NYT: "REAL Danger Is For Bush" Because Americans Will SEE "Breathtaking Extent Of LAWLESS Behavior"

[kpete]

Editorial
The Intelligence Cover-Up

Published: March 16, 2008

Finally, Mr. Bush said it was vital to national security to give amnesty to any company that turned over data on Americans without a court order. The purpose of this amnesty is not to protect national secrets — that could be done during a trial — but to make sure that the full damage to Americans’ civil liberties is never revealed. Mr. Bush also objects to a provision that would create a committee to examine his warrantless spying program.

Mr. Bush wanted the House to approve the Senate’s version of the bill, which includes Mr. Bush’s amnesty and does not do nearly as good a job of preserving Americans’ rights. We were glad the House ignored his bluster. If the Senate cannot summon the courage and good sense to follow suit, there is no rush to pass a law.

The president will continue to claim the country is in grave danger over this issue, but it is not. The real danger is for Mr. Bush. A good law — like the House bill — would allow Americans to finally see the breathtaking extent of his lawless behavior.


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/16/opinion/16sun2.html?_r=2&ref=opinion&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

[babylonsister]

1. And THAT is what he's so afraid of. Nice to see it in print. nt

[joeybee12]

2. You know, if Dems were smart, they'd use this as a talking point to

throw right back at Bush...but, wait, oh, that's right...never mind.

[williesgirl]

11. Right, Instead they focus on what some minister said years ago. What bullshit. We have serious

problems in this country and HRC and her gang of thugs wants to talk about everything except the real issues - Bush.

[Golden Raisin]

36. They (Clinton & Obama) are too busy

counting delegates and flinging shit at each other. Why are they not highlighting Torture, the immplosion of the U.S. Economy (which is beginning to unravel before our very eyes), the non-stop and violent rape of our Constitution for the last 7 years, the blatant corruption & cronyism --- and the very long list of truly horrifying sins of the Bush regime which goes on and on. Both Clinton & Obama should publicly and on a daily basis, every time they appear in front of a TV camera, be rousing the American people (Dems AND Republicans) but unfortunately it's just bullshit politics as usual.

[mwb970]

3. Exactly!

All of bush's nefarious actions are now directed toward one end: COVERING HIS BUTT. Good luck with that, georgie.

[NNN0LHI]

4. Thats why he can't leave Iraq too someone will start digging up the bodies

The crime scene needs to be protected at all costs.

Bush would make Saddam look like an easy going fella by comparison.

Don

[RC]

8. You mean he hasn't yet?

[barbtries]

5. from the article:

For more than two years now, Congress, the news media, current and former national security officials, think tanks and academic institutions have been engaged in a profound debate over how to modernize the law governing electronic spying to keep pace with technology. We keep hoping President Bush will join in.

Instead, the president offers propaganda intended to scare Americans, expand his powers, and erode civil liberties — and to ensure that no one is held to account for the illegal wiretapping he ordered after 9/11.

someone needs to set me straight on this point. was it before, or was it after 9/11? because i have read that he had already been spying illegally before the attacks. i googled "bush spying before 911":

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/10/nsa-asked-for-p.html
http://scholarsandrogues.wordpress.com/2007/10/14/the-nsa-was-spying-on-americans-before-911-and-telecoms-were-in-on-it/
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=abIV0cO64zJE&refer
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/011306Z.shtml
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB24/nsa25.pdf

inquiring minds want to know and not just wonder...

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

6. Excellent catch, barbtries.

Another case of MSM reporting just some of the facts.

[RC]

9. bu$h was spying BEFORE the attacks.

Don't forget that the outgoing Clinton administration told the incoming bu$h administration something was going down sometime +/- a few weeks of 9/11. The bu$h administration did nothing to stop it. Not even when it was happening.

Why are these criminals still in office? Really, why? We need more than just the criminals brought to justice. The aiders and enablers need to be facing some serous penalties also.

[stubtoe]

22. "Why" is the biggest question and the most troubling one.

This country needs a shakeup and pronto.

[defendandprotect]

30. I think the answer is probably, "Why not?" . . . they've gotten away with everything else ---

the biggest heist being the 2000 election ---

[Bluenorthwest]

44. Part of the reason why

In my opinion is the elevation of two of the rubber stamp Senators to possible nomination, and the rejection of all candidates who had attempted to stop the war or bring anykind of justice to the administration. Think about it. These two did nothing at all, members of the wrost of all Senates in American history, and in spite of all the press spin, neither candidate while in the Senate came close to leading on the issues they use as campaign rhetoric. "I disagree, but I will pay for it anywy" seems to be the mantra with the war, and several other things.
It is easy to recall that not so long ago Harry Reid was considered a wimp who sold out our mandate on Iraq, and yet those who voted just like him are the fav raves of the Party. Why is because the way to get promoted to greater power is to ignore crime and focus on triva and personality.

[L. Coyote]

18. MORE here: TELECOM COVER-UP? Nacchio and Qwest: Another Political Prosecution?

Apparently, well before 9-11, and soon after taking office.

TELECOM COVER-UP? Nacchio and Qwest: Another Political Prosecution?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2935817

[Peace Patriot]

21. Here's a hoot...

"For more than two years now, Congress, the news media, current and former national security officials, think tanks and academic institutions have been engaged in a profound debate over how to modernize the law governing electronic spying to keep pace with technology...."

And we're supposed to trust them?! And bow before their 'profound' debate?!

:rofl:

And they--who deep-sixed the spying report to help 're-elect' Bush and his spies--have the nerve to add: "We keep hoping President Bush will join in.!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :wow: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Supersedeas]

46. they continue to ignore the issue of PRE-9/11 domestic surveillance!!

[malaise]

7. It's that simple

All Bush's noise re FISA is an attempt to keep his crimes from being exposed.

[bdamomma]

41. * is only covering his own a$$.

[screembloodymurder]

10. Purge America of the BFEE.

Coumadin and a pit bull.

[pleah]

12. K&R Can we put them in jail now?

[gratuitous]

13. Well, it's not like the Times is reporting on this lawless behavior

Gosh, you don't want to risk your access to the outlaws of this criminal regime. Wouldn't that be a blow, not to hear the lame-ass justifications, half-truths, and out-and-out lies they peddle to excuse their crimes?

[Eurobabe]

14. I see kpete and I kick and repeat

:kick:

[Peace Patriot]

15. Naw, naw, naw, sorry, New York Times! YOU enabled this fascist dictator to rule

over us, to shred our Constitution, to slaughter 1.2 million innocent people to get their oil, to torture prisoners and hold them without trial, and to re-elect himself with "trade secret" code voting machines, owned and controlled by rightwing Bushite corporations.

YOU deep-sixed the scandal of Bushite domestic spying, to AID Diebold & co. in their theft of the 2004 election.

And YOU cannot rehabilitate yourself as a news organization by getting all huffy and progressive now that the damage has been done. YOU are as much traitors to this country, and its principles of justice and democracy, as any Bushite. YOU put this junta in power. YOU pushed their godawful war, every day, for months--until it fell with "shock and awe" on the Iraqi people. And you can take your astonishment at "the breathtaking extent of his lawless behavior" and shove it where the sun don't shine.

[madokie]

16. I agree

[Kaleko]

32. Word! I want to copy your post and paste it everywhere, slap it on these bozo's forehead!

[Golden Raisin]

35. Bravo!

The Grey Lady willingly got in bed with BushCo and discovered it had crabs the next morning.

[alfredo]

17. Didn't bush start this spying before 9-11?

[NewJeffCT]

26. yes, it started about 6 months before 9/11

which means it was within weeks of Bush taking office.

[alfredo]

28. I'd like to find a source for that so I can attribute that source.

It will become part of a letter to the editor.

[Pastiche423]

37. These might help...

In a separate program, N.S.A. officials met with the Qwest executives in February 2001 and asked for more access to their phone system for surveillance operations, according to people familiar with the episode. The company declined, expressing concerns that the request was illegal without a court order.


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/washington/16nsa.html?

Moreover, it’s come to the attention of The New York Times <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/washington/16nsa.html>, National Journal <http://news.nationaljournal.com/articles/071102nj1.htm>, the Rocky Mountain News <http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/tech/article/0,2777,DRMN_23910_5719566,00.html> and others, that the Bush administration was collaborating with phone companies as early as February 2001 to conduct domestic spying.


http://blog.aclu.org/index.php?/archives/454-McConnell-Cant-Stop-Lying.html

[alfredo]

47. Thank you.

[spanone]

19. the breathtaking extent of his lawless behavior - hello, nancy pelosi...wake the fuck up

[goforit]

27. Yes our dear little Pelosi............Should Women really be in office?

Pelosi gives Bush all because she is threatenned by him, so therefore should cowering
women be allowed in office?

[defendandprotect]

31. When are we getting rid of the "cowering men" . . . ?

[Bluenorthwest]

45. And Bush proves to you that men should be in office?

Seems like a strong argument against any man taking office again, and I'm a man.

[Warren DeMontague]

34. Excuse me, but are you PAYING ATTENTION AT ALL?...

Speaking of "hello"...

The House -and Nancy Pelosi- STOOD UP TO Bush on this.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3009272

They did it. They did exactly what they should do. They rejected telecom immunity. They said that the American People need to know what constituted this spying program. They said that the Executive must be subject to oversight. They defended the United States Constitution.


...and you're reflexively whining about Nancy Pelosi... couldn't be bothered to read the link in the OP, huh?

Maybe you missed this part of the line which you actually quoted:

"A good law —like the House bill— would allow Americans to finally see the breathtaking extent of his lawless behavior."

You do realize Nancy Pelosi is in charge of the House, right?

For fuck's sake, let's give our people credit when they do something right. Here the House- thanks to Nancy Pelosi- did the right thing.

[Supersedeas]

48. its a positive step

[mdmc]

20. would allow Americans to finally see the breathtaking extent of his lawless behavior

would allow Americans to finally see the breathtaking extent of his lawless behavior

[bdamomma]

42. I only hope more of the population will realize what we are facing

with this sick regime we have. They must pay for their crimes, and knock them off that pedestal that they think they are on.

ENOUGH.

[Richard Steele]

23. K&R

[Kurovski]

24. K&R. (nt)

[HuffleClaw]

25. well its about damn time that was said by the media

if it were up to me i'd be running 30-second spots 24/7 HAMMERING this point home to the public on every network

[defendandprotect]

29. And still no recommendation for IMPEACHMENT by the NYT . . . ???

...though, "the breathtaking extent of his lawless behavior."

! ! ! !

[Kaleko]

33. Yes, they're still groping for their balls. It'll take more of an obvious economic collapse

for them to find 'em.

[better tomorrow]

38. and all DU computer addresses will be on the list.....

along with our names and identities....start packing your clothes now, lads and lasses.....it is the Bush way....

[earth mom]

39. Washington DC is the Wild West. * is an Outlaw. nt

[Echo In Light]

43. Corporate mafia: global crime syndicate

[RoccoR5955]

40. High Crimes and Felonies, NOT Misdimeanors have been comitted...

:kick:
...by Bushco, Inc., tantamount to TREASON. The bill that King George wants is not to grant the telecoms immunity, he wants to grant Bushco, Inc. immunity. WE THE PEOPLE must stand up to King George, and depose him and his criminal regime!