From AP, published on CNN.com...it looks like Arlen Specter's not too happy with the wiretapping approach adopted by the Administration. Hopefully they'll get together and work it out. Let's protect our Constitution. :)

Sen. Specter threatens to cut off funding for secret wiretaps

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter said Thursday he is considering legislation to cut off funding for the Bush administration's secret domestic wiretapping program until he gets satisfactory answers about it from the White House.

"Institutionally, the presidency is walking all over Congress at the moment," Specter, R-Pennsylvania, told the panel. "If we are to maintain our institutional prerogative, that may be the only way we can do it."

Specter said he had informed President Bush about his intention and that he has attracted several potential co-sponsors. He said he's become increasingly frustrated in trying to elicit information about the program from senior White House officials at several public hearings.

Specter also agreed with Democrats who say that any of the bills to tighten guidelines for the National Security Agency program and increase congressional oversight could be flatly ignored by an administration with a long history of acting alone in security matters.

"It is true that we have no assurance that the president would follow any statute that we enact," Specter said. He said he's considering adding an amendment to stop funding of the program to an Iraq war-hurricane relief bill being debated by the Senate this week and next.

Senior Republican officials said they had not received guidance about the legislation and could not say when it might come before the committee or to the Senate floor.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Specter's announcement came a day after the House passed a bill 327-96 to dramatically increase spending on intelligence programs. In the process, Republicans blocked an amendment to expand congressional oversight of the NSA warrantless surveillance program.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Peter Hoekstra, R-Michigan, said allegations that NSA domestic wiretapping operations are abusive or unconstitutional are outrageous and that Congress is committed to vigorous oversight of the program.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Libs hate gun owners too.

Just some of them :)

My friend who follow these matters more closely believe that in November of this year the Senate will be a "push," but the House will be taken by the Dems. That, they say, will make things WAY more interesting. The Dems will have subpoena power and will of course chair the committees. Investigations will occur, as they should have been occurring all along.

My preference is that they not wait for those investigations to unfold. My preference is that they simply begin impeachment proceedings immediately. Cheney can be impeached too, if necessary. He's not a good reason to leave Dubya the Dunce in there.

See my thread a few months ago on what the term "closed minded" really means. You are using the concept here very well.

The seething irrational hatred on display here is simply amazing.

Libs LOVE terrorists. Libs want to coddle and love them. Libs want to take them home to mother, and live happily ever after. Libs LOVE terrorists

At least you're admitting it now Rodeo...that's the first step to dealing with any problem.

well, my shrink does say that I hate myself...

I wonder if there is some statistic that Libs are more likely to use their guns to shoot themselves out of self-loathing, while cons are more likely to shoot libs out of annoyance? No wonder the libs want to ban all the guns!

Libs hate guns because guns can be used to shoot terrorists. And libs LOVE terrorists. Libs can't let anything happen to terrorists, because they LOVE them so much. Only conservatives hate terrorists. Libs LOVE terrorists. Libs don't want them to be caputred or god forbid shot with a gun. Because they LOVE terrorists.



(This is fun paying a Bushie. Takes absolutely no thought at all ... just spew nonsense and attack libs)

It had to get stupid sooner or later.....Yeah...All Libs are bad, all Cons are good, the President's actions are above reproach, his decisions are "pure genius".....

And the beat goes on......