Angry senators have 'poisoned' intelligence bill

washingtontimes.com ^ | November 23, 2004 | Stephen Dinan

[crushelits]

Senators have made it much harder to reach a new agreement on the intelligence overhaul bill after their harsh comments during the weekend about the Republicans who blocked the measure, one key House negotiator said yesterday.

"An already poisoned well got poisoned even more badly," said Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., Wisconsin Republican and House Judiciary Committee chairman.

He and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter think that the compromise bill that House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert wanted to bring to a vote on Saturday went too far in constricting the power of the military to use real-time intelligence and didn't go far enough in clamping down on immigration security loopholes.

In a frank closed-door Republican meeting on Saturday afternoon, they led their fellow House members in opposing the bill to implement the recommendations of the September 11 commission and forced Mr. Hastert to postpone a vote.

Now, Mr. Sensenbrenner said, senators' apparent strategy to ignore the immigration issue and try to assuage Mr. Hunter's concerns over intelligence won't pass muster with most House Republicans.

In a telephone interview yesterday with The Washington Times, Mr. Sensenbrenner said it's a mistake for others to think that they can "divide and conquer."

"Mr. Hunter and I have been working together right from the get-go," Mr. Sensenbrenner said. "The thought that one of us can get peeled off is very, very unlikely."

Mr. Sensenbrenner said the "personal invective of people who were on the talking-head shows" on Sunday means that Congress probably won't reach an agreement before a new Dec. 6 deadline imposed by Mr. Hastert. Negotiators have not scheduled any meetings to work on the bill, and Congress is out of session for Thanksgiving break.

[Piquaboy]

Those stuffed shirts could screw up a wet dream.

[ClintonBeGone]

A sign of things to come I suspect.

[joesnuffy]

Yeah how dare they oppose Mexicans getting US drivers licenses and spooks running the military

[joesnuffy]

The next thing you know they wont get down on their prayer mats and refuse to chant
Islam is a religion of peace

[UB355]

Sensenbrenner is my congressman, I back him fully on this

[Max Combined]

This will blow over soon enough. Revisit the issue after the new Senate convenes in 2005 and perhaps we can get a better deal.

[conservativecorner]

Good for the them. It's about damn time somebody did something about the immigration issue. Recently there were reports of terrorists trying to bring in suitcase nukes by way of Mexico, but the senate sure doesn't want to address the issue.

[libstripper]

This is a really good development. The original bill was terribly flawed and should not have gotten as far as it did. The reform should not be rushed through a lame duck Congress. When the next Congress takes it up, there will be a far better mix of Senators and repersentatices. Leave it to them.

[rdwat]

They want to give a drivers license to immigrants. Who is going to make sure they have auto insurance like the rest of us. We can't get people in this country to drive properly or courtesly. They don't how to drive. Have you seen them drive in Mexico?

Build up the borders, deepen the waters and place in alligators and piranhas.

[maestro]

Maybe they're following orders from foreign counterintelligence services?

I'm SURE,.....the local 'moles' don't want ANY CHANGES....

naw,....

[TexasTaysor]

He isn't my Senator, but I have always liked and respected him. I heard him on a couple of shows this weekend and I liked what he said. I've never been in favor of complete adoption of the original plan as if the commission had all the answers, it should be adopted carefully....re: provisional ballots (the solution was a big a problem)

[RockinRight]

What's a repersentatice?

;-)

[Just mythoughts]

Personally I have about had it with the arrogance of this unholy body of elitist 'gods'.

The Senate has become the body of obstruction and this club that protects their own, just like they did JFKerry all these years needs a cleansing of their own.

They exposed their perversion, distortion, and obstruction when they refused to actually hold a trial over an impeached president.

I pray for rough sledding for these that refuse to uphold the constitution. Peeeee on them alll!

[fooman]

What would they want to restrict military use of real time intel..

This is how we went losing Bin LAden.

[crushelits]

Build up the borders, deepen the waters and place in alligators and piranhas.

Way to go!

I won't cost much.

Get the piranhas from the Amazon and the alligators from Florida.

Don't mix together though, the piranhas will finish off the aliens and the alligators as well.

[Sterco]

At some point I would think we would either get a hold on this illegal invasion or Mexico should become our next state. Those of us in the Southwest have just about had it with the brown invasion. If the Federal Government wants to come to the aid of our schools and medical facilities maybe we will accomodate their giving drivers liscenses to those who should not be here in the first place. What part of "illegal" do you not understand?

[justanotherfreeper]

Call him or email him and thank him (I have but I'm not even in his state!) -- Sensenbrenner was and is an absolute hero on this issue. Without him the GOP would have caved.

[crushelits]

I've never been in favor of complete adoption of the original plan as if the commission had all the answers

The comission is part of the stablishment and most everybody wants to rubber stamp their recommendations.

Bush is a MASTER.

He supported the recomendations as a whole, but I am sure he was not going to rubber stamp his support on every issue.

Remember the days after the 9/11 report (pre-election season) Kerry came out in support of every recomendation.

Bush did not!

[Adder]

Good. It sounds like a stupid bill anyway. If the dumblecrats are all for it, its gotta be bad. {Adder's rule of thumb].
Whats the big rush?