Posted on 07/21/2005 10:02:40 PM PDT by CHARLITE
A funny thing happened on the way to the nation’s highest forum last week. After Harry Reid attempted to use the well of the U.S. Senate to advance his party’s frivolous attempt at ousting Karl Rove for outting Joe Wilson’s wife, GOP leaders actually fought back. After four years of quietly beating the minority to a pulp behind the scenes and at the ballot box, Bill Frist and company exhibited a rare public display of political payback.
Amid the undulating and ever-changing accusations of Republican skullduggery, the liberal left--ever reliant on its faithful media wing--has finally turned its attention away from the balmy climes of Guantanamo Bay and focused on its favorite beltway bogeyman, Rove.
Against this latest threat to national security, Democrats sent the steely-eyed sniper Reid and his poisoned legislative pen to write the following amendment (#1222) to the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill:
"No Federal employee who discloses, or has disclosed, classified information, including the identity of a covert agent of the Central Intelligence Agency, to a person not authorized to receive such information shall be permitted to hold a security clearance for access to such information."
Faster than you can say ''ex post facto law.'' the majority leapt into action. Cherry-cheeked assassin, Mitch McConnell then asked that the Frist Amendment (#1223) be read:
"Any federal officeholder who makes references to a classified Federal Bureau of Investigation report on the floor of the United States Senate, or any federal officeholder that makes a statement based on a FBI agent's comments which is used as propaganda by terrorist organizations thereby putting our servicemen and women at risk, shall not be permitted access to such information or to hold a security clearance for access to such information."
Childish though this Durbin-for-Rove tit-for-tat may seem, it marked a rare defiance by Republicans in the face of the liberal mud-slinging machine. Right wing supporters have clearly longed for some red meat from their senate leaders and have generally come up hungry. Not this time. Even the usually staid Pat Roberts, summing up the facts of the case, got worked up:
“What we have here is a Special Prosecutor with a lot of leaks; we have a reporter in jail for a story she did not write; we have a steady stream of leaks about every aspect of this case; we have the Washington press corps in full attack mode; and, finally, before we have all the facts known, we have my colleagues across the aisle calling for Karl Rove's resignation, if not incarceration. So much for the presumption of innocence. “
And McConnell on Joe Biden: “Statements on the Senate floor--out here on the Senate floor--comparing our service men and women to tyrannical regimes that result in risking their safety must not and should not stand. I hope when the Senate has an opportunity to address both of these amendments shortly, the Reid amendment will be defeated and the Frist amendment will be adopted.”
Of course, both amendments failed as sanity was restored after ninety minutes of partisan hijinks and rhetorical flourish concluded. But the political ''gotcha'' game continues with the left’s jihad against Karl Rove, even as the GOP shows signs of using their own tactics against them. And it’s not as if some current Democrats haven’t had their own run-ins with security issues in the not-too-distant past.
Harry Reid underhandedly alluded to “a problem” in the confidential FBI files of judicial nominee Henry Saad. John Kerry let slip the name of an undercover CIA officer in a question to John Bolton at his confirmation hearing, even as Mr. Bolton tried to cover up the gaffe by referring to the agent as ''Mr. Smith'' in his reply.
And who, but Democrats, can forget former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger, who pleaded guilty to stealing and destroying classified material in advance of the 9/11 Commission report and then lied about the whole matter? Berger, who was a sure bet to receive a high cabinet post in the Kerry administration had there been one, was forced to leave his post as campaign advisor on matters of foreign police and national security.
Which all leads back to another Kerry campaign advisor, Joe Wilson, who joined the team just prior to his first star-turn, the fatuous ''sixteen words'' tour in 2003. Shortly after hitting the hustings, diplomat Wilson said, “I don't care who you vote for, but get out there and caucus. Don't leave it to the neoconservatives and evangelical Christians.”
Out of mothballs after failing to spur his candidate to victory, Wilson is once again making the media rounds as a left wing darling, even though most of his allegations have been discredited. This has never stopped Democrats from attacking the president, his administration and his party. But this time they may have a fight on their hands.
About the Writer: Lisa Fabrizio is a freelance writer from Stamford, Connecticut. Lisa receives e-mail at mailbox@lisafab.com.
And who, but Democrats, can forget former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger, who pleaded guilty to stealing and destroying classified material in advance of the 9/11 Commission report and then lied about the whole matter? Berger, who was a sure bet to receive a high cabinet post in the Kerry administration had there been one, was forced to leave his post as campaign advisor on matters of foreign police and national security.
"...diplomat Wilson said, “I don't care who you vote for, but get out there and caucus. Don't leave it to the neoconservatives and evangelical Christians.”"
Ohhhh, but Joe Wilson has no biases against the Bush administration does he???? When he says this he is even more disingenuous (i.e., even more of a LIAR) than when groups like "Rock the Vote" (ultra-liberal) claim they are 'non-partisan' in promoting voter participation (when their whole focus in upon improving turn-out for the 'Rats).
Wilson is a fraud through-and-through....
I was never more proud, though shocked, in the Republicans last week.
At their own determinance, own creativity without injection of spine at our instigation the Republicans stood up for themselves, Rove, us and hit the Democrats back hard. They buried them last week so badly what would have been a PR move for Dems parroted in the MSM for weeks was buried the next day.
It gives me hop for the future, love how many came out swining for Roberts immedaitely as well. Maybe they are finally starting to realize what we did last November? That we are the majority, they are the Minority.
A faint glow in the darkness in DC...
In all fairness, the amendment offered by Frist was unconstitutional. As sickening as Durbin and Biden are, they are allowed to say whatever they'd like. The fact that terrorists choose to use those words later cannot be held against the Democrats legally, though of course it's morally reprehensible that the Dems would say things that could be used in such a way.
"If they pull a knife, you pull a gun!" Sean Connery, The Untouchables.
Kill A Commie For Mommie
Seven Dead Monkeys Page O Tunes
This is clearly a chance for a three-fer -- Sandy Berger, Dick Durbin "the Turbin", and "flower power" John Kerry.
Let us be like the elephant, and not forget the treachery of these names and their acts. So help us Godd -- for the sake of our troops and our nation...
I am not so sure that is true in the context of the war on terror. Treason and sedition are still crimes...what the definition of that is unclear because no one had the spine to uphold these laws even in the WWI era. It really is an interesting topic. Look up Smedley Butler who was arguably one of the US greatest war heroes ever who, after he retired, put John Kerry' anti-war delusions to shame.
All hail CHARLITE for two nights in a row!
And btw, where is faTeddy K's report on GITMO? I knew that when it was announced late last week, one of two explanations would apply. Either he'd find what the other dim weenies finally found out last week, and he'd have to be embarrassed to agree with them. OR he'd fabricate some kind of screed about us covering up and putting on a show. Or he never went at all, and hoped no one would notice that he'd made the announcement late in the news week. OK, three things....
Thanks for the ping. Great article!
After all this time we are led to believe that the republican leadership has finally grown a set of nads?
I find that hard to believe.
from your keyboard to God's email.
Faster than you can say ''ex post facto law.'' the majority leapt into action. Cherry-cheeked assassin, Mitch McConnell then asked that the Frist Amendment (#1223) be read:
"Any federal officeholder who makes references to a classified Federal Bureau of Investigation report on the floor of the United States Senate, or any federal officeholder that makes a statement based on a FBI agent's comments which is used as propaganda by terrorist organizations thereby putting our servicemen and women at risk, shall not be permitted access to such information or to hold a security clearance for access to such information."
Sounds like Grampa Dave's proposal to never allow liberals to serve in our military and to revoke the security clearance of all liberals in congress.
"I am not so sure that is true in the context of the war on terror."
That's kind of a scary thing to say. Remember what we're fighting to protect -- not just our lives, but our freedoms.
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