Hearing vowed on Bush's powers

[salin]

Hearing vowed on Bush's powers:
Senator questions bypassing of laws
By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff | May 3, 2006

WASHINGTON -- The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, accusing the White House of a ''very blatant encroachment" on congressional authority, said yesterday he will hold an oversight hearing into President Bush's assertion that he has the power to bypass more than 750 laws enacted over the past five years.

''There is some need for some oversight by Congress to assert its authority here," Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania, said in an interview. ''What's the point of having a statute if . . . the president can cherry-pick what he likes and what he doesn't like?"

.... snip

At the hearing yesterday, Feingold pressed FBI director Robert Mueller to give assurances that the bureau would comply with provisions in the Patriot Act and to tell Congress how agents are using the law to search homes and secretly seize papers.

Mueller said he saw no reason that the bureau couldn't share that information with Congress. But he also said that he was bound to obey the administration, and declined to promise that he would ''go out there and fight" on behalf of Congress if Bush decided to override the Patriot Act's oversight provision and ordered the FBI not to brief Congress.

... more: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/05/03/hearing_vowed_on_bushs_powers/

Kudos to the Globe for digging on the story and pushing it into the awareness of the Hill. This is an interesting potential showdown. Spector is furious with the 'signing statement' on the Patriot Act (and appears to have had no real awareness of the frequency with which bushco is doing this) - esp since its renewal would not have passed were the provision of reporting to Congress (for oversight) not included.

The interchange between Feingold and Mueller is particularly interesting. Note the language: if Bush decided to 'override' the Patriot Act's oversight provision... Bush doesn't have that power/authority. Override is the language of Veto - and bush declined to Veto the bill, and instead signed it into law. This pushes the reality of the Constitutional Crisis that bushco has created into the Fore.

May the GOP who control congress finally realize that either they are going to be a party to knowingly shredding the Constitution if they stand down to stand with W.

IMO - this is a huge development in the story. It will be a point of clear action, or an act of pure complicitness of Congress as to whether or not they push the showdown. It will be interesting whether the obstinate Bush would concede and allow Mueller to provide the requested info to Congress (which a shrewd pol would do to avoid having the house of cards fall due to too much attention focused on the pres. activities), or whether his "always right" ego pushes the "we don't have to comply, because I decreed it" showdown.

[rodeodance]

1. Lets hope Specter has a meaningful hearing this time!

[salin]

5. Let's hope he realizes the significance of such hearings.

Doing a dog and pony show to help the flailing admin would be to go down in history as being a party to de facto alteration of the Constitution. Bush has no powers according to the Constitution to veto by fiat (hidden from the light of day), he has no Constitutional power to be the final arbitor of 'Constitutionality' as is claimed in his signing statements.

Welcome to the Senate's Watergate moment (when the realization arises - or should - that action per hearings had to be held, as the actions of the administration had become a threat to the govt in general.) Act strongly, act weakly, or inaction - what the members of the Senate do now is of historic proportions. The first showdown over the now-revealed presidential powerplay over the Constitution. Will the GOP in congress choose W over the Constitution they swore an oath to uphold? Recent history suggests that they just might do that. But with the stakes higher than ever before (if nothing else because the public now sees the stakes), and with the administration severely weakened it is within the realm of possibility that Spector, and others begin to act in ways that bring honor rather than disdain to their offices.

It's the Constitution, Sen. Spector - it is no longer about W. It is about our very form of government.

[rodeodance]

10. and if this happens it will not be until JUNE

......Specter said he plans to hold the hearing in June. He said he intends to call administration officials to explain and defend the president's claims of authority, as well to invite constitutional scholars to testify on whether Bush has overstepped the boundaries of his power.

[katinmn]

15. Specter could have done something long ago. He's a Bush toad

and he's playing "good cop."

[dmkinsey]

20. Yeah, Doesn't Sen Specter have access to the

"signing statements"
Funny that he's only speaking now that the item has made the newspapers

[disndat]

66. Two thumbs up

to Katinn and dmKinsey. They are exactly right. Specter is a Bush toad. The WH strategy is to allow moderates like Specter and Chaffee to make toothless noises so their constituents think they are doing something.

[AndyA]

17. Meaningful as in putting people under oath?

That was the biggest sham ever. What a disgrace to the American people. Let's question the Attorney General, but we won't put him under oath. It's not necessary. And why the fuck was it not necessary?

I was so mad that the Dems didn't get up and walk out on that fiasco right then and there!

Put them under oath, Arlen. DO YOUR JOB!

[badgerpup]

37. So do we get onto move.on, pfaw and all the other grassroots orgs...

to get on Spector's ass to PUT these clowns under oath?
Faxes, emails, snail mail, jammed phone lines, that sort of thing just to give him the subtle hint that:

:thumbsup: ?? OR :thumbsdown: ??

HEY ARLEN?
WE ARE NOW EVALUATING YOU.
DO YOUR DAMN JOB IF YOU LIKE IT AND WANT TO KEEP IT!!

[Judi Lynn]

2. I'm betting Bush's ego, having broken free of moorings, won't let him

do the right thing!

He's totally inflexible. He cannot accomodate anything he can't control. That's the way I've read him from the first. What an ugly man. He's nowhere nearly large enough for that office.

[salin]

6. I agree - and that personality trait will

bring him down. Be it on Iraq, be it on this folly of an idea that they should start another war as a means of bolstering domestic political support, or on this. Because of the nature of the Constitutional showdown of his actions per the signing statements, I suspect that this (if not this incident or hearing, but somewhere a challenge on this practice) could be what determines whether it is just Bushco (the admin) who in the end fails, or whether they take the whole GOP party down with them (were they to try to cover for the admin.)

[rodeodance]

9. "He's totally inflexible. He cannot accomodate anything he can't control."

BINGO

[wordpix]

29. * ego: God's speaking to him & that's why he's so sure of himself, geesh

:crazy:

[leftyladyfrommo]

34. Bullshit. He doesn't think God is talking to him.

He's just a spoiled rotten rich kid who wants his own way. That God thing worked for a while but it is kind of falling away pretty fast now.

Maybe its all the credibility stuff, the lies, the money grabbing, the war. Even the Evangelicals are beginning to ask questions. A lot of Evangelicals are really very moral people and they don't like this kind of stuff.

[rodeodance]

3. Here is list of members---contact them and demand hearings!

Senate listings by name:

http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml

http://judiciary.senate.gov/members.cfm

Committee on the Judiciary image- panel 1

Smooth right corner image
Committee on the Judiciary- Panel 2
MEMBERS
Arlen Specter
CHAIRMAN, PENNSYLVANIA
Orrin G. Hatch
UTAH

Patrick J. Leahy
RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER, VERMONT
Charles E. Grassley
IOWA

Edward M. Kennedy
MASSACHUSETTS
Jon Kyl
ARIZONA

Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
DELAWARE
Mike DeWine
OHIO

Herbert Kohl
WISCONSIN
Jeff Sessions
ALABAMA

Dianne Feinstein
CALIFORNIA
Lindsey Graham
SOUTH CAROLINA

Russell D. Feingold
WISCONSIN
John Cornyn
TEXAS

Charles E. Schumer
NEW YORK
Sam Brownback
KANSAS

Richard J. Durbin
ILLINOIS
Tom Coburn
OKLAHOMA

[acmavm]

4. Gee, now this is an issue that I would think would send people out into

the streets. This will have a big impact in determining whether we continue (?) to be a democratic nation or not. If bush** isn't put in his place on this issue, we may not have an election in 2008.

[disndat]

67. Agree. Why does Bush

seem so oblivious with the constant turmoil that swirls around him? As someone very wise said, "Be afraid. Be VERY afraid."

[rodeodance]

7. ''We're undergoing a tsunami here" Bush on one side supported by Justice

.......Specter said that challenging Bush's contention that he can ignore laws written by Congress should be a matter of institutional pride for lawmakers. He also connected Bush's defiance of laws to several Supreme Court decisions in which the justices ruled that Congress had not done enough research to justify a law.

''We're undergoing a tsunami here with the flood coming from the executive branch on one side and the judicial branch on the other," Specter said. ''There may as well soon not be a Congress. . . . And I think that most members don't understand what's happening."
© Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company

[rodeodance]

8. I think Specter is wrong here-Congress full well understands what is

happening----some are encouraging it! damm. what a stupid comment!

....And I think that most members don't understand what's happening."

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

30. My local congressman is a Delay stooge tied to Abramhoff

I doubt he understands much, other than party and $ loyalty.

[PurpleChez]

65. I agree. Congresscritters probably COULD understand if they WANTED to

but I bet many are so wrapped up in 'loyalty' that they can repress the truth. Sheesh.

[leftchick]

11. I don't think the repuke congress people care

nor do I think Specter is doing anything more than bluster here. All they care about is getting re-elected.

[DianaForRussFeingold]

12. shredding the Constitution if they stand down,to stand with W.

:kick:Shredding is what they do! :banghead:

[gademocrat7]

13. Will any definitive action be taken as a result of this hearing?

Can shrub and company be held accountable for any of the misdeeds that they have perpetrated on our nation?

[no_hypocrisy]

14. Why republican members of both houses of Congress don't want to be

independent of the Executive Branch (IMO):

1. They get paid the same amount of salary (maybe more if you count bribes) whether or not they draft and enact laws. Why do more?

2. Republican machine gives them lots of money for re-election for making * look good by promoting "his" (i.e., corporations', Neocon's, PNAC's, religious right's) agenda.

3. They really don't know what they're doing and/or it's a lot easier to take marching orders from Karl Rove.

4. If they had to rebut democratic (minority) objections, they would be called on #3 (they don't know what they're doing and/or they're taking marching orders from Karl Rove). Therefore, they ignore democrats.

5. The ideal principle of public service on behalf of constituents and the American public is an antiquated concept (not unlike the Geneva Convention) that isn't applicable or relevant in today's government.

[salin]

53. great post

sadly rings very true

[Lochloosa]

16. "SOME NEED" ?

''There is some need for some oversight by Congress to assert its authority here," Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania, said in an interview. ''What's the point of having a statute if . . . the president can cherry-pick what he likes and what he doesn't like?"

It only involves the Constitution. How about getting some
"Colbert Balls" Specter.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

18. Maybe Specter sees this as his chance to make up for....

...his "Single-Bullet" theory he hatched for the Warren Commission.

Let's hope Specter is serious about pursuing this.

[0007]

19. I'm so tired of these worthless hearings and all the hype

that goes with it and Arlen Specter banging on the kettle drum until the hearing starts and then fails to use the oath on the star of the show. Such as he did with Alberto Gonzales .. .. ..

The WWF has more authenticity and veracity than these so called hearings.

[bleedingheart]

21. he will question and then allow * to just steam roll through...

[alcibiades_mystery]

22. Another do-nothing meaningless hearing so that the RUBBER STAMPERS

can pretend to be doing their job.

Farcical.

[Arkansas Granny]

23. So Mueller says he'll be happy to cooperate with Congress unless

Bush decides to break the law and tells him not to. What kind of a statement is this? Is anyone representing the people of the United States anymore?

[wizdum]

24. The only thing that will save us from dubya is higher gas prices...

...if they keep skyrocketing, the repubs will be unseated in droves, the dems will retake the congress and Bush will ultimately be impeached. Like it or not, the price of oil is our only hope to get rid of dubya. SO pay at the pump with a smile and rejoice at price hikes. It's our only hope to unseat the dictator.

[Bushies gotta go]

25. Faux hope

You can bet Specter got these marching orders direct from the white house. Give the "people" some false belief that Congresscritters are their salvation. Meanwhile, Specter will not have difficulty finding a dozen "experts" on the Constitution who will all say * has all the power to do what he has done and has done nothing wrong by doing so.

Reminds me of a sleight of hand trick, once again, to fool the "stoooopid public"

[TechBear_Seattle]

26. Specter spank the President? I'll believe it when I see it

Personally, I expect him to hold one or two hearings for the cameras, then smilingly declare that * can do whatever he damned well pleases. The only real outrage on his part will come when a Democratic president tries to wield just half the presumed power of *.

[hatrack]

27. Whatever, Arlen - when they raise their hands to be sworn, I'll believe it

Until then, put up or shut up.

We're tired of hearing about your "concerns" and how "troubled" you are by a president who spends most of his time pissing on the Constitution.

[leeroysphitz]

28. I just hope Specter has the balls and integrity to give the

hearings some TEETH this time around. Wishful thinking probably, but who knows?

[Jose Diablo]

31. I wouldn't hope too much from Single-Bullet Specter

He's been up to his eye-brows in all this stuff for decades.

[marmar]

32. I'll believe it when I see it...

Sounds to me like his usual bluster, followed by him dropping to his knees to perform fellatio on Bush.

[magellan]

33. Cherry-picking? Funny Specter should use that word...

"What's the point of having a statute if . . . the president can cherry-pick what he likes and what he doesn't like?"

What's the point in having a hearing when we all know you're just going to kiss the cherry-picker's a$$, Specter?

Besides being able to say "we investigated and found no evidence of wrong-doing", I mean.

[wordpix]

35. Mueller admits fealty to * & Specter: "may as well soon not be a Congress"

Is it a Constitutional crisis yet that can only be resolved by removing the Chimperor and Dickhead? When will the Congresspeople wake up? They're as bad as the sheeple. :argh:

snip:''There may as well soon not be a Congress. . . . And I think that most members don't understand what's happening." :mad:

snip: Mueller...said that he was bound to obey the administration, and declined to promise that he would ''go out there and fight" on behalf of Congress if Bush decided to override the Patriot Act's oversight provision and ordered the FBI not to brief Congress.:puke:

snip:
Mueller replied: ''I can assure with you with regard to the FBI that our actions would be taken according to appropriate legal authorities."

aside: Would those legal authorities include Gonzo of Special Olympics Justice Dept? A: Yes.

snip: ''We're undergoing a tsunami here with the flood coming from the executive branch on one side and the judicial branch on the other," Specter said. ''There may as well soon not be a Congress. . . . And I think that most members don't understand what's happening."

[wryter2000]

36. Amen to that

If he puts people under oath, I'll believe he really means business. Otherwise, it's just another whitewash.

[shantipriya]

38. Specter?

I have no hope of any meaningful hearing from any Republican.Remember,he made a big show for nothing re President's breaking the domestic surveillance law.

[PurpleChez]

39. I'm a former Pennsylvanian and a lifelong Democrat, but I voted

for Arlen Specter at least once or twice. I seem to recall being impressed that he went against Reagan in the Bork nomination, and I just thought that he was good for PA. In more recent years he seemed to become as much of a RW toady as anybody. (I always wondered how he dealt with the Christ-ification of the party....) Anyhow, it's great to see him rediscovering his nads. I hope he follows through with all of this and doesn't have some sudden "realization" that Bush really is perfect after all.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

40. Call me cynical but......

I'm assuming, unless Specter really DOES convene a "tough-as-nails" hearing on Bush's "powers," that Bush, Cheney, et al will, at some point, simply have a "friendly" private meeting with Specter after which Specter will announce that hearings aren't necessary after all and that he will be introducing legislation that will "legalize" Bush's newfound "extra-constitutional" powers.:eyes: That's how "low" my opinion of even so-called "moderate" Republicans is nowadays.

[paparush]

41. SOME need for SOME oversight.... WTF???

C'mon Specter...serve THE PEOPLE!!

[wordpix2]

58. god forbid Specter should tell it like it is & wake up the sheeple

[EVDebs]

42. Arlen should look into the AUMFs and the WarPowersActof1973 too

If he's really serious about encroachment on Congressional authority ! Any R-controlled 'hearings' are a laughingstock, but by all means Arlen, be my guest

[Supersedeas]

43. hasn't Senator Pat Coverup Roberts made these same promises

[wordpix2]

59. yes but he was crossing his fingers behind his back

[Fridays Child]

44. k/r

[Pacifist Patriot]

45. The concluding quote from Specter in the article is chilling.

The signing statement defense is indefensible unless conservative activist judges rewrite the Constitution. *shudder*

[Nite Owl]

46. Wasn't the whole

presidential powers thing an Alito idea? And didn't they vote for this guy not too long ago? And didn't we tell them not to vote for him, to filibuster if necessary, to keep him off the bench because of his ideas on presidential powers?

[wordpix2]

60. yup and this could come down to SCOTUS deciding on the urinary executive

[spindrifter]

47. We need to get behind this

right away and keep it in the forefront. This is one of the biggest Constitutional issues of our times. The Unicorn Presidency cannot continue.

[rodeodance]

48. see post # 3 --write to the committee members!

[madmark]

49. every hearing and commission on the activities of this admin (other

than conyers hearings in the basement) have ultimately resulted in a white wash of gwb et al.

[The Stranger]

50. They huff and they puff, but they just can't seem to blow the house down.

[Ready4Change]

51. Vows are no longer sufficient.

I've heard too many promises that have gone unfulfilled. How many investigations have we been promised? How many followups have been guaranteed?

Our government, our leaders, are all gung-ho about investigating any and everything except themselves.

Specter may mean well, but his vow means nada to me. I'll start paying attention when he has public hearings. I'll believe when guilty heads roll.

[VP505]

52. Aw hell,

this is just another dog and pony show to be used before the mid term election so the repukes can have something to point to back their upcoming claim that they are leading the charge to provide over-site.

[robertpaulsen]

54. ''There may as well soon not be a Congress. . . . "

Read that last quote by Spector. Pretty chilling admission.

[salin]

56. The big question is whether or not

he will allow that real, realization to overrule the fear of GOP backlash for opposing Bush. There will be a real cost (at least short term) to those GOPers who take a strong stand to try to stop this demolition of the Constitution. How the GOP in COngress, starting with Spector, react will be the real measure of their charictor.

A philosophical conservative friend of mine (whose creds include working for a major rw think tank) is very disturbed by this story. Acknowledges it is disturbing. His beef with the media story? That there is little criticism or coverage of (GOP led) Congress ceding their oversight (with so many signing statements - none of them noticed? was his point) and the lack of criticism of the press for being critical and "noticing" this behavior before. IOW, he would disprove of Spector caving at this point. Interesting, eh? But who Spector will hear pressure from will be the far social right that is still tied to Bush, and the question will be whether he really believes his Oath of Office (upholding the Constitution) or whether his outrage will fade to political cowardice - fear of losing his chairmanship due to openly opposing bushco. Pathetic state of affiars, no?

[Mr_Spock]

55. Ah, if only

Specter wasn't just pretending to be a human being.

[Cocoa]

57. Specter has a pattern

he appears to challenge Bush, but when it comes to using his own great powers as chairman of the committee that can do something meaningful about it, he doesn't.

[wordpix2]

61. he is no doubt torn b/c he knows this is the end of * if they have a REAL

hearing. He is tied to the repuke machine and that means the * family. Even though he has cancer and is ready to retire and knows he's in the best position to do something courageous (stand up to BushCo and hold the damn hearings with teeth and with people under oath), he is no doubt wavering at the thought of hearings that could lead to * and Darth Cheney being removed from office.

[SHRED]

62. Is he going to swear anyone in this time?

Specter is all hat and no cattle.

[Imagevision]

63. Specter: yak-yak-yak-yak-yak!!!! all words with no content...!

[gulliver]

64. "some need for some oversight"

Yup, that's Specter all right. He and McCain are the "maverick" Bush tools.