Specter Skeptical of Domestic Spy Program (back stabbing RINO alert)

www.breitbart.com ^ | Jan 15, 2006

[ArmyBratproud]

The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee expressed skepticism Sunday over President Bush's domestic eavesdropping program, joining a chorus of Republicans and Democrats who are questioning its legal justification.

[ArmyBratproud]

Bush should have never supported that Democrap wannabe in the Primaries in PA.

[DoughtyOne]

I guess it was too much to ask, him keeping his newly acquired spine he exhibited last week against Kennedy.

[southernerwithanattitude]

He was on TV this morning talking about the Constitution being a "living" document and that Judge Alito believed that the Constitution "evolves". Have I missed something here?

[Jerry Attrick]

He's just p*ssed off that he didn't get nominated to the Supreme Court.

[G.Mason]

"I guess it was too much to ask, him keeping his newly acquired spine he exhibited last week against Kennedy."

That was no surprise. Personal experience has shown me that even a rabbit will try and bite you, should you corner it.

[DoughtyOne]

So what you're saying is that even a Jellyfish might sting you? Good point!

[Dutch Boy]

As someone pointed out last week, Specter only has a spine when he or his authority is attacked. It just looked good because he lashed out against Kennedy. He was not defending Alito. When ever the temptation arises to conclude Specter is anything but a RINO just remember "Scottish Law." After you clean up the vomit you will be okay.

[DoughtyOne]

Okay, I keep that in mind. LOL

[ArmyBratproud]

Alito did not show to be the conservative everybody screamed for in the hearings. Surely not a Thomas.

His answers were moderate at best. Maybe this time folks will learn their lesson and quit following Laura Ingraham like sheeple.

Harriet already looks to have been a better choice.

[Prost1]

Rather than jump on Arlen Specter, I think it is best to take a back seat approach.

I have watched this guy for many years. He comes out suspicious or cautious on many things. No one expected him to put his foot up Kennedy's ass, but that is what he did.

The so-called eavesdropping is something he is not appraised of and possibly believes that the briefings should include his committee, ie, the Chairman. And note, if it included the ranking member, Leahy, then Leahy would have to step down because of prior security violations, thus advancing one of the other leftist thugs like Durbin.
I would bet the only dems on the Judiciary capable of receiving the necessary clearances would be Kohl and Feinstein and possibly Feingold. Biden stepped down from the Intelligence or Foreign Affairs for specious reasons.

I think once Specter is briefed, he will do a parade and then agree. He is from Penn and his base needs to know he is looking out for them...

[R.W.Ratikal]

Arlan Specter of Pennsylvania is not just a RINO (Republican in Name Only) he is a mole, ad Democrat posing as a Republican so he can sabotage the right.

[svcw]

Only that Specter is an opportunistic bozo..

[narby]

The proper response to anyone questioning phone taps on terrorists should be: "It would be an impeachable offense if the presididng DIDN'T tap those phone lines". The president is required to defend the country, and not doing this would have been violating his responsibilities.

[Mike Darancette]

The hearing before the Judiciary Committee should be a hoot since they can only discuss the law and Constitution as it would apply to hypotheticals as the Judiciary Committee does not have the security clearance to discuss the facts. I don't think they can even call anybody from the NSA or CIA and ask them questions (at least in open session) as to what was done.

Gonzalez should explain the law to Spincter in terms the Senator can understand by citing some obscure Scottish law.

[Wasanother]

Specter wants hearings but who's going to disclose any information to the "Judiciary" Committee? It's still a classified program, we're still at war and according to the law the members of the Intelligence Committees are sworn to silence and the President has the Executive Privilege to withhold information concerning intelligence matters as long as the Heads of the IC are briefed. They can subpoena NSA employees and they can find them in contempt if they refuse to answer but then the President can pardon them. If they then manage to find "illegal" conduct then they have to refer them to congress for impeachment process which requires a majority vote. Then, if successful, it goes back to the Senate for "punishment" but requires 60 votes to remove the President. STHU Specter!

[fishtank]

Last week, I really thought Specter was going to sta President Bush in the back through attacking Alito over abortion. Well, I guess I was wrong about that.....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1554814/posts


Now, today, I heard a sound clip on the news from Specter. He thinks the next step for President Bush is impeachment and then criminal charges over the NSA eavesdropping issue. Why oh why did not Bush endorse Toomey over Specter last year? I also remember that Rush Limbaugh threw Specter softball after softball before the primary. When will the Republican party ever learn it's better to get rid of a RINO (even though they might have useful seniority)?

[southernerwithanattitude]

I agree, this is very troubling to me. The constitution evolving? Just d_mn!

[End_Clintonism_Now]

[p23185]

Specter wants hearings but who's going to disclose any information to the "Judiciary" Committee? It's still a classified program, we're still at war and according to the law the members of the Intelligence Committees are sworn to silence and the President has the Executive Privilege to withhold information concerning intelligence matters as long as the Heads of the IC are briefed. They can subpoena NSA employees and they can find them in contempt if they refuse to answer but then the President can pardon them.

Somewhere here on FP someone had posted the unclassified letter NSA had written to the "Whistle Blower/Traitor" Tice and it said "you do not have authorization to disclose anything about the SAP programs to Congress because they are not cleared". End of story - Congress is not going to get much in such an investigation - NSA is not going to talk. Having these discussions with Congress is just like giving the information directly to the NY Slimes, WaPo, and everyone with a half a brain in their head knows it.