Hillary Clinton rejects Bush-led probe of Katrina

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2005/September/theworld_September206.xml§ion=theworld

WASHINGTON - US Senator Hillary Clinton fueled the political debate over Hurricane Katrina on Wednesday, insisting on an independent inquiry into the federal response and sharply rejecting President George W. Bush’s bid to lead the probe himself.

“I don’t think the government should be investigating itself,” Clinton told CNN as the polemics intensified over last week’s storm, which left New Orleans in chaos and thousands feared dead on the US Gulf Coast.

“I don’t think either the president or the Congress can conduct the kind of objective, independent investigation that we need,” the New York Democrat and former first lady said on CBS television.

Clinton, considered a potential White House candidate in 2008, has taken a lead role in criticising the Bush administration for the sluggish early efforts to dispatch troops and relief supplies to hurricane-hit areas.

[bhunt70]

1. good for her for speaking up.

Hopefully her words will have an effect.

[sarcasmo]

2. Flame me if you want, but I am so glad to see Hilary taking charge.

Wesley Clark, Hilary 08.

[electropop]

3. No flame here

but i am amazed to see her speaking up this way. She is more often in the DLC/RNC camp.

[still_one]

4. good for her for doing her job AS A SENATOR, FINALLY

but no way in 2008

Anyone who gave bush the authority to go into IRAQ WILL NEVER GET MY VOTE FOR PRESIDENT!!!

Wes Clark is another matter

Russ Feingold, Barbara Boxer, these are people who didn't look which way the wind was blowing, they voted to do the right thing

[Mizmoon]

9. We've been very happy with her in New York

She's done a great job for us and will continue to do so after she's re-elected.

[WePurrsevere]

11. Actually over all as a fellow NYer I agree...

I don't always agree with her but she does seem to try for NY.

Sometimes I get the feeling that she's playing a part to make herself electable as President and once she wins she'll be back to the old more Liberal Hillary I prefer. :)

[Mizmoon]

12. She managed to win over upstate

That alone proves that she's a miracle worker ;)

[WePurrsevere]

30. We're about as "Upstate" as you can go and from what I've heard...

you're right. She sure tries to "walks the walk". :)

[still_one]

22. no guessing with Russ Feingold, you know where he stands

We have an interesting issue in Califronia

Boxer, no problem, Feinstein on the other hand looks to see which way the wind is blowing

[still_one]

20. and that is what you should judge her on

but if she runs for president, or anyone who runs for president, I expect them to do what is right for the whole country, including New York, but NOT just New York

Voting to give * the unprecidented authority to go into Iraq, was NOT only unconstitutional, but poor judgement to anyone in Congress who did it.

I will NOT vote for her if she runs for President for that reason. I also do NOT agree with her, "stay the course" in Iraq, and more troops, as she and John McCain discussed when they went to Iraq

[oasis]

38. Boxer's exploratory committee coming to your town soon.

[Peace Patriot]

16. Well, I'm glad somebody said it, that's for sure. Can you imagine

a report on this Bush-caused disaster put together by our Idiot-in-Chief George Bush? (Full color photos of Bush eating birthday cake, Bush playing the guitar, Bush hanging with billionaires in San Diego, Bush hugging little tar babies, Barbara going "Oo, ah, they're cute--and so well off," Cheney fishing in Wyoming, catching a big one, Condi buying $2000 shoes in New York City with her loony little smile-scowl, Bush in a firefighter hat posing in front of commandeered firefighters, Bush visiting a cardboard-front aid center that ceases to exist after he leaves, and photos of the happy poor heading for Utah in a bus, with Bush waving goodbye under the banner "Mission Accomplished"--all with the hand-scrawled title on the cover, "My Disaster.")

Hillary could write a better report.

(I'm not yet prepared to endorse anybody who voted for the Iraq war. A War Democrat will more than likely be shoved down my throat as my only choice, but I don't have to agree to it yet. Sorry.)

[cbear70]

5. Finally... maybe hope n/t

[jsamuel]

6. I can't argue with that... and that is the way it should be more often

coming from her...

"I don’t think either the president or the Congress can conduct the kind of objective, independent investigation that we need."

Exactly.

[bee]

7. hard to disagree with her no matter what side youre on.

edited to add:
she still wont get my vote though.

[JustSayNO 2 Sheeples]

8. Yeah, an INDEPENDENT... like maybe a FEDERAL GRAND JURY?

[William769]

10. Hillary in 08!

This is not sarcasm.

[still_one]

21. Russ Feingold in 2008

he never compromised

Look at his voting record

[Seabiscuit]

25. Feingold and Gore 08!

[still_one]

28. I would go for that in a minute

[jsamuel]

32. DK

[still_one]

34. I like Dennis also

We need people who are not concerned about the polls

[DLnyc]

37. Sounds good to me.

A party that is probably 80% or 90% anti-war and pro-environment, seems to me, ought to be represented by like-minded people whose actions represent those beliefs. I don't know a lot about Feingold, but I believe his anti-war record is very solid. I didn't like the way Gore acquiesced in the DLC atmosphere, but he's gotten a lot better since 2000.

I'm also from NY, and it bothers me that, representing a state that voted offically 58% for Kerry (and, if all votes were counted, I believe, much more), I have heard precious little from Hillary standing up to BushCo.

As I said elsewhere, though, if Hillary wants to come out of her slumber now, I'm more than happy to applaud her!

[Zhade]

40. GoreGold 08!

:D

[burythehatchet]

44. sign me up

[bemildred]

13. Credit where credit is due.

:applause:

[WePurrsevere]

14. Very Good... WTG Hillary!

“I don’t think the government should be investigating itself,”

Of course I also do NOT think the Military should investigate itself either... like over the prisoner atrocities... sure wish she's speak up about those more.

[0007]

15. Good for Hillary Clinton! Tis time to drag the fox out of the

fucking hen house and isolate the fucker so he can't do any more damage.

[Raster]

17. Thank you Hilary. The last f'ing thing we need is for bushco*

to be investigating bushco*. We'll just end up with the 9/11 commission, part two: total whitewash, with all the critical evidence either destroyed or locked away under long-term federal seal so no one can get at the information to impartially investigate. Once again, there is no way bushco* wants any of their internal Katrina dealings to see the light of day. BASTARDS!!!

[Autonomy]

18. Bush wants to conduct the investigation himself?

That's like the BTK killer volunteering to be the judge at his own trial.

As for Hillary, she will make a great Vice-President. Gore-Clinton '08!

[Seabiscuit]

26. So did Nixon. And look what happened to him. n/t

[Autonomy]

29. Nixon appointed an independent special prosecutor, no? nt

[Seabiscuit]

52. Only after enormous pressure from Congress and the media.

He wanted to do the investigation himself. He very reluctantly and begrudgingly appointed a special prosecutor long after the fact. And then when the special prosecutor, Archibald Cox, did his job and went after the documents, Nixon fired him, which led to the impeachment proceedings.

[SharonRB]

45. I could go for that

Or Gore/Clark or Clark/Clinton.

[Boo Boo]

19. George "O.J." Bush vows to find the Real Killers! /nt

[Megahurtz]

23. She's right. n/t

[ronnykmarshall]

24. Go HIL-rey!

[Mountainman]

27. It doesn't matter who does it, it will be a white wash like the 9/11

commission and the prewar intelligence commission. I am not looking to any commission to tell me what happened. I read DU.

[rodeodance]

31. anybody with a working brain would reject the idea of Bush investigating

his own administrations response.

[Dr Fate]

33. Mrs. Clinton is right on this one. n/t

n/t

[freemen2005]

35. damn straight

you cannot let the leaders keep themselves in check, because they will simply pass the blame to others and continue doing as they like.

[DLnyc]

36. Good morning, Hillary!

I hope you got some much-needed rest, these last three and a half years, and thank you for joining the rest of us at the breakfast table. Have some pancakes and then let's get to work!

[Zhade]

39. “I don’t think the government should be investigating itself”

Remind me, did she make this (wise and correct, as well as painfully obvious) point about the 9/11 Whitewash Commission?

(I honestly don't remember. If she did, I'll be pleasantly surprised.)

That said, it's good that she said this, instead of once again backing up a Big Lie (like many of her comments on Iraq). If this is sincere and not just posturing, I welcome it.

But I still don't care for quite a few of her votes, and I still can't get past her supporting the Contras. I hope she repents for that someday.

At any rate - keep it up, Clinton. Let's see how you do.

[greekspeak]

41. At least she is doing something right...her FREAKING JOB.

Its a sad state of affairs when we are so starved for the truth that a senator doing her job elicits jubilation. Very sad indeed. Well, bully for Hil.

[Laurab]

49. Yep - that's what she's doing

and it's about damn time. It IS a sad state of affairs, but I guess she had video games to worry about or something before. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad she's doing her job, but that's ALL she's doing, I agree with you 100%. I'm really not all that impressed that she's doing what she's SUPPOSED to be doing. I hope the rest of them follow.

[Andromeda]

42. I'm glad she's taking a firm stand on this.

She tries to do her best for New York from what I've seen. If she wants to run for president in 2008 she needs to present a strong image.

Hillary has to be re-elected in 2006 before she can even consider running for pres and anything can happen between now and then.

[Mr_Spock]

43. Go Hillary, Go Go !!

You make them do the right thing here...

[orpupilofnature57]

46. Just emailed her, hang in hillary!!!

[BrightKnight]

47. whitewash the whitehouse -- n/t

[Chipper Chat]

48. Stop the seeding for '08! It doesn't matter who runs in 'o8.

Diebold will insure the Republican candidate wins.
UNLESS......Democrats take back congress in '06. Then investigations can go forward for 2 years from everything from Katrinagate to Plamegate. Wouldn't it be juicy to see reSMUGlicans squirm during Ted Kennedy and Joe Biden-chaired hearings. The entire fundie-propped up Bush cabal goes down in flames.
Oh..sweet Jesus; come into our lives and let it happen.

[mountainvue]

50. Good job, Hillary. n/t

[moondust]

51. Thank you Hillary!!

You are absolutely correct!!

[TankLV]

53. It's about time - better LATE than never!

That's TWO so far!

And I'm not counting the ever-vigilant and fighting Congressional Black Caucus!

[eridani]

54. First signs of a developing spine. Good for her! n/t