Re: Sen. Specter threatens to cut off funding for secret wiretaps

On Fri, 28 Apr 2006 13:53:29 -0700, jmdrake_98 wrote:


Rabid Weasel wrote:
On Fri, 28 Apr 2006 13:19:12 -0700, jmdrake_98 wrote:

And it's the *same* "broad interpretation" used by his predecessors
stretching all the way back to when the law was first passed.

All of his predecessors were involved in the second Iraq war? Gee,
I didn't know that.

I didn't say anything about Iraq. I said that all of them used this
"broad interpretation" to conduct their domestic-to-international phone
spying. And they did.


Face facts,
he has decades of precedent on his side.

That's simply not true. It might have HAPPENED under earlier
administrations, but Bush was the first one to get CAUGHT. That's
the "facts" to face.

Ummm... You know that instances of earlier use are well documented, right?


Much as you (and even I, truth
to be told) don't like it, this "broad interpretation" *does* hold water.
If it didn't he, and all else involved, would have already been gotten for
it; and not just Bush, but every other Prez. who's done it before him
(which is all of them).

Ummm...no. It doesn't hold water. But he won't be impeached for
the same reason Clinton wasn't convicted by the senate. There
simply aren't enough votes.

Even among the democrats there aren't enough actual votes (as opposed to
soundbites). This is so for a *reason* and if you believe it's because of
altruistic or moral reasons then you're fooling yourself.


Admit it to yourself, even though you (and I) think it *should* be
illegal, there's enough loophole to wriggle through and the only way to
fix it is to legislatively close that loophole.

There's no legislative "fix" to something that isn't "broken".

yes there is. It *should* be illegal, even though it isn't.


Bush is
getting by on hubris alone. The senate could pass a "fix" that
declares "Wiretapping is still illegal" and Bush could, via a signing
statement, declare he wasn't going along with said "fix". Unless
someone is willing to go a step further said fix means nothing.

Veto override.


Then the next time it was done there wouldn't be a loophold and they could
just arrest whatever Prez. is doing it.

"They" who? Congress doesn't have the power to arrest.

Neither do you and I, yet that doesn't stop us from swearing out warrants
or initiating legal action.

And someone has to "execute" that warrant. The president is the head
of the "executive" branch.

And not immune. At least not until his replacement pardons him.


"They" do
have the power to impeach, but right now "they" have no intention of
exercising that power.

This is because their objection is based upon wishful thinking of how
things "should be" not how they are.

No. This is because the majority of them are republicans and
initiating impeachment proceedings would be political suicide.

It would not happen even with a floor full of democrats.


Get over it.

Get over what? I just posted the article.

Bush's little wiretapping scheme isn't illegal. I wish it were. But
that's all it is; wishing.


Congress isn't going to do anything about this for the same
reason that Popes don't like to make ex cathedra pronouncements. They
don't want to limit themselves in the future. Even the Dems won't do it
because they don't want *their* guy in next to be limited in this way.

The dems don't have the power to force an impeachment. And this
really comes down to simple politics. One thing I WILL agree with
you on is that I don't think Specter is serious. I think he see's
Bush's
popularity in the tank and knows this is an easy way to make it
LOOK like he's doing something about the issue without taking
a step that would implode the GOP (impeachment proceedings).

Right. He's not serious. Neither are the democrats. They're both
bullypulpitting for the same reasons.

Have a good weekend.

Peace favor your sword (IH),
Kirk
.

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