Slaughter:Republican Congress Bows Down to Bush on Domestic Spying

Right before the Holidays I submitted a resolution (H. Res. 644) of inquiry in the House requesting the President and directing the Attorney General to turn over to the House of Representatives documents relating to the authorization of this secret spying program on American citizens. Well today the House Judiciary Committee rejected that resolution and once again abdicated its responsibility to oversee the Bush Administration's potentially illegal domestic spying on American citizens.

Congress is rejecting its Constitutionally mandated responsibility to oversee the actions of the President, and is choosing instead to make itself irrelevant. The Bush Administration has provided us with a false choice. The notion that we have to choose between our national security and our civil liberties is an indefensible and dangerous precedent to set for this nation. We can, and must, have both.

As the world's greatest democracy, we must defend our citizens from outside threats to their security. But we must also defend their liberties from internal attack. We must show the world that no one is above the law - not even the President of the United States.


Again here is the Resolution I submitted that requested the public release of all government documents related to the recently revealed domestic spying programs being carried out by the National Security Agency. The resolution further directed President Bush and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, to turn over all relevant documents to the House of Representatives within fourteen days of the adoption of the resolution.


RESOLUTION

Requesting the President and directing the Attorney General to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution documents in the possession of those officials relating to the authorization of electronic surveillance of citizens of the United States without court approved warrants.

Resolved, That the President is requested and the Attorney General is directed to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution all documents in the possession of the President and the Attorney General relating to the authorization of electronic surveillance of United States persons (as such terms are defined in section 101 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801)) conducted without warrants approved by a court of the United States and any instructions for handling such documents, including--

(1) all records setting forth or discussing policies, procedures, or guidelines regarding the authorization by the President or other officials of the Federal Government of electronic surveillance of United States persons without court approved warrants;

(2) all records pertaining to the Constitutional prohibition on unreasonable searches as it relates to the authority to conduct electronic surveillance of United States persons with out a court approved warrant;

(3) all records pertaining to the authority to conduct electronic surveillance of United States persons without court approved warrants under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978;

(4) all records relating to the authorization of electronic surveillance of United States persons by an official of the Federal Government other than the President without a court approved warrant;

(5) all records of communication between the President or other officials of the Federal Government and Congress, or a member or committee of Congress, pertaining to the authorization of electronic surveillance of United States persons without court approved warrants;

(6) all records indicating or discussing the number of United States persons for which electronic surveillance was authorized without a court approved warrant;

(7) all records indicating or discussing the number of citizens of the United States for which electronic surveillance was authorized without a court approved warrant;

(8) all records indicating or discussing the budget or cost of carrying out electronic surveillance of United States persons without court approved warrants; and

(9) all records indicating or discussing the number of staff involved in the authorization or execution of electronic surveillance of United States persons without court approved warrants.

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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/15/153419/334

If the congress is not willing to do their job, we all need to start claiming 20 or 30 dependents so that we don't pay any taxes at all.

If they are irrelevant, why continue to pay them?

:eyes: Puhleaze. Bush stole both elections so why would any of them follow the law?

should push like crazy. They need to bring into the campaign all the BS and crap the Republicans have been allowing, excusing and manipulating even when it is againt America's best interesst, illegal, etc. It's about the "rule of law", it's about the US Constitution stating clearly that Americans have a right to privacy and freedom from illegal search and seizure (this includes spying/wiretapping) without a legal WARRANT being issued. In going against the Constitution and NOT getting a legal warrent the President broke his oath to this country and commited an illegal and impeachable offense.

If it were a Dem president you can bet the Republicans would be all over this but with Bush this illegal action is ovrlooked and dismissed making the Republicans who do not take a stand against the crimes of BushCo guilty of collusion and accessories.