RAWSTORY: Democratic leadership joins call for Gannon inquiry

[Goldmund]

The Senate Democratic leadership is privately circulating a letter calling for other senators to join a call for an investigation into discredited White House reporter Jeff Gannon, RAW STORY has learned.

The letter, issued from Minority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL), calls on President Bush to “order a full inquiry” into how a “fake” journalist working for a “sham” news organization got access to the president.

The letter was leaked to RAW STORY this evening. A decision on taking action on Gannon has been brewing for about a week, since Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) called on the White House to turn over all documentation relating to Gannon’s credentialing.

The Senate Democratic leadership is encouraging members to sign onto the letter behind the scenes. As Congress is in recess, Democrats will be calling on members in their home districts before the Senate reconvenes next week.

Senator Durbin’s letter follows.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/index.php?p=117

[ginnyinWI]

1. Surely there is some respected news organization

who would love to take this investigation under its wing, as Woodward and Bernstein did for the Watergate break-in? Someone who the mainstream media would pay attention to?

[lala_rawraw]

21. We don't

Need the MSM to pay attention because the people are clearly making enough noise. If only Karl B was on the air, wow.

[ktowntennesseedem]

62. We can keep this story kicked from the grassroots.

Don't need MSM's help, and sure don't want it! Then when the story is just too big to ignore, they'll finally start some reluctant, too-little-too-late coverage that will help to expose MSM for the right-wing sellouts they have become.

[BrendaStarr]

61. Where were you when Memogate was playing out?

We rank and file liberals don't do much to support anyone who tries to help us that's why we don't get much help.

Get out on the mixed message boards and start informing anyone you can about this.

And how about your family?
'
I heard so many people say that their family only hears the Republican side. Well, they're your family aren't they?

Okay I know it's hard for young people to try to inform old set in their ways people, but a lot of those saying this are old and crusty enough to deal with anyone.

[NVMojo]

2. I hope a real investigation happens

[GHOSTDANCER]

47. You mean one with their hand picked investigators? That kind?

[SpiralHawk]

3. Calling Dr. Dean. Stet. Report to the media center immediately

And let 'er rip. Ask the Big Questions. And then ask Bush to answer them forthrightly to the people of the nation.

[Ironpost]

4. I'm glad the Senator is doing this, trouble is georgie doesn't read

[ktowntennesseedem]

63. That's okay, he's too busy "mendin' fences" right now.

By the time he gets back from Yerup, we'll have a special questions we can ask him to welcome him home, and it won't be "how was your trip?"

[kikiek]

5. Good. They can't let this one just fade away.

[still_one]

6. why be so shy

why not hold a press conference

this is our main problem, our representatives act like wimps

[Frances]

8. Please stop blaming the victim!

The Dems are taking some action. Why not support them instead of piling on along with the Freepers?

[Warren Stupidity]

17. because they act like wimps?

If I agree with a freeper who happens to be speaking the truth it is because I agree that it is truth.

[slay]

9. I'd love to see the Dems hold a press conference. We need to fight BushCo

out in the open. For far too long the Democrats have acted like the crimes committed by BushCo is just business as usual. I hope the Democrats finally start to stand up to these bastards.

[AgadorSparticus]

54. i hear ya! they should be BOLD and make a stink about this. or are

we supposed to do that too?

[HereSince1628]

7. Good effort, but I fear futile.

It will need bipartisan support and the R's are very loyal to their guy if they are nothing else.

[lostnfound]

20. If Dems consistently stand for something, some Rs may start to defect

on issues of great importance..or at least on issues that split the Republican constituencies.

It will be easier for moderate Republicans to start making the leap if they know that the blue team isn't going to fold at the drop of the hat.

[woosh]

10. not going to happen

Lord the Democrats are so weak it's depressing. There was a pretty good blurb on alternet today about why this is going to turn into nothing.


As for the first two, the New Yorker's Hendrik Hertzberg has a simple answer: Behind every scandal of the past few decades -- from Watergate to Iran-Contra -- was a congress controlled by the opposition party. Dems can't issue subpoenas and thus, Hertzberg concludes, Gannongate is likely to end up Nothinggate.


http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/2005/02/002990.html

[annabanana]

13. oogly boogly to you too.

[Just Me]

14. They don't have to have subpoena power,...you silly goose!!!

You really do not know what "powers" they have,...do you?

You really misunderestimate what's happening,...huh. }(

The pressure cooker cannot be contained. :spank:

[manxkat]

16. especially since the MSM is also owned by right-wingers

so it's not just weak Democrats in the minority that will be responsible for burying this story.

Bush will continue to get away with murder. He can say and do almost ANYTHING and not be held accountable. He could probably take a gun and shoot a Democrat or homosexual in cold blood and have it broadcast live on all the networks, and the 'newscasters' would find some way of justifying it, how macho our fearless cowboy leader is and how, anyway, it was necessary for national security.

"President Bush took matters into his own hands today. With a single shot in the back, he offed a traitor for all the world to see. Hubba hubba. We're sure there will be some dispicable anti-American voices who disagree with his decision and his action. But, fortunately, in the land of the free, we no longer need to tolerate such hogwash. We're now joined by two experts on the use of guns to pre-empt dissidents and undesireables..... <discussion> .... This is Rush Limbaugh reporting for CBS News."

[Warren Stupidity]

18. DAs can issue subpoenas.

I agree that when we fantasize about impeachment or congressional hearings on the scale of watergate or iran-contra or clinton's errant penis, we are fantasizing: bush could be caught in bed with a dead juvenile male baboon and there wouldn't be a congressional investigation.

On the other hand DAs have a lot of power and they are not under the control of the bush mob.

It will be an honest DA who brings this mess down. Calling Eliot Spitzer!

[H2O Man]

25. As all students of

Watergate know (if they were paying attention) is that congressional committees do indeed have subpoena power.

[woosh]

27. sure

but don't replublicans control all the congressional committees?

[Warren Stupidity]

29. yes EOM

[H2O Man]

31. Why

would you say that? Define "control (of) all congressional committees" please. Explain the exact degree of control that you are convinced would keep democrats from functioning in a proper manner. Thank you.

[woosh]

32. definition

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/@capitol/committees/committees_overview.html


Each committee has a Chairman. The Chairman is usually the ranking majority member, in other words, the member of the majority party in that chamber who has been on the committee for the longest period of time. The Chairman oversees a professional staff assigned to the everyday business of the committee. The staff is limited to thirty people. One third of the staff is chosen by the minority party members of the committee, and two thirds are chosen by the majority party members. Because of these rules, each time the Senate or the House goes from a majority of Democrats to a majority of Republicans, or vice versa, committees need to choose a new Chairman and a new staff.

[woosh]

33. more

The size and party ratio on each committee must be set to match any shift in Republicans and Democrats from the last election. The process of assigning committees differ from chamber to chamber and party to party. In the House, members are assigned to only one or two standing committees. House committees are usually larger than those in the Senate. The size of Senate committees is written into the rules of the chamber, while House committee size is decided informally by the party leaders.

[Warren Stupidity]

34. Here - read this:

http://www.fsmlaw.org/fsm/code/title03/T03_Ch04.htm

§ 408. Issuance of subpoenas.


(1) The Speaker or other Presiding Officer of the Congress may issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses and subpoenas duces tecum requiring the production of books, documents, or other evidence in any matter pending before a committee.


(2) Every investigating committee may issue, by majority vote of all its members, subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses and subpoenas duces tecum requiring the production of books, documents, or other evidence in any matter pending before the committee.


(3) Any subpoena, warrant of arrest, or other process issued under the authority of the Congress shall run in the name of Federated States of Micronesia and shall be addressed to the Sergeant at Arms of the Congress or any National police officer of the Federated States of Micronesia. The subpoena, warrant, or other process shall be signed by the officer authorized to issue it, shall set forth his official title, shall contain a reference to the rule or resolution, or other means, by which the taking of testimony or other evidence, or the issuance of such warrant or other process, was authorized, and shall, in the case of a summons or subpoena, set forth in general terms the matter or question with reference to which the testimony or other evidence is to be taken.


(4) Any officer to whom such process is directed shall forthwith serve or execute the same upon delivery thereof to him.


Any questions? A simple majority blocks any subpoena request.

[H2O Man]

38. I thank you for

posting that. But you have erred in your response. I am very familiar with the workings of congress, and knew those things you posted. None of it supports the position that a democrat is powerless to subpoena. Not at all.

[Warren Stupidity]

39. ok so why don't you explain it to us simple folks

[H2O Man]

41. I think it is

good to be positive. It is true that republicans may try to prevent any serious congressional investigation of the Bush administration. But it is not written in stone. And it sure isn't a good excuse for not trying to get representatives to move on this.

To point to the fact that democrats controlled the House and Senate during the Watergate years shows a lack of understanding of wha actually occured. Rather, Watergate is a wonderful example that supports my point on this discussion.

When I read some of the negative things on here, it amazes me. Who lied to you people? Who convinced you that you have no power? The mental chains are holding people back even more than the republicans in congress. We're still in the United States, and we still have a Constitution. And I think it makes sense to support those elected officials that are attempting to remind the administration of that Constitution.

[Warren Stupidity]

43. facts are not 'negative' or 'positive'

they are just facts. My appreciation of the facts, of the reality of the situation, may cause me to have a negative opinion of certain things.

The facts are that as the Democratic Party has a majority in neither house, no Democrat can get a congressional subpoena without the support of the majority party. I see no evidence that any Republican intends to break rank on this issue or any other. Those are the facts as I see them, positive, negative, whatever.

[H2O Man]

56. There is a difference.

The facts are that the democrats are in the minority. It is merely your opinion that this renders them impotent. The facts are neutral; your opinion is negative .... but that is merely my opinion.

[woosh]

55. wrong approach

There are a lot of cheerleaders in this thread, and my point is that no one should get too excited. It's not negative. Did anyone say that the dems should let the story die? No.

Very little is going to happen with the democrats pushing this issue in legislative bodies. Somewhere, a republican or two is going to have to come over on this one. Maybe the dems need to target republicans in districts and states where they have weak number or weak support, much in the way the republicans pressure democrat "obstructionists": hit them at home. But this will cost time and money and may not be the right issue.

[H2O Man]

57. Obviously

democrats need to understand "minority" and opposition party politics. And it is safe to say that anyone with a grasp of opposition party politics would value this issue.

I'm reminded of King's letter from the Birmingham jail cell, where some well-intentioned but misinformed folks had warned King that it wasn't the right time, and it wasn't the right approach. Thank goodness he didn't listen to them. I think your position, though well-intentioned, is equally misinformed, and I'm glad to see that democrats are not listening to it.

[woosh]

58. tell me

Why don't you enlighten me as to how this relates to the civil rights movement? Tell me what I don't understand about opposition politics?

Talk to the issue, don't just make some unrelated historical reference that makes it sound like this issue is some profound crossroads in history and you're some scholarly observer.

[H2O Man]

59. "Enlighten" you?

Not my job, sport. If you don't understand what I said, it isn't my problem. You may not think that our country is at "some profound crossroads in history." That's certainly your right, just as it is my right to think that the country is indeed facing "some profound crossroads." If for whatever reasons, you think all is fine in the world today, and that democrats being concerned with Gannon etc is a waste of time, that's grand. But it seems that a growing number of democrats, especially those with a healthy grasp of opposition party politics, have reached the opposite conclusion.

[woosh]

64. topic

is a gay prostitute reporter.

[H2O Man]

66. Maybe you

see things in a narrow context. If it works for you, great. Most democrats are capable of seeing this as something larger. Part of that can include not taking anything for granted. Gannon may be "a gay prostitute reporter." Clearly, he was a journalist. As far as the "gay prostitute," there are some curious things he posted on the web, which do not necessarily "prove" that he was indeed a "gay prostitute." But, again, if you are most comfortable accepting things such as this entirely on face value, and prefer to define a "topic" in a very narrow fashion, that's your right. The potential problem with such rigid thinking might be a pronounced tendency or inclination to become frustrated when others see things in a larger and more positive manner. On the first post of yours that I responded to, you called democrats weak and said it'll be that way for a long time. I disagree. No need for hostility. There's room for disagreement in the democratic party .... that's one of our greatest strengths.

[woosh]

67. here's my issue

Your turning a conversation about Gannon into some issue you have with other posters here on DU. If you read through my responses to this thread that pertain to the topic, you will find that you have made some huge leaps of logic about my politics. Obviously, you have some prototypical poster in your head that you are arguing with, not me.

So let me reiterate my point: I don't see a letter circulating among Democratic leadership having much impact on the outcome of this issue. It just makes their leadership seem ineffectual. Nor do I see this blowing the doors off of the administrations control and manipulation of information.

[H2O Man]

68. Nope.

I have no problem reading your posts, recognizing that you have a point of view that I disagree with, and responding directly to it. I don't even think of this as "arguing," as you do. I think it is good for democrats to be able to discuss differences of opinion. I enjoy talking with the "prototypical poster" in the sense that the vast majority of folks on here have open minds and are fully capable of discussing differences of opinion without seeing it as "arguing." And, who knows, you may be one of them, but we just disagree on the Gannon issue.

[Jackpine Radical]

48. Federated States of MicroferChrissakesNESIA?

Where the hell did you drag that in from?

[lancdem]

70. That is a problem

but we can't just give up because we don't control Congress.

[Just Me]

11. Perhaps the combination of this along with other "revelations" will expose

what's happening behind the RW corruption machine.

YES?

YES! YES! YES!!! :bounce:

[EVDebs]

12. CC a copy to GAO's David Walker. He has ongoing investigations

into earlier 'faux reporter' stories. If taxpayer dollars are in any way involved in the Gannon/Guckert propaganda effort we need to know about it. ASAP.

[lala_rawraw]

22. If only

one of his clients used a credit card to buy his "toy" some baubles. wait, wait... hmmmm?? wink and cough suggestion (cough cough cough).

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

46. Woah!!!!!

Sounds like Raw Story is preparing a scoop?

[illflem]

15. *******

[peacebird]

26. illflem - omg - that image..... ewwwwww....

:puke:

warnings - PLEASE post warnings in the subject line: "Beware - visuals NOT for those with weak stomachs!"

nasty!

:evilgrin:

[Pithy Cherub]

36. It needs one little tweak

The White House sign... The n the visual horror of that pic will match the actual horror of reality... :evilgrin:

[dave29]

19. He'll get Ken Starr right on that

;)

[lala_rawraw]

23. No, Ken

Only works with blue dresses not guys dressed, badly I might add, in starchy suits.

[Babel_17]

24. "Slow but steady wins the race

parallel lines all meet in space."

We need to be calm and deliberate, remorseless but acting with reason.

That strategy will cause all the tangential details to come together into a coherent whole and expose this corrupt administration for what it is.

[golden voyages]

28. Please take a moment tomorrow to CALL YOUR SENATORS

especially if they are Democrats, and ask them to support this request for an investigation.

Also, consider signing this petition: http://www.democraticaction.org/propaganda/index.php?source=feb22email

Encourage your circle of contacts to do the same. We need to make our voices heard.

Otherwise, the repugs will succeed in sweeping this under the rug.

[hereinmissouri]

37. Email sent to Bond(R) & Talent(R):

Dear Senator Bond,
All my friends are talking about a reporter named Jeff Gannon. I googled him to see what all the fuss was about & got the shock of my life! Have you seen his website? What is going on? I've been told that there is a letter written by Senator Durbin to get to the bottom of this filth. Please sign it. Everyone is talking about this. It reflects so poorly on the White House.
Thank you.

Link to contact your senator HERE

[golden voyages]

42. Wonderful! What a great approach.

[rndmprsn]

65. nice...just sent sens mikulski and sarbanes D-MD letters

asking them to support dick durbin's inquiry.

[Melynn]

30. Patience

Congress works slowly so I say let the Democratic leadership do their work and plant the seeds for an investigation. If the Dem leadership fails to do their job, then I say let's criticize them for their inaction.

[alittlelark]

51. Forget Patience.....

I've been patient for over 4 years.

Now is the time for action.

[slybacon9]

75. Amen...

fuck patience.

[lovuian]

35. Its about time!!! Democrats do something!!!

Follow the money!!!

[lala_rawraw]

45. Everyone write to Ron Paul

He is not a NeoCon.

[Griffy]

40. right idea.. wrong person... bush wont help stop the PROPAGANDA..

HE STARTED IT.. its his plan to use fake media to fool the public.. Dems need to address the people!! LOUDLY.. enmass! PULL a stunt if you have to.. senators could chain themselves to the WH gate till the media does its job!(Ill bring them food and blankets personally!)

PROPAGANDA is the word.. everyone needs USE IT espaecially SENATORS and CONGRESSPEOPLE! CALL IT WHAT IT IS!

[Al-CIAda]

52. Right, yell it with a bullhorn. ITS THE PROPAGANDA!

Press Gannon to expose all the other PROPAGANDA and PAID off media...using TAXPAYER dollars. Our citizens deserve an independant 4th estate. The corporate media must be held to account as well. They are complicit.

[annabanana]

44. Well it's about goddam time!

I only hope that this will result in a bit more corporate media coverage.

[GetTheRightVote]

49. kicking it again

:kick:

[Tinoire]

50. Shiver me timbers! n/t

:bounce:

[zann725]

53. Let's hear it for Sen. Durbin!! Gosh, I wish he were running again.

He tells it like it is.

[Callboy]

60. whats the big secret. Drag this story out onto the clothesline.

[fromBrooklyn]

69. This story is about the MSM's cowardice.

And Failure.
How hard do you think they are going to run with it?
Especially when they have tapes of non-admitted drug use and prospective assassinations to go with instead?

[trudyco]

71. How many days has it been since this first got out?

I think we should start counting the days since this came out until gannongate has been exposed and all the facts brought to light. Remember how the MSM counted every day the hostages in Iran were still being held back in Jimmy Carter's day? That was a way to let the story never die. We should start every correspondence about this to any media or politicos that it has been XX days since gannongate was first brought to light.

Heck, we should do the same with Valerie Plame, the Ohio irregularities request for investigation, the Anthrax attack and the search for Osama Bin Laden.

Then every guy on our side should be pummelting with this every time they speak. Sound bite size. "It has been XX days since Americans were attacked with American Anthrax and still there is no lead, let alone arrests" "It has been XX days since 9/11 killed 3000 Americans and where is Osama Bin Laden now?" "It has been XX days since we found out that a reporter in the white house press conference, literally only 30 feet away from the president, was not a journalist but was actually a male hooker. Who let this security risk in? Why was he there? Do we have Pravda in the USA?"

Every time a politician talks about social security or the budget or whatever new thing the whitehouse throws at them they should start with their own attack. The Dems keep letting him dictate the news of the day. Alternative media should do the same thing, don't let the news die. Just like they did with the Iranian hostages. It's been XX days and still no investigation. Why?

trudyco

[slybacon9]

72. You are absolutely right!

I am trying to find out now when it all started.

I remember when the guy asked the question that exposed him... it was on the daily show a hell of a long time ago...

[reichstag911]

73. The "divorced from reality" "question"...

...that got the whole G-G thing going was Jan. 26th, I believe. And I'll be seeing Durbin, Obama, and Schakowsky at a meeting on SocSec privatization on Monday. I'm guessing there's going to be a lot of well-informed, well-pissed-off people there holding their feet to the fire on the need to FIGHT this criminal asdministration.

[slybacon9]

74. I hereby pledge to NEVER vote for

any senator etc. who doesn't sign a petition to investigate Gannongate.

Ever.

Ever ever ever.

For president or any other position.

So Hillary, you'd better get out your pen on this one and quit playing the middle.

I ask you to join me. Anyone who cannot see this as important is a wolf in sheep's cothing.

[info being]

76. "Dems call on Bush to investigate himself"

What else is new. If they were serious, they'd use some of the millions of dollars we gave them to have their own investigation.

More silly games designed to confuse us into submission.

[rawstory]

77. Thanks Mods, Skinner...

For having faith in us and keeping us in LBN.