“Is there any aspect of President Bush’s miserable record on intelligence that Senator Pat Roberts, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is not willing to excuse and help to cover up?” a New York Times editorial today asks. The Times is mad about how slow our Kansas senator has been in completing an investigation into the use of prewar intelligence on Iraq by the White House. But it is furious about Roberts’ decision Thursday not hold a vote on whether to have an inquiry into the administration’s secret wiretapping program. Instead, Roberts said he is working with the White House to revise the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to permit warrantless spying. “Stifling his own committee without even bothering to get the facts is outrageous,” the Times wrote.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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41 Comments
And we are surprised?
Why bother quoting them. If it is a Republican, the Times is always frothing at the mouth, as you are well aware.
Nice to see Brandon, presumably a Republican, kowtowing as usual to the Presidential cult of Personality.
Could it be that the whole ‘anti-Big Government’ ‘conservative’ thing was just a pose so long as the GOP wasn’t the government?
For all he has done to damage the independence of the Senate, Senator Roberts ought to resign and join the Bush Administration.
“Old Rubber Stamp” never fails to do the bidding of his White House masters.
Roberts is the hunched back, smarmy Smeagol in this fantasy-land government of ours–hissing, “yesss, Master, we loves our preciousss” whenever Bush says something.
PL,don’t forget the heavy petting he gives Bush’s “precious”.
Good one PL. I was thinking more like darth cheney
“(hisss) Pat….(hisss)….I am your father…(hissss)….you must do my bidding….(hisss)”
That is the solution. We should have made a law that presidents can engage in sexual activity in their home (WH, right?) with whomever they want. Then, why would Kennie have needed to care and Clinton needed to protect his private life?But, no, in case Bush broke the law, let’s just make it not illegal instead of finding out if he broke the law. Can they do it, retrospectively?
I have had the great pleasure and priviledge of visiting each of our congresmen and senators of the past 15 years in Washington. The best I’ve ever been treated by any of them was by Senator Roberts. Both as a congressman and a senator. The worst I’ve ever been treated by any public official was by Dan Glickman.
We are very lucky to have a Senator like Robert’s working for our state.
Hank
Gee Hank, do ya think Dan knew ya?lololololol.
Somewhere in America, an man in Massechusetts is sighing because he cant vote out Pat Roberts… and somewhere in Kansas, a man is wishing he could vote out Ted Kennedy. Funny stuff.
Of all the Congressional and Senatorial staffers I have spoken with, none has been as rude as those working for Roberts. When I called to register my disapproval of the President’s unconstitutional Domestic Spying program, the staffer responded, both patronizingly and defensively, that it must be working, since there had been no further attacks. We argued for a few minutes, and then the question occured to me: since when is it the staffer’s job to argue with constituents who want to offer comments? I had to point this out to get him to shut his mouth.
The hell with Pat Roberts. He belongs in jail, along with the unamerican President to whom he has sworn an oath of fealty.
Oh Yea, Dan knew me! He remembers me too!
Hank
Do we expect anything less from Roberts?
Pretty soon you’ll be seeing Bush in a decrepit Emperor Palpatine outfit, Cheney in a Darth Vader outfit, and Roberts in one of those snazzy Nazi-esque Imperial officer’s uniforms. Did I mention the army’s new stormtrooper look?LOLOLOLOL!
Hank, perhaps Dan saw you for the mindless troll you are and felt nothing of any importance could come from some one as insignificant as you.
K,
We know that is how you feel, no need to impose it onto Dan.
As compared with the “significance” of K? Is he consulted by the UN, the World Bank, many heads of state and the Pope?
Funny..someone on a blog in the middle of Kansas accusing someone else of being “insignificant”.
An attempted put down turns out to be rather pathetic…if it weren’t so funny.
It was a real eye opener to my wife and I when we wrote emails to the Senator to express our opinions on some issues. We were not naive enough to expect a 3 page personal response but we did expect some form of response that at least indicated our opinion had been acknowledged and counted by someone in his office. What we got was a canned email telling us thanks for supporting his stance on the issue we just blasted him on.
devsterAnd you were what, surprised? You expected to be recognized by someone who claims to represent the people? Hopefully your naivete has graduated to a more realistic understanding of the conceit of politics and politicians.
Roberts will pander to who can get him the money and votes to continue his fleecing of American freedoms. I applaud your writing the letter detailing your thoughts on this subject; had you sent dólares, you would have received a personal reply. Trust MOTHER.
Mother…
And that is different than other politicians in what way? When I lived in California, I tried to contact both Feinstein and Boxer many times…and always got canned responses..regardless of the topic of my initial letter.
Why are you singling out ONE politician when most of them, Republican AND Democrat, do much teh same thing???
raptor,”Hopefully your naivete has graduated to a more realistic understanding of the conceit of politics and politicians.”
Before you start something you can’t handle, you should fully read a post, and learn to absorb the truth it contains. The use of plurel, as in “politics” and “politicians” normally designates a multiplicity.
Anything else, sweet cheeks?
Mother,There was nothing in my post to warrant your pseudo-intellectual blather. Nor was there anything justifying your belittling tone. Nor was there anything suggesting that I am incapable of following your rather simplistic thoughts.
Why is it so difficult for anyone to have a mature conversation on this blog without insults, berating, name calling and various other juvenile tactics?
Looking the other way is contagious in Republican parties these days. The Plame treason affair, Bug gate, FEMA gate, lots of scandle …. little action! Even Republican hunting parties are looking the other way these days!
raptorOh my, is someone feeling insulted? You are indeed correct, however, one should read a post completely prior to making statements that fail to include the main points of said post. If you can’t, or wont, decifer a simple post, than responding with question the post already answered; well, the door is open, isn’t it?
You want an intelligent conversation? Learn to interpret what is already written and quite asking redundant questions.
As for “pseudo-intellectual blather”? Do big words make you feel inferior? Size DOES matter. I can write in single syllable words, though, if it will make you feel better.
Thank God for Senators like Hillary; maybe she’ll stop the ludicrous sale of our port terminals to the U.A.E.! Seems Pat is just waaaay to busy trying to cover Bush’s Butt.http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060217/pl_nm/security_congress_ports_dc
Sounded like Roberts is going to cut his own deal with the Administration, on whatever terms they find desirable. I used to have some respect for Roberts before he got so involved running interference for Bush and Cheney.
Mother,You can use big words. Just don’t bring any humongous cucumbers to the argument.ROTFLMAO!
Raptor “offended” over someone “belittling” him . . . oh, the humanity . . . cue the violins . . .
And then the disingenuous “why do people have to be so mean on this blog?”
Funny how conservatives only feel someone’s pain when it’s THEIR PAIN.
Stop being such a smart-ass, Raptor, and maybe people will treat you in like manner.
As for me, I like being a smart-ass so I’m just going to keep on doing it.
Cheerio, sweet cheeks . . .
One thing, if Roberts, Tiehrt and Brownback are re-elected then Kansas will truly desserve every thought that this state is full of nuts. Truly a home for the Phelps, never would I have thought the likes of a Kansas Congressman or Senator would betray the United America. Are we sure that this is a government by the people, for the people?
Raptor seems to spend a lot of time being offended. As for hurt feelings, maybe that’s just his compasionate conservative side showing through. If one is thin-skinned, this blog probably isn’t a place one wants to hang out.
Well, what do you know about that: Senator Pat Roberts argues that Bush’s Domestic Surveillance program SHOULD be brought under the jurisdiction of the FISA Court.
http://nytimes.com/2006/02/18/politics/18nsa.html?hp&ex=1140238800&en=1c887f193bbd87fd&ei=5094&partner=homepage
I’m not sure how to take this. It is possible that this is some sort of temporary ploy to make Roberts look less beholden to the White House, in order to buy credibility that can then be used to capitulate to the Administration’s policy. But it may be that Roberts has decided to exercise the power of his office, and to employ the power of his office to hold the Administration to a Constitutional standard.
Time will tell precisely which game Roberts is playing. Provided he is sincere, he must have realized just how bad it made him look to be the lead drone in Congress pushing for the Administration’s agenda. The fact that the House is going through with its own Intelligence Committee investigation probably made him feel exposed and alone in defending the program.
CF, I read the article. Do you suppose lapdog Roberts might grow a set of balls?
Na, what was I thinking? He’s a bought and paid for lackey.
Is this a political ploy to get around the courts decision that the details of the NSA spying should be turned over to them by March 8th? The Vaughn report 10 days later?
Will they use this “fix” to prevent turning over the paperwork required?
I know a young man who had his driver’s license suspended for failing to paid traffic fines he said were warrant less and unfair and continues to drive. “Why should I be stopped from what I need to do just because the law is stupid and unfair!”, he said to me. The same young man when he was ten and caught lying defended himself with, “Well the President lied and he did not get punished!”.
This is heart warming, it is nice to know that our Presidents are being role models for the young people of our nation.
Couldn’t resist adding this link. When Republicans bring lawsuits against the adminstration for being targetted by the NSA program then we might see something come out of it.
http://newsblaze.com/story/20060217114414nnnn.nb/newsblaze/TOPSTORY/Top-Story.html
And raptor wonders why the senators from california didnt want to see him? And hank wonders why dan glickman didnt want to see him? OTFLMAO. Do we see a pattern emerging here?
I bet bonnie wouldnt be offering me any coffee in her office either!! Not that I would drink her damn koolaide coffee anyway BWHAHAHAHAH
Has nothing to do with being offended or thin skinned. All I was asking for was simple courtesy and mature conversation without the usual name calling, belitting accusations or juvenile labelling.
Is it impossible for people to disagree without accusations and animosity? Is it unrealistic of me to ask for adult, rational conversations?
Obviously, it is. Nobody on this blog is ever 100% correct, and people have a right to disagree. That does not invite vitriolic barbs, hatred and false accusations.
Mother..
I was directing my intial comments about your words:
“You expected to be recognized by someone who claims to represent the people? ”
and:Roberts will pander to who can get him the money and votes to continue his fleecing of American freedoms.
Your words, not mine. You were specifically attacking one person, and I was adding that the actions of that one person is not so different from any others.
Your readiness to attack missed what I was saying. I was not disagreeing with you (God FORBID). I was expanding on what you said.
Once again…I can disagree without the juvenile name calling and inane accusations..can you?
I liked Randy Schofield’s article today about the NYT taking Roberts to task. It’s way over due though. Roberts will join the trash heap with Collin Powell, George Tenet and other Admin. officials whose credibility was used up, then discarded.
This is an Admin. that would sell our biggest oil co. to China, our sea port terminals to U.A.E., and now talking about international effort to build (presumably own) our nuclear power plants. And still carry the flag of National Security. How dumb is the public?
I think its time for two new senators in this state. Brownback and Roberts have been nothing but mouthpieces and lapdogs for the Bush Admin.
I just wonder what are children and grandchildren are going to do when they do not have the freedoms we had twenty years ago. True patriots stand up and are counted on to protect the United States Constitution. Yet we allow criminals to be committed by the right and the government and look the other way. Shame on us.
Published on Friday, February 17, 2006, by CommonDreams.org
What Happened To My Country?
by Steve OsbornI grew up an American, and proud of it. I was taught in school about the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and Bill of Rights. My brother was a Merchant Marine Officer during the war and had three ships sunk beneath him. We beat the Nazis, the Fascists and the Japanese and made the world safe for democracy. After the war came Nuremberg and the assurance that things like the holocaust could never happen again. The Marshal Plan helped to rebuild the shattered portions of the world. America, Democracy, compassion and help. It was good to be an American. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were sad, but necessary to end the war and save lives, we were told.
We read George Orwell’s 1984, which could happen in Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union, but we could never have thought police and endless war here in the United States. Then came the Cold War, McCarthy, Korea, and later on Vietnam. My service time crossed those wars, but I thanked my stars I didn’t have to fight in them. I was at Bikini for the Hydrogen Bomb tests in 1956, which taught me the unthinkable horror of nuclear war.
Vietnam taught us the danger and folly of going to war on a false pretext. Tonkin Gulf was to be a lesson to us all, as was the intended impeachment of Nixon for violating the law and the Constitution. We wouldn’t let that happen again; no president was ever going to spy on his own people again, or persecute people who didn’t agree with him or his policies.
Yes, the United States was a nation of great wealth. A nation that took care to see to the freedom and well being of its citizens, and welcomed the downtrodden foreigner to the new land. It was a nation that pioneered the exploration of space and gloried in the advance of science. I was proud to be an American!
My God! What has happened to my nation? My nation that no longer pays more than lip service to its Constitution and Bill of Rights, which have been a beacon to the world for over two centuries. My nation that unilaterally discards treaties that were the hope of a world of peace, guided by law and diplomacy. My nation that will wage a war of aggression against a far off nation that was no threat to it, but that has lots of oil. My nation that gives all of its wealth to the rich and is satisfied to leave its citizens to starve, homeless, unemployed and sickly.
What happened to that Constitution that so wisely divided the government into three separate units, to provide a system of checks and balances against any one branch usurping power? How did we wind up with a President that refers to the Constitution that he swore to protect and defend as “just a goddamned piece of paper,” and a Congress that seems willing to rubber stamp any giveaway the President demands? How did we find ourselves with a Supreme Court that will set aside the Constitution in favor of unlimited presidential power for the duration?
Now I live in an America I don’t dare leave for fear of being spat upon, shot, bombed or kidnaped. I am looked upon as a citizen of a rogue nation that has no concept or respect for any law except bullying and strength. I need a passport even to visit Canada, which was to be our sister nation with open borders forever. I must expect to be required to show my “papers” at any time, to any official. I must accept that the government can break into my house and rifle my belongings and papers any time it wishes on the thinnest of excuses and it is not even required to let me know it has violated my home and my privacy. I must accept the fact that the government can listen in to my private conversations, my phone, my e-mail, can probably read my snail mail if they wish and can put a gag order on anyone who has information on me so I may not even be made aware that I am being spied upon. George Orwell’s absolute dictatorship has crept in to my home and my life and thrown out my beloved Constitution and Bill of Rights. The difference between the United States, Soviet Russia, Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy is steadily and inexorably diminishing and the people are letting it happen while they remain paralyzed with fear. Fear incited by the gang that runs the White House and their cronies in the propaganda ministry that used to be our last bulwark against tyranny; our once free press.
So now my pride in America is for our past; my sadness for our present; my fear for our future. I am no longer proud to be an American, but I have no place to go.
Stephen M. Osborn (theplace@whidbey.net) is a freelance writer living on Camano Island in the Pacific Northwest. He is an “Atomic Vet.” (Operation Redwing, Bikini Atoll 1956, ) who has been very active working and writing for nuclear disarmament and world peace. He is a retired Fire Battalion Chief, lifelong sailor, writer, poet, philosopher, historian and former newspaper columnist.
###—–
The Merchant Marine took a helluva beating from the German U-Boats they were unarmed supply ships, easy targets. But they got the job done and if it hadnt been for them shipping American supplies to Britain, the Nazi pigs would have taken them over as well. The Merchant Marine were weaponless warriors, men so brave they seem like the legendary heroes of ancient times. They deserve their proper recognition of heroism in the struggle against Nazi fascism.
Ubi Petrus, ibi Ecclessiae