Bush: Warrantless spying is "exactly what I will continue to do"

[kurth]

Bush Urges Renewal of Patriot Act, Defends Use of U.S. Wiretaps

Dec. 17 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. President George W. Bush urged Congress to renew the anti-terrorism USA Patriot Act and defended his authorization of spying on American citizens and foreign nationals after the Sept. 11 attacks. "The American people expect me to do everything in my power to protect them," Bush said today in his weekly radio address. "That is exactly what I will continue to do."

The Senate yesterday failed to clear the way for renewal of the Patriot Act, falling seven votes short of a total needed to cut off debate. The law, enacted soon after the Sept. 11 attacks, expands the powers of investigative agencies trying to root out terrorists. The Senate vote left the act's future in doubt.

Also yesterday, the New York Times reported that Bush in 2002 secretly authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop without the court-approved warrants that are required for domestic spying. The international phone calls and e-mail messages of hundreds, possibly thousands, of people have been monitored without warrants to find numbers linked to al-Qaeda, the paper said.

The "secret program" is "critical to saving American lives" and "crucial to our national security," Bush said today. The wiretaps are a "vital tool" in the war against terrorism and the program was improperly revealed to the news media, the president said.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. A vital recruiting tool for people who will learn to hate Amurka lives

at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

[Kagemusha]

2. Let me be the one to say it, then...

Why is passing the Patriot Act so important if Bush has it within his power to simply authorize law enforcement to use the provisions of the Patriot Act that are expiring based on his own omnipotent presidential authority? He says he's expected to do everything in his power to protect America. Does that not include simply ordering the government to collect evidence on citizens and dare Congress and the courts to stop him? Is it not within his power to perform deeds that the other branches cannot physically stop his Executive Branch from performing until, well, they do stop him? Is that not what America *expects* of him, if Congress and the courts will not defend America?

[tecelote]

3. Has anyone investigated Bush for his connections to Osama?

[Jade Fox]

4. Does this man want to be impeached???

Does he not get that he broke the law? Are his handlers so dense they are telling him
he can tough this one out by invoking the good ole war on terror, or is he on his own
on this one?

[FormerRepublican]

6. Maybe it's a plot by Cheney to seize the Presidency...

And I'm only partly kidding...

[Jade Fox]

7. Apparently, he and Cheney are on very bad terms these days...

I'm not so sure Cheney would be worse than Bush. Cheney has zero charisma, and though it's lost
on me, many people just 'like' Bush no matter what he does. Not a few will be touched by his
stated desire to "protect" us. Cheney completely lacks that personal touch, and his actions would
be more transparent to the American people.

[LunaC]

16. That thought occured to me too

Cheney humongously lusts for power and he's insane to boot. What better way to take the reins by setting up the Boy Wonder to take a fall!

[expatriot]

5. "everything in my power"

you see, in the united states, georgey... the people have come up with some rules and regulations as to what power you have and what powers you don't. It's called the Constitution.

[jimshoes]

8. They hate it when

they are exposed while hoodwinking the American people. Now, go back to sleep while they finish stealing America.

[pdxmom]

9. He says that as long as he is president, he will continue to spy

on American citizens. If that is true, then those that truly love this country and the Constitution have no choice but to remove him as President as soon as possible. He has committed high crimes and misdemeanors, and not about a blow job.

He's proudly violating the Constitution, and thinks he is above the law. This can not be allowed to stand.

[Evergreen Emerald]

10. Seriously...who does he think he is?

Under what authority does he have the power to spy on Americans without proper checks and balances?

The arrogance of his position and the blatant justifications for his actions are stunning.

[Kagemusha]

11. And if no one stops him his acts become de facto legal.

No one could before because it was s-e-c-r-e-t. Now it's just c-o-w-a-r-d-i-c-e though.

[Vickers]

12. It's not *in* your power, you pathetic dumbass

Jesus, I knew more about the Constitution when I was in 4th grade.

[prole_for_peace]

13. how many "terrorist" acts have been averted

and how many lives, american lives cause we are the only ones that matter, have been saved by this crap? none that i know of. i would think that if something had been stopped it would be all over the papers cause there this admin loves to say "see how we protected you"

[Sparkly]

14. Where are all the anti-government militia nuts now?!?

Where are those rightwing crazies who claimed Clinton was going to send black helicopters to invade their privacy and send Big Brother into their homes?

Not that I miss them, but it's odd.

[cliss]

15. Who leaked this info?

The article on Yahoo news says that "Bush is furious because the story was leaked".

I'd like to know who did it. I'm sure Bush wants to know, too.

This has incredibly interesting implications!!! It means that somebody or more than 1 person is divulging stuff. There may be more. LOTS more.

I for one can't wait. I'd say the H.M.S. Bush is sinking, fast.

[Blaze Diem]

17. ha ha..like a torpedo

shock and awe comes home to roost.. freedom fries become failure fries..all those cute quips and quotes produced by the media machine inside Bush's cabal are beginning to turn against the little worm that was appointed a place in the Oval Office.
All this time he's been hiding behind the guise of the "Patriot Act", which is also becoming obsolete in its broad range of power.

The real mission of Bush's appointment to the Office of President was to steal from every nook and cranny within the US Government, and laundered theough the Patriot Act under the guise of a 'necessary war' against terrorism.

And of course, none of this could have come about without the creation of a reason..the American people and the World needed to be given a reason to support this fantastic money laundering scheme.

Who created the demise of the World Trade Center Towers in NY?
It is proven they will stop at nothing to have total & limitless power.
Treason was indeed committed upon our America for the sole purpose of one big fat money laundering scheme.
Tell us George, who organized the downing of the Twin Towers? What role did you play? We know why your people did it, now we'd like to know who orchestrated such a horrendous scheme.

Spill your guts George..its all you have left...
Schock and Awe?? You stupid little Fu**er..

Thanks for allowing me to vent, DU.

Blaze

[cliss]

18. It's kinda strange.....

I know we've beaten this thing to death here at the DU....(MIHOP or LIHOP). As I was reading your post, I suddenly remembered a VERY strange article in Time magazine.

It was after the 9/11 attack. It showed an "inside" view on how the White House reacted, where the principal players were, etc. The article showed some photos of Cheney. He was sitting by a TV monitor, watching the whole event. CondaLiar was sitting behind him. The article said, "Cheney was unusually gruff with aides, but on the whole he was a real administrator, a real hero etc etc ad nauseum.

But if you look closely at one photo, Cheney has a VERY faint smile on his face as he was looking at the monitor. God, and I've thrown away that magazine. Long ago. I would VERY MUCH like to look at Cheney, again.