Help. I feel stupid today. Can someone answer this?

[MH1]

"What were the Dems reactions to snoopgate?"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5701205

I know JK said something (strong, I think) but my brain is coming up empty.

[TayTay]

1. I have a few things.

Kerry stumps for Baldacci re-election bid
Bangor Daily News, all, Sec. B, p 1 12-19-2005
By DOUG KESSELI, and OF THE NEWS STAFF Credits

Kerry's stops paid off, raising $40,000 for Baldacci's campaign, Jesse Connolly, Baldacci's re-election campaign manager, said Sunday. The governor expects to raise $200,000 by year's end for his campaign war chest, Connolly said Saturday.

During his 15-minute speech at the Sea Dog, Kerry touched on such hot-button issues as Iraq and recent reports of the National Security Administration spying on Americans without obtaining court warrants.

"I guess I ought to speak softly, just in case President Bush is listening," Kerry said to the appreciative audience, some of whom responded, "No, louder, louder."

Kerry had more to say about the spying revelations when questioned later at a gathering inside the Baldacci family business, Momma Baldacci's Italian Restaurant.

Calling the NSA news "very, very disturbing," the Massachusetts senator said that with the exception of the most urgent national security circumstances, such as direct information about attacks, there is no reason such wire tapping couldn't go through a legitimate legal review process.

"This administration is out of control, and they're stepping on the rights of American citizens," Kerry said.

**************************************************

And this:

Kerry says White House spying unconstitutional
AP DataStreamAAAAP Alert - BusinessAP Alert - CrimeAP Alert - MunicipalAP Alert - PoliticalAP Alert - Terrorism 12-20-2005
By By GLEN JOHNSON

BOSTON_Domestic spying authorized by the White House "doesn't uphold our Constitution" and President Bush's defense of the practice is "lame," Sen. John Kerry said Tuesday.

The Massachusetts Democrat also said the alleged White House leak of a CIA agent's identity was more serious than the media's disclosure of the spying program.

Bush said Monday it was "a shameful act" for someone to have leaked details of the spying program that he authorized shortly after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The program allows the National Security Agency to eavesdrop _ without warrants _ on international calls and e-mails of Americans and others inside the U.S. with suspected ties to al-Qaida.

Kerry, talking with reporters after addressing ironworkers at a local labor hall, contrasted the media's disclosure of the spy program with the White House leak involving Valerie Plame.

Her identity as a CIA analyst was exposed in July 2003 after her husband, former ambassador Joe Wilson, challenged an administration justification for the Iraqi war.

"The leak in the White House was an effort to destroy somebody and his family and attack them for telling the truth," the senator said.

"The leak that took place in this case is a leak that _ I'm not excusing it _ is to tell the truth about something that violates the rights of Americans and doesn't uphold our Constitution," Kerry said.

Bush has said Congress gave him the power to authorize the spying under a mandate to protect the country "by all means necessary."

Kerry called the explanation "lame" and said "there is no wording whatsoever in the law that permits what he engaged in."

The Republican National Committee batted away the criticism.

"While President Bush remains focused on defending Americans against those intent on doing us harm, John Kerry remains focused on attacking President Bush," RNC spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt said.

[ProSense]

2. Doesn't matter!

Not that they can't say something, but other than what he said on the Senate floor and similar statements in public and private, what's the point of shooting off at the mouth about this?

Conyers belongs to the only committee in Congress responsible for initiating impeachment proceedings. Even he, without Republicans joining in, can do nothing to further the action. He explained this in the AAR interview: that short of public outrage to spur Republicans to join in, impeachment will not happen. When the Democrats take over the Congress that all changes.

[karynnj]

3. Kerry spoke about it at the beginning of the Bill Press interview

I remember that he said that the WoT resolution specifically said "force" and did not ok spying. He said that this was not upholding the constitution. I went to Press's web site but they don't seem to have transcripts or retain the audio. Here is a link to our comments - Tay Tay has a good summary here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=273&topic_id=60384&mesg_id=60438

He was also with Maria Cantwell and Lieberman at the ANWR press conference. Cantwell answered "that if they had Al Queda links getting the approvals would be automatic" Kerry's response was almost non-verbal - he smiled, nodded and gesticulated in agreement.

[ProSense]

4. He said this in on the Ed Schultz show

"He (Bush) is not on legal ground." (spying)

http://audio.wegoted.com/podcasting/122105SenatorKerry.mp3

[MH1]

5. Okay, thanks all!!

I posted some of these on the thread. Let the bashing begin.