Posted on 02/10/2005 4:18:53 PM PST by West Coast Conservative
A Democratic senator is delaying the nomination of Michael Chertoff as Homeland Security secretary to protest the Justice Department's refusal to provide a secret FBI memo on terror suspect interrogations.
Chertoff is still expected to win Senate approval when lawmakers vote on his nomination Tuesday. But Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., warned Thursday that the document denial thwarts congressional oversight.
"We should make the point during this nomination that we're being denied a document that may relate to the nomination itself," said Levin, a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
The memo _ and the ensuing delay _ is "not necessarily about Chertoff," Levin said. "It may not be, but we may never know."
At issue is a heavily edited May 2004 e-mail from FBI agents seeking guidance about questioning terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay. Last week, Levin and Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., asked the Justice Department for an unedited version of the memo to see if it mentioned or involved Chertoff, who headed the agency's criminal division from 2001 to 2003.
The Justice Department denied the request, saying the memos contain "information covered by the Privacy Act," and had nothing to do with Chertoff.
In sharply worded letter Thursday to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Levin and Lieberman warned that denying the information _ and the oversight _ "sets a dangerous precedent." Lieberman is expected to vote for Chertoff.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who chairs the committee, called the delay "very unfortunate."
The Senate plans up to eight hours of debate on the nomination before Tuesday's vote, which would come nearly two weeks after Chertoff's confirmation hearing.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
It's time for the Republicans to take off the gloves, when dealing with the Democrats.
Do they think they are gaining ground or simply content to be the NO party?
"Do they think they are gaining ground or simply content to be the NO party?"
When you are out of ideas, have no balls and no self-respect, all you can do is say "no".
About a week ago, Laura Ingraham played the Groucho Marx song, "Whatever It Is, I'm Against It" on her radio show. I was splitting my side. It should be the dem theme song.
We are watching the implosion of the Democratic party. BTW, Carl Levin is a disgrace. I'm ashamed he is my senator.
Speaking of "Levin," Mark Levin's new book, Men in Black, has great images of many of the memos written by Democrats connected with the Senate Judiciary committee.The memos make it very apparent that the Democrats connected with the Judiciary committee have sold their souls to special-interest groups.
And, when Mark Levin's book sells thousands of copies, thousands of Americans will become aware that the Democrats are soulless ghouls.
US Capitol....toll free......1-877-762-8762
This is so much fun to watch. They can't stop anything just slow it down a little. Enjoy their agony with me.
It seems to me that if there is a terrorist attack in the U.S. Democrat senators will be partly to blame. They held up the Attorney General's appointment and now they are proposing to hold up the head of Homeland Security's appointment. Meanwhile, it can be presumed that terrorists will not delay any plans they are making.
Don't blame me. I voted for Rocky.
I don't have any senators. Well, US Senators anyway. Garcia's a good guy.
"document denial thwarts congressional oversight."
The time for Congress to worry about that was during the Clinton stonewalling ten years ago.
Amen!
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