News and Politics | June 03, 2008 | 57 comments

John McCain would continue to spy on Americans; exercise Bush's unlimited wartime powers

source: http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/06/mccain-id-spy-o.html

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If elected president, Senator John McCain would reserve the right to run his own warrantless wiretapping program against Americans, based on the theory that the president's wartime powers trump federal criminal statutes and court oversight, according to a statement released by his campaign Monday.

McCain's new tack towards the Bush administration's theory of executive power comes some 10 days after a McCain surrogate stated, incorrectly it seems, that the senator wanted hearings into telecom companies' cooperation with President Bush's warrantless wiretapping program, before he'd support giving those companies retroactive legal immunity.

As first reported by Threat Level, Chuck Fish, a full-time lawyer for the McCain campaign, also said McCain wanted stricter rules on how the nation's telecoms work with U.S. spy agencies, and expected those companies to apologize for any lawbreaking before winning amnesty.

But Monday, McCain adviser Doug Holtz-Eakin, speaking for the campaign, disavowed those statements, and for the first time cast McCain's views on warrantless wiretapping as identical to Bush's.

"Neither the Administration nor the telecoms need apologize for actions that most people, except for the ACLU and the trial lawyers, understand were Constitutional and appropriate in the wake of the attacks on September 11, 2001"

We do not know what lies ahead in our nation’s fight against radical Islamic extremists, but John McCain will do everything he can to protect Americans from such threats, including asking the telecoms for appropriate assistance to collect intelligence against foreign threats to the United States as authorized by Article II of the Constitution.

The Article II citation is key, since it refers to President Bush's longstanding arguments that the president has nearly unlimited powers during a time of war. The administration's analysis went so far as to say the Fourth Amendment did not apply inside the United States in the fight against terrorism, in one legal opinion from 2001.
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57 comments // John McCain would continue to spy on Americans; exercise Bush's unlimited wartime powers

  • chris50
  • chris50
    • 0
      chris50  

    • You may feel pretty secure about the government listening to your conversations. But please remember, this is just for today, tomorrow a terrorist could be something you said or wrote.

    • 3 years ago
  • Dmitri_Molotov
  • onechance
  • Cretony38
  • fuckbush
  • Leonidis
  • onechance
  • Dmitri_Molotov
  • JudahEvan
    • 0
      JudahEvan  

    • Sorry Phoenix Fire, you're right. I was attempting to give an upbraiding to Clayjj05. My bad. I need to learn how to read, you are correct.

    • 3 years ago
  • Paratus
    • 0
      Paratus  

    • McCain is NOT Bush. He has had enough disagreements with the present administration that to say he is Bush is to ignore the truth. That said, to continue a policy of warrantless spying on Americans is absurd. I have no problem with phone call INTO this country from known terrorists being intercepted. Clinton did this also but no mention of that.
      I don't see how the fact that he is terrible at giving speeches is a factor. HItler was good. Look where that got the world. Clinton was good. See what a disaster he was.

    • 3 years ago
  • Saber2011
    • 0
      Saber2011  

    • April, linking the Republican party to abortion clinic bombing is just plain pointless. It's like calling to pope evil because of a few catholic terrorists in Ireland.

      And did we go to Iraq for oil? That argument would make more sense if we had... you know... taken any oil.

    • 3 years ago
  • phoenix_fire999
    • 0
      phoenix_fire999  

    • All I said was that McCain's presidency will be just like Bush's, as he voted in line with Bush's wishes 100% of the time this year. Where in the hell are you getting abortion from? Idiot! Learn how to read!

    • 3 years ago
  • phoenix_fire999
    • 0
      phoenix_fire999  

    • JudahEvan,

      What are you talking about? Here's what I said in my last post and the only post:

      More proof that he is Bush's 3rd term. No thanks! It's time for a change!

      Where in those 15 words did I talk about abortion? Or can you not read? What's wrong with you?

    • 3 years ago
  • Lerxst
  • JudahEvan
    • 0
      JudahEvan  

    • it is amazing how correct and understanding you are Phoenix Fire. There truly is no difference between attempting an assassination of Americans through means of terrorism and modern induced abortion. Those full grown, cognitive practitioners are exactly the same as an unborn fetus.

      What are you talking about??? Yes, bombing is bad. Yes, abortion isn't great. But what are you talking about??

      Is your point about right-wing fascism a roundabout and blanket rationalization that is just a wag of the finger at abortion??

      Have you ever been pregnant before, Phoenix Fire, and then desired an age-old but progressive technique for expulsion of the "lifeless" (my opinion on conception) embryo?? Did you do it to save that "lifeless" and unborn beings life from being as bad as you knew it would be for you??

      This post concerns John McCain's double speak. He claims to be a maverick; yet, the status quo is just fine for him when taking into account our constantly-violated civil liberties. Mavericks bring change and buck tradition. But now, we have a conservative who wants to conserve the culture of constitutional subversion that is so hot and new on Penn Ave.

      Or is it old and withered??

      Amnesty?? Corporate/Government Collusion?? The Cold War is still hot??

      Now, I'm not a Christian, Phoenix Fire, but I really cannot forgive a person for being bigoted and irrational. Or off topic.

    • 3 years ago
  • riverdeer
  • clayjj05
    • 0
      clayjj05 [removed]  

    • you guys managed to rewrite the same idea 30 times, but one thing stuck in my brain that made me sick

      April said
      'bombing abortion clinics"

      im not condoning what those idiots did, but your killing innocent little fetuses how is that any less a crime than blowing those shameless places to where they belong.

      I'm not a christain, but i do have a set of morals that would never allow the murder of something that has a chance to live.

    • 3 years ago
  • phoenix_fire999
  • JudahEvan
  • VynalFrontier
    • 0
      VynalFrontier  

    • We live in a constant state of fear, impart from the mass media using TERROR, TRAGEDY, FEAR etc. in all of there headlines.

      As a result people in this country have been convinced that spying on its own people is a great idea.

      I want my privacy back

    • 3 years ago
  • Ice_cream_Man
    • 0
      Ice_cream_Man  

    • Bushes third term
      McCain is no different than the man already in office
      & he's terrible at giving speeches
      He cant even move a crowd of 200 where he's the youngest person in the room

    • 3 years ago
  • PlanetWeez1
    • 0
      PlanetWeez1  

    • If we already know who our enemies are- then why is this necessary? Plus, wouldn't all this media coverage make people hesitant to say anything suspicious over the phone, internet, etc.? I doubt wiretapping would be very effective in obtaining hard evidence.

    • 3 years ago
  • keeshii768
  • lifestudentno83
  • Leonidis
  • onechance
  • jeffreyak
  • TyMarshal
  • J_Jammer
  • nmaridis
    • 0
      nmaridis  

    • Bottom line is that we arent in a war its called an "OCCUPATION" of Iraq. To be in a war there has to be two armies. Besides according to our constitution congress needs to declare war which never happened. The truth is that McCain is a puppet just like Bush was for the milatary industrial complex "Haliburton" ect.

    • 3 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  

    • Change happens without asking or making it happen. Change people and things change.

      I suppose you just mean to say you want a democrat in office, because if it were just about change then it wouldn't really matter who took office.

    • 3 years ago
  • Enjoy_Cannabis
  • artist_speaks_out
    • 0
      artist_speaks_out  
    • Enjoy_Cannabis:

      Great post, Enjoy_Cannabis. Unfortunately, as it stands, the world's nations are quickly becoming one, and if we want to survive in a global market with competitors like the European Union, African Union and soon to be Asian Union, our continent will also become a block of "freely" trading nations-- or one large conglomerate nation, completely destroying the constitution of the United States of America, becoming a world where corporations set the cost of living for all who live. If it weren't for love of money and power, this would not be so... but I regretfully admit that it will happen whether we on the bottom like it or not, so long as those with the gold make the rules.

      Nothing short of bloodshed will turn things around in this country I fear. I hope more than anything I am wrong... and also, to remain relevant to the original post, FUCK McCAIN.

    • 3 years ago
  • 741forlife
    • 0
      741forlife  

    • The only reason we suffered the past few years, isn't neccesarily all Bush's fault. The blame can also be laid in the hands of the Senate, and the Cabinet. They are there for the balancing of power. But yet they allowed for Bush to gain more power than should be alotted one man. If McCain is elected, it would be a completely different matter however. The inflation in the US, would increase dramatically, because of the money that is being spent to outfit the soldiers in Iraq, and Iran. I hope whoever is elected will make the right decision.

    • 3 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  

    • I think it's funny people supported Hillary and then go and call McCain a twin. Oh the irony.

      I would like to see articles that are positive about Bush or McCain make it to the top instead of seeing constant negative articles making it to the top, while positive articles of Obama just rise like an angel.

      If one wants to admit total bias thinking, then by all means do so and then this will all make sense.

      I'm not for anyone because I think the entire foursome are jokes. But I'm not into seeing one side bully the other and then go on the illogical defense of who they like just because they are in the same party.

      As for wiretapping. I don't care if my conversations are listened to to see if I'm being a terrorist. I don't care because there's nothing I have to say to anyone that is remotely secretive.

      But removing the fourth amendment for the sake of wartime fun is a bit ridiculous.

    • 3 years ago
  • Saber2011
  • ocanada
    • 0
      ocanada  
    • J_Jammer:

      National polling. From Zogby, the AP, and many others.

      Dick Cheney's popularity rating is so low it no longer registers on the polling scale.

      80 percent believe Country is headed in the wrong direction

      80 percent feel they are experiencing the recession, and have been adversely affected.

      Only twenty percent of Americans associate themselves with the Republican party.

      Bush's own press secretary and CIA director have stated that the administration engaged in full blown propaganda in the selling of the war.

      The Department of Justice has refused constitutional mandates in regards to subpeonas and contempt citations, admited to torture in violation of the Geneva Convention, and well "I don't recall" the rest.

      Karl Rove has been implicated and refuses to defend himself against alegations of political impropriety in his election consulting, in regards to the conviction of a popular Democratic Governor.

      Katherine Harriss (had to go in the wayback machine for this one) Purged voters from the rolls in 2000. This is voter fraud that violates the voting rights act, and civil rights act, period. Its a serious federal offense. None even deny the practive occured, it was malicous and was the begining of a patern of abuse.

      Its objective fact that the majority of the American public is unhappy with the current administration and quite frankly have a right to be. Its not as Dana Perino said last year, only once every four years that Americans get to have thier say.

    • 3 years ago
  • SpookyFish
    • 0
      SpookyFish  

    • It's been clear from the start of the election that McCain is nothing more than Bush's twin.

      We can't afford 4 more years of the same crap we've had for the past 8.

    • 3 years ago
  • April_5210
    • 0
      April_5210  

    • the right wingers are the real terrorists, bombing abortion clinics, handing out capital punishment sentences, and justifying blood for oil. why don't we tune into their conversations?

    • 3 years ago
  • hawaii_guy_1010
    • 0
      hawaii_guy_1010  

    • McCain is a snowball. In this presidential election, We the People are his Hell. Those are his chances of getting elected. Your brother isn't Gov of Florida, McCain, and not even the Supreme Court is gonna bail you or the GOP out of this one-your party is done, for now.

    • 3 years ago
  • Wessagusset_Oracle
  • VoyagerFilms
    • 0
      VoyagerFilms  

    • mcVain doesn't have a mind of his own, that's why he doesn't respect our mind as his constituents and why it's okay for him to wage a war on American's and the infinitely wiser minds of America's forefathers and the Constitution they created.

    • 3 years ago
  • Dasai
  • 200131294
  • SpookyFish
  • Liberal_Extinction
  • Dasai
  • Liberal_Extinction
  • onechance
  • maasanova
    • 0
      maasanova  

    • Just keep in mind that Senator Obama voted for the reauthorization of the Patriot Act, and I haven't him on rolling back any of the policies under the Bush Administration.

    • 3 years ago
  • mako2424
  • cerealforeal
    • 0
      cerealforeal  

    • Socialism (Obama) or Facism (McCain). Which do you want? Want to end up like 1984(novel) or present day Sweden? Sweden please.

      I hope that the 55 million uninformed voters that voted for Bush in 2004 will not make the same mistake for the third time in a row.

    • 3 years ago
  • Angry_Patriot89
  • ctrl_alt_del
  • riverdeer
  • huntre
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