Sen. Clinton Blasts Bush on Eavesdropping ["strange" and "far-fetched," launching a blistering...]

Yahoo ^

[Sub-Driver]

Sen. Clinton Blasts Bush on Eavesdropping

By RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer 7 minutes ago

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday called President Bush's explanations for eavesdropping on domestic telephone calls "strange" and "far-fetched," launching a blistering attack on the White House ahead of the president's State of the Union address.

"Obviously, I support tracking down terrorists. I think that's our obligation. But I think it can be done in a lawful way," the New York Democrat said.

Clinton, a potential 2008 presidential candidate, told reporters she did not yet know whether the administration's warrantless eavesdropping broke any laws. But the senator said she did not buy the White House's main justifications for the tactic.

"Their argument that it's rooted in the authority to go after al-Qaida is far-fetched," she said in an apparent reference to a congressional resolution passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack. The Bush administration has argued that resolution gave the president authority to order such electronic surveillance as part of efforts to protect the nation from terrorists.

"Their argument that it's rooted in the Constitution inherently is kind of strange because we have FISA and FISA operated very effectively and it wasn't that hard to get their permission," she said. The super-secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court was established by Congress to approve eavesdropping warrants, even retroactively, but Bush has argued that the process often takes too long.

[michigander]

"Obviously, I support tracking down terrorists. I think that's our obligation. But I think it can be done in a lawful way," the New York Democrat said.

Clinton, a potential 2008 presidential candidate, told reporters she did not yet know whether the administration's warrantless eavesdropping broke any laws.

So just what is your bitch? Bitch.

[359Henrie]

Its worked for Ted Kennedy.

[Peach]

"Their argument that it's rooted in the Constitution inherently is kind of strange because we have FISA and FISA operated very effectively and it wasn't that hard to get their permission," she said.

Well, that's a lie. FISA does not work effectively.

1. The FBI couldn't even get FISA to sign onto a warrant to examine Massoui's computer, FGS.

2. The Justice Department reports that more warrants were rejected or modified in the last 4 years of the Bush administration than the previous 4 administrations combined.

That doesn't sound very effective to me.

[Niteranger68]

Pres. Bush needs to specifically cite this Clinton program during his State of the Union, including the specific executive order #, not to mention Carter's executive order authorizing similar warrantless wiretaps.

And all of this pales in comparison to what Lincoln did to the Copperhead Democrats during the Civil War. How wonderful would it be if Bush could jail all of his political opposition.

[pinz-n-needlez]

Didn't her husband actually *release* terrorists in order to get more votes for her?

How can she say she supports going after terrorists???

Pinz

[prairiebreeze]

Powerline has a very good recap and commentary on Gonzalez' rebuttal of the allegations against NSA taps. It's a little hard to read on the FR post, so I'd recommend reading it straight off Powerline.

Gonzales Crushes Arguments Against NSA's International Surveillance

You'll have to scroll down a little.

[michigander]

Legal Authorities Supporting the Activities of the National Security Agency Described by the President," Department of Justice White Paper, January 19, 2006

[Peach]

I have to re-read that because I wasn't sure I followed all the points. But as long as Gonzales is comfortable HE understands the constitutionality of the spying program, I'm comfortable.

[auto power]

I despise this worm.....crawl back in your hidie hole, Hillary.

[CaptRon]

"Obviously, I support tracking down terrorists. I think that's our obligation. But I think it can be done in a lawful way," the New York Democrat said.

"Of course I have no effing clue on how to do that, I just know it would be the opposite of what the President does", she continued.

[carl in alaska]

Maybe she's for eavesdropping, but only if the NSA agents and their equipment are physically located overseas. As a practical matter, however, it makes no difference where they're located. They're better off being in the US where they are safer and where their operations are less expensive for the taxpayers.

[TX Bluebonnet]

But those FBI files weren't illegal, just a "bureaucratic snafu", right?

[mo]

Al queda plan for America...blow up a federal building in Oklahoma City....make sure that a crazy white supremacist takes the fall so as not to have to deal with the political consequences....in the face of a pending election.

[popdonnelly]

Hillary's bouquet to the Left.

[CyberAnt]

Actually .. I think this might be in response to the 16% poll number for Hillary. Maybe she thinks she now has to join the Bush-haters instead of trying to be a centrist?

If that's her choice - it was the wrong one - but maybe for her neither choice is going to work. She is as deluded as to her popularity .. just like Kerry.

[OldFriend]

Maybe she's worried that some of her donors are being recorded!

[Congressman Billybob]

The good news is that the latest polls show that a majority of all Americans will not vote for Lady Macbeth (excuse me, Hillary!) for President. She has neither logic nor integrity. She is composed entirely of ambition. And even a fair number of Democrats are beginning to see that.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column: "The 'Chocolate' Minds of Mayor Nagin and Senator Clinton"

[lilylangtree]

Her Royal Sneakiness blasting the Prez on Eavesdropping--Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

[Stultis]

"Their argument that it's rooted in the authority to go after al-Qaida is far-fetched,"

So it's "far fetched" that a congressional resolution authorizing war would include the authorization to collect and monitor enemy communications, an absolutely standard and indspensible aspect of warcraft for hundrends of years, and if anything more crucial in modern warfare, and more crucial yet in asymetric warfare?

And Senator Clinton is a "hawk"?

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

[carl in alaska]

I can't believe she was dumb enough to fall for that Karl Rove rope-a-dope again!