Bye-Bye to Secret Spy Program - (US NEWS)

[kpete]

Bye-Bye to Secret Spy Program?
Why the fate of President Bush's eavesdropping program is dangling by a thread
By Liz Halloran

Posted Sunday, November 19, 2006

Republicans who limped back to Washington for a lame duck congressional session last week found a host of marching orders from President Bush, but perhaps none more urgent than this: Before Democrats take control of Congress in January, they must pass legislation authorizing the National Security Agency's domestic eavesdropping program.

His plea for a legislative stamp of approval on the controversial spy effort is an "important priority in the war on terror," Bush said. The response: deafening silence. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist quickly dispatched aides to put out the word on Bush's request: Not gonna happen.

Outgoing Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter introduced yet another bill last week that he says would ease the concerns of privacy advocates while allowing the spying program to continue, but the odds of getting any last-ditch legislation through his committee, the House, and a Senate vote before Republicans cede control are formidable.

So after nearly a year of high-stakes wrangling on the Hill, heated debates over privacy and presidential authority, and a flurry of lawsuits against the administration and telecom companies for allegedly aiding the surveillance program, Congress appears to be back to square one. And with Democrats promising oversight hearings next year on how the program was hatched and whom it targets, it appears likely that the issue will be decided in court and, ultimately, the Supreme Court.

more at:
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/061119/27surveillance.htm

[hippiechick]

1. Procedural question:

Even if it's passed in this session, can't it be de-fanged, or repealed entirely by the next Congress?


:shrug:

[Roland99]

3. Frat-boy has but to then wield his veto pen.

[hippiechick]

4. Ok, the next president, then ?

:shrug: :hi:

[sam sarrha]

2. what is really "Deafening is the ROAR of MegaaGoliath paper shredders.. before th Dem take over

[grizmaster]

5. Program isn't dead, he just has to obey the law

and get warrants

[emald]

6. if we as a country can't stop this unconstitutional program

then we are done as a country. This little pResident has broken our constitution, the very thing he is sworn to uphold. This must be stopped.

[Toots]

7. So is FICO totally out the window now?

They found they did not wish to abide by existing law so ignored it. Is that Law now defunct? Congressional Laws do not seem to stand up well to this Administration, beginning with "Presidential Papers Act" which was an Act of Congress (Law) that the Administration immedialtely threw out the window upon entering office. They could not allow Reagan's papers to become public knowledge because so many of the actors are in the current Administration and everyone knows how corrupt Reagan's Administration was...Funny how not one single member of Congress is willing to object to the total disregard of Congressional Laws...

[Katzenjammer]

8. Oh, is it being stopped?

I get the impression that the illegal spying will continue, and that the Dems have no intention of stopping it, but will merely hold "hearings". Am I wrong (I hope!!!)?

[dubykc]

9. It's my understanding that the program will continue until...

such time that the courts put a stop to it. It was declared unconstitutional but they were allowed to continue the program while it is appealed.

[KharmaTrain]

10. Too Much Crap To Flush...It's CYA Time...

Thanks to Hastert's 3 day work week, there's only 6 working days left in the two weeks after Thanksgiving and the end of the session. Hopefully, the only thing we'll see passed by either body are continuing resolutions that would just freeze where things are now and play out the clock.

If there is any wheeling and dealing by Repugnicans right now it's covering their asses. Warantless wiretapping takes a back seat to making sure their special project or pork or special interest who writes the check get one last shot...and then it'll be a glancing blow at best.

Remember, no budget had been passed...as usual...and without at least a continuing resolution passed, the government could shut down. Either way the GOOP is screwed. They'll opt to covering their own asses and letting booshie boy's priorities twist in the wind.

[Old and In the Way]

12. Republicans know they have to survive after Bush.

They know what the voters thoughts are on this unconstitutional grab by the Executive Branch. Some also know that the next President will most likely be a Democrat. Their longterm interests do not line up with Bush's. 2008 is looming on the horizon.

[warrens]

11. A lot of really nasty stuff is gonna die young over the next few months

Poor little fascists, no more rubber stamp. And Repukes are going to be terrified to vote for ANYTHING Smirk wants because it will come up again when they run for reelection. Even if the Dems can't get certain things through, they will get a lot done by simply letting nasty shit die.