GOP Chair of Intel comm. takes on Frist's comments on Clarke

[Sayhey]

The Republican Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Pat Roberts (R - Kansas) has publicly disagreed with Frist's rant against Dick Clarke's testimony before the 9/11 commission.

Roberts contradicts Frist on Clarke
By Alexander Bolton

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, says former Bush counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke’s testimony before a joint congressional panel on the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks did not contradict his later testimony before a presidentially appointed commission.

Roberts’s comments to The Hill contradict a stinging condemnation of Clarke by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) on the Senate floor after Clarke accused President Bush of failing to take Osama bin Laden seriously before Sept. 11.

The Hill (http://www.hillnews.com/news/041404/roberts.aspx)

[IJ Reilly]

How interesting. Of even more curiosity, Frist says his remarks were based a personal reading of the transcript of Clarke's testimony, a transcript Roberts says should not even have been in Frist's possession.

[Sayhey]

How interesting. Of even more curiosity, Frist says his remarks were based a personal reading of the transcript of Clarke's testimony, a transcript Roberts says should not even have been in Frist's possession.

I wonder how he could have gotten a hold of a copy? Think it was supplied by the same source who gave Novak the information about Ms. Plame?

[IJ Reilly]

I wonder how he could have gotten a hold of a copy? Think it was supplied by the same source who gave Novak the information about Ms. Plame?

Speaking of which, when are we going to find out who pulled that felonious stunt? I never thought I'd pine for the days of the Special Prosecutor, but do we ever need one now.

Oh, and I can't help myself: Dodger 3, Giants 2. :)

[Sayhey]

Speaking of which, when are we going to find out who pulled that felonious stunt? I never thought I'd pine for the days of the Special Prosecutor, but do we ever need one now.

Oh, and I can't help myself: Dodger 3, Giants 2. :)

IJ, you are such an intelligent guy, don't tell me you are a Dodger fan! :eek: It is a sad day in my house whenever the Bums are on the winning side of a box score.

Last, I heard about the investigation of the Plame story was that it is expanding to those who may have tried to cover up the crime. We still don't know if the original deed was done out of Rove's office or Cheney's. I've a good feeling that the rats will quickly be jumping ship on this one.

[zimv20]

i don't think Pat Fitzgerald is the kind of prosecutor to back down. it may take him a while, but i bet he'll get to the bottom of it.

[IJ Reilly]

IJ, you are such an intelligent guy, don't tell me you are a Dodger fan! :eek: It is a sad day in my house whenever the Bums are on the winning side of a box score.

Last, I heard about the investigation of the Plame story was that it is expanding to those who may have tried to cover up the crime. We still don't know if the original deed was done out of Rove's office or Cheney's. I've a good feeling that the rats will quickly be jumping ship on this one.

I had a feeling about that so I couldn't resist rubbing it in (who knows when I'll get another chance?). We Dodger fans are a long-suffering lot, so cut us some slack. I own a share in a season ticket.

So what reason do you have to believe that anything will ever come of the Plame story? It's not like anyone is asking about it anymore and certainly the White House would be delighted to see it die.

[Sayhey]

I had a feeling about that so I couldn't resist rubbing it in (who knows when I'll get another chance?). We Dodger fans are a long-suffering lot, so cut us some slack. I own a share in a season ticket.

So what reason do you have to believe that anything will ever come of the Plame story? It's not like anyone is asking about it anymore and certainly the White House would be delighted to see it die.

Perhaps I could sympathize with your long-suffering if we Giants fans weren't "celebrating" the 50th anniversary of the last Giants World Series win. We may not be in the same class of the Cubs or the Red Sox, but we're getting there. The good side of last night's game was that Schmidt is back and pitching well for his first start, if not as well as Perez.

What reason do I have to hope the Plame story isn't just going away? Stories like this

WASHINGTON, April 1 — Prosecutors investigating whether someone in the Bush administration improperly disclosed the identity of a C.I.A. officer have expanded their inquiry to examine whether White House officials lied to investigators or mishandled classified information related to the case, lawyers involved in the case and government officials say.

In looking at violations beyond the original focus of the inquiry, which centered on a rarely used statute that makes it a felony to disclose the identity of an undercover intelligence officer intentionally, prosecutors have widened the range of conduct under scrutiny and for the first time raised the possibility of bringing charges peripheral to the leak itself.

The expansion of the inquiry's scope comes at a time when prosecutors, after a hiatus of about a month, appear to be preparing to seek additional testimony before a federal grand jury, lawyers with clients in the case said. It is not clear whether the renewed grand jury activity represents a concluding session or a prelude to an indictment.

NYT (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/02/politics/02LEAK.html?ei=5007&en=992a0c2eb9b1daed&ex=1396242000&adxnnl=1&partner=USERLAND&adxnnlx=1080882754-tHHF1rACEjBg4k79gR2EeA)

It's always the cover-up that gets them.

[numediaman]

I can think of no reason, other than blatant interference from the Bush administration, for the two victories by the Dodgers over the Giants. This terrible act by the neocons can not be allowed to stand -- go Giants. (But I fear they have no pitching this year, even with the return of Schmidt last night.)

As for the original subject of this thread. Frist's speech was something the Congressman probably already regrets. I am sure he thought that Rice's testimony would directly attack Clarke's testimony -- but it didn't, leaving Frist looking rather silly. I'm sure Frist is not happy with the White House for putting him up to it.

[IJ Reilly]

This thread is a real challenge -- I need to think of something to say about both Bill Frist and the Dodger-Giants rivalry. But since I can't, I'll just go with "how 'bout a sweep?"

[Sayhey]

This thread is a real challenge -- I need to think of something to say about both Bill Frist and the Dodger-Giants rivalry. But since I can't, I'll just go with "how 'bout a sweep?"

I can't believe it! Bonds on deck with two on and one down in the bottom of the 9th - what does Grissom do - he hits into a easy double play. It is going to be a long season.

Now IJ, I know you must be asking for a sweep of the Senate in clearing out Frist as majority leader, right? His comments on Clarke deserve no less. I'm actually very hopeful for just such a sweep. Tomorrow the Giants win.

[numediaman]

I don't know what to say about this --other than we have Rep. Sensenbrenner to credit for this:

9/11 commissioner: 'I've received threats'

Gorelick says she won't step down; FBI investigating

Sunday, April 18, 2004 Posted: 4:20 AM EDT (0820 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Jamie Gorelick, a member of the commission investigating the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, said Saturday that she received death threats this week after a number of conservatives alleged that her former work in the Justice Department may have contributed to failures leading to the attacks . . .

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/04/17/gorelick.threats/index.html

[Sayhey]

When Ashcroft gave his testimony and kicked off this attack on Gorelick it was clear that the Bush administration had resorted to its time honored mantra of "Clinton did it!" in the face of increasing evidence that the commission isn't going to be uncritical of the Bushies performance pre 9/11. To blame it on Clinton's refusal to give the order to kill bin Ladin (a lie that was disproved on the spot at the hearings) and on Gorelick's 95 memo is unbelievable in its chutzpah. I would quote the bottom of the story numediaman links when it says:

"This is not a basis for resignation," she said, noting that Ashcroft's own deputy ratified the memorandum in August 2001.

Gorelick said she has recused herself from reviewing any actions that occurred while she was at the Justice Department.

Democratic and Republican commission members, including Chairman Tom Kean, supported her decision.

Not only does this supposed "wall" come from much earlier than the Clinton administration, but Ashcroft's department said nothing about the need to change Clinton's version of the policy, and in fact approved it prior to 9/11. What gets lost in this is the fact that in testimony neither Reno or Ashcroft were ever turned down by the special court that oversees the warrants in question. What must be looked into is why Ashcroft didn't ask for such a warrant in the Moussaoui case. The attempt to blame Gorelick is a transparent attempt to evade responsibility by Ashcroft for his own department's mistakes.

My guess is this is all about needing an excuse to be able to denounce the findings of the Commission once they are published. If the report comes out and says Bush and his subordinates did not do their jobs, then they will shout about the "partisan nature" of the commission.

[IJ Reilly]

I can't believe it! Bonds on deck with two on and one down in the bottom of the 9th - what does Grissom do - he hits into a easy double play. It is going to be a long season.

Now IJ, I know you must be asking for a sweep of the Senate in clearing out Frist as majority leader, right? His comments on Clarke deserve no less. I'm actually very hopeful for just such a sweep. Tomorrow the Giants win.

Sure, that must be the connection I was looking for.

Oh, and nice guy that I am, I won't rub it in. (Now, where did I leave that whisk broom?)

[Sayhey]

Sure, that must be the connection I was looking for.

Oh, and nice guy that I am, I won't rub it in. (Now, where did I leave that whisk broom?)

LOL, thanks for not rubbing it in. Oh boy, is this going to be a long season!