The New York Times thinks it has come up with another hit piece on President George W. Bush. Spilling the classified, top-secret beans concerning a presidential order permitting the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on certain, approved international contacts from or to the United States without a court order was intended to show how much our personal rights have eroded under Bush's watch.
The news has sent the anti-Bush crowd scurrying around like choreographed bit players in a Broadway musical, spouting predictable lines. Take Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who declared that,
Today's revelation that the government listened in on thousands of phone conversations without getting a warrant is shocking . . .
Also "shocked" was Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI), who said,
I can't imagine a more shocking example of an abuse of power.
Personally, I am "shocked" that Feingold is not capable of imagining anything more shocking than this.
But this was not the end of Feingold's thoughts, because there was so, so much to be shocked about. Here he goes again,
This shocking revelation ought to send a chill down the spine of every American.
Somewhere there just has to be a Democratic Party memo with the stage direction: "Act as though you are 'shocked' by this revelation by the NY Times."
The memo would be important. Otherwise the Democratic leadership might just slip up and remember that the president long ago informed the appropriate senators of both parties regarding this matter and received their consent.
Personally, I think that this particular leak of classified information to the Times ought to be investigated and the leaker(s) charged with whatever crime is involved with the unauthorized release of such information.
On the other hand, this revelation can only benefit Bush in the long term. No matter what spin the Democrats and the media try to put on this, I believe most Americans will get the clear message that our president is just doing his job protecting us all from intentional acts of terrorism.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - robert woods
I strongly disagree with this writer. Bush has overstepped his bounds. Suspending individual and human rights is wrong, no matter what the reason. Does the author not see that actions of the kind committed by this administration are exactly like those taken by dictators in countries which we have overthrown and assasinated. I hope this writer is on the NSA list.
2 - Eric Berlin
Interesting that you didn't quote Republican Senator Arlen Specter, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. As I mentioned over on my piece, he said:
I don't think Specter would react thusly to a simple New York Times "hit piece," whatever that even means.
3 - Mark Schannon
So, Bird, you think you're the first to congratulate the president for continuing to erode the only thing that makes the U.S. the most extraordinary government in the history of humanity--The Bill of Rights? Pshaw. You can't be that naive?
Just remember--today it's the liberal pinko commie anti-Christian creeps that are being carefully watched. Tomorrow, when we liberals take over the world & the Bill of Rights lies tattered at your feet, it's gonna be YOU!
Be afraid. Be very afraid. I am.
In Jamesons Veritas
4 - david r. mark
You fail to note that Arlen Specter (R-PA) was calling for an investigation, and John McCain (R-AZ) was prepared to support that investigation.
5 - Matt
David--they'll just dismiss Specter and McCain as moderate pussies who don't march in perfect unison with the GOP. No one is allowed to speak out against this President.
How many days until the next President is sworn in? If it is another Bush, I'll punch myself in the head.
6 - Michael J. West
The fact is that the President took an oath--twice--to uphold the Constitution of the United States.
The fact is that allowing government intelligence agencies to engage in spying operations without a court order is a violation of the Constitution of the United States.
The fact is, therefore, that the President is betraying his oath of office.
Bird of Paradise, I don't understand on what grounds you believe that this qualifies as the President "DOING HIS JOB!"
7 - Scott Butki
I'm hoping this was intended as a satire piece because seriously this can't be an actual opinion - that a president needs to spy on his own people as part of his job.
8 - joe
There is not so much as one fact that anyone can hang a hat on, so to speak...who was eavesdropped upon specifically? No one yet knows. Was it an American Citizen? No one yet knows... Another "non story"...No one yet knows...
9 - Eric Berlin
There's something to this story, though it's unclear how far and deep it will go.
10 - Chris Evans
Yes, Americans will somehow see this as good for Bush...the Americans who have Bush' approval ratings at an all-time low.
11 - Dave Nalle
Perhaps we can have a followup - "Sources Reveal: The NSA is Monitoring Communications" - which is, of course, exactly what the agency was created to do.
Dave
12 - Eric Berlin
Maybe the final expose on the subject would have the following splashy header:
Media Shuts Down Forever Because News Isn't Thought Newsworthy Anymore
13 - Bird of Paradise
Hi. I am the poster of this article. No, it is not satire. If you want satire you can read my other post on the French.
Perhaps some of you noted what President Bush said today. You know, how his decision concerning the NSA monitoring international communications with Americans whose identies had been specifically linked with known Al-Qaeda operatives had been openly shared with all members of Congress authorized to have oversight over these matters...both Republicans and Democrats.
Further, there is no law that prohibits the President from doing this. How then can he be breaking the law?
Oh, and at least two Federal judges who exercise oversight on such Executive Branch security decisions have also been consulted and could not find any conflict with the US Constitution.
Some things, of necessity, must be done in secret so as to "protect and defend" our nation. There is a system in place that involves all three branches of government to monitor these matters. The system has existed for a long time and has served our country quite well.
Whoever the people are who have been leaking these national security details to the media (such as CIA transport aircraft, "secret" terrorist detention centers in Eastern Europe and now this) could and probably should be tried for treason.
14 - Eric Berlin
According to today's Washington Post:
15 - SFC SKI
IIRC, there are already provision for monitoring activities and communications of non-US Citizens residing in the US, as Joe said, I'd like to know who was monitored before I pass judgement.
IF members Congress did know about it, what is the problem. I also read that the NYT sat on this story for a year, if that is the case, why sensationalize it now?
16 - Eric Berlin
SFC -- According to the Post, Democratic Senators are telling a very different version of the story with regard to regular briefings on this kind of monitoring.
17 - SFC SKI
Imagine that!
18 - Eric Berlin
Well, yeah. But it means that the story is worth looking at. The Post story relates what I've been thinking in that there's a broader pattern of ethical fuzzery that the Bush administration has been messing about with for years.
19 - SFC SKI
MAybe so, I personally think it's a loss of spine and guts on the part of a lot of politicians in an effort to both save face and play politics.
BTW, I am non-partisan in my disdain for opportunist politicians.
20 - MDE
Greetings Bird...
This to inform you that based on Presidential authority the Justice department in association with the CIA has monitored your communications and surveilled your movements for the past 18 months. This governmental over reach was justified by the inclusion of 'Paradise' in your choosen screen name indicating obvious radical Islamic influence. The Department is currently preparing your personalized indictment on 244 specific classified charges for actions prohibited by the Patriot Act. Representatives will contact you soon to arrange for and expedite your transfer to your waiting room in the newly refurbished luxury camp in Eastern Europe pending your as yet to be scheduled arraignment. It is recommended that you prepare yourself for a moderate level of discomfort.
That's what I heard anyway.
21 - Dave Nalle
Actually, MDE, they would only have done this if he had been communicating outside the US, because the CIA's power is limited to international investigations and NSA monitoring in conjunction with the CIA is limited to international communications. And Bush was operating within the bounds of those mandates.
Dave
22 - MDE
Greetings Dave:
That's what They all say.
23 - Dave Nalle
And who are 'they', MDE and do they have brain scanning rays on their spaceships?
Dave
24 - MDE
Greetings Bird:
Further rumor reveals that your cover was blown through to your interaction with contributers to blogcritics. It appears that The Acronyms had their machines monitoring international web activity when they keyed on your participation in this international cabal...run for it!
This President Is On The Job (and is not a crook)
Greetings Dave:
You heard about those rays too, huh?
25 - MDE
PS Bird: They want The Password...give it up before the waterboarding begins!