Gonzales Issue Snarls Surveillance Law

[unhappycamper]

Gonzales Issue Snarls Surveillance Law
LARA JAKES JORDAN | August 2, 2007 07:35 PM EST


WASHINGTON — Congress struggled Thursday over giving the government more power to eavesdrop on suspected terrorists, bogged down by concerns about the man who would oversee the plan _ Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Democrats and Republicans alike said they wanted to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 before leaving Washington at week's end for a monthlong break. Summer generally is considered a vulnerable time for attacks because more people are traveling and terrorists can move around undetected more easily.

Gonzales "is clearly one of the concerns that has been expressed by the Democratic leaders," House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio told reporters.

"But at the end of the day, there has to be a way for our intelligence and counterintelligence agencies to collect data from known terrorists," Boehner said. "And we shouldn't let personalities get in the way of protecting the American people."

~snip~

But Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said having the two men share legal oversight of the spying would, at least, eliminate "the concerns I have about giving any additional authority to the attorney general."

In instances where the two disagree on issues, "I think that Gonzales' vote will be of lesser weight than McConnell's," Specter said. Asked why he believed that, he answered, "Because I know the two men."


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[rodeodance]

1. hey Boehner--specter is a repug!