The Political Chase

ABA to Bush: You’ve Been A Bad Boy

The American Bar Association (ABA) says that President Bush has exceeded his Constitutional powers.

The American Bar Association denounced President Bush’s warrantless domestic surveillance program Monday, accusing him of exceeding his powers under the Constitution.

The nation’s largest organization of lawyers adopted a policy opposing any future government use of electronic surveillance in the United States for foreign intelligence purposes without first obtaining warrants from a special court set up under the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Now this puts co-president Dick Cheney in a bit of a predicament. Surely if Cheney had not gunned down an attorney, the administration would move tort reform to the top of their legislative agenda after the ABA’s pronouncement. Of course, Cheney may try to dance that through Congress with all due haste for his own personal protection.

Technorati Tags : George+Bush, Dick+Cheney, ABA, American+Bar+Association

David Gregory Challenges Scott McLellan

White House Press Secretary Scott McLellan and NBC’s David Gregory duked it out in today’s press gaggle.

The most heated moment occurred during McClellan’s off-camera gaggle, featuring NBC’s David Gregory, one of McClellan’s most persistent inquisitors during the past year. As Gregory raised his voice while asking a question about the incident, McClellan told him to “hold on” and pointed out that “the cameras aren’t on right now. You can do this later.”

“Don’t accuse me of trying to pose to the cameras,” Gregory replied, his voice rising. “Don’t be a jerk to me personally when I’m asking you a serious question.”

“You don’t have to yell,” McClellan said.

“I will yell,” said Gregory, jabbing his finger in McClellan’s direction. “If you want to use that podium to try to take shots at me personally, which I don’t appreciate, then I will raise my voice, because that’s wrong.”

“Calm down, Dave, calm down,” said McClellan, evenly.

The two men spoke privately after the gaggle, Gregory said later in an interview.

The official transcript, which does not include the above exchange, is located here. Crooks and Liars has the video.

Technorati Tags : Dick+Cheney

Cheney’s Hunting License Not Valid

TalkLeft is reporting that Dick Cheney did not have a valid Texas hunting license.

Late Update: Jeralyn did not have a reference link at the time. Here”s a reference link.