Monday, September 04, 2006

 

Republicans Blocked Clinton Admin. On Terrorism

Taking the day off from Stevens Research, so my topic for today is about somethingAmericablog pointed me towards. This Article.

By now we know that ABC is going to run a documentary that basically removes blame for 9/11 from Bush and places it on Clinton. Scholastic is even in on the effort trying to get as many schoolchildren to watch it as possible, and use it as a 'learning piece'.

Now for the 1996 article:

President Clinton urged Congress Tuesday to act swiftly in developing anti-terrorism legislation before its August recess.

"We need to keep this country together right now. We need to focus on this terrorism issue," Clinton said during a White House news conference.

But while the president pushed for quick legislation, Republican lawmakers hardened their stance against some of the proposed anti-terrorism measures.

Hardened their stance? This was directly after The Olympic Bombing, and the crash of TWA Flight 800. But hey who can blame them. Its not like we go after terrorists if they're right-wing abortion clinic bombers. How would we ever create a seperate line for them at airports?

Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, doubted that the Senate would rush to action before they recess this weekend. The Senate needs to study all the options, he said, and trying to get it done in the next three days would be tough.

Rush to action? For terrorism? Its not like its Terry Schiavo, geez.

Clinton said he knew there was Republican opposition to his proposal on explosive taggants, but it should not be allowed to block the provisions on which both parties agree.

What a man. Willing to compromise and be bi-partisan. But yet again. Those where the days, now the only 'bi' in DC we get is Ken Mehlman, and thats questionable.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, emerged from the meeting and said, "These are very controversial provisions that the White House wants. Some they're not going to get."

...He also said he had some problems with the president's proposals to expand wiretapping.

I'd try and say something snarky about that, but I think the irony speaks for itself. Eventually the bill got passed but:

The Republicans also dropped the additional wire-tap authority the Clinton administration wanted. U.S. Attorney general Janet Reno had asked for "multi-point" tapping of suspected terrorists, who may be using advanced technology to outpace authorities.
And:
... Sen. Don Nickles, R-Oklahoma, while praising the bill, said the country remains "very open" to terrorism. "Will it stop any acts of terrorism, domestic and international? No," he said, adding, "We don't want a police state." Some lawmakers took a more prudent view of the bill. "The balance between public safety and order and individual rights is always a difficult dilemma in a free society," said Rep. Gerald Solomon, R-New York.
What a difference a few years makes.



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