Senators to Request Extension for 9/11 Panel

[paulthompson]

Senators to Request Extension for 9/11 Panel

By Philip Shenon
The New York Times
January 30, 2004
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/30/politics/30TERR.html


WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 - The two key Senate authors of the bill that created an independent commission to investigate the Sept. 11 attacks said Thursday that they would introduce legislation next week to extend the panel's deadline by eight months, to next January.

The senators, John McCain, Republican of Arizona, and Joseph I. Lieberman, Democrat of Connecticut, said they were prepared to fight for the extension over the opposition of the White House and Congressional Republicans. Both want the 10-member commission to meet its original deadline of May 27.

"An extension until after the November elections is warranted to ensure a comprehensive and thorough investigation in a nonpartisan environment," Senator McCain said in a statement.

On Tuesday, the commission announced that it needed at least two more months to complete the inquiry, raising the prospect of a report delivered in July, in the heat of the presidential campaign.

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What a misleading article: the commission hasn't asked for "at least" two more months, they have asked for exactly two more months! Lieberman has totally gone over to the Republicans in trying to save Bush from the embarrassments of 9/11 before the election while pretending to be helpful.

[DUreader]

1. Interesting

I'm not sure I understand your take on this.

Do you think they are pushing a bill that goes too far so it won't pass?

I could see 9 months being a negotiating point that will be reduced before final passage of the bill.

I'm still not sure where J.L. and J.M. stand re: W*.

[paulthompson]

3. My take

What happens in November? The election. Newsweek reported Karl Rove explicitly wants to prevent any extension of the commission's work. But, if the pressure builds so there has to be one, he wants the report to come out just past the election. Lieberman is playing right into Rove's hands.

I think if there were massive failures under Bush's watch regarding 9/11, then the public show know that when they go to vote in November. This is especially true since Bush is clearly going to run on 9/11, even pushing the Republican convention to be in New York City near the 9/11 anniversary. The commission is fully cabable of finishing their work by July 2004. They should.

This reminds me of Kissinger's "peace is at hand" trick with the voters in 1972. The Nixon administration maintained the illusion that the Vietnam War would soon be over just long enough for people to vote in November. Then the truth came out. This is what will happen with 9/11.

[DODI]

2. Joe is from CT

and Connecticut lost many people on 9/11 and it is a very important issue here. I don't see him as playing games with this one. I don't want him for president, but as our Senator he can be o.k.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. No offense, but if I needed a negotiator for any of my bargaining deals,

I wouldn't want Lieberman on my side.

[paulthompson]

5. Nor would I!

He plays the good cop in the classic good cop bad cop routine.