WSJ Erroneously Claims Congress Could Have Blown the Whistle”

kpete

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jan-10-06 11:33 AM
Original message

WSJ Erroneously Claims Congress Could Have Blown the Whistle”

WSJ Erroneously Claims Congress Could Have
Blown the Whistle” On Warrantless Spying

In an editorial defending President Bush’s use of warrantless wiretapping, the conservative Wall Street Journal argues that members of Congress should have blown the whistle on the program if they were concerned about the President overextending his executive power:

Key members of the relevant Congressional oversight committees were informed at least 12 times. … In short, if there were any real abuses going on here, there were plenty of people in the loop and able to blow the whistle.

The editorial ignores the fact that members of Congress were not allowed to discuss the program, either with their staff or other members, much less the public.

http://www.thinkprogress.org/

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

ixion

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jan-10-06 11:36 AM
Response to Original message

1. several tried

but their attempts were classified under 'national security'. :eyes:

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

meegbear

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jan-10-06 11:37 AM
Response to Original message

2. The WSJ doesn't "erroneously claim" ...

as one of the most, if not THE most conservative editorial writers, they will print anything that makes a repug look good and a dem bad, no matter how ludicrous.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

meganmonkey

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jan-10-06 11:40 AM
Response to Original message

3. I am afraid I have to agree to some extent with the WSJ on this

(never thought I'd say that!)

I am very disppointed in Pelosi, Rockefeller and others for not screaming this from the rooftops. I am sick of politicians (on BOTH sides) not acting because of political propriety. NOTHING happening in Washington is proper these days, and the executive branch breaking the law repeatedly, and the congressional duty of OVERSIGHT as laid out by the constitution overrides all else, IMO.

Someone needs to represent the citizens of the US. That's their job.

:shrug:

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

still_one

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jan-10-06 11:51 AM
Response to Reply #3

5. Standing up when it is NOT easy is what distinguishes true courage

Now that * and company have lost in the polls, suddenly many of those democrats have more courage

I wish we had more in the party with the character of Russ Feingold

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

illflem

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jan-10-06 11:56 AM
Response to Reply #3

6. Hold your horses before you criticize

It very well could have been Pelosi, Rockefeller, etc who leaked the story to the Times.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

meganmonkey

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jan-10-06 12:06 PM
Response to Reply #6

8. Well, then they should have leaked it 3 years ago

or exposed it when the NYT didn't publish it before the election last year, IMO.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

still_one

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jan-10-06 11:48 AM
Response to Original message

4. you are right they were NOT allowed to discuss the program

but then again that is what profiles of courage is all about

I am not saying they should have violated the law, but their voting actions on other issues, including the patriot act do not necessarily say they were so principled either

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

gratuitous

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Jan-10-06 12:00 PM
Response to Original message

7. I'm willing to put this debate aside for another day

What I'm most interested in is not who could have or should have exposed this criminal wrongdoing by the administration; I'm far more interested in investigating the wrongdoing, identifying the culprits, trying, convicting and imprisoning them.

After we've nailed the guilty, we can start casting about for their silent accomplices. First things first, eh?

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Fri May 03rd 2024, 08:27 AM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.