Justice Dept. Seeks Delay on House Intel Committee CIA Inquiry: Dem and GOP lawmakers "stunned"

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: New York Times

By DAVID JOHNSTON and MARK MAZZETTI
Published: December 15, 2007

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department asked the House Intelligence Committee on Friday to postpone its investigation into the destruction of videotapes by the Central Intelligence Agency in 2005, saying the Congressional inquiry presented “significant risks” to its own preliminary investigation into the matter.

The department is taking an even harder line with other Congressional committees looking into the matter, and is refusing to provide information about any role it might have played in the destruction of the videotapes. The recordings covered hundreds of hours of interrogations of two operatives of Al Qaeda.

The Justice Department and the C.I.A.’s inspector general have begun a preliminary inquiry into the destruction of the tapes, and Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey said the department would not comply with Congressional requests for information now because of “our interest in avoiding any perception that our law enforcement decisions are subject to political influence.” Over all, the position taken by Mr. Mukasey, who took office last month, represented what Justice Department officials described as an effort to caution Congress against meddling in the tapes case and other politically explosive criminal cases.

The Justice Department request was met with anger from both Republican and Democratic members of the House Intelligence Committee, who said the department was trying to interfere with their investigation. The committee had summoned two C.I.A. officials to testify at a hearing next week, a session that will now almost certainly be postponed.

The inquiry by the House committee had been shaping up as the most aggressive investigation into the destruction of the tapes, and in a written statement on Friday, the two senior members of the panel said they were “stunned” by the Justice Department’s request. The lawmakers, Representative Silvestre Reyes, Democrat of Texas, and Representative Peter Hoekstra, Republican of Michigan, threatened to issue subpoenas to get testimony and other information from the C.I.A. “There is no basis upon which the attorney general can stand in the way of our work,” they said....

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/15/washington/15intel.html?hp

[babylonsister]

1. They're stunned, I'm just disgusted. nt

[Rosa Luxemburg]

83. The panel must be ineffective if they are just stunned

We need a panel with teeth! preferably fangs.

[robinlynne]

2. and who are the ............who voted Mukasey in?

[peacetalksforall]

86. Diane Feinstein isn't surprised. Schumer's not.

[sueh]

3. Impeach. Impeach. Impeach.

[radfringe]

23. question is are they "stunned" enough to impeach? n/t

[harmonicon]

4. In other news, justice department has a totally hot girlfriend...

...back at their old highschool.

[calimary]

19. And here I thought you were gonna say Dianne Feinstein.

:eyes:

Of course she's not a totally hot anything. And that's just in the looks department. Her voting record is downright hideous. In this case, certainly. Schumer, too. Just detestable.

And, mind you, we STILL can't IMPEACH??!?!?!

For the love of God...

I'm pretty damned disgusted myself. Hey, if I'd wanted republi-CON rubber-stamping I wouldn't have voted Dem last time.

:banghead:

[cstanleytech]

27. Be honest though

do you think the democrats could swing enough of the republicans over to vote yes on impeachment for Bush, a president of their own party who they have supported on things like allowing torture? I kinda doubt they would.

[mwb970]

32. Sigh. That's not the point!

Impeachment is not just the right thing to do, it is required by the Constitution in this circumstance, regardless of whether you or anyone else "doubts" what the outcome will be.

[polmaven]

57. I think in large part it IS the point...

Impeachment is just the first step....After that there is the trial in the Senate, where acquittal is, if you are realistic, certainly assured.

I have said before, and I will say again....This gang will NOT look at the impeachment as an admonishment or a warning....They will claim that acquittal as VINDICATION of all they have done!

I can think of nothing more frightening than this crew going forward with an attitude of "See? I told you so! We are not subject to the law and whatever we do is beyond your reach! We are imperial".

[mwb970]

62. But they *are* going forward with exactly that attitude!

Seems like we lose either way. What do you recommend?

[cstanleytech]

99. The only solution really in my opinion

to stop such partisan gridlock would be by limiting the number of seats a party can control in one of the houses to 1/3 but thats unlikely to happen.
All we can really do at this point is try to make sure the next president is a good one and hope the democrats will repair the damage that the republicans and this president caused to this nation.

[jwirr]

66. Exactly, and all their little sheeples running around telling everyone

that there was no proof just when we need the edge in the election. I would like to see them investigate more aggressively with the powers they already have. Forget this idea of giving them time to investigate themselves - we have had enough of the chickenhawks guarding the hen house - get over being stunned and follow through with the congressional investigations - NOW.

[immoderate]

82. It won't be vindication if only Republicans vote to acquit....

And then they have to face their voters who will have seen the evidence!

--IMM

[cstanleytech]

101. I really doubt it would

cause any major damage to their chances of being re-elected.
I have met plenty of republicans who will never vote against their party (also some democrats to but not so many of those exist) no matter what happens.

[immoderate]

103. Perhaps so, but consider the vast middle.

Nobody wins with just their base. Most elections are decided by a few points. Electorates can swing vastly over a few years.

--IMM

[1monster]

44. They did with Nixon and Nixon's crimes were peanuts to the crimes of this group.

[polmaven]

58. There was a very different group of Republicans

during the Nixon Administration. They were actually people, for the most part, who cared more about the good of the country than they did about the good of "their own kind", if you will. They were conservative Republicans...not NEO-CONS.

[1monster]

69. True, but there was also the fact that the impeachment hearing were

nationally televised. People were seeing for themselves the evidence against Nixon and there was a ground swell of outrage.

Those Senators and Representatives had no choice but to condemn Nixon.

America, when she is angry is formidable and politicians either bend to their will or will soon be knocking on K Street's doors looking for a job.

[cstanleytech]

100. Exactly.

Though of course those guys being caught breaking into those offices of his politcal rivals did not help Nixon much with his own party, if they had supported him it would been political suicide in the next elections.

[deacon]

5. This is an abomination. n/t

[Rageneau]

6. Maybe if Schumer and Feinstein ask Mukasey REAL nice...

After all, he owes them both a big favor.

Without their support, he'd never be in a position to obstruct justice for Bush.

[defendandprotect]

17. We thought we had to vote out Repugs --- We have to vote out a load of Democrats--!!!

[MadMaddie]

71. And that is exactly what people need to wake up to....we have

to rid ourselves of Feinstein and possibly Schumer, replace Reid and Polosi....and the others kool aid drinkers....kinda hard to fight when you have these people wanting to negotiate....

We are long past the point of negotiation.......Schumer and Feinstein will say they never saw this coming.....bye, bye...

[defendandprotect]

96. Do you ever wonder if the party is already too saturated with corporate $ to save?

[MadMaddie]

104. I do wonder.....but it wouldn't be the first time a good housecleaning

has been needed and implemented....If the Democratic party would have gotten rid of Lieberman when we had a chance he would not be a thorn in our side today....once again we blew it.

[Triana]

7. Stonewalling - Who's surprised? Must be a LOT to hide back there (n/t)

[struggle4progress]

106. "We is too busy erasin to talk right now"

[99th_Monkey]

8. Is that another "strongly worded letter" I hear being typed? Ya.. That'll show 'em. n/t

[seafan]

9. Today, AG Mukasey *stuns* Congress: Denies access to evidence of destruction of CIA torture tapes

Justice Dept. Seeks Delay on C.I.A. Inquiry

December 15, 2007

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department asked the House Intelligence Committee on Friday to postpone its investigation into the destruction of videotapes by the Central Intelligence Agency in 2005, saying the Congressional inquiry presented “significant risks” to its own preliminary investigation into the matter.

The department is taking an even harder line with other Congressional committees looking into the matter, and is refusing to provide information about any role it might have played in the destruction of the videotapes. The recordings covered hundreds of hours of interrogations of two operatives of Al Qaeda.

The Justice Department and the C.I.A.’s inspector general have begun a preliminary inquiry into the destruction of the tapes, and Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey said the department would not comply with Congressional requests for information now because of “our interest in avoiding any perception that our law enforcement decisions are subject to political influence.”

.....

The Justice Department request was met with anger from both Republican and Democratic members of the House Intelligence Committee, who said the department was trying to interfere with their investigation. The committee had summoned two C.I.A. officials to testify at a hearing next week, a session that will now almost certainly be postponed.
The inquiry by the House committee had been shaping up as the most aggressive investigation into the destruction of the tapes, and in a written statement on Friday, the two senior members of the panel said they were “stunned” by the Justice Department’s request.

.....

“At my confirmation hearing, I testified that I would act independently, resist political pressure and ensure that politics plays no role in cases brought by the Department of Justice,” Mr. Mukasey wrote in one letter. Accordingly, he went on, “I will not at this time provide further information in response to your letter.”

.....

We screamed. We shouted. We were ignored.



On the Nomination (Confirmation Michael B. Mukasey of New York, to be Attorney General )
Vote Number: 407 Vote Date: November 8, 2007, 11:04 PM

YEAs 53
NAYs 40
Not Voting 7


YEAs ---53
Allard (R-CO)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Carper (D-DE)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Nelson (D-NE)
Roberts (R-KS)
Schumer (D-NY)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)


NAYs ---40

Akaka (D-HI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Casey (D-PA)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lincoln (D-AR)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sanders (I-VT)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)


Not Voting - 7
Alexander (R-TN)
Biden (D-DE)
Clinton (D-NY)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Dodd (D-CT)
McCain (R-AZ)
Obama (D-IL)

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00407

[DeepModem Mom]

42. Thanks for posting documentation of that vote, seafan. nt

[rucognizant]

43. OK that eliminates 3 candidates for Pres.!

We lost 6 votes against his confirmation.............
Biden (D ) Del. CARPER (D) Del., Clinton (D) NY SCHUMER (D) NY, Dodd ( D) CT, LIEBERMAN ( DI ) CT,.!
Obama didn't vote but at least his fellow Senator from Il Durbin voted nay!

If they can't even influence their fellow STATE other Senator,( the two working together, daily weekly etc. for the good of their state and the COUNTRY,) how can they hope to gain consensus from the whole Senate body, the House, and the country?
ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE!
;( ;( ;( :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
:puke: :wtf:
:dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :spank:

:grr:

[peacebird]

46. Biden, Clinton, Dodd, & Obama clearly FAILED TO SHOW LEADERSHIP in this matter

Had they taken the floor and spoken, perhaps they could have swayed some folks to vote against.

At least if they should have bothered to VOTE to let us know where they stood on this AG.

The campaign started too soon, and it has distracted several of our Senators away from doing the work they were put in office to do while they are so busy trying to convince us to give them an even bigger office.

Disgraceful.

And we need to slam DiFi clean OUT of the Senate, and she can take Schumer with her, and LIEberman as well.

[Quixote1818]

10. I blame Feinstein and Schumer more than Mukasey for this

:grr:

[peacetalksforall]

87. 7 & 4 = 11 NOT LUCKY. HIGHLY UNFORTUNATE!

BIDEN CLINTON DODD OBAMA = no vote

Bayh, Carper FEINSTEIN Landrieau Leiberman B Nelson SCHUMER - for Bush and Cheney

ALL - MUST GO if the Dem Senate caves again.

They are intolerable. And they don't deserve their job.

KUCINICH and EDWARDS go to the top with me.

I didn't really know about the four. I must come to DU more often. Went right over my head.

Man, I am so angry with myself for not knowing about the four.

This is the most important point we'be been in. We are about to become serfs officially if Cheney and Bush win with the help of these 11.

Will these 11 who could not see the importance of the Mukasey nomination get to stay in their roles - as candidate and Senator? Yes, if Cheney and Bush win.

Those in lower case were already hopeless.

I am so angry and so afraid. This is a pinnacle point, people.

[orleans]

11. argh!!! motherfuckers! mukasey & everyone who voted for that prick! n/t

[L. Coyote]

12. "Saturday Night Massacre" Redux. "The Friday Afternoon Judicial Holocaust"

This administration acts like a fascist junta, unaware of the Constitution of the United States.

In a real sense we are seeing a repeat of history. The details are very different, but the underlying reality is the same. The President has declared himself to be above the law, imposing widespread destruction on Justice. Friday afternoon is now a galvanized symbol of dumping on Justice.

The "Saturday Night Massacre" was the term given by political commentators to U.S. President Richard Nixon's executive dismissal of independent special prosecutor Archibald Cox, and the resignations of Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus during the Watergate scandal on October 20, 1973.

Cox had been appointed by Richardson in May of that year, after having given assurances to the Senate Judiciary Committee that he would appoint an independent counsel to investigate the events surrounding the Watergate break-in of June 17, 1972. Cox subsequently issued a subpoena to President Nixon, asking for copies of taped conversations recorded in the Oval Office and authorized by Nixon as evidence. The president initially refused to comply with the subpoena, but on October 19, 1973, he offered what was later known as the Stennis Compromise—asking U.S. Senator John C. Stennis to review and summarize the tapes for the special prosecutor's office.

Cox refused the compromise that same evening, and it was believed that there would be a short rest in the legal maneuvering while government offices were closed for the weekend. However, President Nixon acted to dismiss Cox from his office the next night – a Saturday. He contacted Attorney General Richardson and ordered him to fire the special prosecutor. Richardson refused, and instead resigned in protest. Nixon then ordered Deputy Attorney General Ruckelshaus to fire Cox; he also refused and resigned in protest.

Nixon then contacted the Solicitor General, Robert Bork, and ordered him as acting head of the Justice Department to fire Cox. Richardson and Ruckelshaus had both personally assured the congressional committee overseeing the special prosecutor investigation that they would not interfere – Bork had made no such assurance to the committee. Thus, Bork complied with Nixon's order and fired Cox. .............

Nixon defended his actions in a famous press conference on November 17, 1973, in which he stated,

"...in all of my years of public life, I have never obstructed justice. ..." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_Night_Massacre

Bush has a similar denial, "We don't torture."

My experience dictates that that judgment is best made by the victim. The tortured know better.
The whole world knows better, and today they saw the holocaust of American justice at work.

[Up2Late]

13. Oh Jesus F-ing Christ, can't we just arrest the whole lot of them now?

PLEASE!:banghead: :mad:

[rodeodance]

36. pretty please please

[alllyingwhores]

76. The Justice Dept will get right on that,

[LaStrega]

14. hmmm ...

"...caution Congress against meddling in the tapes case and other politically explosive criminal cases."

Erm. As opposed to those fluffy bunny cases? No ... yeah ... you carry on with those.

I cannot access FReep from home as I'm banned, but I remember when Mukasey was looking to be sworn in the FReeps were freaking out ... if I recall correctly one FReep was dooming the current administration for such a move. Oh gosh. Guess that went their way.

*doffs hat towards Gary, Indiana*

*and Teluride* http://www.telluridewatch.com/articles/2007/08/03/news/doc46b25cf5271be617626072.txt

[Lasher]

15. Because of “our interest in avoiding any perception...

that our law enforcement decisions are subject to political influence.”

[defendandprotect]

16. "Stunned" is not as good as a full push at this fascist mess ---

[Gonnuts]

18. I suspect ...

another series of really harsh letters coming from those pissed-off legislators and hoots of laughter from the White House

In between the letters and the laughter several more despicable crimes will be committed by this gang of pathological murdering, rapist, thieving, torturers, that they can draft letters on.

[JDPriestly]

20. Mukasey may be considering appointing a special prosecutor on this one.

OK, so this sounds weird, but I kind of heard a positive tone in his voice when he spoke about the idea of a special prosecutor at his press conference on this the other day. Of course, I could be wrong because I don't know his voice, and he could change his mind. But this is what I'm suspecting.

[Rageneau]

22. Pigs will fly.

[cstanleytech]

28. Nah, they already do that its just called

Air Force One right now :P hehe
Now evolve into an intelligent species, yeah thats doubtful :)

[allisonthegreat]

102. roflmao..this is unbelievable, like most of the shit that goes on with this admin n/t

[Gonnuts]

70. Who are you? Linus?

If you think that this sycophant AG is going to be doing anything but protecting bus&co you're no better than believing like Linus does of Peanuts fame that Lucy will not pull the football away this time when he goes to kick it.

It is beyond the pale what this government has done. We are no better now than another tyrannical government that ever existed and wishing that some sycophant is suddenly going to change his spots and do the right thing is delusional at best.

[annabanana]

84. From your mouth to God's ear...

I would cry tears of joy if he did. I really think I would break right down & cry.

[Solly Mack]

21. snicker

"Stunned"

I'm shocked, I tell you. Shocked.

snicker

[annabanana]

85. !

[BR_Parkway]

24. Who could have possibly foreseen.......??

[dmosh42]

25. Oooo, let's send them a stern letter!

That should be enough to scare them. Or maybe another subpoena!

[ClintonTyree]

26. The highest law enforcement department in the land....

has become a lawless, criminal, mouthpiece for the Bush administration, more adept at subverting the law than enforcing it.

I ask you, what would be the reaction throughout the land if there were a DEMOCRAT in the White House at the moment? :nuke:

Think about it.

[Zorra]

29. The DOJ is now Bu*h's private Blackwater, paid to protect him and

his fascist cronies from being prosecuted when they break our laws.

[rateyes]

30. That's what happens, Mr. Leahy, when you don't stick to your guns...

and refuse confirmation hearings without getting the material the committee subpoenaed. That's what happens, Mr. Schumer and Ms. Feinstein, when you put your own damned reputations ahead of what is good for the country. That's what happens, Senators, when you have enough votes to sustain a filibuster, and you refuse to filibuster.

The country is getting screwed, and it's all because you have no spines.

Cowardice, is the word.

[Orsino]

31. DOJ and Congress arguing over who gets to slow-walk it into 2009. n/t

[Double T]

33. The DOJ needs time to prepare their cover up and I believe..........

THEY should be given ALL the time THEY need to prepare a complete and thorough cover up.

[rodeodance]

37. lots of shreading and deleting going on

[Double T]

94. And don't forget memory loss.........

with phrases like "I don't remember" and "I don't recall".

[artr2]

34. Hold up Congress

We need more time to get rid of evidence

[rodeodance]

35. lets see how stunned they actually are

[The Backlash Cometh]

38. Hasn't the Justice Department already proven that it's been politically breached?

[stubtoe]

64. That's the heart of it.

[Cass]

39. This calls for much more than a strongly-worded letter.

They are saying they are above the law, and deeming Congress completely irrelevant.

The framers of our Constitution would be horrified by the continual abuses of power that are occurring by this Administration.

I hope the Dems who voted for Mukasey are happy with the outcome. :mad:

[alllyingwhores]

75. You're right. I'm thinking maybe TWO strongly worded letters!

[coalition_unwilling]

109. How about refusing to move forward on any further DOJ

appropriations (to pay salaries and overhead), until DOJ fully complies with duly-issued subpoenas by Congress? Call me a hard-ass, but I really think the only true power Congress has is the power of the purse. The only language this fascist junta understands is that of a realistic threat (in this case, shutting off funding).

[barbtries]

40. congrees rubberstamped this asshole

and must have known they'd be playing right into the bushies' hands. i'm beginning to think that most of congress are bushies regardless of what party they purport to represent.

these motherfuckers it is so infuriating

[Vinca]

41. Mukasey = Gonzo, Jr. nt

[formercia]

45. If I was one of the perps.

I would do like Ollie North and get Congress to grant me immunity then testify. We would all know what happened and Junior would grant everyone a blanket pardon. End of story.

[pleah]

47. That seems to be the problem.

They sit around 'stunned' all day and don't get anything done.

[wake.up.america]

48. It's official. America is living in a dictatorship.

[Greylyn58]

49. What is it going to take to make them Impeach these people??

I mean really? They are not going to stop until they have completely destroyed this country.

So again I ask, what will it take? What will be the final outrage(if it ever comes)to make them bring these criminals to justice?

I am sick and tired of all of them--Dems and Repugs alike. They are murdering this country by degrees.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

67. Revolution.

But I'm not holding my breath. Even if we were 'attacked' again, with the Maladministration declaring a state of emergency and cancelling 2008 elections, the vast majority of Americans would likely go shopping or watch mindless television.

I reached my limit a while ago--so much for a true opposition party. What exactly is in those tapes?

[PufPuf23]

50. “our interest in avoiding any perception that our law enforcement

“our interest in avoiding any perception that our law enforcement decisions are subject to political influence.”

Yeah sure lololol

[spanone]

51. stunned for about a year now, i'd say.

[Javaman]

52. More Kabuki theater. nt

[snappyturtle]

53. Why do they have to postpone ? RE:

"The Justice Department request was met with anger from both Republican and Democratic members of the House Intelligence Committee, who said the department was trying to interfere with their investigation. The committee had summoned two C.I.A. officials to testify at a hearing next week, a session that will now almost certainly be postponed."

Can the DOJ prevent the hearing? Why doesn't the committee just go ahead into the investigation and thumb it's nose at the DOJ which is what the DOJ has done to them? Maybe I'm in a stupor!

[Rene]

54. Those tapes aren't 'destroyed'. Anyone of the ilk to torture would also

want to voyeuristically watch it occuring. I'm sure they and copies still exist. These are very warped people in charge of this country. They've taken America right down the toilet bowl of their being and very sick natures.

[Beetwasher]

55. Congress Is STUNNED!!!! Me....Not So Much...

n/t

[Lugnut]

56. Can we impeach now?

If not why not? :mad:

[acmavm]

59. Well ladies and gentlemen, how do you like that lump of coal stuffed in

your Christmas stocking by 'our' government? I sincerely hope that you really weren't expecting anything else. I mean the second Mukasey was confirmed, it was guaranteed to be this way.

And as for 'other criminal investigations' I have no doubt in my mind that means each and every illegal, immoral, and un-Constitutional act of these lying, theiving, murderous traitors.

[seafan]

60. David Addington: “We’re going to push and push and push until some larger force makes us stop.”

David Addington

“We’re going to push and push and push until some larger force makes us stop,” explained Vice President’s Dick Cheney’s legal counsel David Addington, according to Goldsmith’s new book, The Terror Presidency.

Goldsmith wrote that Addington “and, I presumed, his boss viewed power as the absence of constraint.”

However, “the absence of constraint” in the context of political leaders wielding the extraordinary authority of a powerful state is synonymous with tyranny, the antithesis of a democratic Republic with checks and balances, rule of law and respect for the will of an informed electorate.

.....

Bowing Before an American Tyranny, Robert Parry, September 6, 2007



And just what or who will be this larger force?


I think all of us here know the answer.

[donkeyotay]

77. Addington

http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the_next_hurrah/2007/1...

Who Vetted Mukasey?
by emptywheel

Here's an interesting question from Dick Durbin to Mukasey. It addresses whom the Administration felt it needed to give buy-in before nominating Judge Mukasey:

11. According to the Washington Post, before you were confirmed you "spent part of the weekend meeting with leading figures in the conservative world, seeking to allay their concerns about philosophy and suitability for running Justice Department."

a. With whom did you meet?

Federalist Society at work.

[donkeyotay]

78. Has he gotten his team? Did they approve those, too?

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/11/20071115-14.html

Chimperor: I was also proud to stand yesterday at the Department of Justice with America's new Attorney General -- Michael Mukasey. (Applause.) Attorney General Mukasey is a decent man, an outstanding lawyer, and a strong leader -- and he needs a strong team to support him at the Department of Justice. So in consultation with the Attorney General, earlier today I announced the individuals I will nominate to serve in five senior posts. And I look forward to working with the United States Senate to fill these positions as quickly as possible. (Applause.)

[seafan]

81. Mukasey <====> Gonzales. Did we really expect anything different?

WH nominates "movement conservatives" to top positions at DOJ. Mukasey is irrelevant.,November 17, 2007

[defendandprotect]

97. Ironic that the guy who wasn't sure waterboarding is torture is now helping to hide it --- !!!

[EFerrari]

110. They call him "Cheney's Cheney". n/t

[Hersheygirl]

61. Sending a letter to Specter,

Well we all know where that will wind up. Pass the trash can, please.;(

[emald]

63. so okay, stunned congresscriters, are you material to the process or not?

So we have the mis-administration's private law force ordering the PEOPLES congress to stand down in it's investigation. Doesn't look much like a democracy anymore to me. I see a fascist state apparatus telling it's citizens to take flying you know what. Stunned. Guess they had assumed they still had some relevancy to the process but are now being told to sit down and shut up. Goodbye constitution. Goodbye America the FREE. Hello amerikkka.

[crim son]

65. NOW they're stunned?

Where the hell have they been the last six years?

[rodeodance]

72. my thought exactly

[Oreegone]

74. How can they tell that they look stunned?

They already have that deer in the headlights look.

[rodeodance]

68. good grief. AND WHY ARE THEY STUNNED??

[IndianaGreen]

73. And who voted to confirm torture lover Mukasey as Attorney General?

You can't escape responsibility for the consequences of caving in to Bush's policies and appointees. We voted for a Democratic Congress to stop the slide into tyranny. What did we get for our troubles?

[fascisthunter]

80. ding ding ding ding......

they knew this would happen. The dumb defense is no defense at all... it's a really bad excuse.

[donkeyotay]

79. What happened to restoring confidence in justice?

I thought they wanted someone to restore the justice department after the blatantly political reign of Gonzales. Mukasey can't avoid looking political if he continues to run the same obstruction of justice that has allowed bush and his gang of thieving cronies to remain in power.

[downindixie]

88. Pissed off are the words we should be hearing!

This shit has got to stop!

[ooglymoogly]

89. I wonder who was more stunned Feinstein or Shummer

"Poses significant risks to Justice 'cover up". Dooo,doooo, dootin at my back door.

[lovuian]

90. they voted Mukasey in and now their stunned

HELLOoooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

their BS is getting really obvious

whats going to happen is the House is going to make the Senate look pathetic

but heres the thing as we slowly approach election year

things are going to mightily change

[xxqqqzme]

91. Stunned!?! That's a strange reaction.

I'd call it 'expected'; 'par for the course'; 'business as usual'. Stunned? Where the fuck have these mealy mouth, spineless, enabling jackasses been the last (almost)SEVEN years?

[sss1977]

92. So let me get this straight...

Everytime the Administration does something wrong and gets investigated, they say, sorry, no comment, we can't talk about this matter or allow it to be investigated, because we're investigating it internally. Then, they break the next law, and the next one and the next one, and every single time they do the exact same thing. Great job Congress. Good job with that oversight.

[deacon]

93. Congress needs to get rid of mukasy IMMEDIATELY!

[alfredo]

95. We need to focus our letter writing and energies toward ending

torture. We are fighting for the soul of our nation. And you know damn well, what they allow to be used on foreign prisoners will soon be allowed for domestic prisoners.

Put these on poles near churches. Put them at locations where they have to stop for lights or stop signs. Give them this message as they leave their Sunday service.

This will print out on a standard piece of computer paper.

[defendandprotect]

98. The HEART of all of this BS is Bush's "Wartime President" status --- end the war!!!

[Zorra]

105. Mr. Praline: "Now that's what I call a dead parrot".

Owner: "No, no.....No, 'e's stunned"!

Mr. Praline: "STUNNED"?!?

Owner: "Yeah! You stunned him, just as he was wakin' up! Norwegian Blues stun easily, major".

Mr. Praline: "Um...now look...now look, mate, I've definitely 'ad enough of this. That parrot is definitely deceased, and when I purchased it not 'alf an hour ago, you assured me that its total lack of movement was due to it bein' tired and shagged out following a prolonged squawk".

(From Monte Python's Dead Parrot sketch).

[global1]

107. And The Cover-Up Goes On........nt

[lutefisk]

108. stunned like birds flying into a plate glass window

Once the effect wears off they'll just flap their little wings and fly off in another direction. I don't expect anything out of Congress anymore.