Schumer and Gonzalez are going round and round about the issue of previous AGs testifying to the committee. Schumer wants to know if the administration would try to limit what they would be allowed to say and if the rules will be the same for them as Gonzalez. Gonzalez is refusing to give a direct […]
The Nation has a very interesting article that exposes what the telecommunication giants are trying to do behind are backs. According to the article, they are lobbying for the current legislation regulating their industry to be reduced so that they can set up a “pay to play” system. What that means is you will be […]
It looks like Ralph Reeds past dealings with Abramoff are really taking a toll on his run for lieutenant Governor in Georgia: Twenty-one Republican state senators on Friday called for Ralph Reed to withdraw from the contest for lieutenant governor, declaring that his ties to Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff could jeopardize the re-election of Gov. […]
If you are interested in something not NSA hearing related,Raw Story has an exclusive up about gay soldiers in Iraq being ousted and discharged. We really need people in our military right now. Hell we will even take people in prison but if they are gay they need to stay away. We really are that […]
Senator Feinstein has just asked Gonzalez to pinpoint what in FISA gives them this authority. She said there are two provisions, one is the 15 days after a declaration of war and the other is the 72 hour window, which was changed since 9/11 to allow that extra time. He reference section 109 which does […]
There was a heckler in the crowd during the hearing. He started yelling that you must get a court order to wiretap. It provided for a great comical relief during a bunch of spin.
Senator Grassley has just said he can not understand why their is no outcry over the leaking of this program as compared to the outcry of the Valerie Plame leak. Can this guy be serious or is a member of the judiciary committee that blind to the law? He also said that if hypothetically the […]
Senator Kennedy said we are sending a message to the people conducting the taps they may be prosecuted for illegal taps, also we are sending a message to the telecommunication companies that they are under siege and could result in criminal prosecution and has already lead to a civil case. He also brought up the […]
Patrick Leahy asked if Gonzalez came to the conclusion that the authorization to use force gave the power to the President to authorize the taps before the authorization was passed by Congress. Gonzalez said he hadn’t come to the conclusion but would not answer if others had. The authorization for force was on September 14, […]
Specter just asked Gonzalez if when they do go to the FISA court for a warrant if they disclose that their information for the warrant was obtained by warrantless taps. Gonzalez would not answer because he didn’t feel comfortable going in to it. This was a very important question. If FISA is denying warrants because […]