Domestic Policy

Bush, Alito, Speak On NSA Wiretaps

January 12, 2006 ⋅  E-Mail Article ⋅  Print Article ⋅ Post a comment

US President George W. Bush defended his authorization of domestic eavesdropping while also stating that he welcomes congressional hearings on his powers, as long as they do not provide information to the enemy. Bush stated, “I can understand concerns about this program, before I went forward I wanted to make sure I had all the legal authority necessary to make this decision as your President.”

The question of eavesdropping has also been brought up during the Senate hearings for Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito. Judge Alito was asked about the Presidents recent actions regarding NSA surveillance tactics, the nominee picked his way cautiously through the issues of warrant-less wiretapping. The tap dancing act relieved many Senate Republicans at the confirmation hearings, but many Democrats expressed displeasure with some of Alitos’ answers.

In direct answer to a question of Presidential powers, Judge Alito advised that the Bill of Rights still applies by stating, “In times of war and in times of national crisis.” However, what angered Democrats most was the fact that Judge Alito refused to say whether President Bush acted improperly by ordering wiretaps without warrants as part of the war on terror.

Many of the Presidents detractors have openly questioned whether it was lawful for Bush to authorize the NSA wiretaps without a special court warrant. The wiretaps were used to supposedly eavesdrop inside the US on Americans with supposed terrorism ties.

How do you feel about this topic, are we just beating a dead horse or is this something that really inspires you? How violated do you actually feel by the reported actions of the President? Some say, “I have nothing to hide so I am not worried.” Others state, “I don’t care about having something to hide or not, it’s about our civil liberties.” Both have good points, it will be interesting to see where the judgment falls on this issue.

Bush, Alito, on Wiretaps

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