John McCain: Bush Right to Use NSA

NewsMax ^ | 12/18/05 | NewsMax

[wagglebee]

Sen. John McCain disappointed Democrats on Capitol Hill on Sunday by defending the Bush administration's decision to use the National Security Agency to monitor a limited number of domestic phone calls in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

Saying that Sept. 11 "changed everything," McCain told ABC's "This Week": "The president, I think, has the right to do this."

"We all know that since Sept. 11 we have new challenges with enemies that exist within the United States of America - so the equation has changed."

McCain said that while the administration needs to explain why it didn't first seek approval from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, he suggested that the Patriot Act might have superseded the 1978 FISA Act, allowing "additional powers for the president."

McCain said the fact that congressional leaders - including top Democrats - were consulted on the NSA authorization "is a very important part of this equation." He suggested that any congressional hearings into the Bush decision focus on that aspect.

"I'd like to hear from the leaders of Congress, both Republican and Democrat, who, according to reports, we're briefed on this and agreed to it," he told "This Week." "They didn't raise any objection, apparently, to [whether] there was a, quote, violation of law."

Asked about House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's claim that she "raised concerns" about granting the NSA new powers during one meeting with White House officials, McCain said: "I don't know about any meetings, but I certainly never heard complaints from anyone on either side of the aisle.

"When this process was being carried out I would imagine that the leaders of Congress would be very concerned about any violation of law as well," he said. "Apparently [those concerns have] not been raised until it was published in the New York Times."

McCain also warned that any congressional investigation should take care not to force additional disclosures from the White House that could help the enemy, saying: "I don't see anything wrong with congressional hearings but what kind of information are you going to put into the public arena that might help the al Qaida people in going undetected."

[wagglebee]

"I'd like to hear from the leaders of Congress, both Republican and Democrat, who, according to reports, we're briefed on this and agreed to it," he told "This Week." "They didn't raise any objection, apparently, to [whether] there was a, quote, violation of law."

Asked about House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's claim that she "raised concerns" about granting the NSA new powers during one meeting with White House officials, McCain said: "I don't know about any meetings, but I certainly never heard complaints from anyone on either side of the aisle.

The selective memories of these people is unbelievable.

[NormsRevenge]

Please don't torture the terrorists but it's OK to eavesdrop on them..

[bmwcyle]

Too little tooo late McCain.

[DoughtyOne]

McCain on my side on this issue, oh joy...

[kingu]

I've finally figured out why they're in an uproar.. Since the targets of the calls were terrorist sympathizers and their supporters, Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean, John Kerry and others are worried that there might be more than a few of their own phone calls tucked away in a NSA vault, or worse, in George W Bush's desk.

[SandRat]

I like disappointed Democrats

[FlingWingFlyer]

Pelosi is such a ditzy broad, she can't remember what happened yesterday. You've just got to blow off anything she says.

[FOG724]

Anyone get the feeling they are grooming McCain for a 08 run?

[calex59]

McCain knows this will come back to bite the Dems in the ass, it has already been shown to be BS, Pelosi backtracked and tried to make it seem like she disagreed at the time she was informed but we know that is BS also. Records are kept of these things and it is easy enough to prove that the meetings took place and who was present.

The Dems are not used to the President fighting back, and I hope he keeps it up.

[Valpal1]

Got his finger into the wind quick on this one didn't he?

There is no way I will ever vote for this RINO turd in a primary or general election.

[RobFromGa]

McCain said the fact that congressional leaders - including top Democrats - were consulted on the NSA authorization "is a very important part of this equation." He suggested that any congressional hearings into the Bush decision focus on that aspect.

I suggest that they focus on the identity of the traitor that leaked this to the media, and his trial and public execution.

[Mike Darancette]

"When this process was being carried out I would imagine that the leaders of Congress would be very concerned about any violation of law as well," he said. "Apparently [those concerns have] not been raised until it was published in the New York Times."

Weren't the RATS in charge of the Senate in 2002?

[digger48]

We already know that Rockefeller has had contacts with our enemies. I bet a lot of these leaks start right in his office.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

"....Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean, John Kerry and others are worried that there might be more than a few of their own phone calls tucked away in a NSA vault, or worse, in George W Bush's desk."

Good call.......IIRC, kerry even talked of doing this prior to the election.

[Mo1]

that's ok .. I'm sure McPain will find something else this week to slam the President with

[Delta 21]

Theres gonna be quite a few tonight about 9:15.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

He'll probably bitch about missing strawberries.

[conservative blonde]

McCain is such an opportunistic windbag.

[Valin]

Sen. John McCain disappointed Democrats on Capitol Hill on Sunday by defending the Bush administration's decision to use the National Security Agency to monitor a limited number of domestic phone calls in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

Can we say McCain for President 08?
IMO that's the reason for this.

[The Cuban]

What else would McCain say, he repealed the First Amendment, and now he wants to repeal the Fourth. I rather have no republic than one filled with slaves.