Taylor Marsh – TaylorMarsh.com – News, Opinion and Weblog on Progressive Politics

Frist and the Rubber Stamp Republicans

04 March 2006 10:02 am by Taylor Marsh

Frist and the Rubber Stamp Republicans

DUCK! Deadeye is back.

… “If attempts to use the committee's charter
for political purposes persist, we may have to simply acknowledge that nonpartisan
oversight, while a worthy aspiration, is not possible,” Frist said. Reid
said the way to end the partisanship is to stop yielding to the White House.
“The recent record of the Republican-controlled committee is most notable
for its abdication of authority and responsibility,” he said. … … Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.,
distributed the Justice Department's responses to 32 questions she raised
about the program, but she said she found many of the responses to be “vague
or misleading” on important issues facing Congress. “It raises serious
concerns about the credibility of the attorney general's office,” said
Feinstein, a member of the Judiciary and Intelligence committees. …
GOP:
Politics Blocking Survey of Spy Units

This
news must have pushed Frist and the rubber stamp Republicans into overdrive.
Bush and his bunch love
spying, so they're on a full court press to keep it in place. Oh, and if you think
Frist thought of this one on his own you need to stop drinking so much on
Friday night. Frist couldn't mount this kind of campaign if he
tried. Look in Webster's under feckless and you're likely to see a picture
of Senator Bill Frist.

Billy talking about “nonpartisan oversight” on a committee
that is run by Senator Roberts is hilarious. It's like telling Deadeye not
to drink with his drive-by hunters. And speaking of our inimitable vice president…
Senator Roberts
is in the pocket of Dick Cheney, who even Alberto
Gonzales says is more of an expert on the NSA illegal spying than he is.
It's not a stretch to believe Frist is getting his marching orders from Deadeye,
whose likely on the war path for a little payback, his shotgun loaded and
ready. Cheney, Frist and the rubber stamp Republicans in Congress are going
hunting and it's not just Democrats they're after. Anyone who bucks the boss
is going to feel the buckshot of Cheney's rage. Deadeye is likely the mastermind
of this illegal wiretapping push back, because it was his baby from the start, at least that's my take.

Glenn
Greenwald breaks down the facts, with lawyerly dissection.

The funniest line in the AP article above is that Senator Feinstein
is just now getting around to saying that there are “serious concerns
about the credibility of the attorney general's office.” You'd think
Abu Ghraib would have convinced her and everyone else of that one.

Evidently, the senators on the committee have their suspicions
confirmed that Alberto Gonzales knew about Bush's illegal spying program when
he was White House counsel. Senator Feingold is going to have an aneurysm. Meanwhile, Gonzales is playing nice with Jane Harman.

White House counsel Harriet Miers called
Harman on Wednesday, and Gonzales phoned yesterday, Harman said. She said
both of them “assured me that there is not a broader program or an additional
program out there involving surveillance of U.S. persons.”
Gonzales
Denies More Extensive Domestic Spying

As for Bill Frist leading the rubber stamp Republicans to block
real NSA hearings. We've all known this day was coming and no one should be
surprised.

Give
'em hell Harry Reid had a message, with back-up, for Frist and the Republican
rubber stampers.

March 1, 2006

Senator Bill Frist
Majority Leader
United States Senate

Washington, D.C.

Dear Senator Frist:

As you know, the independent, bipartisan 9/11 Commission
concluded in its report that improving and strengthening congressional oversight
of the intelligence community would greatly contribute to America’s
security. In the Commission’s view, effective congressional oversight
would help our intelligence agencies deliver the accurate and unbiased intelligence
that is so essential to America’s success in the global war on terror.

Despite the unanimous finding of the Commission
on this critical issue, I am concerned that the Republican-controlled Senate
Select Committee on Intelligence is still not providing the kind of rigorous
oversight urged by the 9/11 Commission and required by the Constitution
and the Senate’s Standing Rules. This Committee’s failure to
conduct oversight of critical and controversial national security decisions
by this Administration contributes to the perception that this Republican
Congress is unwilling to hold this Administration accountable for its mistakes
and missteps.

For example, despite the fact that the Bush Administration’s
detainee, interrogation, and rendition policies have increased the risk
to our troops and contravened or ignored international law, Chairman Roberts
has blocked an investigation.

The Committee has a similar record on another issue
of critical significance to our troops and our security — how the Bush
Administration used, and perhaps misused, intelligence to sell its case
for war with Iraq. Although more than two years have passed since the Chairman
grudgingly consented to launch an investigation, the Committee has yet to
interview key Administration officials, let alone produce a report.

Finally, I am particularly concerned with the Chairman’s
inaction on the Bush Administration’s efforts to conduct domestic
surveillance on American citizens without a warrant. I strongly support
efforts to take down Al Qaeda and other international terrorist organizations
but believe we must do so in the most effective means possible. However,
I am concerned that by choosing to launch a program based on a shifting
and questionable legal rationale, President Bush has jeopardized its effectiveness
by increasing public awareness of this highly sensitive program, jeopardizing
terrorist prosecutions, and dividing the American public whose support is
critical for any effort we undertake against terrorists. Attorney General
Gonzales’ letter to the Senate yesterday is the latest demonstration
of how the Administration’s shifting rationale for this program has
raised concerns that are causing members on both sides of the aisle to request
a full and complete investigation.

I understand that Chairman Roberts committed to hold
a committee vote to launch an investigation of the Administration’s
NSA program on February 16th.. Despite the Chairman’s repeated assurances
that he would permit such a vote, ultimately he refused to allow the committee
to do so. Press reports indicate the Chairman reneged on his promise to
hold a vote after heavy White House pressure.

I understand that the Chairman has reversed himself
again, and has promised a vote for March 7th. This vote will be a critical
test of whether this Republican-controlled Congress can conduct critical
oversight of the Bush Administration, the intelligence community, and a
Bush Administration surveillance program that has raised many legitimate
concerns. While I appreciate the Chairman’s commitment to this vote
occurring on March 7th, further procedural maneuvers to delay or prevent
reasonable and thorough oversight by the Intelligence Committee on the Administration’s
handling of pre-war intelligence or the NSA matter would be a troubling
development that would require the attention of the full Senate.

In the post-9/11 world, America cannot afford a Congress
or a congressional committee, especially one as important as the Senate
Intelligence Committee, to become lax in its duties. I hope you will agree
that the committee is too important to our national security for us to allow
it to become an extension of the White House public relations operation,
and that you will do everything in your power to ensure the March 7th vote
takes place.

Sincerely,
Harry Reid
Democratic Leader