Posted on 12/20/2005 10:58:25 AM PST by slowhand520
Roberts Rakes Rockefeller - Tuesday, December 20, 2005 @ 12:53:30 PM
Yesterday, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), co-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee (and probable source of many leaks of secret information) released a hand-scrawled letter he had written to VP Cheney two years ago after being briefed on the NSA domestic intel effort. Rockefeller, trying to score political points, raised the letter as proof of his doubts about the NSA program, and that his hands were tied, unable to do anything about it. This morning, Intel Committee Chair Pat Roberts (R-KS) released this statement which blows Rockefeller out of the water:
"I am puzzled by the release yesterday of a July 2003 letter from Senator Rockefeller to the Vice President regarding the recently exposed intelligence collection program, which was authorized by the President shortly after September 11, 2001.
“In his letter and accompanying press statement, Senator Rockefeller asserts that he had lingering concerns about the program designed to protect the American people from another attack, but was prohibited from doing anything about it.
“A United States Senator has significant tools with which to wield power and influence over the executive branch. Feigning helplessness is not one of those tools.
“If Senator Rockefeller truly had the concerns he claimed to have had in his two and a half year old letter, he could have pursued a number of options to have those concerns addressed:
1. First, he could have discussed his concerns with me or other Members of Congress who had been briefed on the program. He never asked me or the Committee to take any action consistent with the “concerns” raised in his letter.
2. Second, he could have raised objections with the Vice President during one of the many briefings we received. I have no recollection of Senator Rockefeller objecting to the program at the many briefings he and I attended together. In fact, it is my recollection that on many occasions Senator Rockefeller expressed to the Vice President his vocal support for the program. His most recent expression of support was only two weeks ago.
3. Finally, he could have pursued any number of legislative remedies. He chose to pursue none.
“Senator Rockefeller could have taken any of these approaches to adress his “lingering concerns.” He did not. He chose instead to write a letter to the Vice President and for two and a half years, keep a copy of the letter in the Intelligence Committee vault and say nothing to anyone.
“For the nearly three years Senator Rockefeller has served as Vice Chairman, I have heard no objection from him about this valuable program. Now, when it appears to be politically advantageous, Senator Rockefeller has chosen to release his two and a half year old letter. Forgive me if I find this to be inconsistent and a bit disingenuous.”
So do we, Sen. Roberts. So do we.
Posted By: Jed Babbin
"I suppose Rockefeller was too petrified to use a typewriter to write this note"
HAH! He was worried that we'd check the font!
I like that analogy. I like it.
You really don't think Rocky is dumb???? He's dumber than a box of rocks, and is so stupid he doesn't even know it! I can't believe anyone does not think Rocky is dumb...wow!! The dude is a classic f... up, and would screw up a one car funeral.
By KATHERINE SHRADER
Associated Press Writer
Dec 20 2:54 AM US/Eastern
WASHINGTON - Some Democrats say they never approved a domestic wiretapping program, undermining suggestions by President Bush and his senior advisers that the plan was fully vetted in a series of congressional briefings. "I feel unable to fully evaluate, much less endorse, these activities," West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller, the Senate Intelligence Committee's top Democrat, said in a handwritten letter to Vice President Dick Cheney in July 2003. "As you know, I am neither a technician nor an attorney."
.............................
Are Senators window dressing? Potted plants?
This is written after being briefed on a top secret, national security matter post-9/11? Rockefeller, by his own admission and words, makes himself out to be weak, ineffective and pathetic.
This man, apparently, has no role in the war on terror. He's admitted to being incompetent. Absolutely stunning!
This has blown up in his face-- big time.
That was my first thought ...why the hell didnt he go public if its so dam bad
Our senators suck. There is no need to comment further.
I've never met the guy, so, I really can't say, nor do I really care.
Thank God for Roberts - he has learned to take on the dems - after they wrote memos about how they were leading him around and Roberts was giving them the info they wanted to get Bush. Glad to see Roberts has not forgotten being stabbed in the back.
Sometimes I think Mr. Rockefeller is dumber than Patty Murray.
OUCH!!
Well, I'll be damned. When did that happen?
Maybe then Peter Jennings will lead with the story.
Patty Murray to her credit makes no bones about the fact she's anti-American.
Rockefeller spends time leaking like an old tire, then goes Clintonian and denies everything when his fingerprints are all over the paper and when he's cornered he goes around and tells the media he's been blackballed and blindsided by the GOP.
Maybe. But he's too busy with the Grim Reaper to be bothered with.
They all seem pretty happy in that picture. Rockefeller is grinning from ear-to-ear too.
It was beautiful.
Much the same could be said of the NY Slime.
"But he's too busy with the Grim Reaper to be bothered"
You gotta be kidding me!
New York Times?
Is it still there?
Yep, Roberts buried the sleazoid liar.
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