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
Rush Limbaugh said that too.
I guess this is nothing but more wishful thinking after seeing that Burglar got nothing but his classified status removed for 3 yrs and community service with a little probation time. DC on both sides of the aisle are always C each others A...s
Probably the lead story in tonight's Huntley-Brinkley Report.
THE ROCKEFELLER FILES [Mark R. Levin]
I am curious about something. Jay Rockefeller has released a letter in which he complains about the NSA program on which he'd been briefed. He said the July 17, 2003 letter had been sealed and secured in the offices of the Senate Intelligence Committee. So, he goes to great lengths concealing his views for to voice them might reveal classified information. In his letter he expresses frustration that he can't even consult with staff or counsel, and he can't draw on independent legal or technical expertise. Dianne Feinstein said last night that she has not discussed this matter with Rockefeller because she's not on the Senate Intelligence Committee and it would be inappropriate for her to do so. Fine so far. But if Rockefeller went to such lengths to conceal his views, and if even Feinstein (a fellow senator) insists that she can't discuss this with Rockefeller (presumably, then, Rockefeller can't discuss it with her and other colleagues who weren't briefed), then from where might the New York Times have reported this tidbit in its original story:
"According to those officials and others, reservations about aspects of the program have also been expressed by Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, the West Virginia Democrat who is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee ..."
I can't imagine this trail would be difficult for leak investigators to follow. Who knew that Rockefeller had reservations? Maybe they should start with, say, Rockefeller?
That's going to leave a Mark!
I think he meant to say Cronkite.
Didn't Reid do this with regard to something else? Complained about something and the Chair said all he had to do was pick up the phone.
Fight by the side of the President on this issue
Hold the leakers accountable.
THAT"S what I want to see, I want to see the perp walk. I want to see the Delay-like mug shots, and I want to see the seditiuos a-holes get exactly what they deserve.
And I might add, that history shows that FDR and Truman would support this. FDR came down hard on seditious behavior.
bump
He needs to be "plugged" with extreme prejudice too!
No .... remember they shut the senate down and put it behind close doors
It was about Phase II
Seen this gem?
Thanks!
Yeah, back on November 1, Reid invoked "Standing Rule 21" and had the Senate shut down, the press and gallery thrown out, cameras, beepers and cellphones turned off, and the doors closed.
J. Fred Muggs will get to the bottom of it tomorrow on Today.
Rockefeller is going to have to at least be removed from the Intelligence committee.
Better yet, maybe I could pretend to be a Democrat *shudder* and get inside access. LOL!
We sooo need access to their computers. Can you imagine the seditious and traitorous memos we would find? If history is a clue [on what we'd find], we'd no longer have to worry about filibusters...
LOL
Busted!
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