Kean Interest

The American Spectator ^ | 4.16.04 | By The Prowler

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Kean Interest

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Published 4/16/2004 12:07:59 AM

According to a Republican staffer on the 9/11 commission, growing public and pundit outrage over commissioner Jamie Gorelick's failure to disclose the existence of a Justice Department memo, had chairman Gov. Tom Kean asking Gorelick yesterday morning if she would think about stepping aside. "The word is she was asked whether she might consider it and she flat out shut him down," said the staffer. "We're in an extremely difficult spot on this." Gorelick's conflict of interest came to light on Tuesday afternoon, when a newly declassified 1995 Justice Department memo written by her when she was serving as Deputy Attorney General was presented to the commission by Attorney General John Ashcroft during public testimony. The memo, which mandated policy that, as it turned out, made it almost impossible for counter-terrorism investigators to pursue the 9/11 plot before it unfolded, surprised Gorelick's fellow commissioners and staff because, staffers said, she never disclosed its existence to any of them. Kean's quiet attempt to press the issue on Gorelick's situation comes at a time when there were mounting calls for the former Clinton political operative to step aside from not only the House Judiciary Committee chairman James Sensenbrenner but families of 9/11 victims concerned that the commission's report would be tainted by her presence. Those families were also calling for Gorelick to be called before the committee to explain her role in devising a legal impediment that contributed to the intelligence and law enforcement failures to combat and prevent terrorist acts. But according to former Clinton staffers, it's doubtful Gorelick will budge. "She's on that commission for a reason, and it isn't because of her brilliant legal mind," says a former DNC and Clinton White House staffer. "She's there to make sure Bush and his team look as bad as possible and to protect the Clintons and Reno." It isn't just Gorelick who is now in hot water. Based on their remarks on Wednesday and Thursday, both Kean and fellow commissioner, former Sen. Slade Gorton are taking heat from 9/11 families for telling critics during TV interviews to stay "out of our business." Those remarks came in response to questions about Gorelick's conflict of interest. "We've got to get these guys out of the limelight," says the Republican 9/11 staffer. "Kean has enjoyed the media spotlight a little too much. Remember, most of these guys are has-beens. They haven't experienced this much attention in years. In a matter of two days they have managed to undo six months of good work that was done under the radar screen. A few more days of this and the commission's work will be tainted."

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[ALOHA RONNIE]

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GOELICK won't resign because she has been placed on the 9/11 Commission to protect the Enemy Within CLINTONS and RENO in Time of War.

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[Freedom4US]

"Thank you for your email to the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Due to the volume of correspondence and our available resources, we regret that it is not possible to respond to each piece individually and personally. Please be assured that your correspondence will be forwarded to the appropriate staff members for further study. We appreciate your taking the time to share information with the Commission as well as your thoughts, concerns, and opinions and encourage you to continue to follow its work. Information about past and future Commission activities is available on our website at www.9-11commission.gov."

[Humidston]

I wonder WHO put her there? Do you know?

[Spotsy]

What kind of chairman "asks" someone if they will resign?? Who is he trying to kid?

Exactly! Kean isn't in charge. Roemer, Gorelick, and Ben-Veniste are running the show.

[MEG33]

Daschle, I believe, put her on the commission.

[FranklinsTower]

This commission is about to implode.

There is no escaping the fact that Gorelick should be testifying on why and for whom she wrote or signed off on that memo.

Furthermore, she is a stones throw away from obstruction of justice by not making the commission aware of the existence of this memo. The conflict of interest could not be more obvious.

Kean has a choice, kick Gorelick off the commission and force her to testify in public -- which may save what ever little credibility the commission has left -- or go down in history as the disgraced chairman of the kangaroo 9/11 commission. In a matter of days he'll be forced to do the first option.

Judging from this article, the commission staff may threaten resignations if Gorelick remains on the commission.

[HarryCaul]

Well, let's be honest. She's been the pocket ace the Republicans have been holding in reserve. They knew what her role had been, and they saved it for the right moment.

There was a couple of weeks of buildup, setting up "the wall" as one of the major factors in allowing 9/11. Why do you think that was? Yeah, they were setting up this fall.

The commission *is* discredited now, and it was a brilliant play all around. As a bonus for them, the also ended Gorelick's career, whereever it may have been leading. But the main thing was to play out the commission.

Once again, Bush's team has been revealed to be rife with tactical political genius. From the 2000 Election on, they've run circles around the clowns running the Dem side. It's been most educational.

[Lancey Howard]

A few more days of this and the commission's work will be tainted."

"Will be tainted"???
Uh, the whole thing has been a sick, partisan witch-hunt for some time now. It's a farce and its credibility is long gone.

Time to cut bait and shut it down. Now.

[PhilDragoo]

Gorelick blocked the FBI from apprehending two of the nineteen hijackers and preventing the attack the commission is investigating.

The commission has found the smoking gun and can go home.

Except for Gorelick who is remanded to a tall, burning building.

[Spotsy]

Which 9/11 families?

Surely the "Jersey Girls" don't want one of the anti-Bush commissioners to resign.

[MamaLucci]

Oh, yeah....she's making Kean and Gorton look like love-struck teenagers.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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Just like HILLARY got DASCHLE to quietly appoint her to the Senate Armed Services Committee last year...

I'm sure HILLARY got the DNC to press hard for CLINTON Protectors GORELICK and BEN to be put on board the 9/11 Commission as well.

Just like CLINTON Impeachment Defense Attorney BENNETT disgracefully now sits on the Catholic Church Bishops' National Review Board on Priestly Sexual Abuse.

...Uh, Over.

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[Happy2BMe]

> > Tall, burning building.

hehe. . They have been caught - and early. The hearings aren't even a week old yet.

Ashcroft slammed 'em - slammed 'em hard.

Real hard.

[untwist]

Probably the best thing that can happen is that she stays on the committee. It only amplifies the fact that the committee is political and tainted beyond repair.

By the way, Sensenbrenner is to be commended for doing the right thing and coming out with the call for resignation. Frist and Hastert should be out there pushing this. You don't see a huge chorus of Congressional Dems screaming in favor of Gorelick. Anything that draws more attention to Clinton's disgraceful and incompetent policies regarding the Terrorism problem is a sure loser to the donkeys.

[abner]

Place marker.

[MamaLucci]

Kean has a choice, kick Gorelick off the commission and force her to testify in public -- which may save what ever little credibility the commission has left -- or go down in history as the disgraced chairman of the kangaroo 9/11 commission. In a matter of days he'll be forced to do the first option.

I do hope you're right, because from what I've seen thus far, not one of these people have the character to do the right thing.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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Actually it was my fellow Veteran of the 1965 Battle of the IA DRANG Valley, RICK RESCORLA, that was remanded to a tall burning building that he NEVER got out of after his saving 1,000's of lives on 9/11.

See our U.S. 7th Cavalry's Petition for President BUSH to award RICK RESCORLA the Presidential Medal of Freedom:

http://www.lzxray.com

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[ladyinred]

But according to former Clinton staffers, it's doubtful Gorelick will budge. "She's on that commission for a reason, and it isn't because of her brilliant legal mind," says a former DNC and Clinton White House staffer. "She's there to make sure Bush and his team look as bad as possible and to protect the Clintons and Reno."

BINGO! That is exactly what I thought.

[nopardons]

bttt

[nopardons]

Thanks for the ping.:-)