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| Sen. Specter:Threatens to Block NSA Funding |
| 2006-04-27 |
| Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter said Thursday he is considering legislation to cut off funding for the Bush administration's secret domestic wiretapping program until he gets satisfactory answers about it from the White House. "Institutionally, the presidency is walking all over Congress at the moment," Specter, R-Pa., told the panel. "If we are to maintain our institutional prerogative, that may be the only way we can do it." Specter said he had informed President Bush about his intention and that he has attracted several potential co-sponsors. He said he's become increasingly frustrated in trying to elicit information about the program from senior White House officials at several public hearings. Specter also agreed with Democrats who say that any of the bills to tighten guidelines for National Security Agency program and increase congressional oversight could be flatly ignored by an administration with a long history of acting alone in security matters. |
| Posted by:Captain America |
| #17 "There ought to be one day-- just one-- when there is open season on senators" Will Rogers |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2006-04-27 19:53 |
| #16 Given that, even today, the NSA's charter itself remains classified information, it's a safe bet that substantial portions of their budget flies under radar as "black" projects that could keep them running for years. Specter is a fool to try and threaten such a vital wing of our intelligence gathering network. Idjit. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-04-27 19:49 |
| #15 From a patriotic American's point of view, a much more rational and effective action would be to cut off the salaries, benefits, and perks of the US Senate. Most of them have no time for America and are either AWOL or totally self-serving. Give them what they've earned, as a body, nothing. Most are incompetent sluggards and profiteering reprobates. I won't mention the other far more appealing alternative that occurs to me. |
| Posted by: Gluque Omagum9852 2006-04-27 18:24 |
| #14 "poisioning with Assholium" I tell ya, Frank, I truly hate that dickhead. I wish there were some way to get rid of him, but he's become an indelible part of the Pennsylvania political landscape over the years, kind of like a vaginal wart on an old whore. The only competition the guy could have in this enfeebled state would be an extreme liberal Democrat-- but Arlen is so damn far to the left it'd be a real trick for any of them to get past him on that side. Is it better to have Sphincter inside the tent pissing in, or a Democrat outside the tent pissing in? I dunno... |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2006-04-27 17:53 |
| #13 Hey Arlen - your "institutional prerogative" when it comes to making war is a simple yea/nay authorization to the executive branch. Which you already gave. So shut up, already. |
| Posted by: mojo 2006-04-27 17:23 |
| #12 poisioning with Assholium |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-04-27 16:49 |
| #11 Dave D., Great! That's the worst news I've heard all day! |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2006-04-27 16:39 |
| #10 What is Specter's problem? He seems to be suffering from some mental anguish or disease lately. Is he being blackmailed? Is he ill? Is he slipping into dementia? Any clues? |
| Posted by: 3dc 2006-04-27 16:39 |
| #9 Not much chance of ditching Senator Sphincter; the liberal crowd here in southeast PA just loves the guy. |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2006-04-27 16:20 |
| #8 If he blocks funding, I hope someone blocks his re-election. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2006-04-27 16:17 |
| #7 Specter heading the Judicary Committee is a joke. He was decent on Supreme Court nominees, however. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-04-27 16:00 |
| #6 Going to be a bloodbath for the Repubs. in November. The conservative base will stay home. Disagree. The mid-terms are location and candidate specific. The Reps have some quality candidates (Michael Steele, Mark Kennedy (MN)etc.), and one delusional one: Harris. Steele and Kennedy alone would replace two donks. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-04-27 15:59 |
| #5 Nonsense, I'm not staying home, I'm going to vote Green. |
| Posted by: Perfesser 2006-04-27 15:20 |
| #4 Going to be a bloodbath for the Repubs. in November. The conservative base will stay home. |
| Posted by: SR-71 2006-04-27 15:08 |
| #3 Nobody trusts Arlen "Scottish Law" Specter with any facts. With Congress having a 22% approval rating, Arlen is closer to 9%. At least he has the full dem support on his anti-George rants. |
| Posted by: Inspector Clueso 2006-04-27 14:04 |
| #2 The NSA needs to pay that boy a visit. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2006-04-27 13:38 |
| #1 Bush's backing of Spectre in the primary is coming back to haunt him. |
| Posted by: RWV 2006-04-27 13:28 |