House Dems 'Leave Washington, Leave America Exposed to Attack'

[Psycho4Bud]

(CNSNews.com) - President Bush and Republicans are blasting House Democratic leaders for taking a week-long President's Day recess without passing a key piece of national security legislation.

The Protect America Act -- which authorizes the U.S. intelligence community to quickly monitor terrorist communications -- will expire at midnight on Saturday.

"If Congress does not act by that time, our ability to find out who the terrorists are talking to, what they are saying, and what they are planning will be compromised," President Bush warned on Thursday. "It would be a mistake if the Congress were to allow this to happen."

House Democrats are going to allow it to happen, however.

They have refused to take up a bipartisan bill that easily passed the Senate earlier this week, because that bill would not only modernize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) -- it also would grant legal immunity to telecommunications companies that assisted the government in its warrantless electronic surveillance after Sept. 11, 2001.

"Without this protection, without this liability shield, we may not be able
to secure the private sector's cooperation with our intelligence efforts," President Bush warned. That would put the American people at risk, he added.

Two days ago, the House rejected a short-term FISA extension intended to give Democrats more time to work on a permanent fix. Even some Democrats voted against a short-term fix. (See related story).

"Terrorists seeking to harm America and destroy our way of life have been handed a major victory by the Majority's decision to bar intelligence officials from opening any new foreign surveillance cases without needless bureaucratic hurdles," House Republican Leader John Boehner said on Thursday.

"As Members of Congress return to their congressional districts for the 12-day recess, terrorists will continue plotting to attack our nation and our allies. And the American people will have every reason to ask why House Democrats have undermined the ability of our intelligence officials to protect us."

The FISA bill is so important to President Bush, he offered to delay his trip to Africa on Friday if it would help House leaders finish work on the FISA bill.

President Bush says it's clear that the Senate bill would easily pass the House, if only House Democratic leaders would bring it to the floor for a vote.

"Our government has no greater responsibility than getting this work done, and there really is no excuse for letting this critical legislation expire," Bush said. "The House should not leave Washington without passing the Senate bill."

In response to a question, President Bush said he hopes Congress isn't "playing politics," as some Republicans have charged. "I can assure you al Qaeda in their planning isn't thinking about politics. They're thinking about hurting the American people again."

President Bush says the U.S. intelligence community needs to know what America's enemies are saying, planning and thinking. He said electronic surveillance "has been very effective."

President Bush noted that the House passed a short-term FISA fix last summer - the Protect America Act, which expires this weekend. "And if it was necessary last summer, why is it not necessary today?" Bush asked.

Instead of tackling a FISA bill on Thursday, House Democrats further infuriated Republicans by issuing contempt of Congress citations against former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten.

The House voted 223 to 32 to hold Miers and Bolten in contempt for refusing to comply with a legally binding subpoena relating to the Bush administration's firing of U.S. attorney-generals.

Pelosi said members of Congress take their "oversight" responsibility "seriously."

Too bad House Democrats don't take national security seriously, House Republican Whip House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) said on Thursday.

"I am amazed that while Democrats are eagerly taking political potshots at White House employees, including one who left over a year ago, they refuse to consider bipartisan legislation to safeguard our nation.

"Taking up these contempt citations with only two days until a critical intelligence law expires is as poorly timed as it is poorly reasoned, and it demonstrates the Democrats' cavalier approach to national security."

House Republicans walked off the House floor in protest on Thursday afternoon.

On Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi brushed aside Republican complaints that the nation will suffer if the Protect America Act expires.

"Even if the Protect America Act expires later this week, the American people can be confident that our country remains safe and strong. Every order entered under the law can remain in effect for 12 months from the date it was issued," Pelosi said.

But the Bush administration says without the force of law to protect them, telecommunications companies are increasingly reluctant to cooperate with warrantless surveillance.

Pelosi on Wednesday also slammed Republicans for refusing to support a short-term extension of the bill. Republicans "therefore will bear the responsibility should any adverse national consequences result," Pelosi insisted. (President Bush said it's time for the House to pass a permanent fix, just as the Senate did -- not another patch.)
House Dems 'Leave Washington, Leave America Exposed to Attack' -- 02/15/2008

Just another + for the GOP on the campaign trail. How can you state that you care about national security when ya go home on a break leaving this type of legislation pending?

Have a good one!:s4:

Psycho4Bud Reviewed by Psycho4Bud on 02-15-2008. House Dems 'Leave Washington, Leave America Exposed to Attack' (CNSNews.com) - President Bush and Republicans are blasting House Democratic leaders for taking a week-long President's Day recess without passing a key piece of national security legislation. The Protect America Act -- which authorizes the U.S. intelligence community to quickly monitor terrorist communications -- will expire at midnight on Saturday. "If Congress does not act by that time, our ability to find out who the terrorists are talking to, what they are saying, and what they are Rating: 5

[Innominate]

Such times.

[texas grass]

no it should be illegal for our government to tap our phones. if i were to call family over seas they would have legal athority to listen in with this bill

if you people want to give up your liberties go to russia, eu, or asia countries, stop telling americans we need to give up our freedoms

[Psycho4Bud]

no it should be illegal for our government to tap our phones. if i were to call family over seas they would have legal athority to listen in with this bill

if you people want to give up your liberties go to russia, eu, or asia countries, stop telling americans we need to give up our freedoms

How many known terrorists in other countries do ya call? I think that they centralize their attention on more than people talking to Aunt Judy on vacation in Mexico.

Give up liberties? How about "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"? A terrorist plan such as that of 9-11 denied alot of good people ALL them rights.

Have a good one!:s4:

[killerweed420]

If the dems don't have the guts to vote it down, hopefully they'll just let it sit there and expire.

[Markass]

Doesn't this give authorization to further tap without warrants...?? The patriot act is unconstitutional enough, lmao, leave america exposed to attack...I think as long as the airports are secure we don't have to worry about them flying a plane into any buildings...I haven't laughed like this in quite a while...Exposed to attack...ha, we're letting the bastards in our country every day, but if they can't spy on the citizens without warrants we're more vulnerable..? fucking rubbish..

[Zimzum]

Fear mongering :chainsaw: Can our government show us atleast one case since 9/11 where FISA or the Patriot Act have have actually been a success at stopping an attack? I say let it expire and get filed away in the dungeon of the pentagon. Laws like these treat everyone as a "suspect" and have no regard to personal privacy or oversight. Why hasn't Bush assigned anyone to the newly empowered privacy and civil-liberties commission? Without better transparency of how our government uses its own power we are no better then the former USSR.



"I have no problem with telecoms being encouraged to cooperate with the government," he said. "The question is, was it legal or was it criminal? That is the pre-condition to dealing with immunity. We can't give retroactive immunity when we don't know what it is we are giving immunity for." - Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.)

Quote taken from here

[fishman3811]

P4B the government may not catch u talking to Johnny Jihad but they can catch u phoning your local hydro store then they call the DEA and have them up your ass.All without a warrant

[yokinazu]

my problem wih the bill isnt the phone taps but this is where it all begins. first we say ok you can do it on overeas calls. next oh yeah sspected home grown terrorist are ok and then finally oh yeah i gess eveybody can be listened in on.

[pisshead]

my problem wih the bill isnt the phone taps but this is where it all begins. first we say ok you can do it on overeas calls. next oh yeah sspected home grown terrorist are ok and then finally oh yeah i gess eveybody can be listened in on.

exactly, and if we're this willing to let the feds do whatever they want, then we'll get what we deserve... if we want to let ourselves turn into a dictatorship, then we'll have to suffer the consequences...