Memo sparks GOP to issue ultimatum

Washington Times ^ | Friday, November 7, 2003 | By James G. Lakely

[JohnHuang2]

Senior Senate Republicans said yesterday that unless Democrats disavow a plot to use the traditionally nonpartisan intelligence committee to wage political attacks on the Bush administration, they would consider taking away Democrats' power-sharing privileges.

Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, said that if Democrats expect cooperation from the White House in the investigation of intelligence failures that preceded the war in Iraq, "they've got to stop the politics."

[JohnHuang2]

Friday, November 7, 2003

Quote of the Day by jeannineinsd

[Bonaparte]

Bush would be crazy to supply these fools with any critical information on intelligence operations.

[JohnHuang2]

Anything the administration shares with Senate intel comm. almost invariably ends up on the front page of the W. Post and NY Times.

[Jeff Chandler]

If the GOP pushes this thing, the news story will be another scurrilous leak by the GOP, putting partisan politics above national security. It's crazy, I know, but just watch.

In reality, though, the Pubs have already signalled that if the rats just fire one of their clerks, the matter will be dropped (in spite of the fact that the memo probably came down from the DNC).

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Georgia Republican and member of the intelligence committee, said Democrats have a responsibility "to tell us where [the memo] came from ... and to have that staffer removed."

[river rat]

The power starved Democrats have become cockroaches..
You don't share with or feed cockroaches....you squash the bastards..

If the Republicans don't draw blood on this one, there is no hope for them....

Semper Fi

[Bob Eimiller]

When you see a politicization of intelligence jeopardizing the safety of our troops during a time of war and trivializing the security of our country... it's time to take the gloves off and slap that "RAT" party down.

The DemocRAT party is in it's "death dance"....FINALLY!

The FBI and the Department of Justice MUST investigate, charge and convict any and all United States Senators responsible or complicit in this incredibly dangerous plan.

It's time for the majority party to discard this bipartisan charade and begin to take hold of their rightful role in the Senate.

Republicans....Be a Majority Party and claim your constitutionally elected power!

We elected you...do your damn job and protect our country!

[edsheppa]

Senate Republican leaders are such morons.

[A CA Guy]

If the Republicans don't use their power and outrage to shed light on this whole thing, then they are cowards unworthy of maintaining power.

I see no purpose to pretend there is bipartisanship when there isn't.

Look what they are doing on judges and in the press. It is obvious they are back stabbing anti-American thugs who only get away with this stuff because at times the spines of Republicans turn to jello.

The Democrats are acting more French every day. We should not reward their evil ways by acting like timid church mice.

[A CA Guy]

They run scared at the thought of any controversy.

[backhoe]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1015980/posts

MemoGate- sedition, slander-- or something worse?
Various FR links | 11-06-03 | The Heavy Equipment Guy

[nopardons]

BTT

[squidly]

"Has it been created, or is it really a rift?" Mr. Rockefeller said last night. "There are created rifts and there are rifts, and I'm not sure which category this falls into."

Another great moment in statesmanship, brought to you by the Democratic Senate Caucus.

[onyx]

You're still working. I'm fixin to take to calling you Superman. :)

[anglian]

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Georgia Republican and member of the intelligence committee, said Democrats have a responsibility "to tell us where [the memo] came from and to have that staffer removed."
............................................................

It's naive to think that some staffer wrote that on his/her own. Staffers don't just sit around writing theoretical strategies on official memo paper describing how to best use intelligence to "take down" a sitting president. This was circulated amongst the committee Democrats.

[Jeff Chandler]

They know it wasn't written by a staffer, but they also know that any Pub who pushes this will be trashed in the media, so they'd rather just let it go and pretend it didn't happen.

[Lancey Howard]

Have you seen that Andrew Sullivan thread with the insane post from DU? Well, that's not only the way the bitter, partisan Democrat masses think, that is exactly the way Democrat politicians think, too.

The Democrats believe that their best opportunities to gain power would come from:
1. A struggling economy where people lose their jobs, their savings, and their homes, and
2. A lot of dead soldiers in Iraq.

These are exactly the things that Democrats are (quietly) hoping for.
And probably the things that they are working to make happen.

How sick is that?

[Lancey Howard]

Hi, backhoe.
Good to see you posting.

[The Shrew]

They run scared at the thought of any controversy.

By "they" I presume you mean the Senate Republicans. If so, I agree. What the Senate Republicans have failed to realize is that there have been innumerable signals that 'times have changed'.

IMHO the problem is that far too many Senators were there when the Republicans were the minority. They had plenty of time to play golf and be useless while the Democrats investigated Iran-Contra, etc.

The Republicans - led by Bob Dole (Tax Collector for the Welfare State) and Trent Lott (Sissy-Boy extraordinaire) never got the hang of being in charge! It was all amiable quips and comments and "My good friend the honorable Senator from Massachusetts" instead of Sam Irvin here's how you lead when you have power!

Grassroots Conservatives put our trust in Dr. Bill Frist to change the dynamic! To date that hasn't happened. First we had Jumpin Jim Jeffords thwart us for two years and now Senators Schumer and Clinton may as well be the Majority Leader and Majority Whip!

Orrin Hatch and Arlen Specter are so afraid of losing their tee times with "The Right Honorable Senator from Massachusetts" that they have forgotten why they are there! It's not just the Dems that make me scream for Term Limits. It's the idiots within our own party who refuse to step up to the plate and fulfill the role that history has dealt them.

In the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich was a visionary. He knew what could be accomplished and he also learned several aspects of what the new technology could do politically. Bob Barr learned to understand it early as well. That understanding is what led Congressman Barr to seek the impeachment of Clinton. Barr knew what the Amerian People were thinking and he knew what was right. Additionally, Congressman Barr placed more credence in his oath than in seeking the favor of the enemy.

The new political reality that has been brought about because of talk radio, the internet, CSPAN, broadband communications, 24 hour cable networks (with an Honorable Mention going to Fox News) has changed the landscape of American Politics. The Democratic Party is headed for the ashheap of history. The problem we have on Free Republic is that we see it, read it, breath it and live it and NO ONE in the Senate does!

There is NO ONE in the Senate that has the vision, the grasp of the new political reality because of the new technology, and the leadership skills and principles to make the Senate run. The US Senate makes dinosaurs look current.

When that person comes along and is politically viable to hold the post of Senate Majority Leader! Life is gonna get interesting!

You heard it here first!

TS

My bet is on Rick Santorum!

[The Shrew]

The Democrats believe that their best opportunities to gain power would come from:

1. A struggling economy where people lose their jobs, their savings, and their homes, and

2. A lot of dead soldiers in Iraq.

These are exactly the things that Democrats are (quietly) hoping for.

And probably the things that they are working to make happen.

How sick is that?

You have pegged it absolutely. The democrats are sick b*st*rds. (Minus Zell Miller who apparently has some integrity!)

Outstanding post!

Regards,

TS

[opus86]

"There are created rifts and there are rifts, and I'm not sure which category this falls into."

Is it me or does this sound remarkably Clintonian? I'd be surprised if Rockefeller didn't say this whilst intermittently biting his lower lip and nervously fidgeting with a cigar.