Rockefeller Memo Revisited: Why Reid Did What He Did?

NickQueen.com ^

[sonsofliberty2000]

Yesterday Senator Harry Reid forced the Senate into a closed session to discuss "an investigation of the intelligence underpinning the 2003 invasion of Iraq"

Afterwards they came out, and said that three members from each party would:

appoint a bipartisan group of senators to assess the progress of the "Phase 2" probe, the office of Majority Leader Bill Frist said.

The three Republicans and three Democrats are to report back to Senate leaders by November 14.

Reid immediately stated that his three Senators were Durbin, Rockefeller and another Senator (still looking for the official list). This concerns me, mainly over Rockefeller. Why, you ask?

Well let's go into the Wayback Machine and see what Rockefeller was concerned with this time two years ago:

We have carefully reviewed our options under the rules and believe we have identified the best approach. Our plan is as follows:

"1) Pull the majority along as far as we can on issues that may lead to major new disclosures regarding improper or questionable conduct by administration officials. We are having some success in that regard.

"For example, in addition to the President's State of the Union speech, the chairman [Sen. Pat Roberts] has agreed to look at the activities of the office of the Secretary of Defense, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, as well as Secretary Bolton's office at the State Department.

"The fact that the chairman supports our investigations into these offices and cosigns our requests for information is helpful and potentially crucial. We don't know what we will find but our prospects for getting the access we seek is far greater when we have the backing of the majority. [We can verbally mention some of the intriguing leads we are pursuing.]

"2) Assiduously prepare Democratic "additional views" to attach to any interim or final reports the committee may release. Committee rules provide this opportunity and we intend to take full advantage of it.

"In that regard we may have already compiled all the public statements on Iraq made by senior administration officials. We will identify the most exaggerated claims. We will contrast them with the intelligence estimates that have since been declassified. Our additional views will also, among other things, castigate the majority for seeking to limit the scope of the inquiry.

"The Democrats will then be in a strong position to reopen the question of establishing an Independent Commission [i.e., the Corzine Amendment.]

That is correct, a memo trying to politicize the war intelligence. So now let us ask ourselves if this is still being carried out. I think so.

[kidd]

Rush talking about this

[PeterFinn]

Anything to distract from the Alito nomination and keep the pot boiling over Iraq.

Effin' traitors the Democrats are.

[sonsofliberty2000]

The memo? Heck, don't have a radio near me!

[sonsofliberty2000]

ping

[txhurl]

bttt

I thought Hillary!'d authored that gameplan.

[gondramB]

bttt

[CharlesWayneCT]

Roberts read the memo into the record in the senate yesterday after the closed session ended.

Also note that the republicans agreed only that 6 senators could check on the progress of the phase II investigation. This did not set up a new investigation, or require any work on phase 2. It is a fact-finding group to check what's going on with phase II.

We of course already know what is going on with phase 2. It was largely done in May, but the democrats wanted to put hundreds of quotes from white house officials and show how they compared to actual intelligence (to show "distortion").

The republicans, rather than deny the democrats that opportunity, merely said "Ok, but we will also include hundreds of quotes from democrat senators on the same issues.

The democrats balked at that, so there has been a fight ever since, and the report has sat unfinished.

Two days ago Roberts told the democrat staff that it was time to finish this up, there would be a week of hearings and then the report was coming out November 14th.

The next day, Reid pulls this stunt. I believe this is to argue that when the report comes out, it will "prove" what reid said yesterday, since there will be no evidence of wrongdoing.

[silverleaf]

In response to this fiasco, I think Sen Pat Roberts said that, regarding part 2 of his committee's investigation, whatever flew off the fan would have to be cleaned up.

I think he was implying that the democrats should have been careful what they asked for...they will not be "pleased" by the findings in the report of Senate findings the dems are demanding be expedited.

[patriciamary]

Did the republicans go on TV and tell the public about this memo?

[Yosemitest]

Here's the reason why they did it, explained by the best mined in politics ... today.

See I Told You So: Senate Democrats Call Closed Session on Libby

November 1, 2005

Download Windows Media Player

Listen To Rush Conduct Broadcast Excellence (Highly Recommended by Poster)

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT

I see it on the screen now. I see it. The Democrats -- is just the Democrats or the whole Senate?
Okay, okay.
Rule 21 has been invoked by the Democrats. The whole Senate is in session behind closed doors. It's a closed session. Harry Reid invoked Rule 21 to discuss the Libby indictment and to pursue the notion that this prewar intelligence was known to be untrue, that Bush lied. Democrats are unhappy that Fitzgerald did not indict on this basis, so they are going to make it happen. I told you this was going to happen.
Folks, it's uncanny!
When are you doubting Thomases going to finally wake up and admit I know what I'm talking about?

After the past two weeks I've had, I don't understand how anybody could ever call here and disagree with me about anything. I predicted this to you.
I predicted whether they get the indictment they want or not, they're going to still proceed on a policy basis as though Bush lied -- and now they've invoked Rule 21 and they've got the Senate in closed session dealing with the notion the investigation, the Libby indictment, and what does it mean for the fact that president lied us into war.

END TRANSCRIPT

Read the Article...

(AP: Democrats Force Closed Meeting on Iraq)

---

So Democrats are obstructing because they... are unhappy that Fitzgerald did not indict on this basis...(to pursue the notion that this prewar intelligence was known to be untrue, that Bush lied)... , so they are going to make it happen.

Where's the backbone of the Republican Senators? Tell the Democrats to go pound sand. Everything the democrats want, they get? To hell with that.

The Republicans should block every move the Democrats want, and infuriate them more. Make the Democrats explode in rage. Then laugh at them in their faces as they continue to lie about everything. The Democrats don't realize just how angry the 'flyover country' has become with them.

And to those 'Demoacrats-In-Disguise' commonly called RINO's ... you better watch out, because the Republican Party has your number and your campaign cash is about to be diverted to your primary competitor.

NOT ONE PENNY!!!

I'm angry enough to pledge money to real conservatives who will run against these RINO's and replace them. How about $100.00 a head?

I encourage everyone to attack!

Lincoln D. Chafee of Rhode Island
Office Locations

United States Senate
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(401) 845-0700

Susan M. Collins of Maine
Senator Susan M. Collins
172 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Phone:


Washington, D.C. Office (202) 224-2523

Augusta Office (207) 622-8414
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Olympia J. Snowe of Maine
Senator Olympia J. Snowe
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John W. Warner of Virginia
Contacts for all offices Washington Office Address:

225 Russell Building
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Telephone:
(202) 224-2023
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Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.


John McCain of Arizona
contacts
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United States Senate
, Washington DC 20510

Phone: (202) 224-2235
Fax: (202) 228-2862

Phoenix
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Phone: (602) 952-2410
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Phone: (480) 897-6289
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Tucson
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Phone: (520) 670-6334
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Lindsey O. Graham of South Carolina
contacts for all offices
Washington Office
290 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5972 phone

Upstate Regional Office
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Golden Corner Regional Office (part-time)b 135 Eagles Nest Drive, Suite B
Seneca, South Carolina 29678
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Senator Mike DeWine, an Ohio Republican
contact for all offices
Washington, D.C. Office
140 Russell Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2315
Fax: (202) 224-6519
TDD: (202) 224-9921

---

Someone tells me.

We've got Graham and DeWine off the Gang Of Seven - McCain is sitting on the fence along with Warner but they'll probably end up voting for Alito. That leaves the Weak Sisters and Chaffee on the other side.


("Denny Crane: Gun Control? For Communists. She's a liberal. Can't hunt.")

I'm still watching, though, and not yet convinced.

[silverleaf]

not yet. My reading of the tea leaves is that part 2 of the fault finding will point to intelligence flaws created by or otherwise tied back to the Clinton administration.
Which is why, contrary to Harry's snit yesterday, the democrats have been stonewalling finalization and release of this committee's report!

And limp wrist Frist takes another one in the shorts.

[balch3]

A state of insurrection exists in the Senate Democratic leadership. Reid should have been arrested yesterday.

[Matchett-PI]

"Rush talking about this"

Yep! The transcript of what he said will be at his web site later today.

For those interested, you may listen to Rush on line at one of these links:

WLS

WABC

KFI640

Rush Limbaugh.com

[Paul_N_Lakeside]

I second that!

[sonsofliberty2000]

What did he say, essentially?

[ladiesview61]

Rush is saying the Dems hatred for Bush and his administration,is so ingrained in their thoughts...and the fact that Bush "lied" about weapons of mass destruction,is so cemented in their minds, that they can't see or face reality. He's loving how they are imploding right before our eyes. He said he lives for this day...
Rush just loves these "see I told you so" moments. haha

[sonsofliberty2000]

Nothing about this memo though?

[ANGGAPO]

Is this the biggest Witch Hunt that has ever been held by congress?

[mtntop3]

Reid and Jay Rockefeller are asses. Rockefeller's secret memo reeks of a conspiracy which would in effect undermine the U.S. government and put to risk its citizens in time of war including our great men and women serving in the armed forces.