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Pelosi Says Bush is Wrong on FISA

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March 15, 2008 12:42 PM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., defended the House version of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in an interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos on Friday. The FISA bill passed in the House on Friday, but still needs to be reconciled with the Senate's version. President Bush has said he would veto the House bill.

When asked by Stephanopoulos about the president's take that the House version of FISA will make America less safe, Pelosi responded, "The president is wrong, and the president knows it."

"The bill that we had put forth really was based on what we call the McConnell principles, the principles that the director of national intelligence said were essential to keeping America safe. The president has a different view," Pelosi said. "The president knows that he has all the authority he needs to collect from the underlying FISA bill and the orders that are still in place."

"Is he lying to the country?" Stephanopoulos asked.

"The president knows that he has all the authority he needs -- the underlying FISA bill and the orders he already has in place with the Protect America Act that passed earlier," Pelosi responded. "Certainly there needed to be modernizations to the original FISA bill to reflect the changes in technology, and the president knows that Democrats support the collection against these terrorists, wherever the point of collection is, if they fit the bill of who should be collected upon."

Pelosi continued, "The president maintains that he has inherent authority to spy on anyone, and our bill is consistent with the law that says that FISA is the authority under which collections may take place.  This was recognized in 1978, when President Carter signed a bill, written by Congress, placing the courts in charge of how intelligence is collected in the United States. The president rejects that and says, 'I can do whatever I want.'"

To see the full exchange between Pelosi and Stephanopoulos on FISA, click here.

The complete interview with Speaker Pelosi will air Sunday on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."

March 15, 2008 in Romney, Mitt | Permalink | User Comments (32)

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Nothing will be accomplished by the do-nothing House led by Pelosi, the blocked-up Senate led by Reid, and the lame-duck administration led by Bush. We need to focus on bringing about change through this election year.

The country wants a change of power - they want the Democrats to clean up this mess and lead us back to prosperity and peace. In 2006 we voted in the first wave of change in Congress and we need to complete the second wave this year.

The eagle cannot fly on one wing - right or left - let's vote to actively ensure we have moderates in a filibuster proof majority in the Senate and Senator Clinton for President of the US.

Posted by: DCVoter | Mar 15, 2008 1:16:32 PM

Pelosi has consistently sided with the very liberal, anti US stances regarding the ongoing war against Islamic Fundamentalists in their Jihaad against the Western world. Her jaded leadership against American interests provide support for the Jihaad.
Shame on her and her supporters...another reason why Obama will never win the Presidency.

Posted by: Elliott | Mar 15, 2008 1:22:16 PM

I am sorry Pelosi is even still in the house she makes a sorry leader

Posted by: Bishop | Mar 15, 2008 1:43:49 PM

Boy, are you guys (Bishop, Elliot and the Infamous Clintonista, DC Voter) way out of touch with reality!

Yes, we do need a clear majority in Congress to fight against the continuing assaults from the neocons. However, being anti-Obama or anti-Pelosi isn't going to accomplish this.

And, Elliot, I don't know what planet you are from. But swallowing the "chicken little" tactics of the Bush Administration while eroding constitutional rights and at the same time avoiding dealing with real threats (securing our ports, for one; going afte Bin Laden, for another), is not going to get us any closer to winning the "war on terror" (sic).

Posted by: Jackt51 | Mar 15, 2008 2:14:31 PM

To Fred: Then there should be no problem, since G W Bush is one!

Posted by: kormallain | Mar 15, 2008 9:34:20 PM

pelosi just like clintons FAKE , this people should be run for mexico oval office since they are FOR BOREDER WIDE OPEN AND GIVE FREE LOADER WITH OUR TAX MONEY for buying their politics

Posted by: slick willy | Mar 15, 2008 11:19:32 PM

You better be pushing for the DREAM TICKET Pelosi.. if you don't half of the democratic party is going to be let down. That is the mark of a divider. pelosi you better retract. You can go!

Posted by: Jim | Mar 16, 2008 1:23:27 AM

How can anyone think that peace is possible as long as there is violent religious extremism? India, the Philippines, Africa, Indonesia, Kashmir have been battlegrounds for years already. There is a new level of violence in this world. Flower-power Legislation isn't going to fix what's wrong. I'm not convinced that any political party has a plan of action that's going to save the world from it's problems. It's gone beyond what mankind can fix. The sooner we recognize that, the better. Mainly because the blame game is causing an incredible amount of bitterness on all sides.

Posted by: Annie | Mar 16, 2008 4:24:06 AM

thank you. we need more people like nancy pelosi. she agrees with the majority of america about this war and illegal wiretapping.

Posted by: paul | Mar 16, 2008 8:39:31 AM

lets have a all dem ticket so we can surrender quicker.we are doomed

Posted by: bluesman622 | Mar 16, 2008 8:53:31 AM

Pelosi is logical and rational. She is the only one who seems to have the guts to publicly stand up to the corrupt Bush administration. This is not a lame-duck president, he is brazenly taking more and more of our "freedoms" away under the guise of protecting us. November can't come fast enough.

Posted by: SuburbanMon | Mar 16, 2008 10:24:17 AM

FOLLOW THE MONEY--Pelosi is more concerned with Plantiff lawyers than she is about our National Security. What a shame, no statesmanship just more political, deplorable comments from Pelosi. Shame, Shame on you Nancy.

Posted by: Ron | Mar 16, 2008 10:53:01 AM

if i were sitting down with nancy pelosi i would surely ask her why she is so reluctant to talk about impeachment of bush and cheney. she can hardly say "let's wait and see" or "it's up to someone else". impeachment is the most under-discussed issue of today, just as objection to the iraq war was five years ago. will we, in 2023, be able to say "we told you so". are you a journalist, george, or just a pretty face?

Posted by: kathy Jacobson | Mar 16, 2008 11:20:54 AM

Why is Bush still in office. Shame on you all for putting America in the mess that we are in, It is very clear to me now that bush father is running the white house not George W,It is also clear why Military is losing benefits, we have no support on the Arm Forces Service Committee the present staff only want to continue to take, they could careless about the military.

Posted by: Nate Andrews | Mar 16, 2008 11:23:36 AM

Just watched Pelosi and if it were not so sad you would have to laugh.
Pelosi complains that the Iraq goverment is not acting fast enough.
I have to give it to the lady she kept a straight face.
What a joke this women is, it is always painful watching her being interviewed.
She tries so hard to say the right word that it looks like she is waiting for someone to tell her what to say.
How she ever got to this position is a miracle to me.

Posted by: ruth | Mar 16, 2008 11:23:39 AM

Pe Lousy & Feinstein come from a very liberal area of Calif. Also the preacher of Obama, Why is it Obama doesn't salute the flag?? He is evidently listening to his preacher & his wife. If it was Powell, or Condelisa running we'd vote for them.Pe Lousi wants the illegal aliens to be working in her grape fields, why can't we get the prisoners to do some work to help pay for their crimes?

Posted by: bailey | Mar 16, 2008 11:53:08 AM

Throw all the Bums out....House, Senate and President....it time to clear the decks and start a new.

Posted by: BigJohn | Mar 16, 2008 12:18:47 PM

Ignoring the Constitution is wrong and nothing can justify it, any Government that does is not my Government.

Posted by: Patriot 2008 | Mar 16, 2008 12:21:02 PM

The Preseident is right and the Preseident knows it

Posted by: Ron | Mar 16, 2008 1:14:10 PM

Talk about impeachment for the war . Well kathy j would your little liberal mind impeach you heroes J.F.K .I don't remember Vietnam invading us. Or how about F.D.R I don't remember Germany invading us . You get my point.SO don't be so quick to throw the I word around.

Posted by: bluesman622 | Mar 16, 2008 1:23:35 PM

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