Posted on 02/07/2006 1:58:19 AM PST by balch3
The White House has been twisting arms to ensure that no Republican member votes against President Bush in the Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigation of the administration's unauthorized wiretapping.
Congressional sources said Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove has threatened to blacklist any Republican who votes against the president. The sources said the blacklist would mean a halt in any White House political or financial support of senators running for re-election in November.
"It's hardball all the way," a senior GOP congressional aide said.
The sources said the administration has been alarmed over the damage that could result from the Senate hearings, which began on Monday, Feb. 6. They said the defection of even a handful of Republican committee members could result in a determination that the president violated the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Such a determination could lead to impeachment proceedings.
Over the last few weeks, Mr. Rove has been calling in virtually every Republican on the Senate committee as well as the leadership in Congress. The sources said Mr. Rove's message has been that a vote against Mr. Bush would destroy GOP prospects in congressional elections.
"He's [Rove] lining them up one by one," another congressional source said.
Mr. Rove is leading the White House campaign to help the GOP in November’s congressional elections. The sources said the White House has offered to help loyalists with money and free publicity, such as appearances and photo-ops with the president.
Those deemed disloyal to Mr. Rove would appear on his blacklist. The sources said dozens of GOP members in the House and Senate are on that list.
So far, only a handful of GOP senators have questioned Mr. Rove's tactics.
Some have raised doubts about Mr. Rove's strategy of painting the Democrats, who have opposed unwarranted surveillance, as being dismissive of the threat posed by al Qaeda terrorists.
"Well, I didn't like what Mr. Rove said, because it frames terrorism and the issue of terrorism and everything that goes with it, whether it's the renewal of the Patriot Act or the NSA wiretapping, in a political context," said Sen. Chuck Hagel, Nebraska Republican.
GWB has all the RINO Senators in the Oval Office.
Outside is a Black Limo for everyone of them.
He tells them you are with me or against me and you have 5 minutes to decide. If not, the Limo will take you to DNC HQ and you can change party affiliation. He leaves the room in silence and comes back in 5 minutes.
I can't take these blow-veating self important windbags any more. We are better of with out them and start over.
The one that gets me the most is Collins from ME. Her stance against the Dividend Tax Reduction made permanent is enough to enact the Glenn Beck Duck Tape Alert on my head. The 90's malfeasance of the Tyco's and Enrons was enabled by the punitive tax climate towards dividends and the games played with retained earnings to do something other than pass the profits back to the shareholders because of the higher taxes. Although it took corrupt men and women to do this, does she want to foster an environment for it?
This article is so full of crap I thought it was written by Doug Thompson.
Insight is MSU.
Well, "sources" at Insight say the "vote" is one which would allow the Senate to impeach.
What a useless article/editorial/press release or whatever.
IIRC there was another editorial posted from "Insight" a couple of weeks ago that was controversial. What is the deal with that publication?
Absolutely baffling,what context is government supposed to frame it in?
Insight is spending way to much time at DU.
It is kind of a flakey conspiracy threory publication. Has some interesting stories, but needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
sources....sources...sources. I refuse to give credence to "sources said" anymore. The bar for journalism has become non-existent. And thanks to the internet, we can now see what statements have been taken out of context and fed to the masses.
Hagel, what in the HELL do you think is driving the Dem attacks against the Bush Admin in this matter? POLITICS.
You may have heartfelt concerns about this, but don't assume the Dems are approaching this as anything but a way to gain political advantage in an election year. And it would be failing miserably except that RINO idiots like you cannot see what it up and are giving this much more traction than it deserves.
If you have concerns, well, guess what, you're a pubbie. You can call up the prez and voice them behind the scenes and he would listen to you. DO THAT. But NOOOO, you are so in love with the sound of your own voice and that wouldn't get you face time on the Sunday talk shows, would it?
A tad late for this dont'tcha think? When they had the chance to support a true conservative running against Sphincter in the primaries they chose Sphincter. The same with the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee. Now he is sticking it up their butts.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.