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Feb. 01, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Bush signs eavesdropping extension

President urges Congress to make law permanent

By MOLLY BALL
REVIEW-JOURNAL
RELATED STORY
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President Bush waves to audience members Thursday at the Nevada Policy Research Institute in Las Vegas, after signing an extension of a law that allows the federal government to eavesdrop on U.S. citizens. The law was extended for 15 days.
Photos by John Gurzinski



From left, Gov. Jim Gibbons and Miriam and Sheldon Adelson listen to President Bush speak Thursday to about 250 invited guests at Emerald at Queensridge, an event facility in Summerlin. Bush stayed at Adelson's Strip hotel, the Venetian, on Wednesday night.

Visiting Las Vegas on Thursday, President Bush signed an extension of the law that allows the federal government to eavesdrop on U.S. citizens, but he admonished Congress to pass the permanent bill that he wants.

"I will sign the extension, but I expect members of Congress of both political parties to get this work done so our professionals can protect the American people," Bush said in a Thursday morning speech to the Nevada Policy Research Institute.

After the speech, in which Bush called for unflinching resolve in the worldwide fight against terrorism, he signed the 15-day extension of the Protect America Act, which was set to expire today.

"One ... tool in this different kind of war is to fully understand the intentions, the motives, the plans of people who use suicide and bombs to kill the innocent," Bush said.

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    • "If these terrorists and extremists are making phone calls into our country, we need to know why they're calling, what they're thinking and what they're planning."

    Bush called it unfortunate that the bill had a sunset date, saying, "It's an interesting train of logic, isn't it? The tool (to fight terrorism) was necessary six months ago, and yet it was set to expire as if the threat to our country was set to expire."

    The Democratic Congress has been unable to come up with a bill that satisfies Bush to permanently codify conditions for monitoring Americans' calls and e-mails.

    A sticking point is whether to add a provision giving telephone companies immunity from lawsuits for having in the past allowed the government to wiretap their customers without demanding a warrant.

    Bush wants that provision added, but many Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., oppose the idea.

    Bush said Thursday he wanted a "good piece of legislation that ... provides liability protection to carriers who it is assumed helped us in protecting the American people."

    The 15-day extension signed Thursday was passed by the House and Senate in an apparent compromise, after Bush threatened to veto a proposed 30-day extension.

    Bush spoke at Emerald at Queensridge, an event facility on Rampart Boulevard near Alta Drive, before an audience of about 250 invited guests of the conservative think tank, including Gov. Jim Gibbons.

    Bush then attended a fundraiser at the home of Sands Corp. Chairman Sheldon Adelson that raised more than $500,000 for the Nevada Republican Party's 2008 election efforts.

    In addition to funding general party activities like voter registration, a large chunk of the Victory 2008 fund is likely to go to supporting Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., in a tough re-election battle.

    Porter wasn't present for Bush's Las Vegas stops. Although the House recessed two days ago, a Porter spokesman said the congressman's schedule was full Wednesday and Thursday with official and campaign meetings in Washington.

    Porter was scheduled to return to his suburban Las Vegas district this morning, the spokesman said.

    About 100 people attended the fundraiser in the exclusive Tournament Hills subdivision in Summerlin, where Adelson, who gives millions to conservative causes, also entertained Vice President Dick Cheney in September.

    Bush stayed at Adelson's Strip hotel, The Venetian, Wednesday night. Adelson and his wife, Miriam, accompanied the president all day, riding with him in the motorcade until he reboarded Air Force One around 12:45 p.m.

    On the issue of the wiretapping bill, a spokesman for Reid said the Senate leader considers it a priority "to ensure that Congress passes this legislation in a way that provides authorities with the tools they need without compromising American civil liberties."

    Reid was gratified that Bush signed the extension, but Reid continues to oppose telecom immunity, the spokesman, Jon Summers, said.

    Bush also discussed the war in Iraq in his speech, saying the troop surge is succeeding and "as a result of our successes, some of our troops are coming home."

    Bush noted that more military brigades are scheduled to return home permanently, but he seemed to warn against the idea that withdrawal from Iraq was occurring.

    "Any further troop reductions will be based upon commanders and conditions," the president said. "Iraq is important for our security. I will be making decisions based upon success in Iraq."

    He added, "The temptation, of course, is for people to say, well, make sure you do the politically right thing. That's not my nature."

    At that, the audience first rumbled with knowing laughter, then stood and applauded.

    Contact reporter Molly Ball at mball@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2919.

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    Ed R. wrote on February 01, 2008 02:44 PM: Did Bush think Bugsy Siegel's town would be a funny symbolic place to commit another of his crimes against the American people and the Constitution? The "grateful" 30% who think Bush is their dad and he's gonna buy them a new puppy are beyond hope, but the rest of us can learn what's going on here: http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/01/31/countdown-special-comment-on-fisa-and-telecom-immunity/



    politik wrote on February 01, 2008 01:05 PM: Osama bin Laden is a billionaire (if you can find it), Saddam Hussein was a billionaire, and most of the people who would like to blow us off the planet are billionaires.
    So maybe the point isnt about rich people but national security.


    Herb wrote on February 01, 2008 12:48 PM: Mark, you say Billionaire Republicans love Bush. In reality, most of the rich elite love Democrats. Today, it's both the poor (who live off of the hard working taxpayers) and the rich who vote Democrat. It is the middle class who votes Rep..such as the wonderful folks who live in red states,we are sick and tired of giving our tax money to the poor, lazy, and ignorant.


    undr cvr wrote on February 01, 2008 12:19 PM: The good news is that in addition to using 'eavesdropping' for national security concerning terrorism, eavesdropping can also be used on public corruption under Patriot and Rico which was effective in the corruption case here in Nevada.

    Terrorism is nothing anyone should have to live with, nor should we have to live with corrupt judges and elected officials like we do in Nevada.

    Everyone bitches about everything else while corruption by Nevada officials keeps serving all but the people of Nevada.

    If Nevada voters continue to allow the corruption through complacentcy and lack of involvment then through whatever means..may the feds put an end to the corruption of Nevada officials and the ripping off of Nevada citizens.


    duh wrote on February 01, 2008 11:30 AM: our gold has been gone since 1986...


    say what wrote on February 01, 2008 11:26 AM: years from now historians will look back and say how did bush get away with all of this ..the answer has to be:he had the media in his back pocket.


    tbvegas wrote on February 01, 2008 09:06 AM: Greatful -
    Take a look at the past governments that taped phones without a warrant! Nobody is buying US bonds! Not hearing much about that!
    Borrow money from China to invade oil rich countries and subjugate oil fields. In the end we owe China and the profits go to big oil. Great job?
    Hey....Anyone seen our gold?


    greatful wrote on February 01, 2008 08:44 AM: President Bush has saved us from terrorists.When the liberals have control this will not be a safe place to live.I wish could run again in spite of the liberal news Bush has done a great job.


    RussBBinVegas@aol.com wrote on February 01, 2008 08:26 AM: Why does the media never challenge Bush's outrageouse assertion about this eavesdropping law. Of course no-one argues that suspected terrorists shouldn't have their phones taps. But, WITH A WARRANT. The phone companies ASSISTED Bush in violating the Constitution's ban on "illegal searches". The day we allow the government to spy on American citizens secretly, with no oversight by the courts, kiss your freedom goodbye.


    Mark$ wrote on February 01, 2008 08:12 AM: You know it, fd .. Wasn't that TV picture yesterday truly chilling, of a tank limousine speeding down a closed-off freeway. Who needs a brutal dictator, when democracy supplies us with such a man of the people! Here Bush comes to our city, to brag about his accomplishments: our Treasury bankrupt, our economy on the verge of implosion, a war without end that's mass-murdered hundreds of thousands. Air Force One should have been met by so many outraged citizens it couldn't even land! Yet nary a peep from a zombified public. Of course billioinaire Republicans love him, but what will History say about the REST of us, letting criminal Bush get away with his endless lies ..


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