Democrats putting party before national interests

Houston Chronicle ^ | Novemer 15, 2003 | staff editorial

[Cincinatus' Wife]

A Democratic staff memo discussed how best to gain political advantage from the Senate Intelligence Committee's investigation into the Bush administration's use of intelligence prior to the war in Iraq. The memo is a sorry example of putting party politics ahead of the national interest.

The memo, which was leaked to Fox News Channel commentator Sean Hannity last week, caused a terrible rift between Democrats and Republicans on the traditionally nonpartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, which has access to the nation's most closely held secrets, and struck a body blow to whatever bipartisan cooperation there was on the Senate floor.

Written by a staff member of the committee's vice chair, Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., the memo talks of the need for Democrats to "pull the (Republican) majority along as far as we can" and then to "pull the trigger" next year on launching an independent investigation into Bush's use of intelligence information. Obviously, an independent investigation that stirred up doubt about the Bush administration would be helpful to next year's Democratic presidential nominee.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., in a floor speech said "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 said the plan, as outlined in the memo, would "so politicized the Intelligence Committee as to render it incapable of meeting its responsibilities to the United States Senate and to the American people."

The Chronicle has criticized the Bush administration for being too secretive. Yet, how much cooperation can be expected if Democrats are inclined to use information provided to the Intelligence Committee for partisan gain?

Rockefeller says the memo was only a draft and never circulated to other Democrats. In a clumsy attempt to shift blame, Rockefeller wants an investigation into how the memo got leaked.

He should apologize, and the aide who wrote the memo should be fired.

[goldstategop]

I have to scratch my heinie. Is this the same Houston Chronicle that's been ranting about the GOP redistricting plan in Texas of late? Its hard to believe this is the same paper!

[swilhelm73]

It is good to see this story leak out even though the Democrat Party and their pliant press is doing their best to suppress it.

However, let's be honest here, the suggested punishment is hardly appropriate. Yes the writer should be fired. However, this bit of treason was done at the behest of Sen. Rockefeller.

He can deflect blame all he wants to his underlings. At best that means he is too imcompetent to hold his current position. He should face, at a minimum, censure and the striping of his vice chairmanship.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Their putting on their hip-boots.

More Democrat dirty tricks:

Memos of special interest on Hill *** Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have worked in close concert with outside special-interest groups to defeat President Bush's judicial nominees, according to internal Democratic staff memos.

In one memo to Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois obtained by The Washington Times, Washington lawyer Miguel A. Estrada is singled out as "especially dangerous" because "he is Latino." Mr. Estrada, born in Honduras, withdrew his nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in September after being filibustered for eight months.

In another memo, staffers for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts recommend that a Bush nominee to the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, Tennessee Judge Julia S. Gibbons, be stalled until after that appellate court decided on the two major affirmative action cases dealing with the University of Michigan and its law school.

"The thinking is that the current 6th Circuit will sustain the affirmative action program, but if a new judge with conservative views is confirmed before the case is decided, that new judge will be able, under 6th Circuit rules, to review the case and vote on it," the staffers wrote. The 14 internal documents obtained by The Times — which did not come from a Senate staffer — appear to support some of the more serious accusations made by Republicans during the 39 hours of Senate debate over Democratic filibusters that ended yesterday morning.

Democrats on the Judiciary Committee have long proclaimed their independence from outside interest groups and angrily deny accusations that they considered the race of Mr. Bush's nominees before blocking them.***

[Cincinatus' Wife]

He can deflect blame all he wants to his underlings. At best that means he is too imcompetent to hold his current position. He should face, at a minimum, censure and the striping of his vice chairmanship.

Well, the foot soldiers in the LIBERAL media won't report headlines of an "outraged electorate" on a Democrat. This editorial is probably a way to close the chapter and slink away.

[putupon]

Hanoi Jay and friends

[MEG33]

This is the same Houston "Commiecal".The fact that this is a staff editorial has me reaching for smelling salts!

[FormerACLUmember]

When rat news outlets write an editorial like this, it is time to call for removal of traitors Rockefeller and Reid from the Senate Intelligence Committee.

The girly-man Republican hypocrites will wossie out, however. In my opinion the enabling Senate Republicans are every bit as much a problem as the steaming fecal mass democrats.

[Fledermaus]

Democrats are being selfish for power. What else is new?

[Fledermaus]

Thank you. I have often wrote the Pubs are wussies.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The girly-man Republican hypocrites will wossie out, however. In my opinion the enabling Senate Republicans are every bit as much a problem as the steaming fecal mass democrats

Why don't you run and get elected. Then you can swoop in and fix everything.

[FormerACLUmember]

The House Republicans are good people, but the Senate has many RINOs who allow the rats to get away with every manner of destructive (and obstructive) anti-American behavior.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I agree, the Senate is a wasteland and a waste of taxpayers' money.

[metesky]

Democrats putting party before national interests since 1860.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

LOL. Yes, so shocking!

[Joe Boucher]

Rocky is one rich son of a bitch. You think the dems will do anything to this rich rich spoiled dumbass?

[Savage Beast]

My parents, grandparents, and great grandparents were all Democrats.

My children and their spouses--three of whom are Californians--are all Republicans.

[tkathy]

Rockefeller is either stupid or incompetent and needs to be defeated.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Excellent progress!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

No reason he can't fit the bill for both.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

They must give their usual writers the weekend off.

[mathluv]

I am stunned - stunned .... that this is from the Comical. Maybe my best dim friend will believe it now.

[meenie]

There is a solution to this. The majority has the option of kicking a member out of the Senate for treasonous conduct. If the use of intelligence for political purposes is not treasonous, I don't know how low the bar is. This is endangering our national security. The least that should happen is Rockefeller kicked off the committee.

[capt. norm]

I had the same thought.

I've been looking out the window, periodically, to make sure there isn't a flock of pigs flying over the neighborhood.

[MamaLucci]

...the Senate is a wasteland and a waste of taxpayers' money.

What a sad but very true statement that is.

[Dog]

You understand what this means.....the RATS have a leaker in their party.....hahaha!

Hannity was leaked a memo.

The Judicary Memo...

The Intelligence Committee memo detailing the relationship between Saddan and Osama.

Watch them panic....as it dawns on them.

[The Wizard]

Here's a news flash.....

[StriperSniper]

The Chronicle has criticized the Bush administration for being too secretive. Yet, how much cooperation can be expected if Democrats are inclined to use information provided to the Intelligence Committee for partisan gain?

Memo(heh, heh, heh) to Dims, even your partisans draw the line at TREASON!

[jmstein7]

MemoGate PING!

[Clintonfatigued]

The headline says it all!