NYT: Republicans Seek to Bridge Differences on Surveillance

[sabra]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/01/national/nationalspecial3/01spy.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Republicans Seek to Bridge Differences on Surveillance

WASHINGTON, Feb 28 — Stepping into the growing debate in his party about the Bush administration's domestic eavesdropping, the Republican leader Bill Frist pushed a group of Republican senators on Tuesday to work out conflicting approaches to legislation to address the program.

Senator Frist's efforts reflect the increasing determination of Republican lawmakers to impose some form of oversight on the program, through which the administration has secretly sidestepped the existing legal authorities for years to spy on thousands of domestic communications with terror suspects abroad. But lawmakers and staff members leaving a meeting called by Mr. Frist said deep disagreement remained within the party over how to rein in the administration.

In a statement after the meeting, Mr. Frist said his "informal working group" had "produced great progress in unifying senators around a core approach to terrorist surveillance legislation."

He also made clear his own support for the program, calling it "constitutional, lawful and critical," and he said the proposals discussed would "buttress" the program by providing statutory authority.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. There's a bridge I want to dynamite.

.

[marmar]

2. Translation: The dissidents have been threatened...

The Gambino Party doing what it does best.

[C_U_L8R]

3. What's to discuss... ???

Get a legal warrant from FISA court (as the law demands) !!!!
GOSH !!

And while we're taking "constitutional, lawful and critical"
how about prosecuting everyone who has been breaking the
law with illegal wiretaps.... beginning with the one who
order em...Bush.

[liveoaktx]

5. AUDIO-Listen to the bit by Kyl

It SHOWS what they want to do. They want to set up a congressional system that would bypass the courts UNLESS the committee (maybe composed only of a gang of 8) decided to pass it on. THIS MUST BE STOPPED.

[Nickster]

4. What part of the President broke the law and doesn't give a good g'darn

about your silly little oversight attempts don't you understand? He broke the damn law and you pukes don't seem to even bat an eyelash at that. No you bend over backwards to make it look like you even have a reason to exist anymore.

[catnhatnh]

6. "We Didn't MURDER Democracy......

....we merely "secretly sidestepped it to death...."

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. What makes them think they have any leverage to bargain with?

Whatever they take, they'll take as criminals who are aiding and abetting the Bush Adminitration crooks.

[MissMillie]

8. There can be no compromise on this

The U.S. constitution is not something we can compromise away.