Specter: No Oversight on NSA Spying

Senator Arlen Specter has reportedly made a deal with the White House to retroactively legalize their illegal, warrantless NSA spying programs. This apparently has been done before Congress has engaged in any efforts whatsoever to determine the very scope of these programs. I suppose Snarlin' Arlen is simply taking Karl Rove's word for what's been done. Somehow I don't feel very comfortable with that decision. Or, as Rep. Jane Harman said:

"The Specter bill is an end run around the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and provides the president a blank check to conduct warrantless surveillance of Americans," said Rep. Jane Harman (Calif.), ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee.

At the very minimum we need Congressional investigations into these programs so we can determine exactly what was being done, when, and to whom. What programs are being pursued and why? Under what authorization? Who is supervising them and what oversight exists to prevent abuses? Specter has agreed to legalize these programs before Congress has even begun to provide the people with such answers. Is this what we elected Arlen Specter to do? I say no. We elect our Senators to enact laws, provide oversight, and consent to major appointments. If Senator Specter is unwilling to fulfill his obligations to the people of Pennsylvania perhaps we need to remind him:

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