Frist Disbands Senate Intel Committee Over Memogate

NewsMax ^ | 11/8/03 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has temporarily disbanded the Senate Intelligence Committee until committee Democrats reveal the identity of the author of a memo outlining a their plan to politicize intelligence data in a bid undermine President Bush's reelection.

"The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence has been harmed by a blatant partisan attack," the Tennessee Republican said in a floor speech yesterday, concluding that the memo had rendered the committee "incapable of meeting its responsibilities to the United States Senate and to the American people."

"Those responsible for this memo appear to be more focused on winning the White House than they are on winning the war against terror," Frist complained before adding, "There will be no more pulling along and no more useful collaboration on partisan schemes."

Committee Chairman Pat Roberts echoed Frist's decision to shut his committee down, saying, "Unless and until this reprehensible attack plan and strategy to derail the committee's important work is properly addressed, I am afraid that it will be impossible to return to business as usual in the committee."

A committee meeting scheduled for yesterday was canceled, and none has been scheduled for next week, a senior committee staff member told the Washington Post.

Frist also demanded that Democrats implicated in the Memogate scandal deliver "a personal apology" to Sen. Roberts.

Though retiring Georgia Democratic Sen. Zell Miller has called the memo, first leaked to radio host Sean Hannity on Tuesday, "perhaps treasonous," other Democrats circled the wagons on Friday.

Nevada Sen. Harry Reid complained on the Senate floor that the memo had been "pilfered" by Republicans then leaked to the media, saying that act was just as offensive as anything revealed by the controversial document.

[COUNTrecount]

This may be Rockefeller's way of getting the VP nod.Dean/Rockefeller.....The Lucky $perm Team.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Of course, they had no problem with pilfering and treasonous publication of "The Pentagon Papers". That was OK.

[chiller]

They're trying to equate;
"How'd you catch us?" with We're trying to screw Bush and the United States.

All the Dems on the committe have to go, never to be trusted ever again. The author must resign his seat

[StriperSniper]

If the Dims want to have any credibility at all after this, they will propose Zell to take on the vice chairmanship. I doubt he(or the Dims) are interested, but I can dream.

[gov_bean_ counter]

I seem to recall a statement from a Republican Senator this week who said there had been a problem with leaks from this committee for a while. I do think we have a traitor on that committee and this memo is only the tip of the iceberg.

Other offenses include an orchestrated plan to mischaracterise the President's statements regarding almost every element of this campaign and as a result giving aid and comfort to the enemy. The Dems have blood on their hands that will never be washed away.

[teletech]

AND Rockefeller didn't mind using our tax money to play games with the security of our military and of our country. He is not fit to receive one more tax penny from us. If Rockefeller had any integrity at all, he would resign from the Senate. He should be forced to return any salary he accepted while serving on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Rockefeller is not a loyal statesman for the U.S. If any of the other Democrats on the committee were complicit in these plans to sabotage the nation, they should resign also.

I totally agree but you must remember that a RAT will NEVER admit to ANY wrongdoing! I want a full scale investigation into who wrote this memo. This TREASONOUS traitor should be punished to the full extent of the law! Rockefeller should resign from the Senate IMMEDIATELY!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

I've been following national politics very closely for 10 years now and this is the first indication whatsoever I've seen of any backbone from the pubbie Senate leadership.

Yes. I gave up listening to that insipid bobble-headed Lott babbling on about "my esteemend friend and colleage..." nonsense each time the Dims b*tch-slapped the hapless Republicans.

[cornelis]

Lott babbling Hmm, perhaps requesting an apology may even be more forceful that Lott's "we're going to get to the bottom of this."

[Mr. Mojo]

"Turning the other cheek" and "taking the high road" allows the scum to proliferate.

Big Bump to that.

[teletech]

Sounds like day one of a 365 rolling thunder to bury the rats....this time next year..

Better late than never,,,,but better never late.

I hope you're right. I just wonder about the country's political attention span. Will any of this stick with the average voter for a year?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Heh heh heh! The Dems put themselves on the hot seat with this memo, and now Frist is putting the burner on high. How sweet it is!

This is certainly going to be spiked by the media...

[F16Fighter]

"Frist has a SPINE!!!

WHO KNEW?????"

Don't get too excited -- it's probably only a strap-on.

[HighWheeler]

"Those responsible for this memo appear to be more focused on winning the White House than they are on winning the war against terror," Frist complained...

Duh.....gee Frist, what was your first clue? This here memo? You knew nothin' about the underhandedness of the Dem RATS until now?

Someone send this guy a free subscription to FreeRepublic.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

MEMBERSHIP

DEMOCRATS

John D. Rockefeller IV
West Virginia, Vice Chairman
Carl Levin ,Michigan
Dianne Feinstein, California
Ron Wyden, Oregon
Richard J. Durbin, Illinois
Evan Bayh, Indiana
John Edwards, North Carolina
Barbara A. Mikulski, Maryland


"SHADOW" MEMBERSHIP

GRIFTERS

Hitlery R. Clinton, New York

[Tennessean4Bush]

Who'd have thunk it.

My sentiments exactly. Hey Chris, how about those employment stats released this week? Looks like the RATs will have to hang their hats on Iraq.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Frist announces a 30 hour Senate session to break the deadlock on judicial nominees and now THIS! Sen. Frist, you are beginning to make a believer out of me. I hope this sudden spinal infusion continues! Lets find the treasonous traitor that wrote this "memo" and parade him/her down Main street USA for ALL Americans to see!

Absolutely! We should all support and pray for Frist. Time to warm up those digits on the phones, keyboards, etc.

[StriperSniper]

He should be forced to return any salary he accepted while serving on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

I agree in theory, but since it would not hurt him, it would only be a diverion of efforts that could be used to more important ends.

[Barnacle]

"Those responsible for this memo appear to be more focused on winning the White House than they are on winning the war against terror,"

The ends justify the means. It’s the Bolshevik way.

Is there really any doubt as to where the loyalty of those people lies? It certainly is not to America.

[my right]

Since I don't read the liberal rags or watch their TV news, I wonder just what they are saying about this if anything??

[Tennessean4Bush]

"The Democrats have politicized our safety" should be the drumbeat and on every conservative's lips for the next 11 months. Bury them with it.

[backhoe]

Good to hear that. yoe was kind enough to supply names & emails, which I just added to Memogate.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Well said and worth repeating:

"Pilfered"?.....I don't think so. The Republicans did not seek out this memo. Someone with close ties to the committee, who apparently saw this dispicable Rat plot for what it is, put the good of their country above the good of the Democratic party, and came forward with this memo. The Republicans now have to turn up the heat, making sure the people of this country know about this memo, and what the implications are for national security. They have to blast the Dems 24/7 in the media the way the Rats did with Trent Lott after Strom Thurmond's birthday celebration. Unlike Lott's innocent, off the cuff remark, this is a calculated, closely coordinated Rat plot to undermine our efforts in Iraq, and our national security, for the purpose of political gain. The Republicans need to do everything possible to see to it that the American people are made aware of the true significance of the Dem's actions.

[jmstein7]

Here's a good mantra:

"No investigation for 'castigation'!"

[Republican Red]

Time to inundate the media for suppressing the story!

Web site with links to major networks, site also has links to newspapers.

http://www.conservativeusa.org/megalink.htm#networks

[abclily]

You are correct about the Grifters. Miss Hitlery and Billy Blythe are the authors of most of the libelous talking points of the McAuliffe Party. But, as with most bullies, the Grifters are cowards - they let others spread the lies for them.

[StriperSniper]

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

If the Dims want to have any credibility at all after this, they will propose Zell to take on the vice chairmanship. I doubt he(or the Dims) are interested, but I can dream.

Be careful not to miss the point. The power elite at the DNC (mainly B&H) care about nothing but getting back on top. They will (actually, they already have) sell out anyone, their "friends", associates, the entire country to be in power.

This mindset has eclipsed any vestige of honorable discourse in the Democrat party. And this was Zell's concern -- and he is quite correct. The Democrats have evolved into an extremely dangerous political force, hell bent on moving their fascist agenda forward at all costs. When they have the Judiciary along with the media, they need not be concern about their own credibility.

Zell is an anachromism vis the modern Dims, but it's refreshing to see the old lion get a few swipes in before the hyenas get him.

[Republican Red]

Is Durbin new on this committee?

Sen. Saxby Chambliss keeps repeating that two new Democrats on this committee are extremely partisan and ruining the committee.

[NutCrackerBoy]

This mindset has eclipsed any vestige of honorable discourse in the Democrat party.

Will big media ever start reporting their behavior honestly?

[Laverne]

In a word - NO

[StriperSniper]

Be careful not to miss the point.

I haven't, that's why I characterized it as a dream. :(

[The Wizard]

hugh

[Miss Marple]

I am going to see if I can find out who the two newest Rat members are.

[desertcry]

Frist has a spine!!! Everybody has a limit, even for a mild and selfless MD.

[Miss Marple]

Here is a list of members for 2001 that I found:

Bob Graham, FL - Chairman John Kerry, MA Max Baucus, MT Carl Levin, MI Republicans Richard Shelby, AL - Vice Chairman Richard Lugar, IN Mike DeWine, OH Jon Kyl, AZ James Inhofe, OK Orrin Hatch, UT Pat Roberts, KS Wayne Allard, CO

[desertcry]

I wish this turd was not from my state. You can recall the turd, or make sure he is out of office in his next term.

[AMNZ]

"Frist has a SPINE!!!"
Don't count on it. We'll see next week if we go to cloture on judges.

[Cuttnhorse]

I wish this turd was not from my state.

As a former Reno resident and Mackay School of Mines grad, I'm with you. What an embarrassment Reid is...he stands for everything that is wrong with contemporary politics.

[Republican Red]

Strange, 107th Committee Members are exactly the same except that Graham was replaced by Rockerfeller as co-chair. Same membership.

DEMOCRATS

Bob Graham, Florida - CHAIRMAN
Carl Levin, Michigan
John D. Rockefeller, West Virginia
Dianne Feinstein, California
Ron Wyden, Oregon
Richard J. Durbin, Illinois
Evan Bayh, Indiana
John Edwards, North Carolina
Barbara Mikulski, Maryland


REPUBLICANS

Richard C. Shelby, Alabama - VICE CHAIRMAN
Jon Kyl, Arizona
James M. Inhofe, Oklahoma
Orrin Hatch, Utah
Pat Roberts, Kansas
Mike DeWine, Ohio
Fred Thompson, Tennessee
Richard Lugar, Indiana

[NRA2BFree]

folks this is deeper...this is HILLARY.

I must confess that thought has crossed my mind from the beginning. I agree. She's no cookie baker.

[CDHart]

This is odd: I just went to Frist's Senate web page, and for some reason I couldn't send him an e-mail congratulating him. Also the web page had a message saying it was down. Would that be because there are many people trying to e-mail him, or because it's been sabotaged?

Carolyn

[The Wizard]

bttt

[Enterprise]

I know. But it was fun while it lasted.

[george wythe]

I've been following national politics very closely for 10 years now and this is the first indication whatsoever I've seen of any backbone from the pubbie Senate leadership.

I'm shocked too.

I need someone to pinch me.

It this is true, then Frist's reputation has gone up a couple of notches in my book.

[dixiechick2000]

I haven't read the thread, so I don't know if you've seen this, yet.

To say Frist has surprised me a great deal would be an understatement.

Go Ole Miss!

[freedom1st]

I predict that Fox News Sunday will be the only Sunday Morning Talk Soup Show to bring up Memogate.

[mdmathis6]

This would be an interesting trade...Frist agrees to drop the matter of the memo, and reconvening the senate intelligence comittee and in return we get the judges we want!

[MHGinTN]

Well, you can count on Timmy 'democrat kneepads' Russert to raise the issue from the democrat talking points side. He will promote their 'victimhood', you can count on that!

[Dustbunny]

Wow, he does have a backbone.

Unfortunately it won't last, it will shrivel like most of the Republican backbones. The dems know we won't push and will give up in a short period of time.

[pushforbush]

Frist needs to disband this committee and fire the current staff members of the committee. All that has happened so far is they've cancelled one meeting. Big deal.