The Power of the Bully
23 January 2006 12:18 pm by Taylor Marsh
The Power of the Bully
"It’s amazing that people say to me, `Well, he’s
just breaking the law," the president said, with Roberts sitting behind
him on stage at Kansas State University. "If I wanted to break the law,
why was I briefing Congress?"Bush said the spying program was targeted at communications
between people in the United States and al Qaida associates overseas. He said
he made sure he was acting within the law before authorizing the program after
his aides suggested it."I’m mindful of your civil liberties and so I
had all kinds of lawyers review the process," Bush told some 9,000 students,
soldiers and dignitaries in the audience.Critics have said the president broke the law by authorizing
the eavesdropping without a judge’s approval and by failing to fully consult
with Congress. The White House told congressional leadership about the program,
but not all members of the intelligence committees.Bush said a congressional resolution passed after Sept.
11, 2001, that authorized him to use force in the fight against terrorism,
also allowed him to order the top-secret program. That operation was disclosed
last month by The New York Times.
Bush
Says Surveillance Legal and Necessary
The bully pulpit is an amazing weapon. For a little less than
2 hours this morning, George W. Bush had uninterrupted time on MSNBC, CNN and
(of course) Fox, to push his illegal wiretapping, all dressed up in a long winded tale that
began, where else, on 9/11.
Consider all that free media time, then consider what the Democrats
are up against.
Sure, it was a lousy, lazy and loose speech about all things on
Terror Guy’s mind, but it will allow him to have the nightly news and every
other forum, including right-wing radio, all day long.
Almost 2 hours, think about it. You can’t buy that kind of publicity
for a campaign, unless you’re the president. It makes our job that much tougher.
