Bush's Office of Legal Council Documents Released

“2001 Bush legal memo allowed ‘First Amendment speech and press rights’ to be ’subordinated.’

Yesterday, Attorney General Eric Holder released several Bush administration Office of Legal Counsel memos, which show the astonishing extent to which the administration expanded its wartime powers. An October 2001 memo from John Yoo, for example, states that the “Fourth Amendment would not apply” for domestic military operations. The memo also restricted basic First Amendment rights:

yoo.jpgIn perhaps the most surprising assertion, the Oct. 23, 2001, memo suggested the president could even suspend press freedoms if he concluded it was necessary to wage the war on terror. “First Amendment speech and press rights may also be subordinated to the overriding need to wage war successfully,” Yoo wrote in the memo entitled “Authority for Use of Military Force to Combat Terrorist Activity Within the United States.”

“Freedom of speech is integral to a free society,” President Bush said in May 2008. After reading the memos, Harpers’ Scott Horton wrote, “We may not have realized it at the time, but in the period from late 2001-January 19, 2009, this country was a dictatorship.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/03/03/yoo-first-amendment/”

“Yikes! That sounds almost like FDR or Woodrow Wilson!”

“lol, you clowns are so silly. Once again, if you weren't involved with islamic extremist then you were just fine. BTW, what were the warrants for domestic military operations. Could they have been held against US citizens? If US citizens could be the targets what activities were they to be active in to set military actions into motions?”

“Ja, eef you have done nothing wrong you have nothing to fear from the secret police.”

“glad to see you onboard”

“Glad to see you have a sense of humor.”

“waterboard?”

“dang, marko, you show a little sense and rosey wants to waterboard you.”

“Waterboard Addington?

Of course that would yield some short-term satisfaction, but no, you Really shouldn't. That would be descending to their level.”

“Bingo!”

“Love that postcard from Sing Sing.

Make sure Rummy gets 5 or 6 dozen to send out once he arrives.”

“Um tilt...the THEIR we are fighting cut reporters heads off as they scream and gurgle in the blood that goes pouring down their windpipe.

I know that seems so mean to a man sitting in his "Man Cave" in his mom's basement.”

“I think its about time to put Comey under oath.




Gonzales Hospital Episode Detailed
May 16, 2007

On the night of March 10, 2004, as Attorney General John D. Ashcroft lay ill in an intensive-care unit, his deputy, James B. Comey, received an urgent call.

White House Counsel Alberto R. Gonzales and President Bush's chief of staff, Andrew H. Card Jr., were on their way to the hospital to persuade Ashcroft to reauthorize Bush's domestic surveillance program, which the Justice Department had just determined was illegal.

In vivid testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday, Comey said he alerted FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III and raced, sirens blaring, to join Ashcroft in his hospital room, arriving minutes before Gonzales and Card. Ashcroft, summoning the strength to lift his head and speak, refused to sign the papers they had brought. Gonzales and Card, who had never acknowledged Comey's presence in the room, turned and left.

The sickbed visit was the start of a dramatic showdown between the White House and the Justice Department in early 2004 that, according to Comey, was resolved only when Bush overruled Gonzales and Card. But that was not before Ashcroft, Comey, Mueller and their aides prepared a mass resignation, Comey said. The domestic spying by the National Security Agency continued for several weeks without Justice approval, he said.

"I was angry," Comey testified. "I thought I just witnessed an effort to take advantage of a very sick man, who did not have the powers of the attorney general because they had been transferred to me."”

“The whole episode is detestable.”

“Not the whole episode.

I never put much stock in Ashcroft, but listening to Comey's account, I have to respect the man.

Lovers of democracy owe Ashcroft, Comey and Mueller a big thank you.”

“Yes, Ashcroft surprised me.

But when he testified about it later, he was a good little soldier and let Gonzales and Card off the hook.



last edited: 3/03/09 8:15:49 PM”

“Seems pretty obvious by now that Iky is more concerned with his own sense of pride and ego than any kind of justice.

"TOLD YA SO! TOLD YA SO!"”

“Seems pretty obvious to me that there are many out there more concerned with ignoring the crimes of BushCo in an effort to avoid admitting they were wrong and their support of BushCo damned near destroyed this country.

It's not so much about ME... It's not about those of us who were "right" about BushCo... It's about those of you who were wrong owning up and admitting it... and joining with us in seeking Justice!

Bush and company were trying to take over. The fact that our system survived his (their) attack isn't so much a testimony to our systems greatness because, frankly, our system was powerless to stop him (at least that's the way it seems after reading these memos)... The fact that our system survived seems to have more to do with "Luck" and Global pressures (economic, political, and otherwise) rendering BushCo to a position of impotence...”

“The old "Bush is a dummy/Bush is an evil genius" paradox.”

“From lame duck to gelding, eh?”

“Because of......in spite of.......”

“yeah yeah...YAWWWN....not one response to the question about the overt FRAUD of the Clinton years...but we keep hearing vivid stories of windmills to tilt with from the libbies.”

“I'm not a big fan of Clinton.

And quit hijacking. That's not what this thread is about. You can't complain about a non-response to your "questions" (although I don't recall seeing any specific question) when you refuse to comment on the SUBJECT of this thread.

You wanna start a Clinton bashing thread, go ahead... but, while in this thread, try to keep focused on the subject at hand.”

“The amphetamine makes him kinda herky-jerky, Icky.
He'a all over the place.”

“Speaking of herky-jerky, I wonder what Daddy-O's stance is on the wiretapping today?”

“Why don't you ask him?”

“A very bright light needs to be shed on those cockroaches.”

“"A very bright light needs to be shed on those cockroaches." - Tilt

”

“LOL...okay here is a kicker...wiretapping etc happen all the time. it is just not Admissible in court.

Lets go back to the most famous "wiretapping" you remember...1996 ma and pa kettle just HAPPEN to record the phone call of Rep. Boehner and then turn it over to the Dems...

Strange huh...at the time that ma and pa kettle just FOUND the call and JUST happened to KNOW who it was...LOL

And not a peep outa the liberals about violations of rights. Heck McDirtmot LIBERAL DEMOCRAT Washington...just got a slap on the wrist....

SO lets start there. PRISON TIME yeah..Prison time if you released the private calls.

Next up lets look at these calls...now everyone should know the US Constitution stops at the border (at least the Supreme Court determined that in the 1940's) so if you are calling say...Yemen the NSA just has to listen in.”

“Somebody pulled a Boehner?”

“Handing out tobacco company blood money on the floor of the House?”

“take the money out of washington and problem solved.”

““LOL...okay here is a kicker...wiretapping etc happen all the time. it is just not Admissible in court.

Lets go back to the most famous "wiretapping" you remember...1996 ma and pa kettle just HAPPEN to record the phone call of Rep. Boehner and then turn it over to the Dems...

Strange huh...at the time that ma and pa kettle just FOUND the call and JUST happened to KNOW who it was...LOL

And not a peep outa the liberals about violations of rights. Heck McDirtmot LIBERAL DEMOCRAT Washington...just got a slap on the wrist....

SO lets start there. PRISON TIME yeah..Prison time if you released the private calls.

Next up lets look at these calls...now everyone should know the US Constitution stops at the border (at least the Supreme Court determined that in the 1940's) so if you are calling say...Yemen the NSA just has to listen in.”
theXL400

____________________

Wrong!

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/04/judge_tells_democrat_to_pay_bo.html


...AND, the difference here: Boener was able to pursue McDermott in court.

With BushCo, there was no legal recourse.”

“Icky...who exactly was harmed?

Real question here...have we heard of ONE potential plaintiff. Its not like 700 FBI files just disappeared from the White House. (LOL)”

““Icky...who exactly was harmed?

Real question here...have we heard of ONE potential plaintiff. Its not like 700 FBI files just disappeared from the White House. (LOL)”
theXL400

We don't know.

Maybe (although I doubt it) nobody was harmed... Maybe many people were harmed...

Remember those CIA Interrogation tapes? At first the CIA said they had NONE... Then, as things came to light, they said they had destroyed TWO... Then time goes by and it was 3 to 5... then just the other day they said at least NINETY-TWO !!!!

I honestly suspect that if this is investigated we would find many people were "harmed"... I'd suspect "Political Enemies" (Bush would have called them Terrorist Suspects) were messed with... possible business enemies as well...

Who was harmed? WE ALL were harmed... Our "LIBERTY" was compromised by our own government... and, according to these documents, our Liberty was basically stripped away should the President decide to enforce it... No oversight. No clear definitions. Just the president's say so.

One of the cornerstones of our Country was harmed.”

“It's not so much about ME... It's not about those of us who were "right" about BushCo... It's about those of you who were wrong owning up and admitting it...

Translation: I want to hear you tell me I'm right.

Dude, you are so transparent. The more you say it's not about you the more it IS about you.”

“It's about those who supported Bush and these unconstitutional policies to step up and say, "We were wrong"... that's partly true.

It's the ADULT thing to do... When I'm wrong, I say so... and I don't have any problem with it. I do it regularly with my family, friends, and even my patients. It's not hard to do.

But I'm not seeking such and admission to make me feel better about myself... I'm seeking this admission as a step in the right direction. WE need to come together... We ALL need to step up, admit our faults and wrongs... talk about it... and figure out a way forward.”

“You're right...they are wrong...you rawk...they suck...your opinion has worth...you are above average.

Now get on with your low self esteem filled day.”

“icky, you know most of the Senators (including I think the present occupant of 1600 ) who supported the decisions.

They are starting to circle the wagons without calling for an investigation. Because just like the housing scandal so many of our elected officials are so deeply involved that ANY trial would show their complicity.”

“Most senators were not told the truth about what was going on.”

““You're right...they are wrong...you rawk...they suck...your opinion has worth...you are above average.

Now get on with your low self esteem filled day.”
Nigal

You're being a dick.

I don't want to hear this crap. I want to hear that "they" are pissed at the attempts to subvert the Constitution and their rights... and that they want justice.”

“When I'm wrong, I say so

You didn't admit you were wrong about terrorist attacks increasing.”

“You're being a dick.

Yes but I am an in your face dick. Or am I a dick in your face? You choose. Either way I'm straight forward and not sanctimonious and self righteous through passive aggressiveness.

I don't want to hear this crap. I want to hear that "they" are pissed at the attempts to subvert the Constitution and their rights... and that they want justice.

See? You want to hear them say they agree with you thereby validating you. You have to hear that you are right.”

“I am sorry icky but they get security briefings, they get clearances you could only dream of.”

“The number of terrorist attacks increased worldwide...

Washington - The deadliest terrorist attacks since September 11, 2001:

July 11, 2006, India: Muslim terrorist attacks on rail system in Mumbai kills 182 people, injures 770.

November 9, 2005, Jordan: Coordinated bombings at three Western hotels in central Amman kill at least 67 people and leave another 150 wounded in early reports.

October 29, 2005, India: Three blasts in New Delhi ahead of Hindu Diwali festival kill 59 people and wound 210 more. Sponsored Links:Migraine Pain? Treatments and Information

October 13, 2005, Russia: A large unit of suspected Islamic militants attacks Russia's North Caucasus city of Nalchik, with a reported 130 people reported killed before security forces repulse the group in fierce street fighting.

October 1, 2005, Indonesia: Three suicide bombers kill 22 in triple blasts on Indonesia's resort island of Bali. Al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah, a Southeast Asian militant group, is suspected.

July 23, 2005, Egypt: At least 64 people including foreign tourists are killed in a series of bombings in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheikh.

July 7, 2005, Britain: In Western Europe's first suicide bombings, four Moslems blow themselves up on London's transport system. The attacks on three underground trains and a bus kill 56 people and injure 700. Sponsored Links:Losing Hair? Click Here for Products and Services

October 10, 2004, Egypt: Twin attacks on resorts in Sinai leave 32 dead, injure 120.

September 1, 2004, Russia: A group of 30 armed men and women seize a school on the first day of autumn classes at Beslan in the southern Russian region of North Ossetia, taking 1,100 hostages. More than 300 children and adults are killed in a bloody end to the siege.

August 24, 2004, Russia: Two Russian airliners crash within an hour of each other in the south of the country after explosives are detonated on board. A total of 90 people confirmed dead.

May 29, 2004, Saudi Arabia: Twenty-two people, mainly foreigners, die in attacks on an office and an apartment block used by Westerners in al-Khobar.

March 11, 2004, Spain: Ten bombs explode on four commuter trains in Madrid killing 191 people. The attack is blamed on Moroccan Islamists. Suspects escape, but several later are killed in explosions. Sponsored Links:Stop Snoring! Sleep Aids and Resources

November 20, 2003, Turkey: Bombs explode outside British-run buildings in Istanbul killing at least 33 people. Five days earlier, more than 20 passersby were killed in attacks on two synagogues.

May 16, 2003, Morocco: Forty-five people die in five attacks by Islamists on Western and Jewish targets in the port city of Casablanca.

May 12, 2003, Saudi Arabia: Thirty-five people are killed in a series of bomb attacks on residential compounds housing mainly foreigners in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

November 28, 2002, Kenya: Three suicide-bombers blow up a car outside an Israeli tourist hotel in the resort of Mombasa, killing 18 people.

October 12, 2002, Indonesia: Double bomb attack on discotheques on the island of Bali claim 202 lives.

April 11, 2002, Tunisia: A suicide-bomber blows himself up in an attack on a synagogue on the island of Djerba, killing 21 people.

September 11, 2001, United States: Islamic terrorists hijack four U.S. passenger planes. Two are crashed into the twin towers of New York's World Trade Centre, one targets the Pentagon in Washington while the fourth crashes in a field in Pennsylvania. Around 3,000 people die.

© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

_______________

45% Decline in the number of terrorist attacks since 2001, to its lowest level in 34 years, as reported by the U.S. State Department in April; the department now says the figures are inaccurate

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,650765,00.html?iid=chix-sphere

______________________________”

“We as americans are affraid to take blame for anything no matter how obvious it is that the fault is truely ours. We blame capitalism and socialism and left and right and libs and connies, but really we are just power hungry pigs that want everything all the time and want to tell the rest of the world what to do-----all of the time.

I'm not going through the 4.3% of world population bull chit cause you bull chitters haven't a clue. Let it fall apart.
last edited: 3/05/09 7:51:00 AM”

“"I am sorry icky but they get security briefings, they get clearances you could only dream of."
XL

I have no such dreams............anyone else?”

“Cute note there but do you notice most of those countries were not even involved in the War on Islamofascisim? HELL Jordan and Saudi Arabia ARE Moslem...WTF is that all about.

SO icky you are saying if we are attacked we are better off if we don't fight back?

WOW I am really going to have to bring this suggestion to the Rape Crisis Center...
last edited: 3/05/09 7:53:14 AM”

“Speak for yourself piggy. All I want is for the government to leave me the phuck alone and the rest of the world to take care of themselves for a change.”