Quote:
Originally posted by Rudey
I think that congressmen knew just as it stated in the Times report. I think that there is a system of checks and balances that allows for the proper legislation to go through. So yes, it does bother me but I don't think it's one person like you do.
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I understand your thought process, but I'm going to copy the following from your post above. The second paragraph may be telling:
"After the special program started, Congressional leaders from both political parties were brought to Vice President Dick Cheney's office in the White House. The leaders, who included the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate and House intelligence committees, learned of the N.S.A. operation from Mr. Cheney, Lt. Gen. Michael V. Hayden of the Air Force, who was then the agency's director and is now a full general and the principal deputy director of national intelligence, and George J. Tenet, then the director of the C.I.A., officials said.
It is not clear how much the members of Congress were told about the presidential order and the eavesdropping program. Some of them declined to comment about the matter, while others did not return phone calls."
So, the White House called in the legislators, but did they tell them everthing?
And, of course this is bigger than one man -- but he's the one with the final go/no go power in this case.
There was more than one man involved in Watergate, and several went to jail.
But only one was nearly impeached and resigned from the Presidency.