Sen. Roberts seeks delay of Intel probe

[Rose Siding]

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said he wants to divide his panel’s inquiry into the Bush administration’s handling of Iraq-related intelligence into two parts, a move that would push off its most politically controversial elements to a later time.
....
An aide to Sen. Jay Rockefeller (W.Va.), the panel’s ranking Democrat, said that Democrats are aware Roberts is mulling a decision on whether to divide the inquiry and that Rockefeller is unlikely to oppose such a move if Roberts goes through with it. But one Democrat who has followed the probe said separating the controversial elements would relieve pressure on Roberts to complete the entire inquiry soon.
....
Questions about the Bush administration’s handling of pre-war intelligence have new political relevance as the midterm elections draw nearer. Public concern about the war in Iraq is considered a major reason for Bush’s low job approval rating, which, in turn, is widely viewed as harmful to congressional Republicans’ political fortunes.

“It has resonance in the following way,” said Phil Singer, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “One of the major critiques against Republican incumbents in the Senate they take a see-no-evil, hear-no-evil approach to the administration on a number of issues, including on the Iraq issue. To the extent the Senate Republicans continue to refuse to ask tough questions and ask for accountability, it’s going to be a political liability for them.”

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/042506/news4.html

[babylonsister]

1. I'm so sick of Roberts! What is he hiding and why shouldn't we be

privy to the intel they have? How many more times will he get away with stonewalling?:grr: And why are the Dems agreeing?:grr:

[harlinchi]

27. To call this a pet peeve minimizes the reality.

I'll just kick and recommend this topic; I've thought and written about this senator before:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2557023
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2575609

Must this probe, which Sen. Roberts has already said was completed with results ready to publish, be delayed again for partisan political purposes? The 2004 presidential election, ostensibly the reason for the in ital delay, is, as the GOP has been fond of telling us, over. Sen. Roberts has not effectively chaired one of the most important committees in the senate, to the detriment of America. Even if he is not up for re-election, he must be held up as the example of what is wrong with a GOP-controlled congress.

The GOP has established as one of their talking points that Democratic control of congress will result in investigations of this administration. Sen. Pat Roberts must be the poster boy demonstrating why this is needed.

[babylonsister]

31. Who called this a pet peeve? Not I. This is serious

information that every American should know about. There's no reason to stonewall, and the Dems caving on what Roberts deems appropriate is unconscionable.

[harlinchi]

32. I was thinking of using that term in my post's title. I didn't.

I apologize, babylonsister, for the confusion.

[babylonsister]

37. No worries, harlinchi.

Roberts' actions are so much more than what I would classify for myself as a pet peeve. I'm thinking along the lines of, at the least, unAmerican, and bordering traitorous. I'm not a happy camper.x(

[lala_rawraw]

2. How long have I been saying that the guy is spiking investigations?

Enough with this, someone needs to demand his resignation!

[stepnw1f]

29. Absolutely

I'm so angry after reading this morning that now I can barely focus on my work....

[0007]

30. That's why they call him Patsy Roberts.

[RufusEarl]

45. This is the same guy ,

that had no problem with Bu$h spying on americans in the NSA scandal. He proudly told reporters that we needed to give the president all the tools he needed to protect us, and stated the Bu$h wouldn't do anything wrong.

I feel like i'm in a 12 round heavy weight fight, and it's the 11th round. But i have the power and a good left hook!

[blm]

65. As long as I have. That bastard needs a subpoena from Fitzgerald.

We all know he added Rove's antiWilson talking points to an OFFICIAL DOCUMENT intending to mislead Fitzgerald's investigation. He should get prosecuted for it.

[Kagemusha]

3. Isn't this already the 2nd half of an earlier investigation?

So we divide a half into another half to create two quarters. Then we divide those quarters into half to create two eights. Then...

...we have political calculus.

[babylonsister]

10. This is the half the Senate was shut down for by Reid (Phase II)

last summer; they still haven't gotten any answers. :grr:

[rodeodance]

11. yes, it is. and now another delay tactic!

[rodeodance]

13. NOMINATED

[Burried News]

22. A divergent infinite series. Smoke and mirrors but it ain't gonna

work - the smell of Elephant shit is heavy in the air. You don't have to see it to know it is there. :hurts:

[endarkenment]

23. Application of Zeno's Paradox.

By the way, Sen Rockefellar is once again a useful idiot, supporting yet another transparent attempt to stonewall any real investigation into the criminal activities of the Bush Cabal.

[rodeodance]

4. my God, he keeps saying he will release this Report-and Now wants

to leave out some of it! damm.

[htuttle]

5. Can you divide a probe into a infinite number of infinitely small pieces?

They already cut the probe in half once. They originally wanted to delay looking into the controversial parts of it (how the Bush admin handled the intelligence) until after the 2004 election. Now it seems he wants to cut it in half again? How many times can they do this?

[stepnw1f]

6. I Hope This Man is Tried

and convicted of obstruction. You know he's hiding plenty...

[rodeodance]

7. Rockefeller is unlikely to oppose such a move .... my GAWD!

....An aide to Sen. Jay Rockefeller (W.Va.), the panel’s ranking Democrat, said that Democrats are aware Roberts is mulling a decision on whether to divide the inquiry and that Rockefeller is unlikely to oppose such a move if Roberts goes through with it. But one Democrat who has followed the probe said separating the controversial elements would relieve pressure on Roberts to complete the entire inquiry soon.

[VegasWolf]

14. To paraphrase a song, "Democrats, what are they good for?" nt

[Rose Siding]

19. I don't know what he's thinking

It isn't unimmaginable that the Hill would omit or twist elements of the argument that might support a dem decision, but I don't see it yet.

[Canuckistanian]

26. Roberts doesn't need to have "pressure relieved"

He needs to under the most intense pressure in his political life!

Why does Rockefeller think this is "politics as usual"? Why all this "collegial deference" crap?
If their situations were reversed, they'd have had Rockefeller's head on a plate by now.

Either Roberts holds a full, fair inquiry or it will be done for him and he won't like the results.

[hang a left]

54. Maybe they mean they will agree if they release the damning info

in the first half. :shrug: Trying to find a silver lining here.

[TankLV]

61. Remind us all again - usual posters - why we shouldn't be criticizing our

so-called SPINELESS democratic "leadership"?

I really want to know, because for all their crap on "not criticizing dems", it just doesn't seem to add up.

What good is democratic majority if that majority will STILL DO NOTHING to rectify all the CRIMES the REPUKES have committed?

I will continue to fail to understand it.

[rodeodance]

8. Time for REID to SHUT down the Senate again-This is not acceptable!

[VegasWolf]

16. Wanna make any bets? nt

[depakid]

20. Like he did over the filibuster

and Owens, Brown & Prior- three of the most extreme judges to ever be nominated to the federal bench?

Same situation- same result. Harry barks a lot, but has no bite.

[endarkenment]

24. Pigs are now flying. nt.

[Norquist Nemesis]

9. Is this Phase II redux?

I wish this would get a "For the Umpteenth Time, Roberts Kicks the Can on Intel Probe" headline. :grr:

[leesa]

12. Same thing he did before the last elections. This man is a traitor.

[rodeodance]

15. contact your Senators NOW. infor here

TOLL FREE SWITCHBOARD (ask for Senator by name)
888-355-3588 or 888-818-6641

[rodeodance]

17. web contact:

Contact other Congress Members and Senators http://contactcongress.blogspot.com/

TOLL FREE SWITCHBOARD (ask for Senator by name)
888-355-3588 or 888-818-6641

[acmejack]

18. This is sickening

I want to see Mr. Roberts join the rest of the criminals join the gang in the Hague.

[Burried News]

21. The Democratic members should boycott the proceedings.

The fix has been in for 5 years. The public has long ago concluded the war was a Fraud... a GOP Fraud.

[wicket]

25. So he's breaking Phase II into 2 parts?

WTF? :grr:

[rodeodance]

42. another delay tactic.

[wicket]

43. Wasn't this supposed to be completed before the 2004 election?

Hopefully we'll take back the House & Senate in the Fall & then the Dems will be in charge of the investigations. Roberts will be awfully sorry he tried to run out the clock.

[EVDebs]

28. Cops know crooks use "deny, deny,deny, delay,delay,delay" M.O.

It's getting a little old now, don't you think ? They've cried wolf so many times ...

[RobertSeattle]

33. "Roberts" is Kansan for "Bush Licker"

[Media_Lies_Daily]

34. If Roberts delays this any longer, the American people are....

...going to become even more disatisfied with the NeoCons.

This is just adding more fuel to the growing fire burning under the NeoCons' collective butts.

[gordianot]

39. You would hope so but this covers a small audience.

With our fine free Media coverage most Murikans do not have a clue what Robert's delay is or why it might be important. That includes the dropping numbers of Republicans who continue to support **.

[rodeodance]

41. i seldom met any one who talks of this. I think it is forgotten for many.

[Supersedeas]

50. Roberts doesn't care about the 'Merican peeps, he's a Bush follower

[catmandu57]

35. I think roberts has forgot his memory pills

It's past time for the good people of Kansas to remedy this situation and remove this addled old fuck away from the people's business.
After all this country belongs to us, the presidency belongs to us, the Senate, congress, courts, it's not the exclusive domain of the ultra rich.

[Gregorian]

36. It's a democracy that isn't being used.

The repubs know it, and they're using it. Criminals.

If Americans were not in their commercially induced stupor, this would never be happening. They could not get away with anywhere near as much as they have pulled off. Fox wouldn't even be a blip on the radar screen if no one turned it on. I don't. And no one else should. LinkTV would reign supreme.

And without the people, there is no democracy. Crooks run wild. DU can discuss the truth like the brilliant and fantastic people that it is, and write to Senators. It won't amount to as much as a large majority of Americans who are alert and informed.

This was a long slow slide. I really hope. I really hope.

[Arkansas Granny]

38. Is this what the Republicans call oversight? Hopefully, when the

Democrats take back the House and the Senate, we will have some real oversight. The investigations into the policies and performances of this administration have been nothing but a sham. There have been no checks and balances since Bush took office.

[rodeodance]

40. i just saw a runner on cspan saying Dems blasting Roberts about this but

can not find the article yet.

[atommom]

44. Remember, a few months ago, how pissed off he got

when the Dems demanded action? He said he had been acting, the report was practically ready, and the Dems were just playing politics.

He's still trying to play the same cards:

Roberts is less than completely pleased about his committee’s focus on wrapping up phase two. He recently complained in a U.S. News & World Report article that his committee has not made progress on overseeing intelligence on Iran, a growing national security concern, because Democrats are “more focused on intelligence failures of the past.”

Funny how this report, which was practically ready months ago, is taking so much of the committee's attention away from our present needs ... :sarcasm:

[librechik]

48. YEAH!!! n/t

[rodeodance]

51. yes, i remember--and he has been stalling ever since. Needs Cheney

to approve of everything you know.

[yellowcanine]

46. Delay, deny, divert, divide, dissemble. It is the Republican way.

[librechik]

47. BASTARD!! EVIL. EVIL .BASTARD!!!

Roberts is the most blatant whore in history.

Hasn't he delayed it enough already??????

Please, God a lightning bolt!

[ourbluenation]

49. Harry BIG BALLS Reid...SHUT EM DOWN! Forced closed session

part 2

[rodeodance]

52. Op/Ed by Pat Roberts No investigation needed---ar-13-06 05

previous posts on Roberts.


.....Mon Mar-13-06 05:52 AM
Original message
Op/Ed by Pat Roberts (R, co-Chair Sen Intel Comm) re Surveillance


No investigation needed
By Pat Roberts

Through a criminal leak of highly classified information, the public, and our enemy, learned that President Bush authorized the National Security Agency to intercept international communications of people believed to be linked to al-Qaeda. Many in Congress and the media rushed to judgment, decrying the program as illegal and unconstitutional, demanding congressional investigations.

As chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I - along with Vice Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. - have been briefed on the details of this program since 2003. I believe this terrorist surveillance capability is legal and constitutional.

The courts have long recognized that the president has the authority under the Constitution to conduct "warrantless" surveillance for the purposes of collecting foreign intelligence.

While Congress enacted the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to establish procedures for foreign intelligence surveillance, this law did not, indeed cannot, extinguish the president's constitutional powers. FISA provides one way for him to conduct foreign intelligence surveillance, but not the only way.
...
It's the constitutional duty of the executive branch to make the tough decisions necessary to win wars. That's not the case for the legislative branch, which has the luxury of criticizing actions with the benefit of hindsight. When it comes to national security, we should fight the enemy, not each other.

More: http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20060310/cm_usatoday/n...

[rodeodance]

53. call you Senators and demand action on this. Keep bugging them.

[rodeodance]

55. k

[rodeodance]

56. k

[rodeodance]

57. k

[Roland99]

58. Until Nov. 8, 2006? What a freakin' POS!! Roberts is complicit in all this

He needs to be given a traitor's trial.


He knows the WH manipulated and created evidence. He was in on it and he's covering his ass for as long as he can.

[TankLV]

59. Of course he does, just like all the other times.

Repuke cover-their-asses all the time.

Can't wait for a Democrati takeover and REAL investigations - ENDLESS Investigations.

Let's get all those REPUKE CRIMINALS!

[mikelgb]

60. his own damn fault for waiting so long

fuck that. it was already divided to CYA ... NO MORE... dems already shut down the damned US SENATE over this issue i expect no less this time around!!!!!!

[Neecy]

62. I believe Roberts is up for reelection this year...

And his approval ratings are going down, down, down in Kansas. It's friggin' time the Democrats ran someone strong against this loon. They did nothing to oppose Brownback and it would be soooo wrong to let Roberts off scott-free without any real opposition this fall.

[Generator]

63. Between this and Tony Snow

they are just about announcing themselves GUILTY as charged. Your "media" is propaganda. And your "government" is complicit and hiding crimes against a nation. It's as clear as the nose on the head clown. Could they be anymore obvious?

The war was based on a false premise. They needed another false event (9/11) to have the false war. The media practically just repeats the propaganda word for word.
When does this dog and pony show end? It would almost be funny because it's so damn obivous.If they weren't killing people and intending to keep on killing them all based on LIES. Lies lies lies yeah. Thompson Twins circa 1985 is their theme song.

Someone tell me should I be grateful or chagrined that our evil doers are so dumb about it? "Dumb Evil-the Bush years-2001-2009." An Amazon best seller for sure!

[stepnw1f]

64. Well Said.... (nt)

[Zorra]

66. Obviously, Roberts is a traitor. He's deliberately hiding info that

the American people have every right to publicly examine.

Instead of fulfilling his obligation to the American people by conducting an honest investigation that will reveal important information that may actually save our country, he is unethically protecting himself and the republican party by his actions.

Again: Roberts is a traitor.

[Dr Fate]

67. Now if only a Democrat would go ON TV and repeat your truthful post.

But we know they are too frightened to do so.

The strategists who lost the last 3 elections say that telling the truth about Republicans make us "look weak on defense."

[Disturbed]

68. Stonewall until after the '04 Elections and then...

present the Whitewash is the Rethug Plan.

[Dr Fate]

69. Every Democrat with media access should be on TV saying:

"What are they hiding?"

"Why is Roberts LYING (And use that word) about this?"

"He said he would investigate this- why did he lie and betray the trust of all Americans?"

"This traitor cares more about covering up the lies and crimes of Geroge Bush than he does about getting tot he bottom of this...."


BUT- I know damn well that Democrats are too frightened to use phrases and talking points that are even close to that.

Of course, if this were Clinton or Gore, all Republicans with media access would be saying this and worse. That is one reason why they win their elections- because when on the attack- they speak like normal people w/o mincing words.

I predict Democrats will let Roberts will get away with this, scot-free.