Clinton says he didn't use warrantless wiretaps

[Algorem]

http://www.sltrib.com/nationworld/ci_3398375

Bloomberg News

Former President Clinton said Thursday that he never ordered wiretaps of American citizens without obtaining a court order, as President Bush has acknowledged he has done...

Bush said in December that he authorized wiretaps without obtaining court permission and defended the practice as a ''vital tool'' in tracking terrorist suspects and accomplices.

''I don't have enough facts to know why there would be some reluctance to go there,'' Clinton told ABC. ''I felt that the court and the setup was more than enough to do what we needed to do.''

Asked if the president should have the authority to order wiretaps without warrants, Clinton said, ''I think that's a decision the Supreme Court would have to resolve.''


http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Politics/story?id=1500147

Bill Clinton on AIDS, Iran, Secret Spying and His Wife's Career Former President Talks Exclusively to 'Nightline'



Jan. 12, 2006 — In an exclusive interview with "Nightline" co-anchor Terry Moran, former President Bill Clinton discussed his foundation's initiative to cut the cost of AIDS drugs, which was announced today.

Clinton also gave his take on the limits of presidential power, Judge Samuel Alito's Senate confirmation hearings, tensions with Iran, the impact of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's illness on Middle East peace, and his wife's plans for 2008.


When asked if the president should have constitutional authority to order domestic surveillance without a warrant during wartime — a controversy President Bush currently faces — Clinton said it is "a decision the Supreme Court would have to resolve."

"My attitude was that once the Congress had spoken on it and given us the tools that we needed, we used it," he said. "We used the law. We either went there and asked for the approval or, if there was an emergency and we had to do it beforehand, then we filed within three days afterward and gave them a chance to second guess it, because I thought it was a good — I think in the country you always have to try to balance these things out, so that's what we did."...

[sasha031]

1. I miss the 90's

of course he didn't, he wasn't paranoid

[Waya]

2. Of course he didn't.....

....if he had, the repugs wouldn't have had to resort to impeachment for lying about sex with an intern. They would have had a ligitimate reason.

[Inland]

3. And Bush said that all taps had warrants, too.

He just lied.

Bush lied because he wanted us to think he was like Bill Clinton or any other law abiding president.

[MemphisTiger]

4. It's funny how neocons now want to compare something Bush

did to Clinton to justify something. Even if Clinton did do it, didn't Bush claim in the 2000 election that he would bring back honor and integrity to the White House? Maybe he had his fingers crossed.

[underpants]

8. Time for the eye rolling and "Well you know about Clinton" hints

You are right when they start screaming "CLINTON DID IT" you just want to ask them "And that is okay with you?"

Britt and Fred will be in full CLinton-is-a-liar mode IF they mention this on the air. MSM will follow of course.

[sofa king]

5. One of my favorite things about the Big Dawg....

It's taken me over a decade to figure it out, but Bill Clinton plays politics like Kasparov plays chess. In recent years, he's been surprisingly generous to the jackals who stole the Presidency, yet every time he speaks, they react, usually with vitriol and contempt.

They'll react to this, too. What does the Big Dawg have up his sleeve? Like watching Kasparov play, I can see the move, but I don't understand the purpose. Somewhere down the line, perhaps I will.

But even though I don't know what he's up to, I can afford to hazard a guess. There are persistent rumors that at least one domestic terrorist attack was averted in the Clinton years. Is he perhaps trying to get the Republicans to admit such a thing by trying to prove him wrong? I guess time will tell.

[wysiwyg]

7. The difference is that Bill Clinton actually gives a damn

What I liked most about Bill Clinton as President is that he actually cared about the effect his policies had on the average person. The Bush Whitehouse and most modern Republicans only care about someone when their interests directly intersect. I don't think Bill Clinton has a strategy per-se for how to respond to critics. In my opinion, he sincerely believes he's acting in a way that will benefit the people he's trying to help.

George W. Bush and Dick Cheney are absolutely incapable of that type of motivation.

[librechik]

12. he specifically mentioned the Supreme Court--

I think he was referencing the Alito nom

[WhereThereIsFire]

17. I really like this ... Clinton as Big Dawg

as in "if you can't run with the Big Dawgs stay on the porch." Clinton I think would like this one too! For sure, none of the pukeling pups currently living in the big house (er White House) will ever fill the big paws of the former resident.

[rodeodance]

6. got that msm!!

[jhain]

9. "a decision the Supreme Court would have to resolve."

When asked if the president should have constitutional authority to order domestic surveillance without a warrant during wartime — a controversy President Bush currently faces — Clinton said it is "a decision the Supreme Court would have to resolve."


No mistake- this statement.

Did you hear it, Senators???

[saracat]

10. Actually, he was noncommital.

[rodeodance]

11. once the Congress had spoken==but Jr uses his signiture comments to

say--go to hell to the Congress and they say ok.

[Benhurst]

13. recommended NT

[mac56]

14. You can already hear the RW response to this, can't you?

in perfect unison and three-part harmony:

"Yahbut...9-11...changed...EVVVVERYTHINNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGG...."

[Az_lefty]

15. ''I think that's a decision the Supreme Court would have to resolve.''

this is why the chimp really needs his special little fascist buddies on the court. It's not to appease the RW so much as to protect his criminal ass!
:grr:

[Buck Rabbit]

16. I disagree with Clinton on this part.

We don't need the supreme court to tell us the Constitution doesn't really mean what it says. Please Mr Clinton, tell us whether YOU think the founding fathers wanted the executive branch to be able to ignore the Bill of Rights at its whim.

[Algorem]

18. I can't believe we need the Supreme Court to rule on this either,Really

made me mad last night when I heard him say that,felt like he's got some ulterior motive for putting it like that

[Massacure]

19. The supreme court would rule in Bush's favor on this.

Congress gave the president war power's, and this would full under them. The only way to stop the wiretaps would be for Congress legislate that wiretapping is not a war power. The Supreme Court won't do it.