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.

[Sgt_Schultze]

Babs McButch of Maryland is up this year for reelecton. The Sun is intent, as always, on helping her remain in the Senate.

[Southack]

"Sunday morning - still a non-story to the major media... there's no bias, nope, no sir, none at all."

Yes, but that's the beauty of it all.

You see, if this scandal could be "spun" to make Republicans look like the villians here, then the traditional ABC/CBS/NBC/NPR/NY TIMES news media would be all over it. It would be headlines. It would be non-stop coverage 24/7.

But it's not, and that tells us that the news media wants to try to downplay this whole incident (to protect their own side).

Their desire to keep quiet and let this scandal blow over, however, is a pipe dream. Frist has shut down the Senate Intelligence Committee. Even the left-wing news media can't keep quiet about that fact...and when mentioning that the Intelligence Committee is shut down, they have to touch on the obvious question of *why* it has been shut down, and that brings this whole scandal squarely into the public's view.

Moreover, by trying to keep quiet, the major news media have lost control over the direction and spin of this scandal. Talk radio, internet forums and blogs, as well as Fox News are already on top of this story, as is the Wall Street Journal. Grudgingly, the rest of the news media has to tag along now. US News and World Report will probably hit it next, followed by USA Today. Then TIME and Newsweek will finally have to cover it, and that will force the rest of the news media to finally give it coverage...at which point it's far too late to credibly "spin" this scandal.

Which means that this incident has teeth. Somebody's going to get bitten before it all calms down.

[ironman]

Disbanded?

AP:"Frist's comments suggested that the committee will speed up the work in light of the Democratic memo. On Tuesday, Roberts said it would be difficult to complete an interim report before the Senate adjourns late this month or in December. He said he didn't know if a draft report could be circulated among committee members before they return in January. But Frist said Friday he and Roberts determined that the review will be finished this year."

How could this be if the committee is out of business? Frist cannot disband the Senate Intelligence Commitee as Newsmax wrote. Certain aspects of the investigation may be on hold but the Committee certainly still exists.

[EternalVigilance]

Which means that this incident has teeth. Somebody's going to get bitten before it all calms down.

I agree.

[DanTheAdmin]

"Babs McButch"

LOL!! I love it... and it's so accurate!

[Merdoug]

Ummm, in my opinion, this has nothing to do with growing a spine. When it comes to passing conservative measures, the limp backbones are readily apparent in Congress. The difference here is that Frist and the other Republicans were PERSONALLY insulted by the Democrats' conduct. It was a purely selfish reaction.

[DanTheAdmin]

"Which means that this incident has teeth. Somebody's going to get bitten before it all calms down."

You bet. And we, the grassroots, need to keep this simmering!

[OldFriend]

And all that wonderful tax cut legislation........

[OldFriend]

Wolf Blitzed had Rockefeller on for an extensive interview last week. Since I was channel surfing I don't know if Blitzed had a republican on too.

[Destro]

This shows me that the United States is dead the way the Roman Republic was already a corpse before Caesar crossed the Rubicon. The legislature was supposed to be an equal partner of power through the checks and balance system under the constitution. We can no longer trust those we elect to represent us under the constitution and while we trust the president, an imperial presidency also foretells the death knell of the Republic. We won't feel it right away. The Roman emperors for centuries ruled under the pretext of the republican system.

I blame this on the American people who elect inferior people from an inferior ruling class.

[dixiechick2000]

"I bet it's some heretofore HATED and REVILED, by the likes of us, Dem SENATOR, who just couldn't stomach ( for some reason or aother ) this garbage. Everyone, after all, has their limits."

We may loathe some of them because of their political bent, but that makes them no less patriotic. I'm sure there are dems who can not stand that their party has been hijacked by those on the fringe left.

It's going to be interesting to watch this play out, and learn who the players involved are. But, we may never find out which hero gave Sean this memo.

[rwfromkansas]

Impressive.

Very shocking to see Roberts get angry.

That's who I voted for, Roberts...

[rwfromkansas]

That's it....I am putting this on the front page of the college paper. I normally don't put national stories in there, but with the committee being disbanded, this is big news now.

If the media ignores this now, they are clearly in league wtih the Democrats. If this is not newsworthy now, I don't know what is.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Democrats circled the wagons on Friday

Can't help but circle the wagons when you only have wheels on one side !

[rwfromkansas]

It appears you are correct.

According to Roberts on FNC, SOME work will continue on the committee, implying some has been stopped.

But, Newsmax did some incorrect reporting.

[putupon]

What's the matter with Frist, he doesn't want to play with Hanoi Jay and friends?

[Tired_of_the_Lies]

bookmark

[Humidston]

Be still my heart.....Senator Frist, HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE!

[Paul Ross]

Frist has a SPINE!!! WHO KNEW?????

My reaction PRECISELY.

[snopercod]

Spine is good. Testicles are even better.

In the unlikely event that Frist et.al. grow a set, maybe they will demand an actual filibuster instead of a FINO.