Former CIA agent Larry Johnson on the NSA wiretapping scandal:
So what is Bush up to? I see at least two possibilities. First, they may be allowing unfettered data mining on domestic targets without probable cause. An old fashioned “fishing” trip. You cast out a net and pull it in, picking over the contents, and hoping you snared the oyster with the big pearl. This nonsense works in a Tom Clancy novel but not in the real world. Even with the most robust computer power you have no simple way to find “actionable intelligence”.
Second, the source of the intel tips is tainted. If you are generating leads from persons being held in secret prisons or if the info is obtained thru torture, then it makes it difficult to make a truthful declaration before a judge. Why not lie to the FISA court? That’s called perjury. I suspect this explains the real motive for the refusal of the Bush Administration to go the FISA route.
We are asked to accept on faith that this program is working wonders. Really? Then where is the proof. Where are the arrested terrorist suspects? Has even a single person in the United States been taken into custody because of this info? I believe the answer is no. At a minimum, the heads of the House and Senate intel committees should have been briefed on the successes, if there were any. The White House is silent on this issue for one simple reason–they don’t have the goods. And, oh, by the way; Osama Bin Laden is still on the loose.
It is essential, therefore, that President Bush be held accountable by the Congress and the Judiciary. He is not a King. He is not unilaterally empowered to decided what is right and wrong. He is not entitled to use his own best judgment to determine which parts of the Constitution are acceptable or archaic. He is supposed to protect and defend it, not trash it.
BUZZZZZZZZZZZZ! Too Late!
He already is king. he just has’nt let the peasants in on it yet (the bread and circus thing, ya know).
He is not a history afficiando, because he would realize that all tyrants fall…..always.
PaulTX, I’m not sure that Bush is an afficianado of anything in particular, but I believe he majored in history at Yale. What a waste of a prime education.
If anyone cares to see Mr. Johnson’s take on anything Bush, go to tpmcafe.com. Very illuminating.
OK, so the liberal dream comes true, & King George is removed from office. Then the King of Haliburton is up next. Does anyone out there really think anything will change with the way the Democrats handle themselves? Preach scandal /scandal /scandal just like now. Do they actually realize what they sound & look like? It has become rather obvious over the past few years that the Dems have no ideas. “Bushsucks” is not a solution. The libs look like little whining children to Joe public,& they don’t even seem to realize it. It is nothing short of anazing. Has anyone listened to the Democratic leadership lately? They sound LOONY! Nancy Pelosi can’t even hold a coherent thought thru a speech any more.
Give the voter a platform to accept or reject, not this constant crying about Bush.
It is NOT flying!
Kevin, coherence is necessary for quality leadership?
“Because the — all which is on the table begins to address the big cost drivers. For example, how benefits are calculate, for example, is on the table; whether or not benefits rise based upon wage increases or price increases. There’s a series of parts of the formula that are being considered. And when you couple that, those different cost drivers, affecting those — changing those with personal accounts, the idea is to get what has been promised more likely to be — or closer delivered to what has been promised. Does that make any sense to you? It’s kind of muddled. Look, there’s a series of things that cause the — like, for example, benefits are calculated based upon the increase of wages, as opposed to the increase of prices. Some have suggested that we calculate — the benefits will rise based upon inflation, as opposed to wage increases. There is a reform that would help solve the red if that were put into effect. In other words, how fast benefits grow, how fast the promised benefits grow, if those — if that growth is affected, it will help on the red.” —George W. Bush, explaining his plan to save Social Security, Tampa, Fla., Feb. 4, 2005
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The above mess is fairly representative of everything that comes out of Bush’s mouth.
“The relations with, uhh — Europe are important relations, and they’ve, uhh — because, we do share values. And, they’re universal values, they’re not American values or, you know — European values, they’re universal values. And those values — uhh — being universal, ought to be applied everywhere.” —George W. Bush, at a press conference with European Union dignitaries, Washington, D.C., June 20, 2005
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This is fun! More you say? Sure, here’s another, just for Kevin!
“We’ve got a lot of rebuilding to do. First, we’re going to save lives and stabilize the situation. And then we’re going to help these communities rebuild. The good news is — and it’s hard for some to see it now — that out of this chaos is going to come a fantastic Gulf Coast, like it was before. Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott’s house — he’s lost his entire house — there’s going to be a fantastic house. And I’m looking forward to sitting on the porch.” (Laughter) –George W. Bush, touring hurricane damage, Mobile, Ala., Sept. 2, 2005
And finally here’s one dedicated to all the wounded servicemen and women the world over:
“As you can possibly see, I have an injury myself — not here at the hospital, but in combat with a cedar. I eventually won. The cedar gave me a little scratch. As a matter of fact, the Colonel asked if I needed first aid when she first saw me. I was able to avoid any major surgical operations here, but thanks for your compassion, Colonel.” —George W. Bush, after visiting with wounded veterans from the Amputee Care Center of Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 1, 2006
Yes Kevin, Democrats do have a coherence problem. It’s a good thing Dubya is so logical, succinct and coherent or all would be lost…………
Bush is the figurehead. He does not have the intelligence to perpetuate the machine that is systematically tearing the republic to bits.
The real criminals work in the background, quietly. They weaken worker safety laws, ease up emission controls, destroy middle class tax bases (yea, its an old line but how are those tax cuts working out for you?), gut education, punish veterans and their families. I could go on but you get the idea.
This is a battle for the soul of this country; get used to it.
Democracy is a dirty, messy and generally untidy, and requires active participation. It requires YOU to hold the people you elect to their promises and respond to your complaints and finally do the right thing.
KEEP this in mind: “WE THE PEOPLE” run this experiment, we have to contend with the nitwits, radicals, egomaniacs, etc. but it is worth the work.
Nobody wants to admit they’ve been wrong, and so it will take economic calamity to sour the duped public on Bush/Republicans. But by the time this happens (and its surely coming), our institutions will so corrupt that public anger may not matter. Alito is a key part of this equation.
I hope I’m wrong.
Thanks for proving the point, Steve.
President Cheney wants a kingly role for the Executive Branch. He has wanted this since his tenure with Nixon.
Cheney feels that once you are elected, all restraints are unnatural and intolerable. You were elected, fer Chrissake — you’re free to do as you please after that swearing at the Constitution ceremony.
So his primary motive to do this illegal wiretapping has been simply to do it. It’s like putting those shoe trees in your shoes to stretch them out. He is stretching out the Executive Office to fit his big feet.
He is the real Prez, after all.