Email reply from Normie Coleman - says Dems knew about NSA wiretaps

[Oreo]

Is the line about Jane Harman true? Her quote says "foreign collection program" not a domestic one.

from Normie
Thank you for taking the time to contact me concerning Congressional hearings into the National Security Agency's (NSA) wiretap program.

Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) has announced that the Judiciary Committee will hold hearings to determine whether there was a statutory or legal basis for such a program, whether there was judicial review, the scope of the NSA intercepts, and what was done with that information. I support such an action because I believe we need to ensure that this program, aimed at protecting our national security, does not violate our Constitutional rights.

President Bush has confirmed that he authorized the NSA to conduct wiretaps on persons with established links to terrorist groups. It is important to note that the wiretap authorizations were only for intercepting international calls and only from persons the government has a reasonable basis to conclude is affiliated with Al Qaeda or related terrorist groups.

Members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees were informed about and received regular updates on this program. In fact, Representative Jane Harman (D-CA), ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, stated that "I have been briefed since 2003 on a highly classified NSA foreign collection program that targeted Al Qaeda. I believe the program is essential to U.S. national security and that its disclosure has damaged critical intelligence capabilities." Additionally, the Administration has briefed key members of Congress on the program over a dozen times.

The President has maintained that he will continue to use the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court set up under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) whenever possible. However, the FISA did not anticipate a post 9-11 situation where speed and immediacy is needed for approvals for warrants. Lt. General Michael V. Hayden, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, has testified that without the NSA program, crucial information not otherwise available would have been lost because of the processes and requirements set up under the FISA process.

I will continue to follow this important issue. I appreciate hearing from you and hope you will not hesitate to contact me on any issue of concern to you.

Sincerely,
Norm Coleman
United States Senate

[Spike from MN]

1. Looks like Normie selected part of her quote and neglected

the rest. Here's another snippet from that same statement:

“Like many Americans, I am deeply concerned by reports that this program in fact goes far beyond the measures to target Al Qaeda about which I was briefed. Since Saturday, I have consulted my staff as well as attorneys who specialize in constitutional law and now believe that:

1. It was inappropriate to limit congressional briefings on this program to the so-called Gang of Four the most senior majority and minority members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. The National Security Act of 1947 gives the President authority to limit congressional briefings only when covert action – not foreign collection – is involved.

House Intelligence Committee Democrats have written to the President and Chairman Pete Hoekstra requesting a briefing as well as open and closed hearings as soon as Congress reconvenes in January. Vigorous congressional oversight requires Member and staff involvement.

2. Domestic-to-domestic surveillance requires the approval of a FISA court. It has always been my view that the President must seek FISA approval if domestic-to-domestic surveillance is involved. The FISA statute allows a 72-hour grace period in an emergency.


The full statement can be found at http://www.house.gov/harman/press/releases/2005/1221PR_nsa.html.

Maybe Normie should be informed that a.) we know how to look up things on the web and b.) it was very misleading of him to quote only a small section of her statement, especially given that the part he quoted didn't accurately reflect her position on the matter. Then again, that's to be expected from a weasel like Normie. I like to email him every once in awhile in order to inform him of my views and point out how they differ from his. Heh heh heh. As you can probably imagine, I'm not even remotely polite about it when I do it. ;)

[Minnesota Raindog]

2. Send a copy of Norm's letter to Harman's office

Let her see for herself what a lying sack of shit this hollow senator is:

[email protected]

[Spike from MN]

3. Great idea! Though I suspect most people on this planet

already know what a lying sack of shit Coleman is, it never hurts to point out that fact at every opportunity. Oreo, do I have your permission to email Rep. Harman the contents of the canned email message you received and posted above?

[Minnesota Raindog]

5. Send a letter to Norm and ask why he lied

Besides sending copies of Norm's letter to Rep. Harman, I sent a letter to Norm, along with copies of the original response that started this thread, and Rep. Harman's press release on the topic. I pointed out the discrepency between what he said Harman said and what Harman actually said and asked him why he lied and misrepresented Harman's comments. Norm's response to my complaint about his response? A carbon copy of the original lying reponse, with the lie repeated once again!

[MnFats]

4. Even IF they WERE briefed, the Dems had NO POWER to stop

or advise the Bushies that this illegal intrusion was beyond the pale.
The Bush Admin simply said "We're doing this; you can't stop us; you can't reveal any of this or we'll lable you a traitor.
Bush belongs in prison.
Even Bob Barr knows they're full of shit.