Bush's Puppet in the Judiciary Committee

Arlen Specter's warrantless wiretapping bill that pretends to provide oversight on the President's surveilance program which bypasses the FISA Court to spy on Americans without a warrant, was beaten back at least temporarily in committee today. Specter's complaint about the day's event is very interesting.

Forced to delay his committee's vote, Specter grumbled that without his legislation the White House would continue its domestic wiretapping program virtually unchecked by the courts.

I've written before in these pages about how Specter's bill only pretends to provide oversight when in fact it is a blank check to the executive for Bush to continue doing whatever he wants.

Gonzales said the bill gives Bush the option of submitting the NSA program to the intelligence court, rather than requiring the review.

An administration official said Bush will submit to the review as long the bill is not changed in ways that he sees as undermining security. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deliberations are internal, said the bill would preserve the right of future presidents to skip that court review.

Right Specter, not passing your rubber stamp bill allows the President to continue to excercise too much power, but passing it wouldn't. I really hope Specter doesn't believe the crap that comes out of his mouth, because if he does I really worry about his mental state.