Posted on 10/12/2004 11:28:30 AM PDT by wallcrawlr
WASHINGTON-- Sen. Mark Dayton said Tuesday he is closing his Washington office because of a classified intelligence report which made him fear for the safety of his staff.
Dayton, D-Minn., said the office will be closed while Congress is in recess through Election Day, with his staff working out of his Minnesota office and in Senate space off Capitol Hill.
``I take this step out of extreme, but necessary, precaution to protect the lives and safety of my Senate staff and my Minnesota constituents, who might otherwise be visiting my Senate office in the next three weeks,'' he said on a call with reporters.
``I feel compelled to do so because I will not be here in Washington to share what I consider to be an unacceptably greater risk to their safety,'' he said.
Dayton said he could not describe the contents of the top-secret intelligence report, which was presented to senators at a briefing two weeks ago.
``None of us can predict the future,'' he said. ``I hope and pray that the precautions I've taken will prove unnecessary.''
Asked what advise he would have for Minnesotans who want to travel to Washington over the next few weeks, Dayton said, ``I wouldn't advise them to come to Capitol Hill. I would not bring my two sons to the capitol between now and the election.''
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
First-thread ping.
I was on Capitol Hill last Friday. Kind of jolting to see a group of 7 policemen walking around on the streets with automatic weapons being held at ready positions.
"I wouldn't advise them to come to Capitol Hill. I would not bring my two sons to the capitol between now and the election.''
===
My guess is a serious and credible threat of a nuke or at least a dirty bomb being detonated.
Go here for some inane blathering and utter LOONINESS>
http://www.stjoan.com/homilies/dayton9.1.02.htm
"If We’re So Right, Why Are There So Few of Us Left?"
Senator Mark Dayton
Sunday, September 1st, 2002
In 1968 I turned 21 and I voted for President of the United States for the first time. Earlier that year I’d watch my first political hero, Robert Kennedy, murdered on television in front of my eyes and something inside of me was kindled then in my conscience and my consciousness. If somebody told me as I cast that first vote that I would spend 24 of the next 36 years of my life under 5 Republican Presidents, the other 12 under 2 Southern Democrats, I would have joined the Space Program and asked for a one-way ticket past Pluto!
I’ve learned that to become effective in public affairs, you have to become a realist. But to remain effective you have to remain an idealist. And I need reminders and consolation and inspiration. Which is why I like the Bhagavad Gita, which I take metaphorically in its references to warriors and battles and wars, not literally. But I like that Arjuna is a warrior, a trying, doubting, questioning, agonizing mortal, facing something big that he is feeling not ready for and wondering if it is the right thing to do; if he can do it, and even whether he will survive it.
It sounds like Dayton's "Terror Alert Level" has moved to brown.
Either he is a girly-mon or he knows something. If he knows something, all of us ought to know.
He simply doesn't want to vote for something before he votes against it
Well, this was predictable. Scare tactics from now until Nov. Notice, not one word of congratulations or happiness for the Afhani's and their election. It happened on some other planet. The RATs ignore it as hard as they can. Despicable, thy name is RAT.
I'm not sure - I assumed it was still a "representative" form of government. You may be right..I'm too little to be allowed into such hallowed halls! **grin**
You know what this means?
It means Sen. Mark Kennedy (R.-Minn.) in 2006.
"Hey, I didn't run for the Senate to get blowed up -- out of my way, I have to get to my bomb shelter, peasants!"
The hissy-fit is based on info he received in a security briefing two weeks ago.
By DNC standards, this guy is presidential material.
Update quote:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/10/12/politics/printable648878.shtml
Dayton issued a written statement that complained of inaction by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.
"On three occasions, I have spoken personally with the majority leader and asked him to convene a meeting of all Senators to discuss this situation. I am dismayed, and perplexed, by his unwillingness to meet with us further about the information, which he initially brought to our attention. In the absence of that further discussion, I have made my own decision about my office, as is my responsibility," Dayton said.
Is he the only one? If so, he is a major league fraidy cat.
(insert scathing commentary critical of outright cowardice and ulterior political motives of the opposing political party here)
The Marine Corps Marathon is will be run on the 31st of October by 18,000 people. When I signed up for it I expressed concern for such a target-rich environment, and was told (on the forum, not by anyone official), that I was a small minded racist for wondering if Middle Eastern runners with, well, large "fanny packs" would be subject to anyone's attention.
So I wasn't sure if I really wanted to run it this year. Then I developed plantar faciitis and had the decision made for me.
I guess that makes me a small-minded racist pussy.
-PJ
Hey Markie, how's about you stay out of Washington for the next two years til the republican challenger ousts you?
According to the official position of the Democratic Party, the responsibility for preventing terrorist attacks falls exclusively upon the Governor of Texas and must be exercised at least one year before any terrorist attack actually occurs.
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