So much for Congressional oversight. Senator Frist too busy licking Bush's boots
to use the constitutional power to keep Bush honest.
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MR. RUSSERT: “A report by Congress’s research arm, concluded that the
administration’s justification for the warrantless eavesdropping authorized by
the president conflicts with existing law and hinges on weak legal
arguments...The 44-page report said that Bush probably cannot claim the broad
presidential powers he has relied upon as an authority in order to secretly
monitoring of calls...The report also concluded that Bush’s assertion that
Congress authorized such eavesdropping to detect and fight terrorists does not
appear to be supported by the special resolution that Congress approved after
September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which focused on authorizing the
president to use military force.” What statute authorizes the president to do
this?
SEN. FRIST: The answer is the Constitution of the United States of America in a
time of a war our commander in chief, he is given through resolution, through
statute passed by the United States Congress to use force, to use force that
he, in the same way he can use force to kill, to wipe out terrorists, he can
listen in on al-Qaeda conversations, wherever they are, anywhere in the world.
Under the Constitution as commander in chief, at a time of war, and the statute
is the Resolution of Force that we passed in the bipartisan way on the floor of
the United States Senate.
.. . .
The program is critical. It is vital. It is protecting Americans today, I can
tell you that with absolute certainty. It is highly classified. If we fully
exposed the program, it’s going to be like giving the playbook to the enemy.
It’s going to take away an element of protection that we have today to make
people all over this country safer.
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