Is SHELBY Probe Not News? Nothing in WP, NYT

[UTUSN]

Skimmed WP, NYT, and Yahoo - and nothing. The tiniest item was at Faux, of all places, with a whisper of a 30 second mention on live Faux.

*******QUOTE*******

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,126904,00.html

Shelby Target of Justice Probe Into 9/11 Leak
Saturday, July 24, 2004

WASHINGTON — Sen. Richard Shelby (search) is the target of an ongoing Justice Department investigation into the leaking of the contents of classified phone intercepts received the day before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, congressional sources told FOX News.

Justice Department officials briefed members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (search) in closed session Thursday on Capitol Hill, naming the Alabama Republican as the target of the leak probe.

Law enforcement and congressional sources said the purpose of the briefing was to notify Congress of the department's intent to refer information collected to the Senate Select Committee on Ethics (search) for review. ....

Virginia Davis, Shelby's spokeswoman, told FOX she had "no additional information" about the case. Davis declined to say whether Shelby's office had asked the Ethics Committee if it had received any information from Justice about the probe. ....

********UNQUOTE*******

[eleny]

1. Why the hell won't he just switch parties

I recall us DU folks liking Shelby back when he seemed to be anti-administration back then. If he did it, I say he deserves some bear hugs for patriotism. Or am I all wet since I'm not quite awake yet?

[UTUSN]

3. I Don't Know. I'm Getting More Confused by the Minute n/t

[charlyvi]

6. He did switch parties

When I voted for Richard Shelby as a Democrat, he switched to Repub during his term. Pissed me off mightily; when you say you're a Dem you ought to stay that way until re-election.

Also, Shelby and his Jr. Sen--Jeff Sessions--support all the right wing cause celebres. Gay marriage amendment, flag burning amendment, school prayer, you name it.

The only reason, in my opinion, that Shelby was criticizing the administration was George Tenet. He HATED George Tenet. Just google them and read about all the bad blood. Tried to get him fired for years--even back during Big Dog's term.

A sample of the legislation Shelby proposed, which was not passed thank God, was a bill to prohibit the use of any language other than English or Native American tongues in the USA; an Official Secrets Act which wanted to broaden the category of those who could be prosecuted for intelligence leaks (ironic, huh? The bastard could have been prosecuted using his own legislation) This bill would have effectively stifled freedom of the press, any sort of whistleblower, your Aunt Fanny in Cleveland.

The man is a RW nutcase.

I feel better now.

[UTUSN]

2. 2 Phone Intercepts - Justice Will NOT Be Prosecuting

Phone #1, "The match is lit" and #2 "Zero hour" (the day before 9-11).

So it goes to "Ethics" because of non-prosecution. (Faux, live)

[Zorra]

4. Shelby is primarily responsible for George Tenet being confirmed

as CIA Director. President Clinton nominated Tony Lake, and Shelby ran a rabid smear campaign to make sure Lake was not appointed.

Shelby at that time was praising George Tenet, and he and his committee approved him quickly and easily.

[charlyvi]

7. Oh how things changed

Shelby became rabidly anti-Tenet. He says it was because Tenet was an incompetent idiot; I think it was because Tenet knew his bread was buttered more in the direction of the Executive, rather than a Senator from Alabama on the Intelligence Committee.

[Zorra]

10. I have a tinfoil hat theory about Shelby and Tenet, but I'm waiting to see

if Tenet testifies under oath in any Congressional investigations before I point it out. Since he is apparently no longer covered by "executive privilege" (at least in some circumstances from what I understand), he could be hit with some hard questions.

If he is never called to testify , it will be suspicious, IMO.

[Rockholm]

5. Keeping This Kicked.

So Berger is front page news and this isn't? This is bs.

[kentuck]

8. I heard a short report a bit ago that said the Justice Dept ...

..probably would not prosecute. But, they mentioned briefly that Shelby had made public a couple of intercepts of the NSA from Sept 10th of 2001- the day before the attack. In the intercepts, Shelby had said the terrorists had said that "tomorrow is zero hour" (paraphrasing). But it would be very interesting to hear what was in those intercepts once again. Obviously, they were ignored and they would now reflect very poorly on some people...

[merh]

9. If it doesn't involve the reputation of a dem or underwear, the media

is not interested. Nothing to see here folks, move on.....

edited because I cannot spell, as some may be aware!