Posted on 12/20/2005 10:58:25 AM PST by slowhand520
Roberts Rakes Rockefeller - Tuesday, December 20, 2005 @ 12:53:30 PM
Yesterday, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), co-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee (and probable source of many leaks of secret information) released a hand-scrawled letter he had written to VP Cheney two years ago after being briefed on the NSA domestic intel effort. Rockefeller, trying to score political points, raised the letter as proof of his doubts about the NSA program, and that his hands were tied, unable to do anything about it. This morning, Intel Committee Chair Pat Roberts (R-KS) released this statement which blows Rockefeller out of the water:
"I am puzzled by the release yesterday of a July 2003 letter from Senator Rockefeller to the Vice President regarding the recently exposed intelligence collection program, which was authorized by the President shortly after September 11, 2001.
“In his letter and accompanying press statement, Senator Rockefeller asserts that he had lingering concerns about the program designed to protect the American people from another attack, but was prohibited from doing anything about it.
“A United States Senator has significant tools with which to wield power and influence over the executive branch. Feigning helplessness is not one of those tools.
“If Senator Rockefeller truly had the concerns he claimed to have had in his two and a half year old letter, he could have pursued a number of options to have those concerns addressed:
1. First, he could have discussed his concerns with me or other Members of Congress who had been briefed on the program. He never asked me or the Committee to take any action consistent with the “concerns” raised in his letter.
2. Second, he could have raised objections with the Vice President during one of the many briefings we received. I have no recollection of Senator Rockefeller objecting to the program at the many briefings he and I attended together. In fact, it is my recollection that on many occasions Senator Rockefeller expressed to the Vice President his vocal support for the program. His most recent expression of support was only two weeks ago.
3. Finally, he could have pursued any number of legislative remedies. He chose to pursue none.
“Senator Rockefeller could have taken any of these approaches to adress his “lingering concerns.” He did not. He chose instead to write a letter to the Vice President and for two and a half years, keep a copy of the letter in the Intelligence Committee vault and say nothing to anyone.
“For the nearly three years Senator Rockefeller has served as Vice Chairman, I have heard no objection from him about this valuable program. Now, when it appears to be politically advantageous, Senator Rockefeller has chosen to release his two and a half year old letter. Forgive me if I find this to be inconsistent and a bit disingenuous.”
So do we, Sen. Roberts. So do we.
Posted By: Jed Babbin
Bump.
Good post.
His concerns didn't stop him from flying to the Middle East to warn that an attack on Iraq was imminent. Disingenuous POS that he is....
" Forgive me if I find this to be inconsistent and a bit disingenuous.”
Forgive me if I think that Jay Rockefeller is ( again) the source of the leak of highly classified material which has endangered national security.
Forgive me if I hope to see Jay Rockefeller frog marched off to Leavenworth.
A nice sock in the mouth. Way to go, Roberts
Rockefeller is an ass.
Looks like Sen. Roberts won't be having Navy Bean Soup with Sen. Rockefeller in the Senate cafeteria anymore.
Good post. Another news item showing a Dem to be a liar. No doubt it'll be front page news tomorrow on the NY Times or CBS programs.
I love this guy!
"His most recent expression of support was only two weeks ago."
LOL. Rockefeller will respond by saying "Um, I was too stupid to figure out what the Administration was briefing us on, so I just agreed with it. Yes, that's it."
It's not really whether he had concerns or not.
If he had concerns, they evidently weren't large enough to force the issue.
Sweet. Just damn sweet.
This Roberts guy looks like a straight shooter, and I think he just hit Rockefeller right between the eyes.
Jay Rockefeller has all the qualifications of being called a SCUM BAG !!
wasn't he the one who went to syria before the war and told them that we definately WOULD invade Iraq?
I do soooo apologize for the nitwits representing WV.
GOP_Proud(WV) (shaking head)
fact, it is my recollection that on many occasions Senator Rockefeller expressed to the Vice President his vocal support for the program. His most recent expression of support was only two weeks ago.
Busted!
BTW, did Cheney ever get that letter? Just curious if that was verified. I wouldn't be surprised if he never even sent it.
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