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
How much ya wanna bet that so-called letter is 2 days old and not 2 years old???
I wonder how many Shirley Temple's it took to get Roberts to pipe-off.
And we're supposed to know Rockyfellah wrote his letter before last night how exactly? Oh, I know, I bet we're supposed to take his word for it model of integrity that he's shown himself to be in the past.
Pat Roberts Rocks!
I'd LOVE to know that answer also
I'm betting nope
((This Roberts guy looks like a straight shooter...))
Ya think?
http://roberts.senate.gov/07-09a-2004.htm
Yes
"His most recent expression of support was only two weeks ago."
The dems are going to get burned badly on this. Not only have all presidents since FDR (and maybe even before) used warrantless surveillance, but now any chance the dems had to pretend to be strong on national security is blown away. Congratulating themselves on killing the Patriot Act and now trying to take one of our intelligence weapons away = useless, dangerous weenies.
The Senate Rats are all pompous asses who think they are above all, just watch C-Span and observe their better than thou appearance.
Has anyone seen this statement by Roberts anywhere except the Spectator? Even they don't have a link. I checked Robert's senate website and it's not there either. Any help on this would be appreciated. Thanks.
Simply put MOST Dims and all Leftists are SCUM and in particular Senator Rockefeller gives SCUM a good name.
Good to see some Pubbies playing hard ball for a change.
Stick a fork in this story, it's done.
i thought so. wonder why no one is screaming that Echelon is a Clinton creation?
I'm with you on that one. The fact that it was "hand scribbled", probably in haste, is a red flad to me.
I don't get why he didn't type it .. does he not have a computer??
And ... wouldn't it be a hoot if he didn't write it *L*
bump
Even if Cheney never got the letter even if Rockefeller never sent it, it still counts because Libs mean well and Rockefeller meant to send it so it was his intentions that counted. Like Rush always points out... (/sarcasm)
I've always thought that Rockerfeller was the source of the leak, ever since the Rockerfeller memo was made known by The Prowler 2 years ago.
Ka-boom!
"Forgive me if I find this to be inconsistent and a bit disingenuous.”
I love it!
We certainly forgive you, Senator Roberts, but I doubt that Rockefeller will forgive you for exposing exactly what a hyprocritical, dishonest opportunistic creep he is. Caught with his pants down and then had his drawers publicly shredded!
A hoot, indeed.
Wouldn't you think these idiots would get really tired of always stepping in the proverbial doo doo? No matter what they try, they can't seem to win. LOL!
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