Daschle, Lott Oppose Polygraphs

Yahoo News ^ | 08/04/02

[Libloather]

Daschle, Lott Oppose Polygraphs
Sun Aug 4, 2:52 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate leaders agreed Sunday that members of Congress should not submit to lie detector tests as part of an FBI investigation of intelligence leaks.

"I think it's a bad idea. I think that it's an infringement constitutionally on the legislative branch. And I don't think there's much support for it," said Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

The Republican leader, Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi, agreed the "separation of powers is certainly a difficult one" but that lawmakers should heed Bush administration warnings about leaks.

"I have to say that the thing for members of Congress to do is to keep their mouths shut when it involves sensitive and classified information," said Lott, who appeared with Daschle on ABC's "This Week."

The FBI investigation was requested by congressional intelligence committees after news organizations reported details of Arabic conversations intercepted by the National Security Agency on Sept. 10. The conversations made vague references to an impending attack on the United States.

FBI officials have said polygraph tests are a standard investigative technique and are always voluntary.

[Libloather]

"Mr. Daschle, would you ever lie during a polygraph test?"

"No."

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt!

[martin_fierro]

Lott's probably afraid the polygrapher will slip in a question like, "Have you ever fantasized about sex with a man?"

[Jesse]

This crap about the FBI investigations some how being an infringement on the legislative branch...

So who or what is supposed to conduct criminal investigations into crimes committed by the House and Senate Lords and Ladies?

Does this mean the Senate and House members should be exempt from going to court and being tried and convicted for such crimes as fraud or bribery or, even murder?

Lott is as big a moron as Daschle, and probably as crooked to boot.

[Barnacle]

These are the simple rules:

1) The rule for the Ruled - "Polygraph tests are a standard investigative technique and are always voluntary."

2) The rule for the Rulers -"I think it's a bad idea."

Government of the people, by the people, for the people?

Let’s not be naïve people. If you have any doubts about “they” think of “us”, just check out the retirement packages "they" have set-up for themselves with our money.

[doc]

This refusal speaks volumes about what kind of representatives we have. Wake up sheeple!

[bjcintennessee]

Congress is constantly making new laws and rules that apply only to us peons, never to themselves. It was reported that the possibility of having to take a lie detector test was in the initial agreement for those who serve on the "intelligence" committee. Yet when push comes to shove, well....

Just think how popular any of these senators would be if they stepped forward with a statement, "I'll be glad to take it, I've got nothing to hide" -- Oops! Nevermind, I forgot we were talking about politicians.

[brat]

Well I don't oppose, and I think most citizens feel the same way...in fact it should be mandatory to the office.

[teletech]

I KNEW Dashole would refuse a poly but I was hoping Lott had more sense AND more honesty. I was wrong. Sad.

[chiefqc]

Voters, remember them on election day.

TIME TO TAKE OUT THE TRASH AND FLUSH THE TOILET.

[joyful1]

Neither one would ever pass. Neither would most of the Beltway crooks.

[AmericanCompatriot]

Voters, remember them on election day. TIME TO TAKE OUT THE TRASH AND FLUSH THE TOILET.

I put my money on most, if not all of the disgusting politicians being re-elected. After all, someone was stupid enough to put them in office in the first place.

Besides, if they lose the favor of their "legal" constitutients, they can take a few lessons from Boxer, Feinstein and Davis, the Communist leaders of the west. All you have to do is get a group together to vote on behalf of dead people, sign up illegal immigrants at the voting booths (and bribe them to vote, when necessary), and you can always toss a few voting boxes out into the Pacific Ocean if need be. That may be a bit difficult for Daschle, so perhaps a cliff in the Bad Lands will serve its purpose, instead.

Keep marching Pink-O's of America.....taxed income for the rich!!!!!

[Samwise]

Congress is constantly making new laws and rules that apply only to us peons, never to themselves.

Help me here. Wasn't part of Newt's Contract with America going to make all laws apply to the CongressCritters as well as the peons? Whatever happened to that?

[Samwise]

I'm afraid that placing in hope on Lott is setting yourself up for a letdown.

[tcostell]

The lights would dim inside the beltway if they gave a polygraph to congress members.

Then again, it probably wouldn't be effective anyway, because if I understand correctly, a polygraph works by detecting the physiological differences between a person when they are lying and telling the truth.

Ergo... no effect.

[coloradan]

Congress is constantly making new laws and rules that apply only to us peons, never to themselves. It was reported that the possibility of having to take a lie detector test was in the initial agreement for those who serve on the "intelligence" committee. Yet when push comes to shove, well....

Caste system alert: Socialist Insecurity, gun control, polygraphs, etc ...

[CounterCounterCulture]

Polygraphs are unreliable.

http://antipolygraph.org/

[teletech]

I'm afraid that placing in hope on Lott is setting yourself up for a letdown.

Oh how right you are!

[Bill S]

Please read this excerpt from Rich Galen. I think it makes eminent sense and puts into perspective the Senators' refusal.

---

* At issue is the fundamental doctrine of our
Constitution known as the „separation of
powers,‰ a phrase which does not appear
anywhere in the document.

* The framers of the Constitution were eager to
create a system of governance different from
England‚s where, under its Parliamentary
system, the Prime Minister is the head of
government and, as such, appoints the cabinet
ministers. When the Parliament changes
parties, the ministers change as well.

* An important part of the „separation of
powers‰ doctrine is what is known in Your
Nation‚s Capital as „the speech and debate
clause‰ of the Constitution.

* It is officially Article 1, Clause 2,
Section 6. The applicable portion reads:
[Members of the House and Senate] shall in
all cases, except treason, felony and breach
of the peace, be privileged from arrest
during their attendance at the session of
their respective Houses, and in going to and
returning from the same; and for any speech
or debate in either House, they shall not be
questioned in any other place.

* There was a time when being privileged from
arrest going to and returning a session was
interpreted as being immune from parking
tickets in the District of Columbia but, alas,
the days of borrowing your boss‚ car to have
lunch downtown, knowing you wouldn‚t get a
ticket, are long gone.

* The reasoning behind this clause was to
prevent an out-of-control Executive Branch
(read, „The Crown‰ back in the late 1700‚s)
from using its police powers to either jail
enough members of Congress to stop the Congress
from doing business, or using its police powers
to intimidate Members of the legislative branch
into doing its bidding.

* Forcing Members of the House and Senate to
undergo polygraph tests by the FBI comes
perilously close to providing a method of
intimidation, and sets a dangerous precedent.

* Representatives and Senators should not have
to pass polygraph tests conducted by the
Executive Branch. That‚s the check.

* In return, they will give up some of the
moral ground they own in demanding highly
classified information from the Executive
Branch. That‚s the balance.

* Checks and balances. That‚s the way our
system works.

[gaffin]

If it is good enough for common people then they are too good for it. Liars don't like taking polygraph tests.

[putupon]

but I was hoping Lott had more sense AND more honesty.

With Republicans like Lott, who needs Democrats?