Posted on 12/17/2005 1:00:51 PM PST by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: The President is in Washington preparing for his address to the nation tomorrow evening.
Remember the following the next time some congress-critter or senator whines about not being briefed by the White House about something:
At yesterday's press briefing, Press Secretary Scott McClellan said that General Casey and Iraqi Ambassador Khalilzad briefed members of Congress on the elections and the political progress, as well as on the security progress in Iraq. Ambassador Khalilzad talked about how we would work with the new Iraqi government and assist them as they work to put a permanent government in place.General Casey gave an update on the security situation, and another sign of progress was that the violence was down yesterday. McClellan said we know that the terrorists and Saddam loyalists want to continue to carry out their attacks. And we expect that violence will continue. That's why we've got to continue to work to train and equip the Iraqi security forces going forward. We are making important progress. There are still challenges ahead. At this point, though, we congratulate the Iraqi people for a great day yesterday.
And now for a little fun -- it is Christmas time, after all...
President Bush discloses iPod playlistPresident George Bush yesterday discussed the contents of his iPod in greater detail with Sky News, noting various artists as he toyed with Apple's "high tech stuff." The Commander In-Chief perused his selections, listing among the The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss, The Archies, Aretha Franklin, and "Dan" McLean as favored artists, among others on his playlist. One bystander quickly corrected the president, reminding him that Don, not Dan, was the artist who sang "American Pie." Bush remarked that "Bono came in and dropped his new iPod on me," comparing his older device to the lead singer of U2's iPod nano. "This is a clunker compared to the newer version," Bush said. The President failed to mention whether Bono's singing with U2 is among his selections. The music-fan-in-chief also took time to mention that his iPod "can shuffle the shuffle."
QUOTE OF THE DAY: This is the entire transcript of today's Presidential Radio Address, without question the most important such address since World War II. I have emphasized portions with bold type.
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.As President, I took an oath to defend the Constitution, and I have no greater responsibility than to protect our people, our freedom, and our way of life. On September the 11th, 2001, our freedom and way of life came under attack by brutal enemies who killed nearly 3,000 innocent Americans. We're fighting these enemies across the world. Yet in this first war of the 21st century, one of the most critical battlefronts is the home front. And since September the 11th, we've been on the offensive against the terrorists plotting within our borders.
One of the first actions we took to protect America after our nation was attacked was to ask Congress to pass the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act tore down the legal and bureaucratic wall that kept law enforcement and intelligence authorities from sharing vital information about terrorist threats. And the Patriot Act allowed federal investigators to pursue terrorists with tools they already used against other criminals. Congress passed this law with a large, bipartisan majority, including a vote of 98-1 in the United States Senate.
Since then, America's law enforcement personnel have used this critical law to prosecute terrorist operatives and supporters, and to break up terrorist cells in New York, Oregon, Virginia, California, Texas and Ohio. The Patriot Act has accomplished exactly what it was designed to do: it has protected American liberty and saved American lives.
Yet key provisions of this law are set to expire in two weeks. The terrorist threat to our country will not expire in two weeks. The terrorists want to attack America again, and inflict even greater damage than they did on September the 11th. Congress has a responsibility to ensure that law enforcement and intelligence officials have the tools they need to protect the American people.
The House of Representatives passed reauthorization of the Patriot Act. Yet a minority of senators filibustered to block the renewal of the Patriot Act when it came up for a vote yesterday. That decision is irresponsible, and it endangers the lives of our citizens. The senators who are filibustering must stop their delaying tactics, and the Senate must vote to reauthorize the Patriot Act. In the war on terror, we cannot afford to be without this law for a single moment.
To fight the war on terror, I am using authority vested in me by Congress, including the Joint Authorization for Use of Military Force, which passed overwhelmingly in the first week after September the 11th. I'm also using constitutional authority vested in me as Commander-in-Chief.
In the weeks following the terrorist attacks on our nation, I authorized the National Security Agency, consistent with U.S. law and the Constitution, to intercept the international communications of people with known links to al Qaeda and related terrorist organizations. Before we intercept these communications, the government must have information that establishes a clear link to these terrorist networks.
This is a highly classified program that is crucial to our national security. Its purpose is to detect and prevent terrorist attacks against the United States, our friends and allies. Yesterday the existence of this secret program was revealed in media reports, after being improperly provided to news organizations. As a result, our enemies have learned information they should not have, and the unauthorized disclosure of this effort damages our national security and puts our citizens at risk. Revealing classified information is illegal, alerts our enemies, and endangers our country.
As the 9/11 Commission pointed out, it was clear that terrorists inside the United States were communicating with terrorists abroad before the September the 11th attacks, and the commission criticized our nation's inability to uncover links between terrorists here at home and terrorists abroad. Two of the terrorist hijackers who flew a jet into the Pentagon, Nawaf al Hamzi and Khalid al Mihdhar, communicated while they were in the United States to other members of al Qaeda who were overseas. But we didn't know they were here, until it was too late.
The authorization I gave the National Security Agency after September the 11th helped address that problem in a way that is fully consistent with my constitutional responsibilities and authorities. The activities I have authorized make it more likely that killers like these 9/11 hijackers will be identified and located in time. And the activities conducted under this authorization have helped detect and prevent possible terrorist attacks in the United States and abroad.
The activities I authorized are reviewed approximately every 45 days. Each review is based on a fresh intelligence assessment of terrorist threats to the continuity of our government and the threat of catastrophic damage to our homeland. During each assessment, previous activities under the authorization are reviewed. The review includes approval by our nation's top legal officials, including the Attorney General and the Counsel to the President. I have reauthorized this program more than 30 times since the September the 11th attacks, and I intend to do so for as long as our nation faces a continuing threat from al Qaeda and related groups.
The NSA's activities under this authorization are thoroughly reviewed by the Justice Department and NSA's top legal officials, including NSA's general counsel and inspector general.Leaders in Congress have been briefed more than a dozen times on this authorization and the activities conducted under it. Intelligence officials involved in this activity also receive extensive training to ensure they perform their duties consistent with the letter and intent of the authorization.
This authorization is a vital tool in our war against the terrorists. It is critical to saving American lives. The American people expect me to do everything in my power under our laws and Constitution to protect them and their civil liberties. And that is exactly what I will continue to do, so long as I'm the President of the United States.
Thank you.
I was in the group of 18-year-olds who were given the right to vote in 1972 (and I voted for Richard Nixon) and was very excited about the new right that was given to me and have voted in every election since. Had I been able to vote for JFK, I would have.
Can't say I'd ever vote for a dem now, no matter what the circumstance. Maybe if they were a Zell Miller democrat.
I like that expression.
You're right. National security is nothing to trifle with, and they are doing it just to score political points.
Tomorrow's speech should be a barnburner
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I hope he includes that he has asked the Justice Dept to investigate the security leaks to the NYT.
Never. McCain is destiny is to be a footnote when histories are written about GWB's presidency.
I'm betting you went shopping today ... did you have some fun?? Buy lots of stuff? You missed the BIG speech in the WH this am .. W took the Sat. radio address LIVE on TV .. and he's mad. Check THIS out, if you haven't visited it.
I don't think I've ever heard you mention it: do you drive and have a car, or get around by local trans? .. Don't know why that just popped into my head, but it did. How was your traffic out shopping today?
The MSM like to point out that the GOP has control of Congress. But they don't - the "gang of 14" has 7 GOPers (including McCain & Graham), and there are several others like Hegel and Specter who aren't exactly Bush supporters.
I do have to give the Dems credit for outfoxing the GOP. Lott and DeLay were very effective leaders. They could get the Bush agenda passed. The Dems went after them, and now the GOP has Frist and Blunt - neither of whom is effective. And Frist thinks he can be President? I don't think so!
Who said: I will settle for nothing else than complete victory! - ??
Hint: I am rewatching an address to the Brigade of Midshipmen.
Second question: Why does the "media" not understand this? - /rhetorical only
I doubt anyone from the senate will win the presidency, with the possible exception of Clinton. I believe the next president will run from outside Washington.
I don't think it's ever good to just vote on a party label. That's what got the Dems into such a mess, and if GOPers do it, too, we'll just wind up with more self-serving career politicians.
The Dems have been doing it so long that there are few good people in the party hierarchy. The GOP shouldn't follow that path. What I do is vote for the best candidate, but work hard to make sure that there are good people in the GOP pipeline. Local elections are where they get their start, and helping a GOPer win a city council seat could just be the way to get a good GOP candidate for Nat'l office 10 years down the road.
I know the president is too good a man to show his anger on television in an obvious way; but I'm hoping he reminds viewers again (as he did this morning) that whoever leaked the information to the NYT broke the law.
"I don't think it's ever good to just vote on a party label. That's what got the Dems into such a mess, and if GOPers do it, too, we'll just wind up with more self-serving career politicians."
I cannot envision the democrat party ever nominating anybody for whom I would vote, not with the nutcases in their base responsible for putting the candidate before us. In that case I guess that would be voting along party lines, not totally a bad thing, IMO.
Isn't JFK the only one who has won from the Senate? I don't think hillary can do it unless the GOP puts up a really weak candidate.
ping
I hope so too, Peach.
Not would be nice = NOW THAT would be nice ;)
But can't you envision the GOP nominating someone for whom you could not vote? I would never vote for McCain. A Dem (other than hillary :-)) might be an alternative.
Warren G. Harding was also a sitting senator at the time he won the presidency, if memory serves. I think there might have been one sitting senator to win the presidency in the mid-1800's. Americans have a very strong tendency to elect presidents who have had recent executive experience.
If I could not in good conscience vote for the Republican candidate, I would either vote third party or not vote for president that year. I would never vote for any modern Democrat -- at least none of the Leftist pigs who are likely to win their nomination.
Well, time for me to log off. See you all tomorrow.
"But can't you envision the GOP nominating someone for whom you could not vote?"
Most definitely! My choices would then be whether the candidate would get a hold-my-nose vote or whether to vote write-in candidate or to not vote at all. Not being wired to not vote and have my voice heard, I would wrestle with the first two.
"A Dem (other than hillary :-)) might be an alternative."
The comments in my first post to you cover that situation. Can't ever see it happening, not in this current climate, as I don't think the dems are ever going to get a clue and nominate someone I could support.
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