Isn’t it interesting that it takes front page leaking of classified info, first in the NY Times and now USA Today, for members of the Democratic Party to complain about the NSA surveillance programs?
It is so obvious that they are playing crass partisan politics with national security. They are shameless, not to mention dangerous.
The next time you hear a member of Congress complaining about the “secret” NSA programs, remember this,
Members of Congress briefed on the Bush administration’s warrantless surveillance program since Oct. 25, 2001, and the number of times briefed:
SENATE
Intelligence Committee members:
The current chairman, Pat Roberts, R-Kan: 10.
The top Democrat, Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia: eight.
A former chairman, now-retired Bob Graham, D-Fla.: four.
A former chairman, Richard Shelby, R-Ala.: four.
Mike DeWine, R-Ohio: two.
Orrin Hatch, R-Utah: two.
Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. two.
Carl Levin, D-Mich.: two.
Kit Bond, R-Mo.: two.
Other senators:
Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.: two.
Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.: two.
Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska: one.
Top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, Daniel Inouye of Hawaii: one.
A former minority leader, now-retired Tom Daschle, D-S.D.: one.
HOUSE
Intelligence Committee members:
The top Democrat, Jane Harman of California: eight.
A former chairman, now-retired Porter Goss, R-Fla.: seven.
The current chairman, Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich.: seven.
Heather Wilson. R-N.M.: three.
John McHugh, R-N.Y.: two.
Mike Rogers, R-Mich.: two.
Mac Thornberry, R-Texas: two.
Rush Holt, D-N.J.: two.
Anna Eshoo, D-Calif.: two.
Jo Ann Davis, R-Va.: one.
Bud Cramer, D-Ala.: one.
Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa: one.
Other representatives:
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.: six.
Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.: three.
Chairman of the Appropriations Committee’s defense panel, Bill Young, R-Fla.: two.
The defense panel’s top Democrat, John Murtha of Pennsylvania: two.
Former Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas: one.
Source: Document declassified by National Intelligence Director John Negroponte.
Good for the Bush administration for releasing this information. Fight back, damn it. These people are dangerous, and they cannot be trusted with national security.
For a visual reminder of how stupid this debate is, click here.