Cheney Fought for Domestic Surveillance Program
Posted by Stephanie Taylor on June 7, 2007 at 11:52 AM
Vice President Cheney argued with Justice Department officials about their objections to the White House’s illegal domestic surveillance program at a meeting in March 2004, according to new details that emerged yesterday. From the Washington Post:
The meeting came one day before White House officials tried to get approval for the same program from then-Attorney General John D. Ashcroft, who lay recovering from surgery in a hospital, according to former deputy attorney general James B. Comey.
Comey's disclosures, made in response to written questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee, indicate that Cheney and his aides were more closely involved than previously known in a fierce internal battle over the legality of the warrantless surveillance program. The program allowed the National Security Agency to monitor phone calls and e-mails between the United States and overseas.
Comey said that Cheney's office later blocked the promotion of a senior Justice Department lawyer, Patrick Philbin, because of his role in raising concerns about the surveillance.
Democrats are now asking new questions about the relationship between the White House and the Justice Department.
"Mr. Comey has confirmed what we suspected for a while -- that White House hands guided Justice Department business," said Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.). "The vice president's fingerprints are all over the effort to strong-arm Justice on the NSA program, and the obvious next question is: Exactly what role did the president play?"
Comments (4) «
Bush is in this as deep as Cheney. Don't be fooled. Bush personally called Mrs. Ashcroft before Cheney sent His Boys over to Ashcroft's deathbed to put a strong arm on him.
I actually getting pretty sick of hearing about how corrupt and tyranical Cheney is. It's been so obvious from the first. We all know he's the classic conservative Player, who hates democracy and equality and loves profit and control.
It's Spunky and his "aw sucks", down home patriotism act that makes me want to throw up. Nobody but the senile and the rich are buying it anymore.
Bush's B-movie performance has become proof-positive that he's a foreign kissass. His personal relationship with Saudi Arbaian, Indian, and Mexican business interests can no longer be overlooked. He's killing the economic and military strength of this nation for his own personal gain and glory.
One must ask: Where is their true alliegence?
The founding fathers warned us about both of these sorts of tyrants in their letters and speeches. And sure enough, the first thing these two bastards did when they got into power was to take steps to nullify the Constitution and its protections.
Some things like treason stay the same no matter what century you're living in. They aren't fooling anyone.
We must bring them down and then humiliate them in their exile. Next year's election will be the first step. The Devils must pay for their treachery.
I could not agree more with SANDYH's comments /Has Cheney no shame?
"Has Cheney no shame?"
This is a rhetorical question, right?
The closer this administration gets looked at, the clearer it's becoming that both Dubya and Cheney are up to their little eyeballs in illegal activities. If we take out one of them, we will take out both of them at the same time, along with a significant number of cabinet members, and Bush appointees.
It's about time we cleaned up the White House!
"Has Cheney no shame?"
This is a stupid question, right? So, Cheney fought for domestic surveillance of suspected terrorists or those with ties to terror. That makes him a vice prez? Let me ask you all a question? What would the democrats have done to stop these people who are living in our country and using our laws and freedoms against us in order to hold us in a conatant state of fear? What would John Kerry have done? Just let them go and continue to kill innocent american civilians (or soldiers...Fort Dix Six) on American soil? Because of some bleeding heart lib feeling about being wiretapped?? I'm sorry, but Bush and Cheney did the right thing by fighting for this program. The left needs to wake up and take a look around at the real world.
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