Official Senate Committee Hearing - Electronic Surveillance - Thread 16

[Viva_La_Revolution]

First 15 NSA Hearing threads - Feb. 6 2006 "Gonzo gets Grilled"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=320&topic_id=660&mesg_id=660


a Classic…

*I have to take off, who wants to take over? *

[myrna minx]

1. DiFi did a great job. Bravo Senator.

:applause:

[Sydnie]

2. I got you for a bit

:hi: Be careful, have fun!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. Thanks Sydnie!

you're the best! :hug:

[Surya Gayatri]

3. Does Congress have authority to

limit electronic surveillance, asks Gonzales. WTF?

[EFerrari]

13. You have to wonder at what point Congressional thugs

are going to really hear how he wants to limit their turf.

[deminks]

4. "Two-Bit" Grassley is up. nt

[LSparkle]

7. UGH! How many more Repugs before Russ Feingold?

Can't wait for his second round ...

[myrna minx]

6. Grassley up. Let the lovin' begin.

:eyes: Oh-So FISA isn't "nimble" ?

[Surya Gayatri]

12. "We're jes' tryin' to do it raight...

if 'n when we go to FISA". Bullcrap!

[MuseRider]

8. Listening to Gonzo

I hear certain phrases and inflections that sound just like Bush**. Maybe he is the puppet master?

[Brotherjohn]

9. "Isn't it TRUE that if you DON'T break the law, all Americans will DIE?!?"

That sums up every Republican's line of questioning.

[maxrandb]

80. That irritates the hell out of me too.

We need a DEM...take that back...We need all DEMS to nationalize this point for the 2006 Mid-terms.

Every Dem ought to point a finger at every camera and at every stump speech and say to EVERY AMERICAN;

"The Republicans think you are nothing but a snivelling coward. The America I know is not ruled by fear, and I know that is not the America you know either. We take action. We kick ass when ass needs kicked, and the Republicans need their asses kicked. We're proud! We're free! We've built the greatest country the world has ever known, and we've done it as a NATIONS OF LAWS!!! NOT OF MEN!!! I don't need a smirking Jack-ass, that spent his time in service at the bottom of a beer keg, to protect me. And no bearded boogey-man, or slack-jawed pResident is going to make me live in fear"

[flyarm]

10. seemed to me they were trying to minimize her..and she gangster slapped

that little monster..

she let him have it..and was very powerful..i am very proud of dems today...i just hope they can keep the heat up ..and make this a slam dunk...i just don't have any confidence left though...just me..but i am too gun shy now with these rethug fuckers and ignorant americans!

fly

[jsamuel]

11. Isn't Gonzo saying that FISA is unconstitutional because it limits the Pre

sident's powers under the second amendment? If so, then didn't he flatly lie during his confirmation when asked about an unconstitutional law being overlooked by the Pres?

[myrna minx]

14. Senator Feingold busted him on that point.

That is why Feingold wanted him under oath. Feingold basically halled the AG a liar.

[Wilber_Stool]

15. Are we supposed to believe that

the terrorists are unaware that their calls are being listened to?
It seems to be their fundamental argument.

[Surya Gayatri]

17. Obviously, it's never crossed their minds! n/t

[Skidmore]

20. He makes it sound like millions of AQ are lined up begging

to be surveilled.

[Brotherjohn]

24. Are we also to believe that any serious court would notify the target...

... if there was any real shred of evidence that the target were connected to Al Qaeda?

This is why we have the 4th Amendment, you moron Gonzales! One person or branch of government can't decide these things alone. It's the single biggest check in our system of checks and balances!

[EFerrari]

16. They lose. Grassley said "Nixon" n/t

[helderheid]

18. LOL

[emulatorloo]

22. thanks !

:toast:

[emulatorloo]

19. Grassley bashing Howard Dean now

What the heck, why not?

[myrna minx]

21. Now onto bashing Dean.

The AG states that the bushies are nothing like the nixon administration. They are like FDR's admin. LOL!

[maxrandb]

89. So when do the internment camps open? n/t

[LSparkle]

23. Oh geez, they're trying to bring DEAN into this ...

It wasn't just him who mentioned comparisons to Nixxxxxxxon, you stupid hacks!

"This isn't about going after political enemies ... " OH YEAH? PROVE IT! Answer this under oath: Did you wiretap anyone in the Kerry campaign? Like maybe ... Jamie Rubin talking to his wife overseas?

[EFerrari]

27. That was straight from Karl. Put it in Dean's mouth and

it will sound over the top.

But Grassley's delivery is so bad, it didn't really work.

[me b zola]

25. Gonzo sez

The reason they have to wiretap illegally is because if they try to get a warrent and it is denied, the judge may "tip-off" their target? :wtf:

[helderheid]

26. Shhhhhhhhhh... don't talk about it.... the terrrrrists ur listenin'!

[LSparkle]

29. That speaks SO WELL for the FISA judges ...

Maybe that's why Robertson quit....

[myrna minx]

30. Those activist judges really hate America.

:eyes:

[emulatorloo]

31. how about those activist attorney generals?

[gumby]

28. Grassley: Would you tell us again

how really, really big and scary that alQueda is and how we should all be really, really scared and bow down to Boy King?

[LSparkle]

32. Count Floyd sez: "Oh, keedies, it's sooooooooo scaaaaarrrry!"

[LSparkle]

33. THANK GOD -- Feingold up!

[Sydnie]

38. I was trying to spin it but you asked me a two parter!

:rofl: He can't get away from Feingold!

[livvy]

34. It is so obvious that Grassley has never even seen these ....

questions before. Wonder who wrote them for him. Oh, good Feingold is up.

[emulatorloo]

36. karl rove n/t

[The Witch]

35. RUSS IS Baaaaaack :)

[helderheid]

37. FEINGOLD - did any President bypass FISA since FISA was enacted?

Not any that come to mind. ZING!

[myrna minx]

39. Feingold: Do you know of any Presidents that have authorized

anything outside of FISA since the law was passed?

AG: I don;t know.

[qanda]

66. I believe this is why Gonzalez has been qualifying his statements

By saying "this program". A few DUers have picked up on this qualification.

[me b zola]

40. Feingold has him rattled, right off the bat!

Go Russ, go!!!!!

[The Witch]

43. ...

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[MoonRiver]

41. FEINGOLD!

:loveya: Do you know of any other presidents who have authorized warrantless wiretaps since FISA?

Gonzo: Duhhhhhh, no I doesn't SIR. (paraphrasing :D)

[LSparkle]

42. HA! No easy answer from Torquemada ...

Grill him good, Russ ... Pass the sauce ...

[EFerrari]

45. When he's cornered, he goes back to inherent authority. n/t

[gkhouston]

62. "inherent authority".... is that the new phrase for

"divine right of kings" ?

[EFerrari]

85. Yes. And that's why Russ's "pre 1776" mentality works so

beautifully.

[myrna minx]

44. Feingold is so logical and brilliant.

He is mopping the floor with the AG. :applause:

[radio4progressives]

82. Feingold is AWWWWSOME

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[LSparkle]

46. "It depends, Senator"

NO IT DOESN'T! Feingold has this sucker rattled ... bwahahahaha!

[Mnemosyne]

47. What a smirking little prick! He knows no consequences.

Go get him hard Russ! :loveya:

[EFerrari]

64. That smirk must be contagious. They all do it. n/t

[Mnemosyne]

109. Seriously, it is because they know

they have no accountability. Evil grin isn't just a saying or a smilie!:evilgrin:

:hi:

[The Witch]

48. Certain TYPES of wiretaps?

So what, is there some new secret technology that they're using now?

Oy vey.

[myrna minx]

50. Well, we do have a battery operated president.

:evilgrin:

[Wilber_Stool]

105. And a VP.

[helderheid]

49. stutter stammer

[LSparkle]

51. This is BEAUTIFUL! I'm hoping the Lehrer NewsHour plays this tonight

"The President's comments were highly misleading ... " And that's putting it NICELY. Well done, Mr. Feingold!

[ShortnFiery]

57. In a Just World We'd have a Gore-Finegold Presidential Ticket :-)

[LSparkle]

63. You read my mind ... Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside

One speaking his mind unfettered, out of office, and one pushing from the inside on the Senate floor. One from the south, one from the upper midwest ... !!!

[The Witch]

70. That IS a gorgeous ticket.

Love it.

[Mnemosyne]

76. Yes! Welcome to

DU ShortnFiery! :toast:

Hopefully this hearing has teeth.

Russ and others seem to today! :evilgrin:

In peace and hope,
V

[me b zola]

52. Feingold slams king george for misleading the American people

[helderheid]

53. I wish they'd bring up that this has been going on since Jan 2001

[DemonGoddess]

54. he can't give

Feingold a simple yes or no, can he?

[LSK]

55. not to my knowledge...

[LSparkle]

56. Great -- now he's following up on Feinstein's question

about OTHER programs!!! Push him back, push him back ... WAY BACK! (Apologies for the sports analogy.)

[gkhouston]

71. I want to know if they're opening mail

For starters, it would explain why it's taking me so long to get those bras I ordered on the internet. ;-)

[Sydnie]

58. Stumped him again - can't talk about what he is not there to talk about

How lame is that answer?

[helderheid]

59. Cannot talk about operational matters

[LiberalAndProud]

60. SShhhhh. It's a secret.

[The Witch]

67. Alberto "Xellos" Gonzales

"That's... a secret!"

[helderheid]

73. Heheheh SHHHHHHHHHHH

[myrna minx]

61. Gonzales will not answer the question about

any other programs out there. Stammer stammer. Sigh.

[LeftNYC]

65. Has to talk to King George before he answers...

doesnt want to be beheaded...

[LSparkle]

69. "I cannot comment ... from behind this table"

He's sounding more and more like Snotty Scottie.

[jane_pippin]

68. Oooh, Russ is giving him homework!

Go Russ--Take em' to school!

:bounce:

[ewagner]

78. Kyl up to do

damage control....

that's it Kyl.....clean the stains off the little emporer's robe! :puke:

[chat_noir]

72. Related to telecoms - news today

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2089378

[me b zola]

74. OMG! Russ slams Gonzo

Gonzo can't answer a question, hims & haws and finally asks if he can get back to Feingold with the answer. Feingold responds that he finds that much more preferable than for him (gonzo) to respond to the question as if it were a hypothetical! This is in reference to earlier testimony when Russ called out gonzo for lying during his confirmation hearings, and gonzo tryed to defend himself by saying that Feingold's questions were hypothetical.

[LSparkle]

75. (Attempt at) rehabilitation, courtesy of that snake Jon Kyl

I'm surprised he didn't get in a few digs at the Dems before helping to prop up Torquemada.

[More Than A Feeling]

79. Gonzalez nearly said again that they didn't think congress would

approve it! :rofl:

[The Witch]

77. How will this hearing conclude?

Do they conclude by deliberating and then announcing that the judiciary committee will pursue a legislation or not? a censure of some sort or not? Does the judiciary committee have any conclusive way of ending these hearings?

[Sydnie]

86. They have already said they will go into day two

Don't know what the outcome will be. More members may be there tomorrow to bring aid to gonzo.

[EFerrari]

88. This will end up in court. Someday when we have

a representative government again.

I hope.

[Brotherjohn]

103. Isn't it already IN court? Didn't the ACLU file, along with some...

... conservative person or group, I believe?

[LSparkle]

87. I heard this a.m. that these hearings will go on for a few more days

Maybe 2 or 3. More witnesses? Whistleblowers from NSA maybe? Legal scholars?

[gumby]

81. Feingold: How many other ways are you breaking the law?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[The Witch]

84. did he say that?

I tuned out when Kyl went up.

[jane_pippin]

He asked if there were any other programs that would be illegal

(that they were engaged in now) if it were not for his "inherent presidential authority" justifying them.

:rofl:

[myrna minx]

90. It's like the classic...

:rofl: :rofl: "So tell me...when did you stop beating your wife?"

[LSparkle]

83. STOP WITH THE SPORTS TALK: "The Big 8"

Just like the athletic conference ... UGH.

[Catchawave]

96. March Madness...LOL...Who are the

Big *8....? Heard a few references, but no names, yet.

[LSparkle]

99. Leadership in House and Senate and heads of Intel committees?

Does that work out to 8? Maybe they need to expand it to "the big 10" (ha!)

[LeftNYC]

108. The Big East...nt

[Sydnie]

91. Schumer back up - gonzo "bobbing and weaving" LOL n/t

[LSparkle]

92. Round two, Schumer

I didn't hear his first round, so looking forward to this.

"All that bobbing and weaving, it's not easy" ... LOL!

[flyarm]

93. schumer..bobbing and weaving tough work for gonzo..great!!! comment n/t

[LeftNYC]

94. NICE CHUCK...gets a dig in!

"Must be tiring, especially with all that bobbing and weaving"

[MoonRiver]

95. LOL Schumer, it's been a long day for you AG,

especially with all that bobbing and weaving!! :rofl:

[Catchawave]

107. It wouldn't have been if AG answered those yes'n'no's !

[Sydnie]

97. ohh ohh ohh Schumer asking about other programs!

Operations is the key to this! We need to hold "operations" hearings!

[bettyellen]

106. you got it..... Operations hearings

:hI;

[LSK]

98. GO CHUCK GO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[myrna minx]

100. HAs the government searched an American's home or office

since 9/11.

Gonzo: not under THIS program.

:scared:

[bettyellen]

101. wow, that means they HAVE SEARCHED AMERICAN HOMES

under a different program.
there is no other explaination.

[LSparkle]

104. IMPORTANT distinction ... we need to scream this from the mountains

This is only the TIP of the iceberg ... Thanks, Chuck!

[shadowlight]

102. This is such b.s.

Knowledge of the program has jeopardized it.
How many terrorists do you figure don't suspect their phones could be tapped?

[Sydnie]

110. thread 17 up

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x338593

[helderheid]

Did you wiretap political enemies?

[EFerrari]

112. And he said no, didn't he? n/t

[bettyellen]

113. he asked COULD you, but gonzo answered we're not going to...

didn't say they COULDN"T though, did he?

[myrna minx]

111. Can under legal theory, the prez bug polital enemies.

Gonzo: we don't do that.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

114. Here's the next thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x338593