By Any Necessary Means Includes What?

When the Big Dick Cheney suggests that the W, Rove and Co. will "protect" the American people by any necessary means, does that include those that against the law?

The President has put it very well: "Terrorists and terror states do not reveal these threats with fair notice, in formal declarations -- and responding to such enemies only after they have struck first is not self-defense, it's suicide." (Applause.) By whatever means are necessary -- whether diplomatic or military -- we will act to protect the liberty and lives of our people. (Applause.)

Today, one of the whitehouse pool reporters tries to make the point at today's briefing, that the W, Rove and Co is not above the law. When will they be held accountable for this is a better question.

Q Does the administration support the approach being taken by Senator DeWine on the NSA surveillance program?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we've previously talked about that. Senator DeWine has put forward some interesting ideas. We've made a commitment to work with congressional leaders on legislation that would codify into law what the President's authority is.

The President has not only authority, but the responsibility to use every available tool at our disposal to save lives and prevent attacks from happening. And the terrorist surveillance program is what you're bringing --

Q He doesn't have the right to break the law.

MR. McCLELLAN: -- the terrorist surveillance program is a critical tool that helps us to detect and prevent attacks from happening in the first place. It helps us to connect the dots so that we can save lives. And it is vital in our efforts to defend the American people and the save lives. And as you've heard from people like General Hayden, our number two person in the intelligence community, it has been a successful program and it has been an important program.

Now, we have had discussions with congressional leaders -- Senator DeWine is one of them. There are a lot of interesting ideas out there. We said from the beginning that we are open to listening to ideas. The President -- the one thing the President said was that he would resist efforts if it compromised the program in any way, or undermined his authority to protect the American people. This is about protecting the American people. Now, we --

Q He doesn't have the authority to break the law.

MR. McCLELLAN: -- we did make a commitment with leaders, like Senator DeWine and others, to work with them on legislation that would codify his authority into law.

Q -- do you think that you're nearing an agreement? I think that -- I've heard that he's talking about that it would exempt the surveillance program and allow for 45 days without warrants. Is that --

MR. McCLELLAN: I'll let Senator DeWine talk more specifically about what he is proposing. He has talked publicly about some of those ideas. We want to continue to work with him and others, as I said, on legislation that would codify into law what the President's authority already is. And I think that you're going to be hearing more from members in a short amount of time on some of their ideas. And Senator DeWine, I understand, is coming forward with a legislative proposal soon, so I'll let him speak to that.

Incidentially, here's a fun question that clearly stipulates how "liberal" the MSM are:

Q How many hundreds of thousands in lecture fees from foreign countries does former President Bill Clinton have to accept before he's required to register as a foreign agent?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think you should look at the laws and ask those questions of President Clinton.

WTF?