Frist Disbands Senate Intel Committee Over Memogate

NewsMax ^ | 11/8/03 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has temporarily disbanded the Senate Intelligence Committee until committee Democrats reveal the identity of the author of a memo outlining a their plan to politicize intelligence data in a bid undermine President Bush's reelection.

"The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence has been harmed by a blatant partisan attack," the Tennessee Republican said in a floor speech yesterday, concluding that the memo had rendered the committee "incapable of meeting its responsibilities to the United States Senate and to the American people."

"Those responsible for this memo appear to be more focused on winning the White House than they are on winning the war against terror," Frist complained before adding, "There will be no more pulling along and no more useful collaboration on partisan schemes."

Committee Chairman Pat Roberts echoed Frist's decision to shut his committee down, saying, "Unless and until this reprehensible attack plan and strategy to derail the committee's important work is properly addressed, I am afraid that it will be impossible to return to business as usual in the committee."

A committee meeting scheduled for yesterday was canceled, and none has been scheduled for next week, a senior committee staff member told the Washington Post.

Frist also demanded that Democrats implicated in the Memogate scandal deliver "a personal apology" to Sen. Roberts.

Though retiring Georgia Democratic Sen. Zell Miller has called the memo, first leaked to radio host Sean Hannity on Tuesday, "perhaps treasonous," other Democrats circled the wagons on Friday.

Nevada Sen. Harry Reid complained on the Senate floor that the memo had been "pilfered" by Republicans then leaked to the media, saying that act was just as offensive as anything revealed by the controversial document.

[Enterprise]

"Those responsible for this memo appear to be more focused on winning the White House than they are on winning the war against terror," Frist complained before adding, "There will be no more pulling along and no more useful collaboration on partisan schemes."

Holy crap batman! We have LEADERSHIP in the Senate!

[MHGinTN]

The Sunday talk soup should be comical, as the demonrats try to sell their 'it's a breach of confidentiality and security to share with the press a memo written by a committee member'. The level of whine and smirk will be astonishing to behold! Sadly, the democrat's partisan votership will look only to the diversion and ignore the heinous anti-american sedition of the intended memo purpose. Rock 'a' feller is a sneaky, partisna traitor tot his nation and his actions along with his party's efforts to subvert the Senate and intel data is a real threat to lives of our SOLDIERS in the fild fighting a damn war to protect this nation. I find the sedition of the democrat party leadership to be at the 'intolerable' level. Will a majority of voting Americans see them in the same light?... Only if we who comprehend the treachery will prevent the sleaxzy democrats from succeeding in spinning their sedition into victimhood! Let's make some noise! Bury these treasonous bastards now, while their necks are exposed.

[Clara Lou]

Heh heh heh! The Dems put themselves on the hot seat with this memo, and now Frist is putting the burner on high. How sweet it is!

[MHGinTN]

Ooo, I like Mia's S.C.U.M. characterization! Just wish there were a way to work the meaning of sedition in there (as in Seditious Clinton Undermining Machine).

[Enterprise]

I think you have described Rockerfeller perfectly:

THE LITTLE SNEAK

[pctech]

First word that popped into my head was

DAMN

[vbmoneyspender]

Nevada Sen. Harry Reid complained on the Senate floor that the memo had been "pilfered" by Republicans then leaked to the media, saying that act was just as offensive as anything revealed by the controversial document.

In other words -- "How dare you tell everyone what we really think."

[quesera]

Good!

Except for one thing, an apology is just not enough. I want those responsible for this plot to resign, nothing less will do.

These selfish traitors are out to undermine the security of this country in order to regain their power instead of protecting this country. I want these b*st*rds out of the Intelligence Commity.

[Chad Fairbanks]

S.C.U.M - Seditious Communist Unamerican Movement

[demkicker]

I've been following national politics very closely for 10 years now and this is the first indication whatsoever I've seen of any backbone from the pubbie Senate leadership. Where has Frist been for the last year is another discussion. Had he started out this way after Trent loser was removed, maybe we'd have some judges by now.

Yep, you're right.

[tet68]

Note to Rats.
Cock hammer.
Pull trigger.
Shoot foot.

My, my, looks like the investigation is put on hold, imagine that.

[BSunday]

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has temporarily disbanded the Senate Intelligence Committee

Holy smokes! (no offense intended to any New York lawmakers). He should also have Traitor John Rockefeller removed from it when he has it un-disbanded (is that a word? no? how about rebanded then? just plain banded? oh forget it)

[punster]

It certainly shows the democraps to be a bunch of political whores.

[StriperSniper]

This graphic is courtesy of bmwcyle.

;-)

[demkicker]

I can't wait for the Sunday political shows. The networks have squelched this story or given it minimal coverage. Now they have no choice but to give it air time and you know it just kills them.

[backhoe]

Hummm... see my tagline....

[jmstein7]

BUMP!

[San Jacinto]

we need to keep their feet to the fire.

That's the ticket all right. This is an issue the Dems are having a hard time spinning. Right now, any way they turn, they hit a brick wall. Consequently, they have employed the turtle defense, withdrawn into the shell, and are hunkered down for this to blow over.

With the committee shut down, at some point cbsnbcabcnytimeswashpost will have to report the story. (In fact, the compost has already had a small story).

They will try to spin it as Republican obstructionism, but that ain't gonna work. The 'Pubs can just keep the committee shut til the story has to break. (This may take two weeks, but it has to happen.) Then the Dems catch Hell.

So far, the Dems have totally mishandled this issue. They could have squirmed out on the second day with a mea culpa because the 'Pubs were wishy-washy. They missed the chance and have let the public outcry wash over them, giving the 'Pubs some spine.

Why have the Dems misplayed this so badly? It could be because the Memo goes straight back to HRC, and she has forbade Rockefeller from serving up her hack who wrote the Memo in the first place. Just maybe.

[StriperSniper]

The Sunday talk soup

I haven't heard the rest of the lineups, but Tony Snow last night announced that he is going to have Levin and Roberts on.

[Republican Red]

It's abouty time!

I was amazed that the toughest Republican on this issue was my Senator, Zell Miller(d).

Senator Kyl said on Hannity's radio show yesterday that the Senators were all being inundaded with faxes, calls and email. He Got IT. It sounds like others are getting it now.

Great news!