Hey! Look over here! Something important actually happened today!

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/06/07/nsa/index.html

Specter blasts Cheney's efforts on NSA hearing
From Terry Frieden
CNN Wednesday, June 7, 2006; Posted: 9:10 p.m. EDT (01:10 GMT)

"If an accommodation cannot be reached with the administration, the Judiciary Committee will consider confronting the issue with subpoenas," said Specter, who would need to find the votes to do so.

And they actually gave this some real and decent coverage on CNN tonight. Too bad everyone is so pre-occupied with an anorexic right-wing loony that they miss out on the beginning of a possible show-down between Specter and the Adminstration.

This has been a public service announcement.

(spelling edit)

[globalvillage]

1. Specter will fold.

It's his way.

[drm604]

2. That's my fear also.

He'll "try to reach an accommodation".

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

3. That may be. But why even press it this far if that is his intent? nt.

[globalvillage]

5. I hope I'm wrong, of course.

I've just been disappointed by my only senator too many times. I'll try to stay hopeful, though.

[EFerrari]

14. Because that is his shtick. He pretends to take a principled

stand and then --whooooooooosh -- he's on to the next thing. He does this over and over.

[katinmn]

28. More 'good cop, bad cop' play acting.

You can't trust Specter.

[rosesaylavee]

4. Specter can be surprising from time to time

Guess this is one of those times. Good for him.

Thanks for the distraction from the current distraction!

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

6. Specter has had a long career and is very cognizant of history

and his place in it. He also at the far end of his political career and his physical life. I hope he issues himself the "what the
F!@K" license that some older people do when they become absolutely fearless. I hope people will actually read the link. He was impressive from what I saw tonight. If he was just a toady he would never have raised the stink to this level.

[globalvillage]

11. I thought his epiphany would come

with the cancer or recovery. I'm still hoping. He's nothing to brag about, but he's the only real senator I've got.

[WiseButAngrySara]

7. This was already posted by kpete.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1375962

[acmejack]

8. I bears repeating IMO

Appears to be a number of people enjoying here.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

9. I'm glad, but I did not see it or other posts about this when I posted

which I thought was amazing. It's all Coulter, Coulter, Coulter, Coulter. We should have multiple threads grinding this ax and not the silly little butter knife that is Ann Coulter.

[lyonn]

17. Specter was asking the right questions during hearing

yesterday. Then he gets on tv and rants more so it is getting air time and that is important as there is very little press on this issue. Same as all the other truly important bs this pres. is secretly dumping into those new law books he is having written.

Edit: By the way, during the hearing yesterday while Jack Anderson's son was being questioned it came out that it appears that the reason the FBI want Anderson's files and notes is to find out who the leake(s) is/are that give Anderson that info 20 - 30 years ago. Pretty sneeky huh. The FBI figures some may still be alive and leaking. Who leaked a CIA undercover agent (Plame)? bush simple lied as usual and said he would search his office but doubted his boys would do such a thing. It's all unbelievable.

[Paradise]

32. first time i'm seeing it but, then again,

i only visit du a short time each day.

for me, dupes are helpful.

[chill_wind]

10. All talk and hot air. Specter won't subpoena telecom executives

And he probably wouldn't put them under oath if he did.

By KATHERINE SHRADER, Associated Press Writer Tue Jun 6, 6:20 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Phone company executives won't be grilled by a Senate panel anytime soon about their roles in the Bush administration's eavesdropping program.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said Tuesday he will hold off subpoenaing the telecommunications chiefs while he works with the White House on his legislation that would ask a secretive federal court to review the constitutionality of Bush's surveillance operations.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060606/ap_on_go_co/eavesdropping

I harken back to his handling of torture boy's recent testimony.

Unforgivable.

[globalvillage]

12. Like a cheap suit.

Sigh. The man never fails to disappoint.

[lyonn]

13. Specter seems to be pushing for a confrontation between

Congress and the Executive by the use of the subpoena if Cheney doesn't cooperate. Why is Specter talking to Cheney rather than bush? This could be big and it appears Specter is doing more than making noises, I hope.

Edit to add:


Specter - Cheney needs to comply without the necessity of a constitutional confrontation between the Congress and the Executive - this is what I scribbled during Wolfs program.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

16. Cheney seems to be the one who personally intervened and brokered his

little deal with Orrin Hatch. It appears to me that they were certainly trying to do an end run around Specter and he is calling foul. I think he does see it as a personal insult and I think he is saying, "Okey dokey, if that's how they want to play, Uncle Arlen will show them how to really play." My take anyway. Just remember that a jilted fiancee is what took down Abramhoff. Sometimes when these things go personal is when they go ballsitic.

[Mr_Spock]

15. Wha-wha-wha - whaaaaat? Real news - on DU?

Get the fuck outa here!!

Sounds interesting actually - we'll see if that louse Specter actually ever once follows through on a threat - friggin old empty windbag.

[lyonn]

19. Speaking of real news on DU, what about Bolton vs U.N?

Someone at U.N., Swiss maybe?, compained that the U.S. wasn't trying to play nice and Bolton got up there and talks ugly about this fellow. So, wish someone that is familiar with what really went on would post. There was a clip on tv today with Bolton ranting arrogantly how things needed to be changed and he didn't need some unimportant delegate telling him what needed to be happening at the U.N. What was the subject?? I'll try to find something but not good searcher.

Edit: Found it on Late Breaking News, duh

[Mr_Spock]

23. I was going to say...

There was a post on this that I saw earlier...

[The Backlash Cometh]

18. He didn't say subpoena. He said soft peonies.

Specter's sending Cheney a bouquet of flowers.

[proud patriot]

20. isn't he the guy who wouldn't swear in Gonzales ?

He'll likely fold .. But I will hope
for a patriot.

[lies and propaganda]

21. very nice, I had no idea.

i hate that the shit works on me as well sometimes. Ive been barfing over her all day and I completely missed this.

[robinlynne]

22. possible showdown...will consider subpoenas....

don't count on it.

[pdxmom]

24. Specter has folded before and I think we'll see him do it again.

I saw his interview and he was pretty darn conciliatory. It's too jarring to see two stories on the same page with one saying Specter is going to stand up to the NSA and Cheney and another telling us that Specter has decided NOT to have a hearing with the telcoms. Can't believe a damn word he says.

[oxbow]

25. k&r for a possible showdown

hey, a man can hope! Stranger things have happenned than spontaneous testicular regeneration

[femrap]

26. specter can't even spell

subpoena, never mind issue one.

Karl wouldn't allow that....and after all specter is rather happy playing his role of 'beige knight.'

[Kurovski]

27. K&R.(nt)

[pacalo]

29. Don't underestimate the power of the Coulter story, Phoebe.

If this gets enough coverage, I think it could have the same effect as the Shiavo debacle. Coulter needs to disgust as many people as possible.

And if she's not bad enough, the GOP is sending out talking heads to defend her. I found this clip at Canofun of some GOP idiot named Burkman who was a guest on Scarborough. This Coulter thing is a gift to the Democrats.

Excerpt of Burkman's comments:

"You know what? Osama Bin Laden is sitting in a cave tonight somewhere in the subcontinent & you know what...he’s amazed, he’s shocked because what we have done...what these women have done, what others have done with 9-11, is they have commercialized him."

Bin Laden is "sitting in a cave tonight" because BushCo attacked the wrong country. And he's "amazed & shocked" because BushCo is concerned more about attacking American widows who have been victimized by 9-11 than about capturing him. And no one has commercialized 9-11 but Bush.

In regard to this latest news about Specter, we'll have to see if he deviates from his track record. I share your hope.

[magellan]

30. It would be generous to say I'm skeptical

Specter, subpeona Cheney? Pffft.

[BR_Parkway]

31. Oooh, they're going to consider subpoenas - be still my heart

Specter's cajones to stand up to this (mis)administration last no longer than his Viagra pills - lots of bluster, then the feeling is gone and he mildly does their bidding.

He is one of the biggest enablers to the hijacking of our Democracy.