With Arlen Specter resolving to hold hearings on President Bush’s alleged use of warrantless spying on Americans, February might turn out to be full of fireworks especially if, as the senator ascertained, impeachment is a remedy.
It appears that the Bush administration is wary of this possibility. Via the The Huffington Post, Insightmag, is reporting that the White House has reason to believe that a coalition in Congress is being formed for the purpose of impeaching the president for illegally wiretapping Americans, in violation of two statutes, the Fourth amendment and the FISA laws of 1978.
Administration sources said the charges are expected to include false reports to Congress as well as Mr. Bush’s authorization of the National Security Agency to engage in electronic surveillance inside the United States without a court warrant. This included the monitoring of overseas telephone calls and e-mail traffic to and from people living in the United States without requisite permission from a secret court.
The source concedes that the probe will most likely come from Republicans (supported by Democrats) and that they would likely vote against the president. Moreover, this appears to be an impending battle that wil be difficult to win.
“If we work hard, there could be a tie.”
Bush started his vigorous defense of electronic surveillance today, even coining a new name for the same crime: Terrorist Surveillance Program. Moreover, we get a glimpse into his upcoming strategy to confuse and difuse this constitutional crisis.
They said the president would begin with pressure on Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Mr. Bush would then point to security measures taken by the former administration of President Bill Clinton.
“The argument is that the American people will never forgive any public official who knowingly hurts national security,” an administration source said. “We will tell the American people that while we have done everything we can to protect them, our policies are being endangered by a hypocritical Congress.”
Once again, when in hot water, blame Clinton. Bush is a broken record.
