Senate Democrats Revive Demand for Classified Data-NYT

[Opusnone]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/24/washington/24documents.html?hp&ex=1164344400&en=fbb4cee6672da72e&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Seeking information about detention of terrorism suspects, abuse of detainees and government secrecy, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are reviving dozens of demands for classified documents that until now have been rebuffed or ignored by the Justice Department and other agencies.

“I expect real answers,” said Patrick J. Leahy, soon to be Senate Judiciary chairman, “or we’ll have testimony under oath until we get them.”

“I expect real answers, or we’ll have testimony under oath until we get them,” Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, who will head the committee beginning in January, said in an interview this week. “We’re entitled to know these answers, and in many instances we don’t get them because people are hiding their mistakes. And that’s no excuse.”

Mr. Leahy, who has said little about his plans for the committee, expressed hope for greater cooperation from the Bush administration, which he described as having been “obsessively secretive.” His aides have identified more than 65 requests he has made to the Justice Department or other agencies in recent years that have been rejected or permitted to languish without reply."

more at link

[Trajan]

1. YEAH .....

NOW the congress gets to do it's job of 'oversight' per Constitutional requirements ...

It feels GREAT to have a REAL congress now ....

CMON January ....

[Opusnone]

2. I am a great admirer of Senator Leahy

A true statesman and patriot.

[williesgirl]

3. Go Patrick - get those answers. recommended

[spanone]

4. Now let's get to the bottom of some of these shenanigans (Major Crimes)

“I expect real answers, or we’ll have testimony under oath until we get them,” Senator Patrick J. Leahy ....yea baby!!!!

[baby_bear]

5. The power of subpeona - what the Bushies really feared

...from a takeover of the Senate in particular. During the past 6 years, the Republicans would do nothing so all the Dems had at their disposal were pretty much the GAO to unearth data and, to some extent, information.

The subpeona has got to have the administration quaking in its pathetic boots.

They were hoping that the Dems would be reluctant to begin oversight aggressively for fear that they would be seen as vengeful (at least this is what they have been planting in the MSM). But oversight is the Constitutional duty of Congress. Anything less is dereliction of duty.

b_b

[Lasher]

6. This is the kind of post I like to see here

All the interest in 2008 presidential candidates is cool, but my interest in that won't perk up for about a year from now. My main interest right now is in seeing Congress shine some daylight on Lord Vader and the Dufus in Chief. 2007 is going to be a very interesting year.

[dubykc]

7. Go get 'em Mr . Chairman!

[Zorro]

8. This administration will ignore the subpoenas

They'll play a game of Constitutional chicken, and then blame the Democrats of creating the Constitutional crisis by making extraordinary demands that jeopardize national security. Just you watch.

I hope the Dems have the stomach for what truly dispicable shenanigans this administration will pull. I believe this administration will have no reservations about conducting themselves in such a way as to totally wreck our government and its institutions.

[gordianot]

9. You speak the truth on that one.

It will be late spring before we know if there was a transition of Government. Open hostility is coming. The liberal/progressive wing of the Democratic Party will have its day when they can say "I told you so!"

I think we have already been wrecked, the GOP has had a puppet legislative Government for at least 6 years.

[Zorro]

10. Yes I think it will be scorched earth politics

Compromise is not a part of this administration's vocabulary.

This administration will be intransigent in all things that may reveal the extent of their corruption and incompetence. And they'll blame the Democrats for wrecking the government by manufacturing the situation that "proves" Reagan's statement that "government is the problem".

And thus they will have fulfilled their goal as expressed by Grover Norquist.

[savemefromdumbya]

11. They will fight hard to keep evidence under wraps

they have a lot at stake. No wonder they have a worried look on their faces right now?

[sce56]

15. Humm I just hope they have the mail secure Leahy was an Anthrax target in 01!

Humm Never did find the source of that attack now did they? CIA covert weapons program used against congress.

October 17, 2006,Will be remembered as the Enabling day of the 21st Century!
"The government will make use of these powers only insofar as they are essential for carrying out vitally necessary measures..."
~Adolf Hitler, March 23, 1933, before the German Parliament (Reichstag) as he urged them to pass his "Enabling Act"

Got Fascism Yet?


http://www.georgewalkerbush.net/bush-nazilinkconfirmed.htm



Fascism Accomplished!

[keopeli]

12. THANK GOD! If Bush would turn it over right away, the Dems could keep some stuff secret.

That could be a real success of the Dem Congress. THEY get to decide what is secret. (If they really want to, that is.)

[Vidar]

13. Good for Leahy.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. K&R

What a nice headline to wake up to!

[BornagainDUer]

16. I'll bet Leahy wants to find out who really sent him anthrax.

[Polesitter]

17. It's too bad that Leahy is the point guy asking for the data since

he was forced to resign from the SSCI - Senate Select Committee on Intelligence after admitting to passing secret information to a reporter in 1987. The deliberate disclosure followed a careless disclosure of a TOP SECRET SCI (COMINT) intercept during a 1985 television interview. He can make demands, but lacks a meaningful way to enforce them. He can issue a subpoena that can be ignored - or an answer provided in classified channels, so he can access it only in the Senate SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility). If the subpena is ignored, a remedy the Senate has is to then vote for a contempt of congress citation - as long as he has the 60 votes needed to cut off debate. Can you identify the 9 republicans that would support cloiture? Specter is #1, only 8 to go. Try to ID them, it should be fun.