Sen. Specter Threatens to Block NSA Funds

[ECH1969]

WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter said Thursday he is considering legislation to cut off funding for the Bush administration‘s secret domestic wiretapping program until he gets satisfactory answers about it from the White House.

Specter said he had informed President Bush about his intention and that he has attracted several potential co-sponsors. He said he‘s become increasingly frustrated in trying to elicit information about the program from senior White House officials at several public hearings.

"It is true that we have no assurance that the president would follow any statute that we enact," Specter said. He said he‘s considering adding an amendment to stop funding of the program to an Iraq war-hurricane relief bill being debated by the Senate this week and next.

http://www.newsone.ca/westfallweeklynews/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=182009

[babylonsister]

1. Talk about a flip-flopper. Make up your mind, Specter.

Do you or don't you support illegal wiretapping? What's so hard about that?

[Nickster]

4. Oh it's really pretty easy actually. He'll stop his feet and whine a

little, then when it gets down to brass tacks, he'll protect the emperor like a good lil boy.

[OKthatsIT]

15. Specter..hmmm...Specter? Didn't he create 'Single Gun Theory?'

OH YEAhhhhh...young upstart congressman on the Warren Commission. Specter said Oswald was the only gun..to murder JFK.

So, do you think people change?

Specter is part of that Oil, Banks, and military industrial complex CABAL. Those guys do nothing BUT psyops of deception and opinion manipulation.

[Mnemosyne]

16. The magic bullet theory. It bounced

around in JFK and then exited and hit Connelly, IIRC. Sounds plausible to me. :sarcasm:

[skooooo]

2. whoot!

:bounce:

[ThomCat]

3. I doubt he's serious.

He's posing for the voters. That's all.

[Nickster]

6. Ding DING DING!

[stepnw1f]

7. Specter is Two-Faced (nt)

[rodeodance]

5. I will give him credit--go for it Mr. Speck and stick to your guns.

[rodeodance]

8. WH has not commented

...Specter said he had informed President Bush about his intention and that he has attracted several potential co-sponsors. He said he‘s become increasingly frustrated in trying to elicit information about the program from senior White House officials at several public hearings.

"It is true that we have no assurance that the president would follow any statute that we enact," Specter said. He said he‘s considering adding an amendment to stop funding of the program to an Iraq war-hurricane relief bill being debated by the Senate this week and next.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., said allegations that NSA domestic wiretapping operations are abusive or unconstitutional are outrageous and that Congress is committed to vigorous oversight of the program.

[rodeodance]

9. it is people like this Hokstra that are dangerous!

...House Intelligence Committee Chairman Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., said allegations that NSA domestic wiretapping operations are abusive or unconstitutional are outrageous and that Congress is committed to vigorous oversight of the program.

[AnneD]

10. The GOP in congress need to get it through their head that

1)they represent the will of the people-not their party and most folks are so down on Bush and his policies that a challange to his authority would be seen as a plus.

2)if they want to continue to their seat-they better put some distance between themselves and Dubya.The Bush policies have wiped out years of gain (economic, political, etc). It is a FAILURE

3)the best way to represent the will of the people AND distance themselves form this administration is to use the power of the purse (which will appeal to old time GOP and fiscally responsible DEMs).

[Synnical]

11. The Yahoo link has another interesting quote from Specter

"Institutionally, the presidency is walking all over Congress at the moment," Specter, R-Pa., told the panel. "If we are to maintain our institutional prerogative, that may be the only way we can do it."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060427/ap_on_go_co/specter_nsa

[AndyA]

12. Note to Specter: You should have anticipated this.

Did you really expect the White House to be cooperative? If so, just exactly WHAT did you base that belief on?

Next time, make sure EVERYONE is under oath when you ask questions regarding spying, and assume that the White House will do as they've always done under the Bush Administration: lie, cover up, deny, and accuse others for their dirty deeds.

You've been around long enough to know how this works, Arlen. Quit being a patsy. But then again, what can we really expect from you? You're a Republican. :puke:

[leftchick]

13. it should have been done immediately!

months ago when it was first revealed! MFer! :grr:

[katty]

14. Consider?! just do it!

[Rex]

17. Specter strikes!

I knew Senator Shithead was just laying low, like a snake in the grass; waiting for his chance to strike. You don't fuck with the man that knows the truth about JFK's assassination.

[windy252]

18. and he expects me to believe that?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[0rganism]

19. More empty threats and vague promises from Sen. Specter

In the end, a suitable compromise composed of Pennsylvania pork and magical thinking will flip his flops yet again.

[BuyingThyme]

20. Fuck you, Specter. It's getting old.