What Wrongdoing? (Miranda Memos)

National Review Online ^ | March 11, 2004, 10:41 a.m. | By Manuel Miranda

[bobo1]

Num 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure "your sin will find you out".

Jellyfish Hatch needs a spine along with alot of his fellow pubs.

Blessings, Bobo

[prognostigaator]

Holier than thou democrats bump

[centurion316]

What a great article. Such a shame that Mr. Miranda had the misfortune to work for such gutless, spineless wonders, Senators Frist and Hatch. Can there be any doubt how the shameless thugs of the Democrat Party manage to run circles around their Republican counterparts.

Should Frist and Hatch decide to marry one another, they would both have to dress as the bride, no balls among them to be sure.

[alex]

I am wondering what was a purpose of placing these memos on a computer shared with Republicans? It seems like Democrats simply wanted to give Republicans head-ups on the issues. If it is so, then what is all this fuss about?

[pawdoggie]

Orrin Hatch is still bucking for a Supreme Court spot and a favorable "legacy". The problem is that if he were nominated his Democrat "friends" and colleagues would show their love and affection by demonizing him personally, trashing his Mormon religious faith and deconstructing his words and deeds in office; in short, they would do to him what he has allowed them to do to Mr. Bush's judicial nominees.

[kevkrom]

In fact, the Code of Ethics for Government Service states that it is a government employee's duty to "expose corruption wherever discovered." This is a whistleblower provision that eliminates any doubt as to the ethical obligations of Senate employees who read documentation of wrongdoing. How would corruption be otherwise discovered?

Bears repeating bump.

[pogo101]

Miranda's points are well-taken. My only quibble is that I wish he had added some small measure of mea culpa, e.g., "what I did was no worse than opening a file drawer that a rival had left unlocked. It wasn't right, and in that sense I regret it, but it wasn't a violation of Senate rule or law."

[jackbill]

Is your middle name Orrin?

[jackbill]

I am wondering what was a purpose of placing these memos on a computer shared with Republicans? It seems like Democrats simply wanted to give Republicans head-ups on the issues. If it is so, then what is all this fuss about?

The Senate Judiciary Committee has a single computer server.

It is very simple to set up a fire-wall between Republican and Democrat staff work. This wasn't done.

It is very simple for each staffer to protect his/her work through the use of a password. This wasn't done.

[ConservativeGadfly]

PING!!

[ConservativeGadfly]

Pogo -- I understand your feelings about this completely. Good people can disagree as to whether or not gentlemen read other gentlemen's email. But the fact remains that an awful lot of things go on -- from the intelligence world to politics -- that many of us would just as soon not know about. And thank God for those folks who are willing to soil their hands so that ours can remain free.

A double click on a mouse will never outweigh the multiple civil rights violations of nominees, the rigging of court cases or a "filibusters for cash" scheme outlined in the content of these memos.

[ConservativeGadfly]

BUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!

[alex]

"It is very simple for each staffer to protect his/her work through the use of a password. This wasn't done."

This is exactly my point - it seems that Democrats used this insecure arrangement to keep Republicans informed. I suppose that Democratic staffers have to be investigated whether or not they informed their Republican counterparts about these files.

[abner]

Well said.

[talleyman]

"Treason's Firts Cousin" Bump!

[talleyman]

Oops! "Firts" = "First". (Although I kinda like "firts".)

"Courage, Tiepo - this magic omelet will protect you!"

[Truth29]

I have begun to wonder if the real problem is not a lack of courage by Hatch and Frist, but rather a problem of goals. The overriding goal seems to have become the perpetuating of the Senate Club and the power of the members individually and collectively. Their first loyalty is to themselves and their fellow senators, not the country or the party.

[Rocky]

Here's hoping some Republican senator will take the ball and run with it. Obviously, Frist and Hatch are not inclined to do it.

[centurion316]

I think you are on to something. Personally, I would not choose to join a club that allowed Patrick Leahy to be a member.