Dem. Senator Merkley Skipped Briefing On NSA Program He Said He Didn’t Know About To Go On HARDBALL

[JaneyVee]

ETA: -snip-

“Sen. [Jeff] Merkley thought the meeting would be on an area that he had already been briefed on, and when conflicts arose he missed the meeting,” liberal lawmaker’s office said in a statement.

“We just have learned about called PRISM, I had no idea about, I don’t know how many people knew about it in Congress, but I suspect a very small number on the intelligence committees,” Merkley said during a recent appearance on Now With Alex Wagner. “And so when the President says all, I think he said all members of Congress, or full disclosure to all your members, well I think very small number of Senators and Congressman have full the details on these programs.”

During another appearance on The Rachel Maddow Show last week Merkley said he had “I think very few ever heard of, I certainly never heard of it” adding later he had not been briefed on the program.

But Merkley could have been briefed — if he’d stayed in a November meeting.

According to a source close to the situation, the Nov. 27 briefing, arranged by Sens. Ron Wyden and Mark Udall, included then-Assistant Attorney General for National Security Lisa Monaco, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, DNI General Counsel Bob Litt, and NSA General Counsel Rajesh De.

The source said that while attendees waited for Merkley before beginning the meeting, the liberal Democrat made only a brief appearance before excusing himself and then going on MSNBC’s Hardball.

The rest: http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/democratic-senator-skipped-briefing-on-nsa-program-he-said-h

[limpyhobbler]

1. Who's up for a good circular firing squad?

[Bluenorthwest]

2. Go to the link and watch, then tell me how much you HATE what he said Hardball, OK?

Obviously the 'source' was not in the briefing, does not know what was covered unless someone broke the law to tell them. So who leaked this classified information? Or is this just some truthiness from the center right?

http://tv.msnbc.com/2012/11/27/five-signs-the-senate-may-finally-reform-the-filibuster/

[Cha]

3. K&R Janey

[Bluenorthwest]

4. How does the 'source' know what was discussed in a high security briefing?

Either someone is breaking the law or this is a bunch of contrived bullshit. Why would contents of a secret briefing be known to this source? Why would the source be free to ring up the press and hand over contents of a 'super secret briefing'? How can that be legal?
Is this a crime or just a lie? Perhaps the OP will let us know.

[FarCenter]

5. The topics may not be classfied, even if the contents of the presentations are.

[Bluenorthwest]

6. So the 'source' could not know what was actually discussed in the meeting as claimed unless

one of the participants, sworn to secrecy and currently claiming great need for such, shared that information with others perhaps directly calling a reporter or telling a third party who did. Or it's just bullshit.
The 'report' suggests that the 'source' knew what was covered in the meeting. That should not be the case. Without that knowledge this story is lacking in actual substance, with that knowledge, someone needs to lose their job.
In actual wartime, it was not legal to say who was in a meeting or where it was, much less, oh yeah, they discussed all that classified stuff after he left, Prism, everything I know all about that!'
The don't carry themselves as if they are sincere about the need for actual security and a wartime like footing.

[BrotherIvan]

7. Crucifying Democratic Senators is ok by the TOS?

I thought I was on a Democratic board. Silly me.

[NoPasaran]

15. Democratic Presidents seem to be fair game

Why then would senators get a pass?

[BrotherIvan]

17. So you'll do anything to protect the most powerful man in the world?

[MNBrewer]

8. and the smear machine keeps rolling on

[rhett o rick]

9. "According to a source close to the situation," What? A source close to the situation??

Now you are disparaging Sen Merkley based on "a source close to the situation,"??

Is this Fox Fucking News?

[JaneyVee]

10. No, it's a BuzzFeed Politics link. And where am I disparaging him? Information is now a bad thing?

[rhett o rick]

12. BuzzFeed is painting him in a bad light.

"But Merkley could have been briefed — if he’d stayed in a November meeting." That's from you article. Who says this? Apparently the author of the article.

The source said that while attendees waited for Merkley before beginning the meeting, the liberal Democrat made only a brief appearance before excusing himself and then going on MSNBC’s Hardball.

What "source"?? Wait, I know, "According to a source close to the situation,"

These tactics are right out of the Fox News playbook.

[carolinayellowdog]

13. disingenuous

OK, what was your intention in "sharing information" if not to disparage?

[kentuck]

11. Saturday morning at 5:00 AM?

Can you make it ? A re-schedule.

[Fumesucker]

14. We're going to need a bigger bus

[BrotherIvan]

16. A whole slew of those will be needed by the time this is over