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.

[Mia T]

ROCKEFELLER NOT MEMOGATE PRIME MOVER: SEN. EVAN BAYH (D-IN)
Put Rockefeller & clinton lackey staffer, Mellon, under oath
MEMOgate reeks of the clintons

[ntnychik]

We know that $inator Hildebea$t took money from a Muslim charity Museums, she took money from the Museums, how many times does she have to tell you?! ;)

[Grampa Dave]

That's right.

I keep forgetting that $inator Hildebea$t took that money from a museum not a group of pro terrorist Muslims.

We evil right wing conservatives keep forgetting this critical aspect.

[Judith Anne]

You know, this is a very smart move. There's no way the Democrats can complain about Frist shutting down the Intelligence Committee unless they decide to publicize it in the media. And if they publicize it in the media, the American people will begin to learn for the first time what's going on. Most people, other than Fox News listeners, don't even know there's a scandal here, let alone that it's potentially treasonous.

FReeping! Genius!

[HenryLeeII]

So, the headlines will state: Petty GOP Shuts Down Intel Comm./Jeopardizes National Security

[Phsstpok]

Note to Rats.
Cock hammer.
Pull trigger.
Shoot foot.

a little higher and to the center line

[archy]

Frist has a SPINE!!!

WHO KNEW?????

Kelly Hankins. It appears Frist had that spine all along, but was waiting for the most opportunie moment of letting it be known it was there.

Not a bad bit of tactics, that, picking the most appropriate time and venue for your most important stannd or cause.

-archy-/-

[dangus]

>>Note to Rats.
>>Cock hammer.
>>Pull trigger.
>>Shoot foot.

Aw c'mon... the Democrats need to learn to aim higher!

[dangus]

DOH!

[Marysecretary]

Between your turds and ours here in CNY, we could fertilize a whole state!

[Phsstpok]

There is no real need for an intelligence committee anyway. It's nothing but a leak factory. If the rats want to ignore it I hope it's never reinstated.

Agreed. It's just a place to harass the administration as they try to do their job.

there are laws on the books that require the White House to report covert actions to Congress, in the form of the duly "sworn to secrecy" select committee, within a fixed amount of time. With the committee (at least the Senate part) suspended then the White House can't comply with those laws and that puts a legal freeze on covert operations.

This is not something we can legally sustain and still do the nation's business under the current laws. Bush could issue a "finding" or a new executive order, but that will be challenged. This will become a crisis of the first magnitiude.

[Robert_Paulson2]

The penalty for treason... is JUST as severe...
And the TREASON here, MAY involve espionage "mcdermitt" style...
who knows how deep the rabbit hole goes?
MOST Of the time, the dimbulb dems' subterfuge and evil actions are worse than the worst "idle speculations" we can come up with here... reason?

Freepers are just not evil enough to plumb the depths of their corruption...

[WOSG]

Joe McCarthy was censured for defending national security, and for much less (wrt attacking an administration)... Time to censure Sen Rockefellar.

[WOSG]

No problem with Rockefellar beng the author: Censure him.

[dixiechick2000]

"Sean has said that he will NEVER reveal who gave him the memo."

Really? I had not heard that!

I have no doubt that he is as serious as a heart attack about that.

[longtermmemmory]

WOW!

First the Reagans and now this!

Could it be that Senate Republicans now have intestinal fortitude?

We can only pray the upcomming filibuster breaker is going to be real.

[longtermmemmory]

This must really annoy the leakers. Hoisted by their own deviousness. Their source of leakable material is gone.

[nopardons]

Yes, REALLY ! He has said it over and over again and especially when he had Mark, our very own holdonow, Levin on, as his lawyer.

Sean isn't going to reveal where he got the memo from. He has implied, repeatedly, that he got it from a Dem and NOT a low level one.

[onyx]

Hey girlfriends! I'm fightin a flu of some sort, but I can vouch for ETOM. I heard the same conversation between Sean and Mark 'holdon' Levin.

[nopardons]

Hey right back at ya! So sorry to hear that you have the flu/are under the weather. Take some Excedrine/ALIEVE and drink a Hot Toddy and get some sleep!

Thanks, oh ETOM, for the backup. :-)