FBI Leak Probe Irks Lawmakers (Many Spurn Polygraph Requests...)

The Washington Post ^ | Friday, August 2, 2002 | Dana Priest

[wingnuts'nbolts]

A light coating of hot tar and feathers comes to mind followd by a ride on a donkey to the pillory for display and individual citizen's scorn. Rotten tomatoes and cabbage throwing to be encouraged.

[NEPA]

Although the chairmen of the intelligence committees, Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) and Rep. Porter J. Goss (R-Fla.), asked the FBI to conduct the inquiry, its unprecedented scale has angered some lawmakers,

Apparently they thought it was going to be a Clinton era DOJ whitewash. Ashcroft has disappointed me, but this article indicates to me that he and Mueller must be doing something right.

[chiefqc]

The elected officals, that you and I sent there to represent us, are so corrupt and morally bankrupt that the laws that apply to you and I they fell they are exempt from having to comply with.

VOTERS REMEMBER ON ELECTION DAY THAT IT'S TIME TO TAKE OUT THE TRASH !!

[George Maschke]

Anyone who thinks that lie detector "testing" is a good idea doesn't know about "the lie behind the lie detector."

[GretchenEE]

This Congressional stance is so hideously over the top, where does one begin?

I am sick to death of the jerks in Congress who think they in their ivory tower are above my life being protected.

As the panel's hearings began, stories appeared about the NSA intercepts, drawing a heated White House rebuke. Vice President Cheney telephoned Goss and Graham to chastise them for the disclosures, while presidential spokesman Ari Fleischer said the information was "alarmingly specific" and could compromise the war on terrorism. Administration officials said the leaks could be a federal crime.

McCain's comments are particularly nauseating, particularly galling, since he is the son and grandson of admirals and was held in Viet Nam and should, by now, have figured out a few things about wartime leaks.

And then there's this piece of hooey. "Ranit Schmelzer, spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.), said Daschle had "grave concerns about the congressional separation of powers issues raised by having one branch of government asking to polygraph employees of another branch."

Well, Mr. Daschle, did it occur to you that obeying the law might be a tad more important than your sanctimony? Buy a clue, Mr. Short-timer Majority Leader.

[Wm Bach]

Why not just test Leahy first and save a lot of time and trouble?

[AdA$tra]

Let see, I think it goes something like this: "If you are't doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about." I think that is what congress says every time they add some new instrusive power to the FBI's bag of tricks. Polygraphs are a joke as far as accuracy, but non-the-less are a powerful tool for ferreting out RATS.

[AdA$tra]

Oh, and while we are at it, we should start drug testing congress. You think bus and train drivers are in mission critical decision making positions, how about the Senate Intel Committee. They are driving our national security bus.

[mewzilla]

Chuck Hagel was on FOX this morning sputtering about the proposed polygraphy. What a slime. National security concerns apparently don't even appear on his radar screen when it the defense of it might offend his dignity. Grrrr....

[Constitution Day]

Why not just test Leahy first and save a lot of time and trouble?

Bump to that.

[TigersEye]

McCain's comments are particularly nauseating, particularly galling, since he is the son and grandson of admirals and was held in Viet Nam and should, by now, have figured out a few things about wartime leaks.

Isn't he just dispicable? Let's post his comments for all to see.

During a congressional hearing Wednesday, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) questioned Rumsfeld about the level of the administration's concerns about leaks over Iraq policy, telling the defense secretary that unwanted disclosures are "a game that was played when you first came here nearly 30 years ago, and it will probably be played 30 years from now."

Add this in with his rationalisations about all politicians being corrupted by 'the system' re "I've done it, we've all done it..." and it's pretty clear that McCain is a moral relativist to the core. Anything goes, eh McStain?

[Wurlitzer]

"The lawmakers are unhappy that the FBI, an agency they oversee, is investigating them. "

Screw these bums. They, like the FBI, work for us! They seem to forget that as soon as they are elected.

[bert]

Who were the 37 and who is on their staff?

Was Orin Hatch on the list. There is no doubt that he is a leaker. He leaked the cell phone interception very early on when he let his mouth run while his brain was not in gear.

[Twodees]

Please comrades, our leader has set 'new tone'. Be compassionate.

Compassionate airdance from lamp post.

[TigersEye]

Most of the lawmakers have told the FBI they would refuse a polygraph, citing the constitutional separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches of government...

There's a hypocritical red herring of an argument. The 'separation of powers' has to do with which branch represents who/what; (The Executive-the combined states, the House-the people, the Senate-the individual states {that was abolished with the 17th Ammendment} and the Judiciary-the law/constitution itself. If anything the Executive, which oversees the DOJ, has EVERY right to call for an investigation on Congress, which is supposed to legislate law not enforce it.

[Twodees]

They are driving our national security short bus.

[SCHROLL]

I am being compassionate, I'd really prefer public hanging.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[teletech]

I think President Bush should cut off the classofied briefings to Congress until they help find and punish the leakers. Let 'em moan, at least we won't give on enemies the info in advance. Sort of a NO THIEF, NO BRIEF policy.