From the New York Times:
WASHINGTON — A top adviser to Senator John McCain says Mr. McCain believes that President Bush’s program of wiretapping without warrants was lawful, a position that appears to bring him into closer alignment with the sweeping theories of executive authority pushed by the Bush administration legal team.
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In a letter posted online by National Review this week, the adviser, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, said Mr. McCain believed that the Constitution gave Mr. Bush the power to authorize the National Security Agency to monitor Americans’ international phone calls and e-mail without warrants, despite a 1978 federal statute that required court oversight of surveillance.
How can the Constitution give the president the power to break the law? Here's McCain six months ago:
Mr. McCain was asked whether he believed that the president had constitutional power to conduct surveillance on American soil for national security purposes without a warrant, regardless of federal statutes.
He replied: “There are some areas where the statutes don’t apply, such as in the surveillance of overseas communications. Where they do apply, however, I think that presidents have the obligation to obey and enforce laws that are passed by Congress and signed into law by the president, no matter what the situation is.”
Following up, the interviewer asked whether Mr. McCain was saying a statute trumped a president’s powers as commander in chief when it came to a surveillance law. “I don’t think the president has the right to disobey any law,” Mr. McCain replied.
Which is it Senator McCain? Why the flip-flop? The Straight-Talk Express is off the rails. Tucker Bounds, a spokesman for McCain's campaign, says the senator's position has not changed.
I report; you decide.
McCain has already proven that he will say absolutely anything and trust that his audience isn't sufficiently informed to know that he's lying or just flat out wrong.
ReplyDeleteBut it isn't 2003 any more, and I doubt he can keep getting away with what George W, did.
Lovely. In other words, if John is elected, it will be same old, same old, and good bye to democracy.
ReplyDeleteYou see, I suspect that there will be an awful lot of people who will simply say that prime ministers and presidents know best and therefore we should give them the benefit of the doubt.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, why do we elect them if its not to do our thinking for us? Its probably for the best thereafter not to ask too many questions.
Ah, the public, the body politic. Bless!
I decide we resurrect the epithet "flip-flop."
ReplyDeleteI further decide we crush McCain in November!
How can "the Constitution" give the Executive elctronic powers that were not existing, even less imaginend, in 1776?
ReplyDelete"Original intent", someone?
"They" know what's best for us, the Constitution be damned. I want to see anyone who broke the law by spying on US citizens charged and brought to trial. I want trials. It's sickening for McCain to express support for this kind of activity. I guess he will say anything.
ReplyDeleteMcCain has been arguing with himself for years.
ReplyDeleteAnd they called John Kerry a 'flip-flopper'.
But, but, but..., Jim, He's a straight-shooter.
ReplyDeletehe gets less and less "indepedent" and straight talking with every passing year. if he ever was.
ReplyDelete