Oh oh Aaron Brown (CNN) is pissed about the 9/11 Commission

[wndycty]

Is anybody watching this?

[teach1st]

1. I'm watching

I don't watch TV much, but I've never seen Brown so passionate.

[Renew Deal]

7. Brown did wall to wall 9/11 coverage from NYC.

That's where he got his break. He was on all hours.

[SoCalDem]

53. That was his first day with CNN, if I recall

I think I rememebr him vamping that day about how he was going to the NY HQ to "check in" as the new guy and they sent him right out to cover the biggest story of his lifetime..

Talk about serendipity :)

[Skittles]

96. lol..................pesticide fumes

:thumbsup:

[Rooktoven]

54. I was impressed.

Are there any marches or protests planned by anyone about the 9-11 commission being sidelined? I'd drive 4 hours for that.

[wndycty]

2. He just told people to write their congressmen. . .

I am absolutely speechless!

[BootinUp]

3. It was fuckin aye awesome!

Be careful Aaron!

[Arugula Latte]

95. Yeah, Aaron, avoid small plains

lest you be "Wellstoned."

[shoopnyc123]

4. Aaron just unloaded!

I loved it! He was the man for tonight!

[Catt03]

5. I heard him. WOW...

I think we should write like he asked.

[mike1963]

28. I just did, to Hastert...here's a fairly easy way for those who don't know

about it
http://www.congress.org

[Don Claybrook]

58. My love letter to Denny Hastert

Representative Hastert:

Sadly, I was completely unsurprised by your actions today denying the 9/11 commission an extra 60 days to finish their work. I guess I was a little surprised that the White House left you alone to twist in the wind and take the blame, since you're merely a tool who splits his time between his two masters, George W. Bush and Tom DeLay.

The obvious question is, and I'm sure you'll have thousands of angry Americans asking you this, what is it you have to hide? Why is it that you and the White House don't want the American people to know what failures lead to the attacks of September 11th? Why is it that our President and Vice President are afraid to testify to the commission under oath? Why won't they testify to the entire commission? Why won't they testify for more than 60 minutes? Again, what is it you have to hide? I think that the American people have no choice but to assume that the kindest explanation is gross incompetence on the part of the administration, and less kind explanations become very sinister indeed.

Again, Mr. Hastert, why is it that the Republicans are doing everything they can to make sure that the worst terrorist attack we've ever suffered is not properly investigated? Why is it that the Republicans don't want the American public to know about the Bush family's business deals with the bin Ladens? Why is it that the GOP doesn't want the American public to be reminded that George W Bush read stories about goats for an agonizingly-long time after he knew the country was under attack and before he went to hide in a hole in Nebraska? Why are we the people not allowed to know why standard intercept procedures weren't followed in New York and Washington? Why is it you don't want us to really know what happened over rural Pennsylvania? For that matter, do the Republicans and the President ever plan to give us the proof you promised us about bin Laden's culpability? It's been awhile, and I'm still waiting for that promised answer. Will you squelch the commission's answers to why it is that we can't find black boxes in the rubble of the trade towers, yet we found a pristine passport that belonged to Muhammed Atta? Will you hide the answers about those put options that made someone extremely wealthy? What is it that you don't want us to know about several of these hijackers attending advanced military schools at US military installations? How did Osama bin Laden fund this attack? How did he funnel the money? Who were the middle-men? Who were the operatives on the ground in the US, the ones that didn't fly on 9/11? Are they still in the country? What is the innocent explanation for you making sure this commission does nothing to answer the questions that we all have? Do you not care about the loss of life? Do you not want to prevent this sort of thing in the future? Would answering questions from nearly 3 years ago somehow compromise national security? Are we really supposed to trust you, George Bush, Dick Cheney, Scooter Libby, Richard Perle, Donald Rumsfeld, and David Frum with our national security? I have to tell you, you've been an utter and complete failure so far. Now you've chosen to go completely underground with your remediation for the failures, to handle things "in-house". Frankly, I don't think you're capable, I can't see how the GOP-controlled congress and the White House are competent to handle such important questions, and I don't think you can be trusted to do the right thing. We're taught in school to be proud of our country, our history. I can't help but think that future generations will be ashamed of this country because of the actions taken by you and your compatriots. You've brought shame to us all, and after today, you definitely qualify as a hinderence rather than a help. Why is it you refuse to do anything for the greater good of the country? Why is it that you have taken the conscious decision to disgrace yourself, your party, and the political discourse in this country?

Sincerely hoping for your replacement in a Democratic congress,

Don Claybrook,
Bloomington, IN

[Zhade]

63. Way to go, Don! That's a great letter!

You're far more restrained than myself - I would have blasted Hastert as the traitor-enabler he is.

Good work! :yourock:

[Don Claybrook]

66. Thanks

Yeah, I wanted to scream bloody murder at him, but I was trying to maintain some modicum of decorum while still letting him know I thought he was lower than slime.

I know that at best, some junior staffer will read the first 2 or 3 sentences and put it in the "against" pile and the rest will go unread. But at least it will be one of the thousands in that "against" pile, and it made me feel better.

[Leilani]

81. That was a wonderful letter!!!

I hope he gets thousands of them!!!

[aquart]

68. I told he was unfit for office.

He should resign now and restore his honor.

Well, it was worth a shot.

[HootieMcBoob]

71. Don Claybrook

That is one hell of a letter! Excellent work. Keep that one to show the grandkids. :)

[NewJeffCT]

90. great letter - may I plagarize some of it?

I agree that trying to stay rational usually works best in these situations.

My senators and congressman are all Democrats (Dodd, Lieberman and Rep. John Larson) and I'm writing to all three.

[KansDem]

103. All three of your reps are Dems???

Wow, you hit the tri-PERfecta! :toast:

[calimary]

83. I missed that one, dang it. Here's the TOLL FREE number to the Hill

down in my sig line.

You can call Hastert's office for FREE! By the way, when I tried it yesterday (Thursday) about this, the switchboard fouled up and I wound up in the Majority Leader's office. Sooo, I got two complaints in for the price of one. They transfered me to Hastert's office after I unloaded on 'em. Probably glad to get rid of me.

Again, note the sig line. Give him a piece of your mind, FOR FREE!

And I'm DELIGHTED to hear about Aaron Brown's statements. It's about time.

[wndycty]

6. He will probably be suspended for breaking some decency rule

:kick:

[Catt03]

9. LOL

you're right!

[aquart]

33. Well, it wasn't an impartial statement.

Wish I'd heard it.

[JasonBerry]

8. OPENED the newscast!

Wow!!! I sat there for a minute stunned. He flat out said that the failure to give the 9-11 commission an extra 60 days to work on the findings is an "outrage" and asked people to write, email and call their congressperson.

I have never seen such a strong statement from a newscaster - ever!

[wndycty]

11. In addition to writing congress, we nee do to write him too!

:kick:

[aquart]

30. I just did. Here's the link:

<http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form4.html?3>

[BootinUp]

36. ditto

Everyone, send a positive comment to Aaron please.

[northofdenali]

55. Done. I wish I had seen it. Will there be a transcript, I wonder?

If so, I'll certainly get a copy.

[BootinUp]

57. CNN always has transcripts, usually takes an hour or so.

[Leilani]

61. Thanks Jim!!

Aaron Brown deserves our thanks; he was the most fair journalist
to Wes during the campaign.

Also, so few of the media whores cover the really important things, we need to thank them when they do.

[ewagner]

74. Just did....

Complimented him on his efforts and....

told him he was wrong about only one thing: He "Does" causes and outrage rather well (he prefaced his comments by saying that he doesn't do causes well and outrage even worse) I told him I'd like to see more outrage.

[Ilsa]

101. Done!

Thanks, we need to encourage the media to do the right thing. I cringe when I think of th ehate mail he's probably getting for taking a stand.

[Zhade]

65. Thanks for the link. Here's what I wrote to Brown:

Mr. Brown,

Thank you for your comments on the outrage regarding the ill-fated 9/11 Commission.

I'm sure you realized long ago that the entire thing is a sham, a whitewash. You reported that morning. You know the unanswered questions.

This is a good sign that your conscience is alive. Don't hesitate to listen to it, no matter the pressures you're sure to get.

You can help prevent this country from continuing down a reprehensible path. Your words tonight are a great start. Keep it up!

[aquart]

69. I like what you wrote.

[Zhade]

70. Thanks. I only hope he listens to what it says.

NT!

[HootieMcBoob]

72. [e-mail]

[e-mail]

Is his personal email. If you want to send something directly to him.

[Cooley Hurd]

91. My letter to Aaron Brown...

Mr Brown;

First, let me congratulate you for your unusual but wholly justified comments about the 9/11 commission last night on your broadcast. As one who has followed the commissions actions since its formation, I've been dumbfounded by attempts by our own government to stymie and derail the commission at every turn. But most of the roadblocks suffered by the commission have not been coming from the Speaker of the House, but from the White House itself. The White House has, since the 9/11 attacks, tried to discourage everything to do with an independent commission, including the formation of it to begin with:

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17816

<snip>
On Meet the Press on Sept. 19, 2002, Moderator Tim Russert asked Dick Cheney about a charge made by then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle "that you called him several times and urged him not to investigate the events of Sept. 11."


"Tom's wrong," the vice president said. "I think in this case – well, let's say a misinterpretation. What I did do was work, at the direction of the president, with the leadership of the Intelligence committees to say, 'We prefer to work with the Intelligence committees.'"


The following Sunday, the senator was Russert's guest. After playing a tape of Cheney's statement, Russert asked Daschle, "Did the vice president call you and urge you not to investigate the events of Sept. 11?" Daschle flatly contradicted Cheney: "Yes, he did, Tim, on Jan. 24, and then on Jan. 28 the president himself at one of our breakfast meetings repeated the request."


Russert persisted: "It wasn't, 'Let's not have a national commission, but let's have the Intelligence committees look into this,' it was 'No investigation by anyone, period'?"


"That's correct," Daschle said. "hat request was made" by Cheney not only on Jan. 24 and by Mr. Bush four days later, but "on other dates following" as well.

</snip>

Another instance of the President's opposition to the formation of the 9/11 panel:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/05/15/attack/main509096.shtml

<snip>

President Bush took a few minutes during his trip to Europe Thursday to voice his opposition to establishing a special commission to probe how the government dealt with terror warnings before Sept. 11.

Mr. Bush said the matter should be dealt with by congressional intelligence committees.
</snip>

After finally relenting on formation of the independent commission, the Bush administration has attempted to slow or stop progress being made by the commission:

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/01/24/911_commission/index_np.html

<snip>

For months, the Bush administration and the independent commission investigating the Sept. 11 terror attacks have been locked in low-intensity warfare. The White House opposed creation of the commission, and after it reluctantly yielded, it sought to bar the commission from seeing reams of documents pertaining to the attacks. The stonewalling went on so long that some commissioners say they're months behind in their work -- and yet, the White House is insisting that the May 27 deadline for the commission's final report shouldn't be extended.

The administration's apparent policy of delay and roadblock has outraged some members of Congress and a group representing families of 9/11 victims. But with hearings scheduled to resume Monday in Washington, a new frustration has emerged in recent days: Chairman Thomas Kean and Vice Chairman Lee Hamilton, both Republicans, have thus far refused to ask for more time to conduct the investigation.

</snip>

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/10/27/attack/main580200.shtml

<snip>

(CBS/AP) The chairman of the federal commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks said the White House was continuing to withhold several highly classified intelligence documents from the panel and that he was prepared to subpoena the documents if they were not turned over within weeks, The New York Times reports in a story prepared for its Sunday editions.

The chairman, Thomas H. Kean, the former Republican governor of New Jersey, also said in a Times interview that he believed the bipartisan 10-member commission would soon be forced to issue subpoenas to other executive branch agencies because of continuing delays by the Bush administration in providing documents and other evidence needed by the panel.

Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., said in a broadcast interview on Sunday that it would be in the administration's interest to release documents the commission has requested.
</snip>

Given its steady opposition of the commission even before its creation, I find it impossible to believe that, after months of stonewalling, the Bush administration is now "pleading" with Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert to extend the deadline of the commission. I believe a closer look at the White House and its relationship with the 9/11 commission is in order to fully understand why the commission is needing a deadline extension to begin with. Also, why have both President Clinton and Vice-President Al Gore agreed to speak to all the commissioners, under oath, yet President Bush, Vice-President Cheney and National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice have refused to do the same?

However, I did take your advice and wrote to Speaker Hastert and demanded an extension of the commission's deadline. But it's only a first step towards the truth.

Thank you for taking the time to read my email. The work of the 9/11 commission is extremely important if we truly want to understand what went wrong that September day.

Regards,

alg0912

[calimary]

84. Thanks for the link!

Here's what I wrote to him:

After clicking the "positive" under "my comment today" -

OVERWHELMINGLY positive, and just plain overwhelmed. Aaron - as a retired reporter myself, I've never been prouder of a fellow broadcaster than I am of you, for calling out Dennis Hastert and his pals on their 9/11 stonewalling. THIS NEEDED TO BE SAID. It needed to be screamed! I've contacted his office myself, and I hope legions more people do so, also. It's an affront to the survivors, the memory of the dead, and to the ideal of justice that we purport to hold so high.

GOOD ON YOU! I'm proud of you, and thrilled with you. You got SPINE, man! I hope you dare to show it off against these traitors again, AND SOON!!!

Bless your heart!

(signed)
PROUD to say you've renewed my faith after watching my former colleagues sell out for the past three years.


Guys, aquart has an EXCELLENT suggestion here. It's not only important to tell Hastert this sucks, but also to tell Aaron Brown (and hopefully others like him) that his own reaction to this is utterly superb, outstanding, MOST welcome, and worthy of MUCH repetition! When they do something right, they need to know that, too. Otherwise, how will they know what's good to do again? And how else will they know how people out here in viewerland REALLY feel about this? If all they're getting is spinners from the right, and the aggressive, organized machinery of the dittoheads and freepers, how on earth can they know that there even IS another side to it. If we don't speak up and make that clear, they never will.

[BootinUp]

12. I got light headed

swear to crise, he laid the smack down!

[neoteric lefty]

13. same here

I sat there stunned for a minute as well.

[neoteric lefty]

10. I have a new respect

for Aaron Brown. Not a lot of respect but new respect nonetheless.

[JasonBerry]

15. Wes Clark likes him

Clark told Brian Lamb that the fairest and most balanced coverage he received was not CNN - but Aaron Brown specifically. I thought that was interesting. I do remember Brown having him on several times and was always very respectful.

[BootinUp]

16. Was that recently? I missed it

[JasonBerry]

31. Several days after he dropped out

he had him on by phone and asked him about the media coverage. He was very classy about it but did say that some of the coverage was just really bad from what he read in the papers and what he had heard from people as to what was on television. He then said he wished that all of the media could be as fair and balanced as Aaron Brown, a man he had come to respect for fair and honest reporting during his campaign.

[eleny]

14. Yipes, that was a shocker

I never watch him any more. Maybe Brown should find some outrage more often. Works for Lou Dobbs - and I rarely miss his broadcasts these days.

[Catt03]

20. Me too

I watch Lou every night. Can't wait to see who he confronts on the outsourcing. And he really goes for it.

[eleny]

25. Yeah, tonight he unloaded on a company CEO

Lou was downright ticked off and departed from his usual demeanor. He was cutting the guy off left and right and finally dismissed him.

[JasonBerry]

35. Dobbs is awesome -- n/t

[Rationality]

17. Think I missed it

I just turned it on; discussing Democratic front-runners... :/

[Skip Intro]

18. "They assume you don't care" - WOW

My jaw is still on the ground.

Blew me away, and I hope this had a much bigger audience than ususal, considering it just followed the debate.

Can't wait to see the report coming up.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

19. A true "holy shit!" moment...

"...For the families, for the country..."

Huzzah, Aaron. Well done.

[Auntie Bush]

21. I've always liked Aaron!

Now I love him! Hey everybody...Write Aaron...thank him first..flood his email...then write congress!

[ComerPerro]

22. Even that Shepard Smith, The Faux Studio B guy,

was pissed at the conservatives today. He was pissed about the Howard Stern thing...

It was interesting to see.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

23. Good for him.

We all should be pissed.

[wndycty]

24. Let Denny have it!

http://www.house.gov/hastert/write1.shtml

[maggrwaggr]

32. I wrote Hastert a nasty fucking e-mail this morning

I spared nothing.

We'll see if it gets me in trouble.

[Auntie Bush]

51. Knock, Knock! Who's there?

Asscroft here? You are in the Gitgo!

[calimary]

85. Here's mine...

Mr. Hastert:

I am COMPLETELY DISGUSTED with your move to shorten/stonewall the 9/11 investigation. How can you call yourself a patriotic American and tell these 9/11 families and all of America yearning for justice that Congress feels no need to do its UTMOST on this? We need answers! And I'll tell you this, your efforts to block, slow, and impede this investigation prove MANY more questions that we ALSO need answers for.

As your own John Ashcroft would say: "If you have nothing to hide, then you should have nothing to worry about." Right???? What is it that you and the White House so anxiously don't want us to know????




Like he's really gonna answer me... Yeah, SURE... But what's more important is that we communicate this. I hope they're deluged with outrage about this. We need to do our part, too. THANKS for the link, wndycty !!

[eleny]

38. Done

I told him I was mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore. :)

[maggrwaggr]

39. Just sent him another one

called him a treasonous piece of shit.

Asked him how can sleep at night, look in the mirror etc.

said he should be tarred and feathered and run out of town.

[countmyvote4real]

40. Thanks for that link to Hastert. I just have to copy and paste.

[countmyvote4real]

52. And here's what I sent:

Shame on you for denying the bipartisan 9/11 commission an additional 60 days to complete their findings. Even President Bush is on public record for supporting the extension. Of course, if his administration had provided more support and access earlier on, this additional time would probably not be necessary.

Is there something you don’t want the American people to know?

I live in NYC and witnessed the first attacks on the WTC with my own eyes while on the city streets. Not on TV. Obviously, my upcoming vote is no threat to you. The people of Chicago might feel differently. They saw it on TV. No doubt they would like some reassurances that it won’t happen again, there or anywhere.

Enjoy your smugness while you can. Your Emperor is going down and he can thank you for it in his concession speech.

P.S. Maybe we can discuss this over coffee when you come here for the convention.

[BootinUp]

62. Here's mine, short and sweet

Rep Hastert,

I just wanted you to know that the Democratic Party has a new battle cry:

"REMEMBER THE 9/11 COMMISSION!"

This is the rallying cry you will hear when we take back the House!

[ewagner]

75. My Letter to Hastert

Sir,

Your decision to refuse an extension for the Commission investigating 9/11 disqualifies you for the title of Statesman and relegates you to the title of politician, and not in any complimentary sense of the word. I would only like to remind you that you were an American before you were a Republican, and, in that sense, providing your country with the full, unvarnished truth about 9/11 far surpasses any loyalty you may have to your party.

You have the power to alter this perception and I will be interested in your choice.

[RamboLiberal]

80. I let Denny have it - thank you for posting the link

eom

[Leilani]

26. Go Aaron Brown!!

Everbody, please do what he asked!!!

Call or write as many people as you can in Washington!!

There is a toll-free number; if someone can post this number please do so.!!!

[BootinUp]

29. Its our duty, thanks Leilani

[calimary]

87. Here it is: 1 (800) 839 - 5276. TOLL FREE to Capitol Hill.

They'll transfer you anywhere you request.

And, yes, you can call as many people as you have time for.

[Leilani]

98. Thank you Calimary!

Everyone should write this number down & KEEP IT!

Call, write, raise a fuss!

It's your government...these people work for you!

Let them know what you think!

The Conservatives use pressure all the time...you need to do it too!

[ithacan]

88. send him the 25 questions!

the 25 questions posed by the Families of 9/11 victims, they are excellent questions, and I'm wondering if CNN has had them (the group or the questions) on yet?

This seems like a great time for them to get some media coverage.

[rolodomo]

27. Brown said the speaker was endangering national security...

and that part about writing the e-mails was really in your face. Brown must not think Bush's election convenience trumps 9/11.

[salin]

67. or perhaps he (like many others)

tried to keep believing that in the face of the tragedy/horror of 911 that bushco was trying to do the right thing (hey they lead our govt... we WANT to believe this)... but is finally realizing that their own political interests are always put first - even on national security issues. There comes a point when the 'aha' happens... maybe these folks aren't what we think they are... there were some communications more than a year ago between Brown and DUers... if I recall - he tries to be objective but gets defensive when called on bias... AND gets incredulous at any hint of not best intentions from the WH - not fawning over the WH like many tv personalities - but more trying to see "mistakes" rather than intentional malignancy. Maybe this has jolted him into cognitive disonance - the first step towards being able to shake the denial off - and start asking the harder questions that one once considered 'conspiracy theory' sounding.

[mike1963]

34. Here's a direct link to feedback to Aaron

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?13

Edit: apologies to aquart who already posted this and I missed it!
:eyes:
:bounce:

[maggrwaggr]

41. Done!

Do it. We complain about the media, we need to praise them like CRAZY when they do something right.

[eleny]

45. Thanks! Got it done!

[Ksec]

46. wrote CNN and gave them some kudos over Browns outrage nt

[rolodomo]

37. Brown: the commission was not even acting partisan!

Is there any explanation to shut down the commission other than the need to get Bush re-elected? Scary.

[BlueStateGirl]

43. Just fired off an angry email to my Congressman, Jim Greenwood

I expressed my disgust that the Congress of the United States is more intersted in investigating the baring of a woman's breast when it's obvious that playing politics with our National Security is the real indeceny.

[Ksec]

42. Its about time Media started doing their jobs

With Dobbs changing his veiws about fair trade to Brown questioning something that should have never gotten this far in the first place I have a more positive attitude with the news .

[tkmorris]

44. I hope I'm wrong but

I think we are getting played. It looks a lot like a classic good cop-bad cop scenario. Hastert is the bad cop (with a safe seat) and Bush who you'll remember asked Hastert to extend the deadline is the good cop.

Now we all pitch in to pressure Hastert who, in the end, gives in and Bush looks like a capable leader who pulls no punches even when it's his own party obstructing him. Somebody please convince me I'm wrong on this. I really want to be.

[gulliver]

47. Hastert's the ultimate cat's paw.

Hastert is a toadie of DeLay like Bush is a toadie of Cheney and other Bush family corporate sponsors and hangers on. Hastert is doing this to run cover for Bush. You can bet on that. But I think Hastert truly wants to try to get away with it. They are just making one last play to try to get Bush's wish, a more election-convenient, more rushed, quicker ending investigation.

Let's see if Bush makes a stink about Hastert's move. Any bets?

[gulfcoastliberal]

48. Agreed

Release the results in May or in October, the end product is the same: whitewash. The Dems allowing Kean and Hamilton on this commission, and Max Cleland quitting in disgust guarantees it. Might as well have Silberman on the panel. Sorry if I sound cynical, but those of us who suspect any kind of LIHOP/MIHOP know the "investigation" will be a wash.

[eleny]

49. I let Hastert know that we're aware

...he willingly takes his marching orders from the jack booted administration.

[0007]

59. You got it Toyota, if Brown talked about Thomas Kean being

a junior crony and a strong friend of the the Bush family, and if Brown talked about the Subpoena power that the 911 Investigative Commission doesn't have and if Brown talked about Condoleezza Rice flipping off the commission on testifying before the commission, then I'd take my hat off to Mr. Brown.

CNN is the hot line to the White House, don't be fooled guys! Your being set-up by Rove.

[wellstone_democrat]

60. nah, this is transparent as hell

like Hastert is really going to stonewall Bush*. Give me a break.

[HootieMcBoob]

73. You're right

It's good cop bad cop. Bush doesn't want this thing extended at all though but he wants to give the opposite impression.

I doubt it will be brought up again.

But you have a point, maybe they're trying to see just how outraged the country will be while keeping Bush off the hook the whole time.

Have I mentioned tonight how much I hate these people?

[remfan]

86. Sorry, but you're not wrong

and rather than directing our ire towards Hastert, we should redirect it towards bush*. Put the pressure bush* so he's forced to put the pressure on Hastert in a VERY public way.

And I have to say that either Aaron Brown is politically naive (which I doubt) and doesn't see this for what it is, or he's playing the game by their rules.

Politics is NEVER what it appears to be on the surface.

[calimary]

89. Uh, his may not necessarily be a safe seat.

Especially if enough people get ticked off about this on his home turf. EVERY congressperson comes up for reelection EVERY two years. Including Hastert. He's playing with fire here. Besides, if enough people get mad at republi-CONS in general, Hastert's Speaker of the House seat won't be safe, either. There'll likely be a Dem sitting there, next year, instead.

[welshTerrier2]

50. my email to aaron brown

thank you, aaron ...

please stay on the 9/11 issue the way you did tonight ... i'm afraid there is a cover-up in progress ... the american people deserve the truth ... Hastert is clearly taking the heat for mr. bush ...

the republicans are not afraid the commission's report will be biased; they are afraid the report will be truthful ...

[Kimber Scott]

56. Where to write to Hastert

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1168384

[Isere]

64. Aaron has earned his stripes

I remember all too sadly Aaron's dignified and graceful coverage of that dread day.
I happened to hear him again tonight because he came on after the debate and I was moved once again.

My email to Hastert has already been sent.
What I'm wondering is how much longer can these outrages continue?

[HootieMcBoob]

76. My letter

Dear Aaron Brown,

Thank you for your work today.

When I heard yesterday that Hastert had decided to block the extension of the 9/11 commission I was livid. I can't even put in to words how mad I was. I called his office and told them that he should be ashamed of himself and that it was a disgraceful act. I called my own congresswoman to encourage her to do something.

I expected that I'd never hear another thing about it from the media. I'm so used to the most important news of the day being ignored in favor of celebrity gossip and other pap.

Your show this evening was nothing short of mind blowing for me. Like you, I watched the towers fall. I live in NYC and lived every day with the horror and utter sadness of that day. I feel completely betrayed by my country. They've been stonewalling this commission from the beginning. For God's sake they even tried to put Kissinger in charge of it.

I don't want to take up any more of your time, but I did want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Not only were you the first person in the national news media that I've seen who has spoken up about this outrage but you did it with passion and conviction and you have my sincere gratitude for having done so.

Sincerely,
Me

[Stephanie]

77. I don't even have cable, but I live in Manhattan

So I just wrote Brown a love letter, on your recommendation.

Let the whole world see what a lying, phony, investigatinon-impeding prick Dick Cheney is. (don't kid yourself that George Bush Jr. has anything to do with anything.)

[nostamj]

79. hey stef!

just caught the replay! STUNNING opening statement...

I, OTOH, wrote a little lovenote to HASTURD....

[nostamj]

78. my letter (short and sour)

Subject line: 9/11 Investigation Extension: You Are a Traitor!


You, (and you don't deserve a 'sir")

Are a traitor to your constituents and to all Americans.

As a republican engaged in the Clinton cock-hunt you spared no expense and placed no limits on the private, consensual, and yes, DISTASTEFUL behavior of the last legally elected president.

That you would stonewall an investigation into the MASSIVE INTELLIGENCE FAILURES that resulted in the deaths of nearly 3000 of my neighbors in NYC is revolting.

The only honorable thing you could do at this nadir of your public career is to RESIGN your office tomorrow morning.

But, you have NO honor.

History will list your name amongst the TRAITORS to this nation.

Sleep well.

With utter contempt,

Jeff XXXXXX, Brooklyn NY

[Cooley Hurd]

82. CNN Transcript...

<snip>
We admit we don't do causes very well on the program. And I don't do outrage well at all, yet, tonight, a cause and an outrage. The decision by the speaker of the House to deny the independent commission investigating the 9/11 attack on America a 60-day extension -- that's all, 60 days -- to complete its work is unconscionable and indefensible, which, no doubt, explains why neither the speaker, nor any member of the House leadership, nor none of their press secretaries would come on the program to talk about it, despite repeated requests.

The commission itself has gone about its work quietly. It's had to fight tooth and nail to get necessary information. And now this, an arbitrary decision to deny not just the commission -- that's the least of it -- but the country the chance to know all of what happened, how it happened, and how best to prevent it from happening again.

Perhaps, the speaker and his team assume you do not care. I hope they're wrong. I hope you care enough to write them and e-mail them and call them until they relent. Do that. Do it for the victims and their families. Do it for the country that was attacked and for history.
</snip>

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0402/26/asb.00.html

[RainDog]

92. Another letter to Hastert

Dear Mr. Hastert:

You and Andy Card are only fooling yourselves if you think anyone who has been paying attention to the stonewalling by the Bush administration concerning an honest investigation into 9-11 would believe they want the commission deadline extended.

You, therefore, look like a lapdog for the executive branch, sent to fetch on their signal.

Millions and millions of us who vote know that Bush stonewalled the commission for a year, that the Republicans did not even allocate a tenth of the amount of taxpayer money you were so willing to waste when hounding Clinton at the bidding of Sciafe.

Which incident is more important for America?

If you look at the actions of Republicans, apparently they think a blow job is a greater danger to American security than a full investigation of a terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

If Republicans wanted to keep this out of election year politics, then you should have demanded, as is your duty as a separate branch of government, executive branch accountability to the Congressional Investigation, rather than enabling the stonewalling from the Bush White House.

Since they are the ones who refused, and who continue to refuse to cooperate, they are the ones who have made it necessary to continue this investigation.

It is APPALLING that Bush, Cheney and Rice are not required to testify under oath to the 9-11 commission about the actions they took, or did not, in response to the warnings from 11 different nations about specific attacks on America.

Rice has already lied about this, or proven her incompetence, with her claim that no one could have imagined...They didn't need to imagine; they had warnings.

It is common knowledge, as Gail Sheehy has noted in her excellent series of articles about the 9-11 families, and as the Washington Post reported long ago, that the army was aware of intense pending attack rumors during this time down to the lowest levels of the enlisted. But Bush and Rice were not aware?

Your actions seem to indicate that protecting an imperial presidency is more important to you than protecting American citizens from the abuses of power by the same.

Your actions seem to indicate that Republicans are so partisan that they put their pedestrian interests above the real and honest security of the people of this nation.

If America is subject to another terrorist attack, it would seem to me and to millions of others that the intransigence of party politics will have trumped national security, and every Republican who chose to collaborate with the Bush administration shares in a gross dereliction of your Constitutional duties.

The only thing the Republicans have to offer is fear itself, apparently, because the truth must be too damning for you to admit, based on the amount of time and energy wasted on subverting an honest investigation.

Shame on you, and even more, shame on Bush and his entire corrupt administration.

History will no doubt judge this as a failure of democracy in this nation, but that seems to be business as usual where Bush is concerned.

[Q]

93. It's refreshing to see anyone in the New American Media speak out...

...against the Bush* junta. But we shouldn't forget that the commission itself is a sham. The Bush* White House set the parameters for this commission and another year wouldn't bring them any closer to the truth.

- Only certain members of the commission are even 'allowed' to look at the evidence. They're able to examine certain evidence and take notes...but can't take those notes with them.

- No one in the Bush* administration will have to testify under oath. This isn't a fact-finding commission. They exist to exonerate Bush* and nothing more.

[Shopaholic]

94. What else can we do?

Who else do we need to send letters to do about this outrage? It galls me that the Republicans do not hesitate to invoke 9/11 at every available opportunity but don't want the truth to come out about what really happened.

[RBHam]

97. What a joke!

When will Aaron Brown mention the RICO law suit that 9-11 widow Ellen Mariani filed? When will he devote a whole show to this case? Have Kristen Breitweister and other widows on for a round table?

Eh, Aaron?

Prove to me you got balls.

Explain why you helped narrate a propaganda film that sells the myth of Al Qaeda and covers for the ineptness and/or complicity of the Bush Administration?

Tie it all together, Aaron. Be a journalist. Bush calling off the CIA and FBI from investigating the bin ladens, the secret Cheney energy summit documents, The Phoenix memo, Colleen Rowley's case, Jeb Bush's connection to Rudi Dekkers, the owner of the flight schools where the so-called hijackers trained, the Booker Elementary video, the selling off of the rubble to China (BFEE's new prime business partners), the role of the PNAC and their fervent hope for a new Pearl Harbor so coincidentally answered, the constant refusal of the White House to FULLY co-operate with the 9-11 commission, the dismissal of Cleland, the comments that Keans made when he thought the Bushies wanted a sacrificial piked head, the subsequent slapping down of Kean...

COME ON!

You're not fooling those of us with eyes to see and ears to hear, Aaron.

By the way, I still find it troubling that CNN underwent their "face lift" after the election was stolen, that Isaacson publicly kneeled before the victorious Republican machine and pledged fealty, that you and Paula "Eva" Zahn were so co-incidentally shuffled into the co-anchor positions JUST IN TIME for 9-11.

Mr. Brown, you once said that all you needed for proof of Al Qeda's guilt was the big smoking hole outside your studio. Don't you care who actually orchestrated it? That proven liars, criminals and thieves in your own country are the ones benefitting from the actions on that day?

Do you have the will and ability to slip the chains of official propaganda disguised as conventional wisdom? Don't settle for another Iran/Contra cover up, Mr. Brown.

[Leilani]

99. *****Update*****

Hastert has backed down!!!

Thanks to Aaron Brown!

Thanks to all of you who cared enough to respond!

We can make a difference!

[RBHam]

100. That was the plan all along.

Now they can wrap up the cover up before the election.

[Leilani]

102. I don't know if they are THAT clever

They are devious, but I think there are too many lies unraveling, & it's catching up with them.

Whether you are correct, or not, it's been in the news big time for the last 36-48 hours.

Millions of people heard the Republicans wanted to shut down the investigation. It adds to the growing distrust the public is feeling about Bush & his Admin.

His honesty ratings in polls are plummeting. People may not be aware of everything, but they are growing suspicious.

We will never get the truth from this gang, but we need to win in Nov & replace as many as possible. Then perhaps the real truth will be exposed.