Posted on 02/13/2007 2:55:41 PM PST by calcowgirl
White House spokesman Tony Snow says he wants "cooler heads" to prevail and "facts" to be presented in the flaring dispute over the sentences imposed on two former U.S. Border Patrol agents.
Snow was responding to a question from WND correspondent Les Kinsolving at the daily White House press briefing yesterday.
Kinsolving asked: "Sen. (Dianne) Feinstein has been authorized by Judiciary Committee Chairman (Patrick) Leahy to lead a Senate investigation of the case of former U.S. Border Patrol Agent Ignacio Ramos, who was assaulted by four other inmates in the federal prison in Yazoo City, Miss., about which Sen. Feinstein said this – and this is a quote – 'I urge the committee to look into why these agents are not being protected in the federal prison system. It is not hard to predict that two federal agents would be targeted in a prison population.'
(snip)
"You know, this is a time when cooler heads ought to prevail and facts ought to be presented," Snow replied. "Therefore, we're perfectly happy with anything that will reveal the facts of this case. I think there are efforts ongoing and may yield fruit quite soon to get the full transcripts of the trial of agents Campion and Ramos out before the public, every syllable. You and your guys can read them. You know, obviously, we're concerned about the safety of anybody in the prison system."
The two agents were charged, tried and convicted of shooting a fleeing drug smuggler in the buttocks. They were given sentences of 11 and 12 years in jail, while federal prosecutors granted the drug smuggler immunity to return to the United States and testify against the law enforcement officers. The circumstances of the case have outraged many concerned over the problems of illegal immigration and running drugs from Mexico into the United States. Dozens of members of Congress as well as several activist groups have called for the officers to be pardoned.
The White House so far has rejected those demands.
(snip)
Scott McClellan may be a nice guy, but nice guys finish last and his damage was massive and a PR Disaster. I think it was a major contributing factor to the losses in 2006.
GOD BLESS TONY and we know he is working hard and smartly.
Look, only this week, the transcripts being hidden came out into the open and, WOW! Friday they are filed. Lets just ratchet the heat up, it must be helping. I see SNOW melting!(gosh what a knee slapper)
"that is definitely bad news"
And totally NOT a surprise. He's hoping the whole matter will die away.(no pun intended)
We should keep up the pressure and hope Bush throws off his stubborn steak.
sw
Yup. We've gone from "transcripts not released"=conspiracy to "transcripts not released quickly enough"=conspiracy to "transcripts released"=conspiracy. Who needs a cool head?
What testimony and report are your both referring to?
The DHS-OIG report WAS heavily redacted. Additionally, while it listed 93 exhibits, it included only three. That's some heavy exclusion, IMO.
As to court transcripts, I've only seen one and it is not redacted at all. But there are at least 31 separate transcripts for this case, including one covering Sealed Proceedings.
I'm referring to the DHS report.
"I'm very disappointed in our administration in how they're handling this."
At a minimum, it creates the appearance of very widespread corruption in CBP and DHS, at a time when domestic terrorist attacks are not just a possibility, but a likelihood. I'm of the opinion that it's more than just mere appearance, myself. If they can be bought to look the other way for one illegal substance, they can be bought to look the other way for other illegal substances.
That link goes to an article in the LA Daily News. I couldn't find a mention of transcripts in that article or on the El Paso Times web site.
Let's stuff him into prison for dissing the public, and see hoe cool his head is.
It's not in Snow's job description to make the policy. He's the spokesman, not the President. He can only talk about what the President's policy is.
To be perfectly honest I wonder what this WH is thinking about this atrocity.
I truly do.
Mr. Bush's "approval rating" has been so savaged by the quislings that at this point he has absolutely nothing to lose if he granted a full pardon to those two gentlemen, and reinstated them, today.
If and/or when the liar-quislings asked "Why" he did what he did.
He can tell 'em & they'll be forced to report exactly what he said.
"So, let's see half-a-dozen investigations in each Congressional Chamber and get to the truth of the matter."
If I understand you correctly, we're hearing the unblanched truth now & more with the passing of each day.
This administration had better get ahead of this, this is one blunder they can avert.
"[I'd bet the truth wouldn't show too favorably on...]"
No, it wouldn't.
Yet the irony here is it's the truth -- & only the truth, at this point -- that can set 'em all free.
...& especially the imprisoned agents.
And, of course, it was authored by the same woman who was caught lying to Congress. Nuf said.
Frank Luntz , Repub pollster said every time that Bush said that stupid clique " There doing the work Americans won't do !" The result was to drive thousands of blue collar repubs to stay HOME ! That is why so many repub did not want him to campaign for them . That was Tony Snowe in charge of that stupid and insulting message !
while you're sitting behind your pc nice and cozy;
there are Marines & BP agents incarcerated.
NOW THAT'S "DISGUSTING!"
I'm sorry--I clicked in the wrong window when I did the cut and paste:
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_5216466
You bet I do, Phil.
This has all the "sincerity" of that skinny punk's patronizing advise while the poor guy's guts spilled-out at his feet.
BTW.
...NICE to see you, pal! ;^)
No, too few people are aware of how this stems from the problem of planned saturation of the southern US with dirt cheap labor to destroy our economy.
"And you are saying the DHS Report was not redacted?"
I read the thing. Even the name of the road that Aldrete-Davila abandoned that van on was redacted. It was shot through and through with redactions.
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.