Republicans see conflict, urge Gorelick to quit panel

Washington Times ^ | 4/15/04 | James Lakely

[kattracks]

Pressure is growing for Jamie S. Gorelick to resign from the September 11 commission for what the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee has called "an inherent conflict of interest."

Ms. Gorelick, who served in the No. 2 position in the Clinton Justice Department under Attorney General Janet Reno, was the author of a 1995 directive to the FBI, which repeatedly has been cited in testimony as a major hindrance to antiterrorism efforts prior to the 2001 attacks.

[Texas Eagle]

Mr. Ashcroft also suggested that Ms. Gorelick should resign from the commission

What a wimp. He should be demanding she be removed from the commission. Man, how I despise spineless Republicans.

[putupjob]

We should not act too fast on this one. We should first check with the Democrat September 11 widows. They seem to be such an important part of this investigation and I'll bet they are big on Gorelick as Gorelick is a vicious anti Bush attack dog.

Of course Gorelick is probably the worst point of failure amongst all the government personnel and by herself did most to hamper any chance of discovering all the terrorist connections in the country.

I'm sure the widows think she's just fine.

[AlienCrossfirePlayer]

Write or call your Senators and Representative to tell them to get on board with Sensenbrenner.

[Libertina]

Commission Chairman Thomas H. Kean...dismissed the calls for resignation. "Of course not. That's a silly thing," said Mr. Kean, who said Ms. Gorelick has followed the same rules as every other commission member and has, in fact, been one of the most "nonpartisan" members.

I do not have words contemptible enough for Rinos. Kean off the commission too.

[Captainpaintball]

Screw the hearings and EVERYONE involved. THIS is all you need to know about 9/11...

Clintonism failed to prevent 9/11

Osama Bin Laden caused 9/11

Political Correctness and liberalism ALLOWED 9/11!!!

[Verginius Rufus]

Agreed. It looks like all of the Republicans involved are going to wimp out. They don't seem to understand what is at stake...the 'Rats do.

Give the media a week and they will have whipped up a firestorm demanding Ashcroft's resignation.

[ChocChipCookie]

Actually, I was pretty impressed when he trotted out that Gorelick memo. He let its' contents speak for itself, and now the demand is growing for her resignation. Ashcroft is one of those lightning-rod guys who can't do anything right, as far as the left and the liberal media is concerned. I think he handled this exactly the right way.

[Jumpmaster]

Ms. Gorelick was appointed to the commission by Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, South Dakota Democrat, and former House Democratic leader and presidential candidate Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri.

Should remove all doubt that her role is protecting Clinton.

[sruleoflaw]

I think a little more respect is in order for AG Ashcroft. He is the one who went after Gorelick yesterday.

[Texas Eagle]

Political Correctness and liberalism ALLOWED 9/11!!!

Damn straight.

[Waco]

Congress should loudly reject the commission's "findings", whatever they are, as a product of partisan, shoddy, politics.

[Pukin Dog]

You are SO wrong. Think for a minute, will ya?

Who is on defense now?

The administration does NOT want Gorelick to resign, because her participation in the 911 commission destroys their credibility. Any report they put out can be brushed aside as partisan. What will probably happen, is that by the end of the week, Gorelick will fall on her sword "for the good of the nation", to remove a Republican talking-point.

Of course, whether she stays or goes, the damage is done. The committee looks foolish and no one will take their conclusions seriously.

Rope-a-dope.

[Moonman62]

Agreed. It looks like all of the Republicans involved are going to wimp out.

Of course they are. With the new tone in Washington, or even the old tone, does anyone really think that this commission was empaneled before the R's and D's agreed that no-one of importance in either party would get any blame?

[nutmeg]

ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.

[Texas Eagle]

The administration does NOT want Gorelick to resign,

Mr. Ashcroft also suggested that Ms. Gorelick should resign from the commission

You were saying.....

[Pukin Dog]

Public statements don't mean jack. They want her to stay there, twisting in the wind.

[boxerblues]

Write or call your Senators and Representative to tell them to get on board with Sensenbrenner

Remind them about Keans comment that the "People should stay out of our business". These are public hearing and it is our business.

[Pukin Dog]

"People should stay out of our business"

A lot of obvious stress and repressed anger in that statement. They got blown out of the water by Ashcroft. Whatever they say means nothing now.

[boxerblues]

I'm sure they are taking a lot of heat, but making a comment like that is not something I expected. The hearings are a sham and nothing more than get Bush circus

[FranklinsTower]

I agree with you in that in the long run it really doesn't matter whether she stays or goes. In either case the credibility of the "stick the blame on Bush" commission is fatally damaged.

Having said that, we must continue to apply political pressure for Gorelick to resign and testify -- it will help to spread the truth about this commission. This is the very club we should use to beat the heck out of the "let's pin the blame on Pres. Bush" crowd.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

I agree with you, but now is the time to start pullin' threads... you know, you pull this here thread and the whole thing starts to unravel. Clinton is hip deep in 9-11. Let's start pulling threads and watch eight years of corruption unravel before our eyes.

[tessalu]

Jamie S. Gorelick needs to be removed from the 9/11 panel, and she needs to sit in the "hotseat" herself.

[america-rules]

"Of course, whether she stays or goes, the damage is done."

Not if the main press doesn't report it !

[beaversmom]

I do not have words contemptible enough for Rinos. Kean off the commission too.

Gorelick must be doing something for Kean. Either that or he is a complete moron.

[L`enn]

He was a giant yesterday. He seems to take pride in the fact the left despises him and he is comfortable in his own skin. A rare bird on owr side as an office holder in this era.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Here lies the TRUE cruz of thier argument

"My successor [as deputy attorney general] wrote a memo before 9/11 in August of 2001 leaving those policies in place,"

Transalation - yeah we made those rules, but if the Bush team had been doing thier jobs, they would have immediately changed those rules and prevented 9/11.

I do not understand why Gorelick & Co. can not just come out and state the truth - namely - these are VERY OLD policies, dictated by law and executive order. The memo formalized those policies within the FBI. These policies were designed to protect our rights (4th Ammendment). In hindsight, these policies were insufficient to protect the US effectively. The were a contributing factor to 9/11 in that, had they not been in place, clues may have been made available which would have allowed the US to prevent the attacks.

[vandykelastone]

All this time I was after Bob Kerrey for serving on this commission while appearing on day 1 of the Airbag America show. Airbag America's purpose in life was to "Get BUSH". I called the commission twice to complain. No action. He's still there. But I was not pounding sand into the right rat hole. Gorelick was the premier target. By God, when I'm wrong, I'm wrong. Go get Gorelick - and we get to bash Hitlery at the same time.

[auboy]

I think a little more respect is in order for AG Ashcroft. He is the one who went after Gorelick yesterday.

As John Ashcroft was outting Gorelick, the look on Bob Kerrey's face was priceless.

Kean didn't look too keen, either.

[af_vet_1981]

You are SO wrong. Think for a minute, will ya? Who is on defense now? The administration does NOT want Gorelick to resign, because her participation in the 911 commission destroys their credibility. Any report they put out can be brushed aside as partisan. What will probably happen, is that by the end of the week, Gorelick will fall on her sword "for the good of the nation", to remove a Republican talking-point. Of course, whether she stays or goes, the damage is done. The committee looks foolish and no one will take their conclusions seriously. Rope-a-dope.

I think the administration actually wants her to resign so the Commission's work will be credible. Nonetheless your points are well taken. She is conflicted. The Commission looks hopelessly partisan and foolish now.

[af_vet_1981]

I do not understand why Gorelick & Co. can not just come out and state the truth - namely - these are VERY OLD policies, dictated by law and executive order. The memo formalized those policies within the FBI.

Gorelick's memo explicity stated is was going beyond the law so there would be no chance of breaking the law. They preferred to hamstring the FBI and INTEL agencies because they feared them. Advantage Bin Laden.

[EQAndyBuzz]

"Rope-a-dope"

Amen.

The Bush administration is playing this beautifully. They are letting the RATS do what they do best. Alienate the middle of the road Dems.

What people fail to see is the changing of American politics. It used to be 45-45 with 10% on the fence. Since Gore lost Tennessee and the election in 2000, the left has become more radical.

Democrats and even Liberals that voted Reagan in the 80's are quickly losing interest in the far left. They do not see themselves as Bush hating Socialists. They see themselves for what they really are.

Bush, by playing a more liberal line, while retaining his core values is getting through to these people. They want change but do not see the Kerryites giving it to them. We saw the changes in Bush early on with regards to immigration, education and prescription/health care reform. These are Dem concerns and we faulted Bush for putting this in place.

Now let's look at what that did.

1. It took away middle of the road Dem talking points, forcing them to either agree or take a more leftist stand.

2. It played to traditional Democrats beliefs.

3. While compromising some Conservative beliefs, it did not affect the base, nor did it really hurt with the excception of a deficit. If anything, it gave the RATS some hope that some of the social problems of this country can be addressed by reasonable thinking individuals.

Bush is letting the left hang itself. As of now the polarization of the RAT party is in full swing. I am looking at it as:

15% are now hard core lefties.
25% are hard core right.
60% are the Republicans and Democrats who want a strong America while at the same time addressing education, health care and immigration.

The right has moved left. The left have moved further left. After this election, watch out for an attack on the far left. "Revenge is a dish best served cold" and the Bush White House will address this come January.

Rove has his hit list.

[BluH2o]

Actually, I was pretty impressed when he trotted out that Gorelick memo ...

So was I ... fact is, Ashcroft is a strait forward individual whose tenacity and courage in office drives the "'Rats" and their close allies in the liberal media into a constant frenzy.

[auboy]

Zell Miller and Democrats like him can no longer support their old party, or its candidate, Lefty Lurch. Ceding power to the UN and old Europe, is not going to win Lefty many votes.

The Clintons destroy everything they touch. "Their" party has hitched its wagon to falling stars.

[VRWCmember]

I agree with you, but now is the time to start pullin' threads...

People complaing about the mods pulling too many threads as it is.

[An.American.Expatriate]

I understand that, but that still does not take away from the fact that, if such a statement were made, this whole mess would be settled.

BTW - MOST of the policies / memoranda / regulations written after the FISA came into being (and other implementing orders beginning during the reagan years) went far beyond what the law actually required. For exactly the reason stated in Gorelick's memo!

I have a bit of knowledge on this as I was involved in military counter-intelligence from '85 to '91 and exactly these types of regulations existed at that time. All of the departments / agencies have them.

Do a google search on +"US Persons" +Intelligence. You'll find LOTS of regulations, even current ones which attempt to implement these rules.

I do think Gorelick went too far. But then again, if we look at the attitudes of the people during this time period to the FBI/CIA etc and the differentiation between criminal investigations and intelligence operations, this type of memo reflects those attitudes. Today we are "smarter" and can see the damage done by such policies.

Any resolution of the requirement in a criminal investigation to adhere to the 4th Ammendment and the very real intelligence needs of the country is difficult. Afterall, we must not forget that some of our liberal activist judges would just LOVE to throw out a case against a terrorist (suh as ATTA) based on the fact that "evidence" was not correctly obtained. THAT is the fear that you spoke of.

[Just mythoughts]

Why is there no specific date on the Gorelick "MEMO"?


Do you know when the MEMO was written and put into effect, all I keep finding is 1995?

[Rocket1968]

Bump

[TC Rider]

My Mom and Dad, both in their 80s, I think are typical of a lot of seniors.

They've been watching all the broadcast coverage of the hearings and decided independently (of me) that the commission is out to get Bush and that nice Condeleeza Rice.

They have extreme distaste for Ben Venesta and Kerry.

Through the years they have voted D and R, though I think they've voted pretty much R since Reagan.

[alaskanfan]

Sometimes the things that appear to be easily understood by the unwashed masses, cost millions of taxpayer dollars for the intellectual elite to understand.

[justshutupandtakeit]

You need to buy a clue. Ashcroft kicked ass in his testimony if you thought him spineless then you have no idea what spineless means. It was because of Ashcroft that this whole flap erupted. A brilliant move on his part.

[JFC]

Go join the spine snakes of the leftist...

[JFC]

Amen and Amen.

Thugs who did this caused this ad the liberal party are the ones who are aiding our enemy by having these stupid biased herrings.... and the COST???????????

[RckyRaCoCo]

Political Correctness and liberalism ALLOWED 9/11!

Unless this panel of worthless govt. pension seekers and partisan hacks comes to this conclusion, it was a total waste of time(and money).

[soxfan]

Nice to see my favorite Fredericksburg freeper's by-line again. The Free Lance Star is not the same. Not by a long shot.

[The Wizard]

she must go

[steve-b]

You could have had a commission with nobody who knew anything about government. And I don't think it would have been a very helpful commission.

We do and it isn't.

[af_vet_1981]

Any resolution of the requirement in a criminal investigation to adhere to the 4th Ammendment and the very real intelligence needs of the country is difficult. Afterall, we must not forget that some of our liberal activist judges would just LOVE to throw out a case against a terrorist (suh as ATTA) based on the fact that "evidence" was not correctly obtained. THAT is the fear that you spoke of.

Yes, judicial tyranny is being used to undermine our security, no doubt about it. The Patriot Act is a start but removing judges who support our enemies from office and replacing them by patriotic judges with common sense would go a long way to alleviating the problems.

[cubreporter]

Ashcroft is not a wimpy republican. He "suggested" she resign and got the ball rolling.

[cubreporter]

You bet! Seems some people just aren't satisfied ever. Ashcroft did a valliant thing.