Specter wants special court to supervise surveillance

[mikelewis]

A special federal court would be given power to supervise the Bush administration's warrantless surveillance program under a bill being written by a key Senate Republican.

Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in an interview Wednesday that he wants to "assert Congress' constitutional authority" while allowing the anti-terrorism program to continue under court supervision.

Specter said he hopes to work with President Bush on the bill but is trying to build a bipartisan coalition to override a potential presidential veto.

Bush and Specter haven't discussed the bill, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. On Monday, Specter held a Judiciary Committee hearing in which he and other senators told Attorney General Alberto Gonzales they had doubts about the program's legality.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-02-08-eavesdroping-congress_x.htm?csp=N009

I guess if you don't like the rules, just change them.

[FreedomAngel82]

1. Yep

:mad: UGH! Specter is letting him get away with doing something illegal! I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS! MAGIC BULLET MAN IS AT IT AGAIN! Sorry for yelling but I'm so freakin pissed!

[TomInTib]

6. You should be pissed...

I believe they will use this as a way to portray FISA court as elementally "flawed" and then excuse the outrageous actions that have been taken.

This smells very bad.

[punpirate]

2. Gee, I guess that means...

... that the FISA court wasn't really a court at all. :shrug:

Now we have to create a new court with Constitutional standards low enough to suit Bush....

Specter's a dolt.

[feelthebreeze]

3. it is not any less a crime against Democracy and my rights...

if you do it under any pretense. If you wish to continue to serve in a Democracy, you must act like it is a Democracy. I have zero trust or faith in any act that is devised by such a corrupted group.

[Bozita]

4. We've already got just such a law -- Enforce it!

Impeach the treasonous bastard.

[stillcool]

5. But,...don't they already have one.....???

the special court that * ignored. FISA....I wonder what they'll call the new one...these people are miserable excuses for human beings...We need our own government...screw this one.

[Burried News]

7. We already have a special court - FISA

[Mythsaje]

8. Specter is fascism-friendly...

The only reason he's been upset is because the administration disrespected congress in this.

[KoKo]

9. Disgusting...figured this would happen. More Bush Big Government

to create another agency and emply more of your cronies when you are criticized. It's the Corporate P-Residency. Create a new study group to cover your butt....:puke:

And Specter is a toady whore..

[Wordie]

10. I wonder if Specter will regret his vote for Alito if the spy program ever

gets to the SC...

Although I'm glad he's doing this, I just don't trust him. Has anyone got any further info on why he didn't swear Gonzales in during the recent hearings? I haven't heard any explanation by Specter for that action, which I understand was very unusual.

[peacebird]

11. umm - FISA already exists... * refused to use it, why think he would use

another one?

:wtf:

[peacebird]

12. CALL YOUR CONGRESSCRITTERS!!!!!

we must keep them alert - we must keep calling.

They have to know we are aware and watching them.

The MUST KNOW we hold them accountable.

CALL THEM ON FRIDAY, LET THEM KNOW THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

(stepping off soapbox, and slinking away...)

[AndyTiedye]

13. We Already Have a Special Court For That: The FISA Court

Bush** already has the power to do all the surveillance he wants under the supervision of the FISA court.
He can even do it without a warrant, as long as he applies for a warrant soon after-the-fact.

The FISA Court IS the special court for this purpose!