Senate panel rejects bid for NSA inquiry

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republicans on Tuesday agreed to expand oversight of President George W. Bush's domestic spying program but rejected Democratic pressure for a broad inquiry into eavesdropping on U.S. citizens.

Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, Republican chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said the committee voted to create a new seven-member subcommittee that would scrutinize the eavesdropping under a plan approved by the White House.
.....
In addition, the White House has begun discussions with several Republican lawmakers on legislative language that could further regulate the program.

"I believe the president is prepared to sign a bill once the Congress does work its will," Roberts told reporters after a closed-door committee meeting.

"When it comes to national security, I prefer accommodation over confrontation whenever possible. We should fight the enemy. We should not fight each other."
.....
"The committee, to put it bluntly, is basically under the control of the White House through its chairman," said a visibly frustrated Sen. John Rockefeller of West Virginia, ranking Democrat on the intelligence committee.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/07/AR2006030701321.html

And for good measure, DeWine's bill (which lured Hagel and Snowe) has an chillingly interesting, forward-thinking feature:

snip>
His bill does not require that the terror groups must be foreign. Nor does it rely on the State Department's Foreign Terrorist Organization list, which is often used in government as a reference about which organizations are considered most dangerous.

When asked last week why he didn't use the State Department's list, DeWine said he wanted to give the president flexibility, particularly so he did not have to come to Congress to update the organizations that could be monitored.

"You might have a terrorist group come up in six months that would be equally as bad as al-Qaida," DeWine said.

http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/washington/index.ssf?/base/politics-9/1141770577300310.xml&storylist=washington

[rodeodance]

1. so, once agian Roberts protects Bush! damm damm

[yourout]

2. This needs to be used in the elections to strangle the Pukes.

Spying on citizens can not be tolerated.

[liveoaktx]

3. Every one of us needs to CALL, WRITE, FAX to PROTEST THIS

immediately.

[rodeodance]

4. "I prefer accommodation over confrontation"

...."When it comes to national security, I prefer accommodation over confrontation whenever possible. We should fight the enemy. We should not fight each other."

[liveoaktx]

9. Well, if they push this, they are MY enemy and I'm going to FIGHT it

[Nutmegger]

5. WHERE THE HELL IS PHASE TWO???!!!

You rat bastard.:puke:!!!!

[Rose Siding]

15. He foisted that off onto the DoD (investigating the DoD)

in a maneuver calculated to stall, taking up to a couple of years according to Rockefeller.

[rodeodance]

6. BTW Roberts still owes us Phase II (which will be another whitewash)

[rodeodance]

7. committee members list here.

http://intelligence.senate.gov/members.htm

MEMBERSHIP


REPUBLICANS

Pat Roberts, Kansas, Chairman,
Orrin G. Hatch, Utah
Mike Dewine, Ohio
Christopher S. Bond, Missouri
Trent Lott, Mississippi
Olympia J. Snowe, Maine
Chuck Hagel, Nebraska
Saxby Chambliss, Georgia


DEMOCRATS
John D. Rockefeller IV, West Virginia, Vice Chairman
Carl Levin, Michigan
Dianne Feinstein, California
Ron Wyden, Oregon
Evan Bayh, Indiana
Barbara A. Mikulski, Maryland
Russell D. Feingold, Wisconsin

[AX10]

8. Take back congress in 06'.

[rodeodance]

13. wish we could find a bog for Roberts

[Roland99]

10. "a plan approved by the White House"

Oh FFS!

[deacon]

11. These people are traitors-- they took an oath and they are breaking it n/t

[lldu]

12. Yeah, we let the criminal rat bastard in the White House

write it so it MUST be legal!


We republican bastards of congress would never ever do anything wrong. Wait, was that last statement approved by the rat bastard in the White House?

God! Someone make sure the rat bastard in the white house said it was Ok for us to talk. Wouldn't want the rat bastard in the white house to get upset with us republican bastards in congress.

He is a god! He can't do any wrong

[Sperk]

14. What IS the matter with Kansas.....kick that SOB out already.

n/t

[Disturbed]

16. Executive Tyranny!

GW Bush and Cheney must be Impeached, found guilty, thrown out and then indicted for their crimes, period!