Comments on: Congress To Prez: Invade MY Privacy? Never http://informedspeculation.com/2006/05/24/congress-to-prez-invade-my-privacy-never/ Refunds Cheerfully Given To All Who Disagree Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:53:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: The Politburo Diktat » Blog Archive » Congress is not above the law http://informedspeculation.com/2006/05/24/congress-to-prez-invade-my-privacy-never/comment-page-1/#comment-31532 The Politburo Diktat » Blog Archive » Congress is not above the law Thu, 25 May 2006 00:37:30 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/05/24/congress-to-prez-invade-my-privacy-never/#comment-31532 [...] Decision ‘08 » Blog Archive » Congress To Prez: Invade MY Privacy? Never After years of quietly acceding to the Bush administration’s assertions of executive power, the Republican-led Congress hit a limit this weekend. [...] [...] Decision ‘08 » Blog Archive » Congress To Prez: Invade MY Privacy? Never After years of quietly acceding to the Bush administration’s assertions of executive power, the Republican-led Congress hit a limit this weekend. [...]

]]> By: peter http://informedspeculation.com/2006/05/24/congress-to-prez-invade-my-privacy-never/comment-page-1/#comment-31505 peter Wed, 24 May 2006 18:20:58 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/05/24/congress-to-prez-invade-my-privacy-never/#comment-31505 I agree with relish and Gwedd -- this must be a first -- I agree with relish and Gwedd — this must be a first –

]]> By: Gwedd http://informedspeculation.com/2006/05/24/congress-to-prez-invade-my-privacy-never/comment-page-1/#comment-31502 Gwedd Wed, 24 May 2006 17:51:30 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/05/24/congress-to-prez-invade-my-privacy-never/#comment-31502 Comrades, I find it deliciously ironic that Congress, the same body which has no problem issuing subpoenas to members of the Executive Branch, now cries FOUL when they are hit with one. No one is above the law, or outside it's reach. No one. Respects, Gwedd Comrades,

I find it deliciously ironic that Congress, the same body which has no problem issuing subpoenas to members of the Executive Branch, now cries FOUL when they are hit with one.

No one is above the law, or outside it’s reach. No one.

Respects,

Gwedd

]]> By: relish http://informedspeculation.com/2006/05/24/congress-to-prez-invade-my-privacy-never/comment-page-1/#comment-31501 relish Wed, 24 May 2006 17:44:14 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/05/24/congress-to-prez-invade-my-privacy-never/#comment-31501 I'm still trying to figure out why equal treatment under the law isn't an issue here. If I was the subject of a federal investigation, you can bet your bottom dollar that the FBI could come search my workplace, my home, or other locations that might hold valuable information if they had a properly executed warrant. Why should a U.S. Congressman be treated differently? His home had already been searched, and they apparently had ample evidence to pursue the case. His illegal activities were the result of his job and connections, so why would it not be appropriate to search his workplace as well for additional evidence? It seems a dangerous precedent to say that a congressperson's office is sacrosanct and beyond the reach of the law. I know there is an element that worries about the Executive Branch overstepping its boundaries, but this guy is under criminal investigation! It's not like they searched Lincoln Chaffee's office or Bill Murtha's desk. There is no evidence that this was politically motivated. It's an effort to prosecute someone who is using the privilege of his office for personal gain. I’m still trying to figure out why equal treatment under the law isn’t an issue here. If I was the subject of a federal investigation, you can bet your bottom dollar that the FBI could come search my workplace, my home, or other locations that might hold valuable information if they had a properly executed warrant. Why should a U.S. Congressman be treated differently? His home had already been searched, and they apparently had ample evidence to pursue the case. His illegal activities were the result of his job and connections, so why would it not be appropriate to search his workplace as well for additional evidence?

It seems a dangerous precedent to say that a congressperson’s office is sacrosanct and beyond the reach of the law.

I know there is an element that worries about the Executive Branch overstepping its boundaries, but this guy is under criminal investigation! It’s not like they searched Lincoln Chaffee’s office or Bill Murtha’s desk. There is no evidence that this was politically motivated. It’s an effort to prosecute someone who is using the privilege of his office for personal gain.

]]> By: peter http://informedspeculation.com/2006/05/24/congress-to-prez-invade-my-privacy-never/comment-page-1/#comment-31490 peter Wed, 24 May 2006 16:37:38 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/05/24/congress-to-prez-invade-my-privacy-never/#comment-31490 It's not editorializing: it's fact. The administration has consistently kept most (or sometimes nearly all) of Congress out of the loop on many things, and this is something explicitly endorsed by Cheney. This includes the secrecy imposed on Cheney's energy task force, the NSA data-mining, the warrantless eavesdropping, and the full range of pre-war intelligence. The number of documents classified by the government is at record levels, and there are numerous restrictions on government officials speaking to Congress and the public (or, as when Gonzales testifies, it is not under oath). It’s not editorializing: it’s fact. The administration has consistently kept most (or sometimes nearly all) of Congress out of the loop on many things, and this is something explicitly endorsed by Cheney. This includes the secrecy imposed on Cheney’s energy task force, the NSA data-mining, the warrantless eavesdropping, and the full range of pre-war intelligence. The number of documents classified by the government is at record levels, and there are numerous restrictions on government officials speaking to Congress and the public (or, as when Gonzales testifies, it is not under oath).

]]> By: Mark http://informedspeculation.com/2006/05/24/congress-to-prez-invade-my-privacy-never/comment-page-1/#comment-31463 Mark Wed, 24 May 2006 13:26:51 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/05/24/congress-to-prez-invade-my-privacy-never/#comment-31463 Fargus, I was referring to statements like this: <em>Pursuing a course advocated by Vice President Dick Cheney, the administration has sought to establish primacy on domestic and foreign policy, not infrequently keeping much of Congress out of the loop unless forced to consult.</em> That's not reporting, that's editorializing... Fargus, I was referring to statements like this:

Pursuing a course advocated by Vice President Dick Cheney, the administration has sought to establish primacy on domestic and foreign policy, not infrequently keeping much of Congress out of the loop unless forced to consult.

That’s not reporting, that’s editorializing…

]]> By: mikebdot http://informedspeculation.com/2006/05/24/congress-to-prez-invade-my-privacy-never/comment-page-1/#comment-31462 mikebdot Wed, 24 May 2006 13:08:33 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/05/24/congress-to-prez-invade-my-privacy-never/#comment-31462 There is a difference between a smear piece (which is what an A-1 story about marital affairs that makes no specific point whatsoever) about one of the leading candidates and an article about Bush's program that has spurred quite a bit of debate in the recent months and finally, Reps are actually worried about it (but nothing will happen once again, it's all show like Specter's activities over the past few months). If they actually walk the walk I'll eat my words. There is a difference between a smear piece (which is what an A-1 story about marital affairs that makes no specific point whatsoever) about one of the leading candidates and an article about Bush’s program that has spurred quite a bit of debate in the recent months and finally, Reps are actually worried about it (but nothing will happen once again, it’s all show like Specter’s activities over the past few months). If they actually walk the walk I’ll eat my words.

]]> By: Fargus http://informedspeculation.com/2006/05/24/congress-to-prez-invade-my-privacy-never/comment-page-1/#comment-31460 Fargus Wed, 24 May 2006 12:47:33 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/05/24/congress-to-prez-invade-my-privacy-never/#comment-31460 How would this story, reporting on the reaction of Congressional GOP, be at all indicative of a bias in either direction by the Times? I don't see it at all. How would this story, reporting on the reaction of Congressional GOP, be at all indicative of a bias in either direction by the Times? I don’t see it at all.

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