
I can no longer watch the sock puppet in any setting.
#9. To: lodwick (#7)
#10. To: Dakmar (#2)
#11. To: lodwick (#7)
I can no longer watch the sock puppet in any setting.
#12. To: wbales (#11)
#13. To: robin (#0)
the president insisted that the program, which was begun after the Sept. 11 attacks, was within the law.
#14. To: timetobuildaboat (#13)
I would say "UNFUCKING BELIEVABLE" but I'm past that these days.
#15. To: Soda Pop (#14)
If the Ds can get the #s in the Senate and the House, we could see impeachment proceedings.
#16. To: timetobuildaboat (#15)
#17. To: lodwick (#6)
#18. To: aristeides (#16)
Nixon: "I am not a crook."
#19. To: timetobuildaboat, aristeides, christine (#18)
~Benjamin Disraeli
#20. To: robin (#0)
#21. To: All (#20)
All I have to say is,
#22. To: robin (#0)
#23. To: Zipporah (#22)
The penalties for either act are fines up to $10,000, up to five years in jail, or both.
~Benjamin Disraeli
#24. To: timetobuildaboat (#13)
What about the constitution (that "damn piece of paper")?
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