Specter maintains threat of subpoenas (of phone firms if NSA talks fail)

[sabra]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/06/11/nsa/

Specter maintains threat of subpoenas
Chairman says he'll call phone firms on NSA program if talks fail

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Republican chairman of a Senate committee said Sunday he is prepared to call telephone company officials to testify about a domestic wiretapping program if he doesn't get cooperation in talks with the Bush administration.

"If we don't get some results, I'm prepared to go back to demand hearings and issue subpoenas if necessary," Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter told CNN's "Late Edition."

After a public spat last week with Vice President Dick Cheney over congressional oversight of eavesdropping and other issues, Specter said Sunday that a telephone call and letter from Cheney Thursday marked a "step forward."

Specter, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Wednesday sent a stinging letter to Cheney threatening a "constitutional confrontation" and calling for increased cooperation from the administration on the National Security Agency's no-warrant eavesdropping program.

[Malva Zebrina]

1. I thought that Specter introduced another bill that would make it all lega

Am I mistaken? I mean did he not just recently introduce a bill that would vindicate (pardon) George Bush and all those involved and pardon them for breaking the law? They are indeed breaking the law and shoving their finger at us all. No one seems to have the power or the will to challenge Bush on this. No big deal, happens all the time in our current congress.

Maybe I got it wrong.

[robinlynne]

7. you got it right.

[draft]

2. He still maintains that the prez may have article 2 authority (VIDEO)

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/06/11.html#a8673

[LouisianaLiberal]

14. I'm so tired of this Article II crap.

Surely they must have a copy in a drawer somewhere. This is arguably the weakest constitutional argument ever made.

[salin]

3. Shhhh Sen Specter, you are scaring the WH....

NOT! Seen your schtick too many times, they just threaten to take your chairmanship of the Judiciary committee away, and you comply - perhaps telling yourself that "you can do more good" (reining them in?) in the chairmanship... but then you do nothing but blow an occaissional gasket, before meekly complying and carrying the Bush water towards the dam of unconstitutional intentions.

[rodeodance]

4. Keith Olbermann did a good segment on how Specter always caves

in to the WH--lots of postering, then fluff!

[rodeodance]

5. Specter said he would not put the Ceo's under oath (he said this

on Blitzer show last week.

[jazzjunkysue]

6. are any of them clean enough to stand up to the GOP?

[robinlynne]

8. ok. let's see those subpoenas. come on.

[ninkasi]

9. He blusters and says a lot of things

but in the end, he ALWAYS backs down. Can anybody remember a time when he actually carries through on the tough sounding pronouncement he makes? I honestly can't think of any.

[fshrink]

10. Looks like he is #1... Naaa... Maybe #3

[BlueManDude]

11. Ohh, I bet Rover shaking in his boots Sen. Sphincter. n/t

[Robbien]

12. He didn't like everyone saying he was a scardy cat so now he is blustering

"No I didn't cave," says Specter "I really am a big meanie." All the while handing over amnesty to Bush for breaking the spying law.

[SavetheUSA]

13. Specter is faking it- think magic bullet

Someone in the house of representatives needs to introduce articles of impeachment NOW, before they make what Bush did legal retroactively...as if you can really do that!

And they are admitting that wiretapping without a court order is illegal, that is why they are changing the law. It is time for Conyers to go for it...introduce articles of impeachment!!! JUST DO IT!!!!!

[radfringe]

15. yeah right

and on that same day bush will veto a bill... :eyes: