"The MSM continues to defend the democRATs. But it is interesting to note that after you finish reading past Rockefeller's lies, most of the democRATs admit they recieved the briefings. But of course the MSM will never put that in the first paragraph."
The only sticking point with that argument is that the breifings the Senators recieved in the Intelligence Committee briefings would have been top secret as well, preventing them from talking to even thier staff about it. I still think that this is a dangerous precedent, especially down the line when/if a dem president is elected.
Based on what I have read, Bush informed them what he was doing; he did not need their approval.
BFD. They don't bacl America either.
Come onnnnnnn 06 elections!
"Jay Rockefeller - Village Idiot
Posted by bulldogpundit on Tuesday, 20 December 2005 (09:50:53) EST
Contributed by bulldogpundit
Looks like the Democrat response/defense to President Bush's claim that Senate Democrats were consulted about domestic surveillance is as follows: "We're Too Stupid To Understand What You Were Consulting Us About".
Click READ MORE to see our analysis of the Democrats latest strategy, and why it's a disaster politically.
We found out today that the ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee,Senator Jay Rockefeller wrote a letter to VP Cheney saying:
Quote:
" As you know, I am neither a technician nor an attorney. Given the security restrictions with this program, and my inability to consult staff or counsel of my own, I feel unable to fully evaluate, much less endorse, these activities."
And apparently you are not a person with a double digit IQ either, Senator. In case you didn't know, your job is "oversight", and if you had questions about the tactics or the legality of it, why didn't you simply ask the NSA, the Justice Dept., or the Administration officials about the specifics.
What he's really concerned with, in my opinion, is the inability to talk to staff and his own lawyers he felt confident would promptly leak the information. What other explanation is there? Although it's possible that Rockefeller is such a dolt that he needs people to explain phone taps (and ABC's) to him.
We also learned that Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Bob Graham and Tom Daschle were also briefed. Apparently they're upset because they didn't get the names and numbers of all the people under surveillance.
Keep in mind folks, this is a party whose biggest weakness is that voters don't trust them on issues of national security. Now, their ranking member on the Intelligence Committee is claiming he can't give support to a program that keeps us safe from terrorists until he consults staff and lawyers? Add that to the complaints of Democratic leaders about the program itself and one wonders if they really thought through their political strategy in dealing with this issue.
Is this really the image they want to project to voters in wartime? Well, I guess it is, if you have to cater to the Moveon.org's and Daily Kos's of the world.
If I were giving advice to the Democrats, I would suggest that they refrain from making any further comments on this issue. As the saying goes - "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."
Thanks though, Jay Rockefeller and company, for speaking and removing all doubt."
source for above:
http://www.anklebitingpundits.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2837
If a DemoRat had been in the White House since 9/11/01 we would have been attacked in the U.S. several more times. The terrorists would have killed thousands more civilians in NY subways, DC, LA, etc. and would have completely wrecked our economy. The DemoRats are The Enemy Within. President Bush has defended the United States. Repeal the 22nd amendment. FOUR MORE YEARS!
This MUST be investigated and the leakers prosecuted for the traitors that they are!
Sign the petition here:
http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/investigatetheleaks/
Break out the Roll Call of the meetings in which every politician was informed of the NSA Authorization. Blast it on the news stations or hold a press conference to announce them, if the MSM won't carry the news.
"I feel unable to fully evaluate, much less endorse, these activities," ...Then WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING ON THIS COMMITTEE?
But they knew what needed to be done.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/719031/posts
Here is a link to Rockefeller's misdeeds with the Senate Intelligence Committe...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1453971/posts
He is always in the middle of the stink!
"Jay Rockefeller's Letter
by Hugh Hewitt
December 20, 2005 07:50 AM EST
The two letters that Jay Rockefeller wrote after being briefed on the NSA program to conduct surveillance of foreign powers communicating with American citizens are a fascinating bit of Washington, D.C. inside baseball.
From the Washington Post:
He sent one to Vice President Cheney and placed the other -- as he pointedly warned Cheney he would -- in a safe in case anyone in the future might challenge his version of what happened. Rockefeller proved prophetic. Yesterday the 21-year Senate veteran from West Virginia released his copy of the letter -- which when written, was so sensitive he dared not allow a staffer to read it, let alone type it.
Here's the letter.
Some preliminary observations.
First, the Administration has had to have known from day one that eventually the program would be revealed, probably by Rockefeller, who had telegraphed his intention to be avle to "prove" his distance from, but not outright disapproval of, the program when the time came.
Second, Rockefeller is a cunning fellow, but not very. This letter is Uriah Heepish, and reveals Rockefeller as a petty man, concerned with how he will look in the future as opposed to either the successful conduct of the war or the maintenance of a higher legal standard for surveillance than the Bush Adminsitration would implement. What does the left think of Rockefeller's CYA letter? Read some of the comments at Josh Marshall's site and DailyKos and you'll get the picture.
Whatever Rockefeller was told (and three other senior Congressional leaders) the fact is clear that the Bush Administration was very candid with them and others, and that because the war was very real to them at the time, the Democratic Congressional leadership did nothing to attempt to end the surveillance. Rockefeller's "feeble" note, as one lefty put it, is a great symbol of the entire Democratic Party's approach to the war. These are not the people you want running it, or even close to the controls. "
http://hughhewitt.com/archives/2005/12/18-week/index.php#a000830
It is. Unlike the practice under the previous administration, only those who called or were called by known foreign based terrorists were monitored for further contacts.
Under the Slick One, and the Hildebeast, the net was much, much wider. Sort of like that vacuum cleaner nose that Rodger Clinton spoke of.
What he's really complaining about it not being allowed to release the information to his staff. Congressional staffs leak worse than Congressmen. He's also saying he's too dumb to make a decision without his "minders" telling him what to do.
CIA directed in 1995 to seek Video Pirates
http://www.FreeRepublic.com/forum/a3ba75bb5147c.htm