\jeff{krimmel}

McCain Thinks Bush Is Overstepping Bounds

I read a transcript of an interview with Arizona Senator John McCain that took place on the Fox News Channel (FNC) yesterday. The interview was conducted by Chris Wallace, the host of Fox News Sunday.

A couple of interesting things are said in this interview. One covers the warrant-less wiretaps the President issued to spy on Americans:

WALLACE: But you do not believe that currently he has the legal authority to engage in these warrant-less wiretaps.

MCCAIN: You know, I don’t think so, but why not come to Congress? We can sort this all out. I don’t think — I know of no member of Congress, frankly, who, if the administration came and said here’s why we need this capability, that they wouldn’t get it. And so let’s have the hearings.

It’s clear that Senator McCain isn’t crying for impeachment hearings or anything, but it’s also clear that he does not think the President has the authority to issue such warrant-less wiretaps. And I agree. I am surprised there is a debate about this. In a democracy with checks and balances, the President does not have the authority to circumvent both the legislative and judicial branches to issue wiretaps on whichever American citizens he chooses. It’s simply not allowed.

I think it’s also interesting that he points out how the administration could have come to Congress to find an alternative to warrant-less wiretaps. I would likely still have big time issues with the chosen alternative, but the statement does show the contempt this administration has for Congress (and also for the judicial branch of government). This is a theme that was heavily visited during the confirmation hearings of Judge Sam Alito. This administration is hell bent on expanding executive powers to scopes never before seen. Judge Alito would like to see this happen. But I’ll write more later on why this is a bad idea.

Here is an example of why I like Senator McCain so much:

WALLACE: Well, what do you think of [Karl Rove’s] comment that the Republicans have a post-9/11 world view and Democrats are stuck pre- 9/11?

MCCAIN: Oh, I work very closely with a number of Democrats on national security issues. Do I think that the president’s leadership has been worthy of support of our party and our leadership? Yes.

But I’m not — there’s too many good Democrats over there who are as concerned about national security and work just as hard as I do.

That’s a beautiful response. I disagree with Senator McCain’s view that the president’s leadership has been worthy of support. At the same time, it’s nice to see him rise above the school yard insults that the Fox News Channel seems to think pass for intelligent political debate.