Republicans Clash Over 9/11 Panel

Reuters ^ | 4-16-04

[Indy Pendance]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two leading congressional Republicans on Friday accused the commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks of descending into partisan finger-pointing instead of examining problems that made the hijackings possible.

"Partisan mudslinging, circus-atmosphere pyrotechnics, and gotcha-style questioning do not get us closer to the truth. They serve as dangerous distractions from the global war on terror," House of Representatives' Majority leader Tom DeLay said in a letter to the commission.

DeLay of Texas and Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, a member of the House Republican leadership, said in separate letters the commission had lost credibility, with some members more focused on stating opinions than getting information.

But Thomas Kean, the Republican chairman of the panel, defended its work and denied politics played any role.

"None of our votes have been cast on partisan lines," he wrote in a letter of his own. "All of us are striving to achieve a set of recommendations that can win the support of all commissioners," Kean added.

"We are committed as well to the integrity of our work. The commission has clear written guidelines on conflicts of interest," he said.

DeLay and Cantor made their charges after the Republican Bush administration came under tough questioning in hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday for what some commission members called a complete intelligence failure ahead of the attacks that killed about 3,000 people.

The bipartisan 9/11 commission, which is due to report to the nation in July, has issued a series of highly critical reports on what it sees as a succession of failures leading up to the attacks.

But Cantor said commissioners appeared more focused on blaming individuals than finding flaws in how the government functioned, and its "myopic approach is too concentrated on pointing a finger at a single action or an individual rather than examining the long-term, systemic problems that led us to 9/11."

Another Republican, House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, on Wednesday called on a Democratic panel member to step down because of a conflict of interest.

Kean dismissed the request as "silly," noting that panel member Jamie Gorelick had recused herself from everything related to her previous role as deputy attorney general in the Clinton administration.

DeLay echoed Sensenbrenner's complaints, saying if Gorelick "enhanced and helped formalize the very policies that may have created barriers to preventing the 9-11 attacks, a profound conflict of interest would appear to exist."

he New York Times reported on Friday that the White House was considering getting a jump on a potential commission recommendation by adopting a plan to create a new post of national intelligence director, centralizing authority now in several departments and agencies.

Asked about the Times report, White House spokesman Scott McClellan disputed any suggestion that the administration might try to "preempt" the 9/11 commission's findings.

But he sidestepped questions about whether the administration was focusing on the idea of a national intelligence director.

"We never rule out when steps might be taken, if they're related to protecting the American people," he told reporters.

[jerod]

Who the heck picked this pussy Thomas Kean to be the Republican Chairman?

This nitwit seems to be more supportive of the sleazy DemocRATic tactics, than a bonafide DemocRAT would be. He makes at least one stupid statement a week that leaves you wondering if he switched parties at some point, and forgot to tell the Republican Leadership before they appointed him.

And why is this always the case with Republicans? DemocRATs appoint attack dogs and Republicans appoint pushovers. The only reason they probably appointed Kean was because Jack Kemp, the master of non-partisan ignorance, must have been too busy to participate.

The most pathetic non-action by this fool was allowing people to clap during testimony. That made me want to puke, and it’s supposed to be his job to bang the hammer and request order. He couldn’t even figure that out, so the man must be a complete idiot and fool to boot.

[ChocChipCookie]

How much of the information this Commission has received has been polluted by Gorelick and her minions? What relevant documents will never see the light of day? Whatever "conclusions" the Commission reaches will forever be tainted by that woman's corrupting influence. No wonder GWB wasn't in favor of this. He knew it would turn into a ludicrous circus.

[Ben Chad]

They were allowed to boo and clap during Rice's kangaroo session, but not for Reno, et. al.

[mickie]

How many GI's have been killed because of them?

That is my fear also.

Did President Bush approve of this commission and the members on it? How can that be?

[jerod]

I just figured it out. Hillary has his FBI file.

I guess he'd hate to have those pictures of him cross-dressing out in public. So Ben Venom-nista says jump and he says how high.

Bill & Hill took very little heat over taking those files and the info they gained just keeps paying and paying.

[Indy Pendance]

"Hillary has his FBI file. "

Everything points to the Impeached Administration.

[Mo1]

My question is how in the world did he get appointed head of the commission?

I'm not exactly sure how he got picked .. but Henry Kissinger was originally suppose to head the commission but Dashole and other dems threw a hissy fit and started yelling about a conflict of interest because Kissinger served on the boards of several organizations

And yes there is also a conflict of interest with Gorelick and the law firm she works at .. but you will have to talk to Tommy Dashole about that .. he put her on the commission

Kissinger resigns as head of 9/11 commission

[jerod]

I don’t watch hardball because I can’t stomach Chris Mathews, but I guess he was discussing the subject of Gorelick and I highly doubt that anybody even brought up the fact that Henry had to resign do to conflicts of interest.

Besides, only republicans do the right thing when it comes to these things. DemocRATs think they have the God given right to ignore conflicts of interest.

[Mo1]

As I agree with you .. I have to also say that Sen. Mitchell stepped down because of conflicts

To bad the other dems on the panel could take the same lead as Mitchell

[Liberty Valance]

I had forgotten about Kissinger's early role. Thanks for the reminder. This Commission, as it stand now, has lost most of it's credibility and any conclusions it may reach will be at least suspect.

[Mo1]

http://www.9-11commission.gov/about/bio_roemer.htm
Timothy J. Roemer
(snip)
He was the key author of the legislation in the House of Representatives to establish the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.

[mickie]

I have been fearful that the 911 Commission would come out right before the election causing much of trouble for Pres Bush.
But now I believe that the so called nonpartisan commission is losing all it's starch.........so to speak!

[taxesareforever]

The 9/11 commission ranks right up there with Barnum and Bailey. The only thing missing is a ticket booth.

[spokeshave]

" but Dashole and other dems threw a hissy fit and started yelling about a conflict of interest because Kissinger served on the boards of several organizations"

Yes but doesn't Gorelick serve on the board of Schlumberger.....? ...a major oil company...

[Liberty Valance]

Roemer worked for DeConcini in AZ?

IIRC Reomer played the Sleezaphone in the High School band.

[:o{=

[spokeshave]

Jamie S. Gorelick, 53, is a partner in Wilmer Cutler Pickering LLP, an international law firm since July 2003. Gorelick was vice chair of Fannie Mae, the largest source of financing for U.S. home mortgages from May 1997 to July 2003, Washington, D.C. She is a director of United Technologies Corporation, a provider of high technology products and services to the aerospace industry, where she serves on its Audit, Finance and Public Issues Review Committees. She also serves on the Harvard Board of Overseers, and the Boards of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, America’s Promise, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. She is a member of the National Commission on Terrorism Attacks upon the United States. Gorelick has served on the Schlumberger Board of Directors since 2002.

[Ann Archy]

Kean gave the finger to everyone by saying "stay out of our business"...he is one HIDEOUS Repubican. I EXPECT Democrats to be awful....I don't expect Pubbies to be.

[HammerLane]

DeLay is a 3 dollar bill.

[Ann Archy]

Kean owns the kneepads, but she has ALL of their FBI files that she got from Hillary!!

[Travis McGee]

Ben-Veniste's investigators must have some great pics of Kean wearing a dress getting spanked by the leather lads.