Posted on 06/02/2006 8:11:43 AM PDT by Carl/NewsMax
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King is lashing out at his fellow Republicans in Washington after Homeland Security Czar Michael Chertoff cut anti-terrorism funding for New York City, warning Thursday morning that unless the cuts are restored, he'll launch an investigation into what he called "orgies" involving CIA agents at the Watergate hotel.
"[The cut] to me raises very serious questions about the judgment and the sincerity of the Department [of Homeland Security] and everything they do," King told WABC Radio's John Gambling. "If they can't get something like this right, how can we trust them to get anything right?"
King then threatened: "So I am going to be investigating them from top to bottom and one clear example is this whole scandal with [ex-]Congressman Duke Cunningham, which has now unfolded to include orgies at the Watergate hotel."
Last month, a top advisor to former CIA Director Porter Goss was forced to resign after admitting that he attended poker parties at the Watergate arranged by a lobbyist-friend of Cunningham's, where published reports claimed that prostitutes were present.
But there have been no allegations that anyone engaged in "orgies."
Still, an angry King vowed to blow the lid off the scandal, saying it involves "prostitutes and booze and gambling and CIA agents."
"People were driven to the Watergate hotel for these orgies in limousines," King claimed. "The limousine company is owned by a convicted criminal that lost their previous contracts with school districts because they were incompetent. And the Department of Homeland Security gave them a $21 million contract to drive their top officials around Washington."
The New York Republican continued to fume: "They could find $21 million to give to a company owned by a criminal which drives around pimps and prostitutes, and they cut $80 million for the city of New York.
"That says to me a lot about their judgment," he added.
Responding to King's complaint, Homeland Security spokeswoman Tracy Henke told Gambling that New York City had received $568 million in federal security funding since 2003 - on top of the $20 billion in reconstruction aid earmarked to help rebuild lower Manhattan in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Why wasn't I invited to any of these orgies? I'm cool. I'm "hip."
This guy is really unhinged. Further proof New York State is a sewer of liberalism that should be abandoned to Canada. I guess this loser thinks pork money to New York is all we need to prevent terrorism, not a functioning and enabled intelligence service which he in his pathetic temper tantrum is proposing to embarrass and hobble with some tabloid investigation. Good job idiot. Get a life you insufferable demagogue. (Keep in mind folks, this is the same vomit spewer who lead the charge against DWP. Those of you who joined forces on that embarrassing spectacle, here's the kind of guy you allowed to whip up your passions, Peter King.)
Where's the popcorn?
"prostitutes and booze and gambling"
Sounds like the Whitehouse during a Democratic Administration.
So that means that means that because the Dems did it it's ok? If he really believes this stuff he should investigate no matter how much money they give NY.
By the way, I'm not really a newbie and certainly not a DU troll. I just changed my screen name when I moved.
Yep, that's the way the game is played in DC. I'm just surprised that King is stupid enough to say it in public. Whata moron he's publicly telling the DHS that if the CIA wants to continue having orgies at the Watergate they better fork over some loot. I can see it now DC hookers lobbying congress for increased funding for New York. You really can't make this stuff up
That sure reads like a threat.
If there were orgies, what business is it of yours, Mr. King?
Didn't these people have parents who taught them right from wrong? Some of them apparently don't have much more in the way of honesty than a common criminal does.
There is no way to guarantee security and just because some projects are completed hardly means the threat is greatly reduced.
The demand will not drop but in fact may grow larger as other soft targets are chosen.
Peter King is 100% right to be making this fight. He's correct on the merits of the case and his criticism of how the formula was determined. He's correct on criticizing Homeland Seucrity officials who claimed that NY wanted to spend the money outside of the approved methods.
Peter King let that official have it and said NY can demonstrate the appropriate expenditure of ALL funds.
Peter King is right on immigration and also security here.
And God Bless him for it.
What I wrote is a threat? I didn't intend to be. Just an observation - should nyc get hit hard by terrorists again, and I expect that's bound to happen, the admin will be caught looking bad.
The GOP MELTDOWN continues........
Yes, even if true this is no way to behave. These are supposed to be adults and not only that, but leaders of the most powerful country in the world.
Making statements like (and I paraphrase) "I will make them pay" and "I will launch an investigation of the CIA and orgies" is petty and immature and done just to keep his face on the TV.
If there were orgies taking place, they should be investigated, and that is irrelevant to the funding issue.
King is demanding a bribe.
Agreed. It should be investigated no matter how much NYC gets in HS funding. King has revealed quite a bit about his character here.
Which organizations does he support?
Why?
I'm not sure how this money which is largely for first responders would go to preventing terrorism really. This kind of funding is more about responding after the fact, not preventing terrorism to begin with which is largely a federal function. Peter King is just in a hissy because in an election year they love to be seen bringing home the pork. The states are awash in money, let them start paying some of their own way. Of course New York is probably not one of them since it's so terribly mismanaged under the weight of liberalism's high taxes and regulations. Maybe that's what Peter King ought to be working to expose, rather than some incredibly lurid investigation based on rumor mongering.
Anyway, trust me, DHS and the administration could give a blank check to New York to run up a bill on the federal credit card the skies the limit for terrorism funding and still the media and their Democratic allies would find a way to attack and blame the administration if another attack occured on the state. Trust me when I say that script was written long ago and is only waiting to be pulled out of the drawer, just like with Katrina.
Why?
It's a tough job Carl, but someone has to do it.
The pitch...McGruff swings, it's a hit to center field . . . it's going . . . going . . . SMACK INTO THE JUMBOTRON! HOME RUN FOR MCGRUFF! YOU CAN HANG A STAR ON THAT ONE, BABY!
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