(Virginia Gov. Mark) Warner says Bush withheld facts (re: wiretapping)

[sabra]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/?feed=TopNews&article=UPI-1-20060115-18275000-bc-us-thisweek.xml

Warner says Bush withheld facts

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Virginia Gov. Mark Warner believes U.S. President George W. Bush withheld information from Congress regarding wiretapping.

In an interview on ABC News' "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," Warner was asked if he believed Bush broke the law when he ordered the National Security Agency to conduct domestic wiretapping. He said it appeared Bush "did not come fully forward to all of the members of Congress in relaying what he was going to do. ... I don't think the president went as far as he should in terms of disclosing to Congress."

Warner -- who is widely regarded as a potential candidate for the Democratic nomination for president -- said the United States should not set an "arbitrary timetable" for withdrawing from Iraq.

"And I do hope that we see in the aftermath of the Iraqi elections a stable, democratic Iraq where the Iraqi people feel engaged in the future of their own country," he said.

[Presstitutes]

1. The headline sounds a lot better than his pathetic performance

he totally dodged the issue

[liveoaktx]

2. VIDEO-Here's what he REALLY said

Underwhelmed

[MGKrebs]

3. God how I wish for a day when a candidate, like Dean,

can speak the truth and actually win.

[snowbear]

4. He was pretty evasive.. although..

..the story broke during Warner's what... :shrug: ...last couple of weeks in office? I'm surprised he's even already out discussing any of the national issues (with any expertise anyway)..

Now that he's out of office--as of yesterday or the day before -- I'll definitely be interested in seeing how he evolves (or doesn't) as a potential candidate.

If he remains evasive (or uneducated on the topic) like in this interview.. there's no way he'll make headway in the Democratic primary..

Better get to work Warner! You got some catching up to do!

[mom cat]

6. Pretty lame.

[Renew Deal]

9. He does seem to be ahead of most others making connections

He's out there talking about the issues and gaining publicity and that's positive. He's got a ways to go, but I think his progress is good. I think he's the anti-Hillary.

[karynnj]

15. ahead of who

Just from what i've read, Kerry and Feingold had statements out and had addressed this on the Senate floor in December. Several Senators alluded to it in their speeches dealing with the Patriot act including at least one Republican. Their statements then were more specific, more damning than his pretty vague comment that deals only with disclosure to Congress. Kerry condemned this on Ed Shultz, Press and an AAR show broadcast on Christmas. (He also disputed that the terror resolution which oked "use of force" made this legit.)

Maria Cantwell, when the question was asked at an ANWR press conference around Dec 21, pointed out that this was likely not people with known Al Quaeda ties - because warrants for these people could be had very easily and quickly - Senators Kerry, Lautenberg and Lieberman all nodded in agreement.

Al Gore's speech went through the history and condemned this along with many other abuses of power.

Warner, if anything, was also implying that the Democrats were being too partisan and should work with the Republicans in Congress. (I guess he doesn't understand that many Republicans following Norquist are really acting in true bi-partisan spirit.) This is something he needs to learn.

[pokercat999]

12. He is milk toast, has no real thoughts of his own and

like most pols spends his life with his finger in the air......no not THAT finger...that's me

[Clarkansas]

5. Warner and Clark!

[Straight Shooter]

7. Simple question: "Do you think bush broke the law?"

Simple answer, "Well, I'm not the judge in that circumstance, but I can tell you that if Clinton had circumvented warrants and proceeded to eavesdrop en masse, the conservatives would not waste any time in condemning Clinton for breaking the law."

There you have it. You can evade putting yourself on the hot seat and still point out the hypocrisy of the so-called conservatives at the same time. Now, is that so frickin' hard, Mr. Warner?

If that's the best he can do, then let's hope he's not our candidate. :(

[CrazyForKucinich]

8. With all these STAY IN IRAQ Democrats...looks like I'll be voting Kucinich

RUN DK RUN!

[lynne]

10. Somebody needs to do a bit of proof-reading -

- as Mark Warner is not the Governor of VA.

[snowbear]

13. He was until three days ago....

sheesh.

[TomClash]

11. I want to like Warner

but his performance on the show left much to be desired. He paid lip service to core Dmocratic principles but his positions seem like standard DLC.

[snowbear]

14. Not that performance... true...

I agree that on that particular clip, it was a very ho-hum performance.

But his appearance on C-Span recently (when he was in New Hampshire) was incredible. When there's even rave reviews from most of the tough cookies at the DU-Politics section.. you know you're doing something right.

On his PAC site, ( http://www.forwardtogetherpac.com/ ) the clips that I've taken the time to look at are all great. But I agree about this one performance - ho hum is right.

I could care less if he's DLC member or not. I want someone who can WIN. Clinton was DLC, Gore was DLC, Kerry was DLC and the list goes on and on.

I plan to support the candidate that we nominate regardless of the Democratic affiliation they're affiliated with --- DLC, DNC, DCCC, DFA, D-Whatever.

If they're a DEMOCRAT and they become our nominee, I'll do what I can to get them elected!!

[Orsino]

16. Warner "believes" * withheld information?

* himself has bragged of it. The law doesn't *require* him to provide information to the Congress--the FISA court oversight is what * bypassed.

And let's not have any more wishy-washy "arbitrary timetable" spin. Any withdrawal will be planned, and that plan will be modified in response to events on the ground. It won't be "arbitrary"--at least, no more arbitrary than *'s entire war plan.