(GOP Rep. Pete) Hoekstra considers hearings on Pelosi, interrogations

[sabra]

Source: The Hill

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is under renewed fire after the Obama administration released documents that critics say contradict her claim that she was never told that U.S. detainees were being waterboarded.

Rep. Pete Hoekstra (Mich.), the top Republican on House Intelligence, in an interview Friday said the document proves that Pelosi knew waterboarding occurred but has denied is because of political pressure from the liberal base of her party.

“Clearly her left wing is outraged that waterboarding was used,” Hoekstra said. “The bottom line is she and her key staff, they all knew about it.”

...

He is also considering calling for congressional hearings on what members knew and when they knew it.

...

Still, it doesn't conclusively answer the question of what Pelosi knew, and when she knew it. It says that they were briefed on the methods used to interrogate suspected al-Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah, but doesn't specifically mention waterboarding.

Pelosi (D-Calif.) did join in a protest filed after the first briefing that specifically mentioned waterboarding in 2003.

Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/pelosi-under-renewed-fire-over-interrogations-2009-05-08.html

[bdamomma]

1. the repug hit squad is at it again.

the repigs sure have short memories, they were the majority for the last eight years.

[Bleacher Creature]

2. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

He's considering "calling" for hearings. However, as he's in the minority, he can't actually convene one.

Hell, I can call for a hearing. Carries about the same significance.

[bemildred]

Oh good.

:popcorn::popcorn:

[Tempest]

3. The CIA is claiming the briefings may not have taken place

CIA Admits That Info About Torture Briefings For Dems May Not Be Accurate
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/torture/cia-admits-that-info-about-torture-briefings-for-dems-may-not-be-accurate/

[deminks]

4. I effing knew this would happen.

We get all kinds of hearings on this briefings crap that is all made up shit, and we can't beg for a hearing on the real criminals.

I could effing see this happening a million miles away.

Mother of God.

[leftynyc]

13. You need to chill

The pubs are in no position to call for any hearings. To be more accurate, they can scream until the cows come home, they don't have the power to demand anything.

[defendandprotect]

17. However, if Pelosi and other Dems knew about TORTURE, then I'd be

just as happy to not have them in the party.

Fortunately, the Clinton "rendition" program stressed "NO TORTURE" --
I'm sure Pelosi would know that and would have remembered it.

Once the Dems allowed themselves to give full speed ahead to Bush/Cheney re 9/11 --
and the "warh on Terra" ... they were finished.

Those are the hardest times to stand up against tyranny but it seemed to be obvious
to most of the public that this was a ruse.

Followed quickly by Anthrax to shut down the Congress -- !!!

Where are all the investigations we need?

[babylonsister]

5. Distraction, obstruction, anything to get the topic off themselves and

what they're not doing and can't do because their cast of characters is so pathetic.

[The Hope Mobile]

22. Exactly! nt

[florida08]

23. double exactly right

this is about 2010..get some dems thrown out..make room for neocons

[Hawkeye-X]

6. Let them have it - in the broom closet that fits only a Hindi fakir.

:eyes:

[emulatorloo]

7. I wouldn't beleive Hoekstra if his tongue came notarized

and I am certainly skeptical of all things Boehner and Cheney connected --

I am no fan of Pelosi, but this all seems pretty transparent to me -- deflect blame.

[high density]

8. Bring it on.

Gives perfect rationalization to investigate Bush & Cheney even further.

[sinkingfeeling]

9. Old Pete must have some other documents than those released by the CIA, which don't prove diddly.

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/briefings.pdf

[defendandprotect]

19. I've been thinking that the lie... "you know the Dems did it" . . .

may have been played for some Repugs as well in order to keep questions

from rising about their program.

Obviously, LAWYERS having advised them they could do these things would be

bought by some!

[EarlG]

10. The end game must be approaching

First it was "a few bad apples", then it was "not really torture - just frat pranks", then it was "okay, it's torture, but it's necessary because it keeps America safe."

Now suddenly it's, "we must have investigations to find out what the Democrats knew about our illegal torture and when they knew about it!"

This is desperate stuff. For the record I think the whole thing should be investigated and let the chips fall where they may. But to see these Republicans suddenly flipping their talking point from "no investigations ever" to "okay, let's have investigations" suggests that they are really starting to sweat.

[EFerrari]

26. I think Nancy is pretty safe from Hoestra -- remeber this investigation that didn't happen?

12/17/07

GOP lawmaker: Probe of CIA tape destruction to move forward

CNN) -- The ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee says the panel will move forward with a probe into the destruction of CIA videotapes of detainee interrogations, despite a Justice Department request that congressional inquiries be suspended.


"It's important for Congress to hold this community accountable," Rep. Peter Hoekstra said on "Fox News Sunday."

"The CIA did not tell us about the existence of these tapes. They did not tell us that they were going to be destroyed," the Michigan Republican said.

"I think we will issue subpoenas. And once these witnesses appear in front of the committee, then I think we'll have to make the decision as to whether we're going to provide them with immunity," he said.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/17/cia.tapes/

[leftynyc]

11. Somebody needs to remind him

the pubs are in the minority with the power of an impotent flaccid penis.

[defendandprotect]

20. Yes. . . but think about it, they can always rely on Dems to behave properly .. . .

Remember when the Repugs wouldn't given John Conyers a hearing room and he

had to take his investigation -- Downing St or Ohio Election? -- down to the

BASEMENT of the Capitol???

The Dems would never do that to the GOP creeps -- and I'm just as glad they won't.

OTOH, imagine Dems threatening to hold an investigation of torturers the way the

Repugs are doing it?

[Skinner]

12. So, does this mean that torture is bad now?

Because if torture is okay, I don't see why there would be any need for Hoekstra to investigate Pelosi.

So confusing.

[blueclown]

14. If they can hold hearings on Pelosi, can we hold hearings on Boosh, Cheney

and the rest of the Boosh administration criminal syndicate?

... Right?

Or does the far right only want a political witchunt?

[CC]

16. Can we include all the

repukes on these same committees, specially the ones in charge pre-2006 election cycle with they controlled congress?

[defendandprotect]

dupe

[defendandprotect]

15. Anyone remember where Rep. Conyers had to hold hearings -- in the BASEMENT -- !!!

I can't recall if it was about the Ohio election or Downing Street -
but the Repugs wouldn't give him a hearing room!!!

Conyers actually had to hold his hearing somewhere in the BASEMENT of the Capitol--!!!

[sabra]

18. "Downing Street" - had Joe Wilson, Cindy Sheehan, Ray McGovern, others...

[No Elephants]

30. Has anything important ever resulted from a Conyers hearing? Not being sarcastic. I just don't

know and I would like to know.

[JDPriestly]

21. We need a special prosecutor to investigate this and sort it out.

And, if Nancy Pelosi was briefed to the extent the Republicans claim, she (and Jay Rockefeller) should resign now and spare our party the grief of being asked to defend their roles in the criminal activities of the Bush administration.

[Piewhacket]

24. Just meant to divert attention away from the criminal classes. (ie Hoekstra & friends)

[The Stranger]

25. Pelosi is so bad that even though she covered for the criminal junta, they still hate her.

[deacon]

27. LOL! So only investigate the democrat??? These people are nuts.

How about a COMPLETE investigation (wake up Obama, America can't move on until this is dealt with) and reprimand those who gave the okays to torture.

So the GOP is in full swing to protect the bush administration against torture violations "move forward don't look back" and now want to look back and claim a democrat backed torture that they support where they can be proven wrong. It's like suing yourself!

This is insanity!

[bluestateguy]

28. How is he going to call hearings

Is he still unaware that his party has been in the minority for over two years now? When you are in the House minority, you don't get to call hearings.

When Democrats were in the minority, John Conyers' held "hearings" in 2005 on the Downing Street Memo, held in the basement of the House televised on CSPAN-3. What a joke. He had no authority to subpoena anyone, and the principals were not compelled to testify, and I don't believe the Republicans even participated. They accomplished nothing.

[No Elephants]

29. Hearings on Pelosi, but not on Bushco? I am so sick of blind partisanship on both sides.