Frist: Memogate Dems Can't be Trusted with Intel Secrets

NewsMax ^ | 11/12/03 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said Wednesday that he was forced to limit the activities of the Senate Intelligence Committee because he no longer believes Democrat members who sanctioned the partisan misuse of committee resources can be trusted with foreign intelligence secrets.

Noting that committee Democrats have yet to identify the author of a controversial memo urging that intelligence data be used as a political weapon against President Bush, Frist told radio host Sean Hannity, "If those people are still in the room handling intelligence given to us by other nations so that they can undermine our Commander-in-Chief, that misuse of intelligence is unacceptable."

The top Republican complained, "It is unbelievable to me that we're now a week into this and the Democrats haven't even disavowed the partisan injection in the committee itself."

Sen. Frist suggested that he would not grant committee Democrats full access to classified intelligence until the members and staffers implicated in Memogate have been purged from the panel.

"You can't have business as usual because you know whatever comes out of the committee is being written by staff members who have an intent or purpose to inject partisanship into what they're doing," he explained, adding, "Right now it's difficult for the committee to function."

[umgud]

This memo must have been distributed to multiple sources. If it had only been seen by the author and the requester, the author would already be gone.

[Tunehead54]

Bump!

[FairOpinion]

"he (Frist) no longer believes Democrat members who sanctioned the partisan misuse of committee resources can be trusted with foreign intelligence secrets. "

BINGO! Finally it is being said aloud, which we knew all along.

The Republicans need to keep making this point to the American People.

[tet68]

Finally! Now what about investigating how long this has been going on. (not an isolated incident)

[doug from upland]

This is a huge campaign issue. We've been saying it all along. Never trust DemocRATS with national security.

[el_texicano]

Well, it's getting out through Hannity's talk show, and probably will be on the tv show too if not already. Given the slipping stranglehold the liberal press have on the media outlets and the growing clientelle of the conservative outlets, I think we can safely say that the message is gonna get out.

But like you say, the Republicans need to keep pressing the issue. This move by Frist is good, but he needs to keep at it.

[el_texicano]

If the Dem's were smart they would concede this point quickly, because like you say they are gonna get hammered with it and hard.

[kattracks]

I hope Frist realizes this includes any Democrat with any intel information.

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for posting this! Can I say -- It is about time!

[JOE6PAK]

Whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully make or convey false reports or false statements with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the military or naval forces of the United States, or to promote the success of its enemies, or shall willfully make or convey false reports, or false statements, . . . or incite insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty, in the military or naval forces of the United States, or shall willfully obstruct . . . the recruiting or enlistment service of the United States, or . . . shall willfully utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the form of government of the United States, or the Constitution of the United States, or the military or naval forces of the United States . . . or shall willfully display the flag of any foreign enemy, or shall willfully . . . urge, incite, or advocate any curtailment of production . . . or advocate, teach, defend, or suggest the doing of any of the acts or things in this section enumerated and whoever shall by word or act support or favor the cause of any country with which the United States is at war or by word or act oppose the cause of the United States therein, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both....

'NUFF SAID!

[Agnes Heep]

Good move. I wouldn't trust that nest of traitors farther than I could throw Mt. Everest.

[knak]

cool! Great news!

[jungleboy]

Pretty good timing... with Bremers return, and then re-newed "power display" in Bagdad, imho.

[CyberAnt]

Please give us a reference for that wonderful statement .. I want to use it! Thanks!

[Donna Lee Nardo]

Cajones! Excellent move by Sen. Frist.

[randog]

"If those people are still in the room handling intelligence given to us by other nations so that they can undermine our Commander-in-Chief, that misuse of intelligence is unacceptable."

Is it safe to use the word "traitor" again?

[uncbob]

Ann Coulter needs to add a new chapter toher book TREASON

[Whispering Smith]

The Congress needs to adjust that number for inflation.

[savedbygrace]

This is a winning strategy. I'm on record here several days ago advocating this. They can't be trusted. Pound it again and again, everywhere, in every forum.

[Cicero]

Hannity will help spread the word. But the great majority of Americans have no idea that anything has happened, because the news media--which pretended that the Valerie Plame affair was another Watergate--are completely ignoring it.

It seems obvious to me that it's not just the Democrat staffers. You hold the captain of the ship responsible for anything that happens. In the same way, the Democrat Senators, even if they weren't directly involved, were responsible for hiring these traitors and allowing them to handle classified materials.

But we all suspect that Jay Rockefeller was directly responsible, and he has done nothing to deny it or clear himself in any way.

[longtermmemmory]

DATE: November 11, 2003
TO: all congressional democrats.
FROM: Terry McAuliff, Tom Dashle, DNC
SUBJECT: Recent memo leak

ALL Democrat members will have shredders over all waste baskets. ALL documents will be shredded regardless of any percieved unimportance. When it doubt shred. This added need to shred will be blamed on Republicans for creating an environment of mistrust.


(/s)

[livius]

Glad Frist is going after it. I was afraid the matter had disappeared, the way most things involving the Dems seem to do (thanks to friends in the press).

[vanmorrison]

I can hardly believe that Frist has developed a pair to even do this much. He's been rolling over for the Democrats ever since he became Senate majority leader, just like Lott.

Freepers should remember that the Democrat party was responsible for Communist infiltration of our government during the 40s and 50s. Yet, fully knowing this, the American people continue to kiss Democrat ass to this day.

The American people - God Bless 'Em...

[savedbygrace]

This time the Dims have gone too far, and shown the public that they can't be trusted. This is a losing issue for the Dims, plain and simple.

It's vitally important, IMO, that the pubbies not over-explain this thing. Keep It Simple. The Dims can't be trusted.

[MamaLucci]

While it is true that the lamestream media has all but ignored this important story, a delicious irony another freeper astutely pointed out the other night is the fact that the dems don't dare to howl about the committee being disbanded, or even Frist saying that they can't be trusted, for if they do, it will force their friends in the media to report on it. The silence of the dems, vis a vis Frist's comments, is deafening.

[glorgau]

when the United States is at war

Congress hasn't declared war. This is going to descend into another "meaning of 'is' " confrontation.

[gogeo]

Frist done good.

[dixiechick2000]

Surely, one of you heard this. If you did, I would appreciate your thoughts on it.

Unfortunately, I missed it...again. ;o(

If your daughter didn't call, nopardons, she missed a big opportunity to irritate you. ;o)

[nopardons]

Nope, she called just after (thank you kiddo! ) and I heard this. :-)

My thoughts ? It's about time Frist grew a pair and now, NOW, he had better put his foot down and hold the damned Dems accountable, get to the bottom of MEMOGATE, call in the ethics committe, and halt any and ALL info being given to the Dems.

[dixiechick2000]

I totally agree with your entire post!
Kudos to your daughter. ;o)

So, it sounded like he, finally, has some testicular fortitude?

[nopardons]

The kiddo will appreciate that. :-)

No, Frist just realized that Sean and the rest of us are gtoing to never let go of this and so, he must, at last, at least appear to be doing something. Will he actually do something? I don't know; hoever, it looks as though he has begun to try to. LOL

[dixiechick2000]

Bless his heart...I hope and pray that "we" will GIVE him the pair that he needs to do what is right.

Hopefully, he wasn't pandering...

[abigailsmybaby]

I can count all the democrats that I trust with sensitive info on one finger.

[nopardons]

Well, IF he was just " pandering ( though I honestly think that he wasn't ), he's going to be oh so sorry. Sean's listeners and Freepers aren't going to leave him alone. LOL

[dixiechick2000]

"though I honestly think that he wasn't"

That's what I wanted to hear. Thank you.

You heard the inflections in his voice, and the tone of his voice.

If this is what you heard, I think he will do fine.

I waited up to read your opinion, and I appreciate you being here tonight.

I have errands and kids early tomorrow, so I need to hit the hay.

Thank you, again, for your help. I really appreciate it.

[Tall_Texan]

Keep it shut down. Why does the Senate need to know?

[nopardons]

Was about to log off, when I saw your post to me, so stayed. It was my pleasure, to give youmy " take ". :-)

Now, it's off to beddy for me too. Pleasant dreams.

P.S. Yes, he sounded pretty detremined; at long last. LOL