Kyl Blasts Dems on Intelligence Memo

NRO's The Corner ^ | 11/6/03 | John Kyl

[William McKinley]

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), a member of the Senate leadership, today issued the following statement one day after Senate Democrats' refused to repudiate a staff memo outlining a strategy to use a nonpartisan Intelligence Committee investigation for political attacks next year against President Bush.

The Senator called on Democrat leaders to publicly denounce the strategy. He also suggested that if staff members deserved the blame for drafting the memo, they should be fired.

"First, Democrats sought to blame an unnamed staffer for this memo, saying it had never been approved by any Senators. Next they tried to argue the memo's merits without accepting responsibility for it. Then, on CNN, Senator Rockefeller attributed it to his three staffers but claimed it was just one 'option' or 'idea' adding, 'I disavow nothing.'

"Further failing to accept responsibility, Democrats had the audacity to suggest the Senate investigate how these attack plans might have been obtained - the equivalent of offenders blaming the cops because they got caught. This effort at spin control is patently absurd in any event, since by Senator Rockefeller's own admission, this strategy memo was not an official committee document and certainly contained no intelligence information.

"Another Democrat explanation is that they simply are frustrated that the administration has not provided as much intelligence information to the committee as they have demanded. But what makes them think they would get more information by signaling in advance that they intend to use the information politically or that they've already begun to do so? The White House could be excused for taking a dim view of the Democrats' demands.

"All of the Democrats' artful dodges are attempts to obscure what must be the central questions in examining this serious matter. Does the Democrat leadership repudiate this strategy or does it embrace it? Does the Democrat Party intend to use what is supposed to be a nonpartisan intelligence investigation as a political weapon or doesn't it? Will Senate Democrats demand accountability for the inappropriate partisan use of the Intelligence Committee or won't they?

"The American people have a right to hear the answers to these questions. I, for one, am not satisfied with what I've heard so far."

[sasafras]

I am proud to be a citizen and from Arizona with senators like Kyle. Kyle is better than the rest and not afraid to tangle with the leftests. I just wish he was stronger on control of our border.

[alwaysconservative]

I sent a politely worded letter to Senator Rockefeller expressing my opinion. Oh, and I sent blind copies to President Bush and VP Cheney, too.

[CyberAnt]

That's not the point! I have Boxer and Feinswine! But .. they are going to hear from me. And .. so are the R members of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Rockerfeller needs to resign from the committee .. and if the rest of the dems on the committee don't disavow the memo and PROVE IT BY THEIR ACTIONS AND THEIR STATEMENTS .. they need to be removed too.

One good replacement would be Zell Miller.

[CyberAnt]

These dems did not take the recall in CA seriously. This was not about disliking Dufus - this election was about voter anger over elected officials who ignore the public trust, and who have no accountability.

The dems obviously don't get it .. to their detriment.

[LayoutGuru2]

Looks like Kyl might have a pair.

[Judith Anne]

Nice work. Good idea to copy the President and Vice-President, imho.

[alwaysconservative]

Thanks, but so far the Auto-responder for President Bush and VP Cheney have acknowledged my email promptly as usual(and thanked me for my comments!), while Senator Rockefeller's email bounced back at me because it took too long to deliver. LOL! I'll bet he's inundated with email, so I'll just have to keep trying!

[Judith Anne]

I hope Rockefeller IS inundated with emails demanding his resignation.

He's a lousy excuse for a senator, and certainly doesn't belong in any position of trust, most especially NOT the Senate Intel Committee. He made that clear in his memo. Hope he likes it.

[mattdono]

LOL! This is exactly what we need to do. I have already faxed Senator Roberts and emailed my senator, Bill Nelson.

[Dionysius]

They'll care when they lose to M. Estrada and R. Guiliani respectively!

[smith288]

[.cnI redruM]

John Kyl - at last the Pubs fight back! Put him in charge of the Senate. He'll make Daschele and Hitlery s--- in their boots and eat it.

[Calpernia]

Ping

[barker]

My senator, Kit Bond, is on this committee and I'm calling his office tomorrow.

[jmcclain19]

I hear you, I was only saddened to see Kyl leave my district years back because I thought he did such an excellent job as our House Rep.

I've heard him mentioned on the short list of both Supreme Court nominees and Judiciary Chairman next Session of Congress.

[MonroeDNA]

The wagons of the democrats are circled.

They are protecting someone very high up.

[MonroeDNA]

TREASON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Defender2]

#56. "Some one very high up". I smell Comerade Klintoon....

[Beck_isright]

Don't worry. The demipublicans will fold again.

[Darlin']

It isn't the Barbarians at the gate we need worry about, it is the enemy within. Can anyone legitimately question why the White House would refuse to EVER release some sensitive documents to this committee ?

"A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear." - Marcus Tullius Cicero 42 BC