Posted by D. Cupples (photo from White House ) | President Bush's hunger for expanded wiretapping powers (and retroactive
immunity for law-breaking telecom companies) reminds me of Richard
Nixon's Watergate scandal. Nixon's associates didn't have legal power to tap phones or bug offices, but they did it anyway -- simply to keep tabs on political enemies.
Has the bush Administration proven itself more trustworthy than Nixon's? Congress owes it to us taxpayers to engage in serious (and lengthy) debate before passing Telecom Amnesty and expanding the Bush Administration's (and the next Administration's) wiretapping powers. President Bush disagrees. Yesterday's Washington Post reported:
"The White House warned Democratic leaders yesterday that President Bush would veto a proposal to extend an expiring surveillance law by 30 days, saying that Congress should quickly approve a Senate bill favored by the Bush administration.
"The move is aimed at forcing Congress to renew and expand the Protect America Act -- which is due to expire at the end of the day Thursday -- and escalates a national security showdown between Democrats and the White House just before the president's annual State of the Union address....
"The White House and Republicans want the temporary surveillance law made permanent. But many Democrats, spurred on by objections from civil liberties and liberal groups, have balked at the administration's demand to add legal immunity for telephone companies, which face dozens of lawsuits over their role in warrantless wiretaps conducted after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
"The heavily Democratic House has passed legislation that does not include immunity for the telecommunications companies and would increase court oversight of clandestine spying. The closely divided Senate, meanwhile, is embroiled in a floor fight over a bill favored by the White House, which has the support of key Democrats, including the chairman of the intelligence committee." (Washington Post)
First of all, will journalists please stop blaming September 11th for all of the Administration's wiretapping programs? Evidence discussed in an October Washington Post article suggests that the programs were in the works even before 9/11. (BN-Politics)
Second, if Telecom Amnesty passes (i.e., if law-breaking telecoms can avoid court), then evidence of what they -- and the Bush Administration -- have done will essentially remain buried. Given that we taxpayers cannot count on accurate explanations from Administration officials, how else will we learn what really went on except through court cases? Administration officials know this.
Incidentally, Firedoglake reported that Hillary Clinton plans to suspend campaigning and show up to vote "No" to cloture tomorrow re: a Senate bill that includes Telecom Amnesty provisions. Barack Obama's campaign confirmed that he, too, will vote "No" on cloture.
They deserve praise for that: I hope that both candidates will make public statements about the issue.
Memeorandum has other bloggers' reactions.
Related BN-Politics Posts:
* Domestic Spying & Telecom Amnesty: the Bigger Issues
* Intel Chief Misleads Public Again About Wiretapping
Comments