Specter Hints at "Bombshell" Gonzales Evidence

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

Now THIS is intriguing

The Senate Judiciary Committee’s ranking Republican, Arlen Specter (Pa.), emerged from a crucial Monday briefing and gave the Bush administration 18 hours to resolve the controversy over apparent contradictions in Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’s congressional testimony.

Gonzales took issue last week with former Deputy Attorney General James Comey’s description of internal dissent in 2004 over the legal authority for the National Security Agency’s (NSA) warrantless eavesdropping program. Frustrated Democrats called for a special prosecutor to investigate Gonzales for perjury, noting that several officials have publicly echoed Comey’s account. Those calls prompted Specter to request a classified briefing to clear up the dispute.

Specter aides released a statement late Monday that suggested a bombshell to come on Tuesday afternoon.

“Given the difficulty of discussing classified matters in public, I think it is preferable to have a letter addressing that question from the administration … by noon tomorrow, which will be made available to the news media,” Specter wrote in the statement. “The administration has committed to producing such a letter.”

Specter expects the letter clarifying the attorney general’s testimony to be addressed to himself and Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who declined to comment on the matter.

Specter was equally cagey, telling reporters to wait until Tuesday for any further comment from him.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/07/30/specter-white-house-has-18-hours-to-clarify-gonzaless-testimony/

[alfredo]

1. A better constructed lie expected?

[King Coal]

65. It was only data-mining. Not wiretapping. Gonzo was only asking

Ashcroft if he could muck some data. Gee, no fuss here. Get on vacation.

[Supersedeas]

74. The question is--for what program did they need the acting AG's approval

When they could not get that approval from the acting AG, then what program were they discussing with the ailing Ashcroft in ICU?

[King Coal]

75. Why don't they ask Ashcroft? Or his wife? OR...have they?

[alfredo]

76. They figured Ashcroft would be too out of it to realize what he

was signing off on. They wanted him to say that spying on innocent Americans without FISA approval was hunky dory.

[truth2power]

70. Place yer bets here!!!

They'll get Gonzo off the hook. Bank on it!

[aquart]

2. How can it be a "bombshell" if the admin has agreed?

He means tomorrow, right?

[bbgrunt]

3. has specter backstabbed us again?

[Donnachaidh]

6. Don't be surprised if he has

That man is a walking shitheel. He flaps his gums on command, especially when the Repukes command.

[flyarm]

54. another magic bullet!!! eom

[madokie]

58. If I was a betting person I would bet at this point he has

he's a worm

[Richard Steele]

68. All signs point to "yes".

[PA Democrat]

4. I don't trust Specter as far as I can spit.

[David Zephyr]

10. He sold his soul to Allen Dulles about the murder of JFK. Why would he change now?

Specter is just that...a specter on the American nation.

[Beelzebud]

24. Well said!

[Marr]

13. No kidding. I don't pay any attention to him.

All he ever does is toss out rhetoric to cover his ass politically. The *only* action he ever takes is to provide cover to his party.

[bdamomma]

17. he is a sneaky man, PA Democrat have you called his office

to place a complaint.

[PA Democrat]

62. I call his office at least once a week to voice my opinion on one issue or another.

I called last week to complain about his flip flop on Gonzales after he was on board AF1 with Bush. I will be calling again sometime this week I am sure.

[hisownpetard]

33. You mean, as far as you can ex-Specter-ate?? eom

[zulchzulu]

5. Specter The Paper Tiger will backtrack and fall back into GOPnik ranks

He burps and then takes a crap. And then eats the crap.

[enough]

7. How many times can Specter do this?

Forever, I guess, given how desperate we are. This old crone from Pennsylvania is not buying.

[woodsprite]

8. Let me guess - Gonzo did it all with a single bullet! n/t

[NV Whino]

9. From the grassy knoll.

[Junkdrawer]

14. No. From the book depository....where he left the rifle with his prints...

"grassy knoll" is just the kind of loose talk that only "conspiracy theorists" make.

[TlalocW]

26. And the same bullet

Hit J.R. Ewing 17 years later.

TlalocW

[cynatnite]

11. I know what the bombshell is! I know it!

It was his evil twin...Arnold Gonzales. The traitor. :evilgrin:

[Usrename]

36. Didn't they have another brother?

Alfredo?

[Enrique]

71. bring me the head of Alberto Gonzales

:-)

[kansasblue]

12. Two important clues are:

1) Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who declined to comment on the matter.

2) “The administration has committed to producing such a letter.”


Leahy is not onboard. The admin is.

[havocmom]

20. Specter gonna say: 'The WH swears Gonzo didn't lie'

and Arlen will believe them.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

29. Leahy didn't say anything today about it, did he?

Here's hoping he is feeding spector a tasty rope, one he will jerk back tomorrow.

[Norquist Nemesis]

72. I'm beginning to wonder if the Dems (Leahy and the Gang of 8) aren't

trying to protect themselves from Bushetals. IOW, if they say anything]/i], Bush will have them arrested (or something) for breaching National Security and disclosing classified information.

Excuse me while I get my tin foil hat. :scared:

[bluestateguy]

15. Specter is what you call a pretend maverick Republican

He often talks a good game, but when the chips are down and it's time to cast a vote--which is all that really counts in the end--he always ends up cooperating with Karl Rove and Mitch McConnell.

[book_worm]

16. It's only a matter of time before Arlen backs down

[Canuckistanian]

30. I use him to set my watch

The atomic clocks just aren't accurate enough for me.

[Junkdrawer]

18. Basically the Administration is saying:

"Remember when we told you that we only wiretapped calls to foreign terrorists? Well, we lied through our teeth - so Gonzo was telling the truth about no one questioning the TSP. It was the juicy wiretapping that caused the stink."

[Lint Head]

19. The administration will come up with some excuse that will

be a lie and Spector will accept it. That's how fascists work together. Unless Spector has seen the light because of his illness. :dem:

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

21. A bombshell for whom?

Will the clarifying letter tend to exculpate Gonzo or implicate him further in the web of lies and deceit? I think we can easily guess the answer.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

22. Specter has a well established record...

...of empty posturing as though he's intent on holding this administration to account -- he has no such intention.

[Stinky The Clown]

23. Kiss my ass, Arlen ...... you drama queen.

Wudda putz this guy is.

[cynatnite]

32. Let's give him one of these...

[loves_dulcinea]

67. WRONG!

that belongs to (unfortunately) my senator (whose opposition i will be supporting, no matter who he or she may be) from south carolina, Lindsay ("histrionics") Graham.

[melody]

25. Good, let Specter show the lying face of even the "moderate" GOP

Easier to elect Democrats in 2008.

Keep it up, Arlen.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

27. Mr Single Bullet

pulls another one out of his "brain?"

[autorank]

40. Really

In fact, that's why I think Specter operates with impunity. He very likely knows the answer to the
question many of us have asked for a long time, Who murdered JFK? That gives you a lot of latitude,
like his performance with Bork. He really smacked that guy around, no problems with any Republicans
it seemed. Strange guy.

[rocktivity]

28. Why is Spector the go-to guy on this, anyway?

I thought the Dems were running all the committees--he's not the chairman.

:shrug:
rocknation

[frogcycle]

34. he's not

he's the ranking pug, and as such, is posturing as if he has influence over the WH to make himself seem relevant

[rocktivity]

44. The way he's been carrying on, you'd think HE was "the decider" on Gonzalez

and he'd brokered a deal over and above Leahy's wishes.

:headbang:
rocknation

[tech3149]

31. Snarlin Arlen, always the stealth enabler

WTG Mr magic bullet

[MADem]

35. Well, Alberto's homework is due on Tuesday--he's gotta hand in his 'correction' assignment nt

[mikelgb]

37. they are going to confirm another program to cover his ass

[Tinksrival]

38. yup!

Spector's plane ride with King Chimp will bare fruit soon. Same old shit! :hurts:

[autorank]

39. Specter's suspect but lets remember he "borked" Bork;)

And he raised questions about misleading statements by the two flunkies elevated to the Supreme Court.

That's the one that got me. It's consistent with his Bork performance.

He did back stab the country hugely with the 'interim' appointment language that allowed * to fire the
US Attorneys so easily.

Who knows which way the wind blows... Specter. We'll know soon enough. If he breaks with the
administration, they're really toast.

[defendandprotect]

45. Specter helped give us Clarence Thomas -- the pervert --

[autorank]

46. I know, that was disgusting. I'm no supporter but he's a real study.

He'd betray Bush quickly so right now he's like a weather vane;)

[Beelzebud]

41. Perhaps it's a Magic Bombshell?

[G_Leo_Criley]

42. LOL! n/t

[Norrin Radd]

53. Good one! I was thinking the same thing. ;-)

[cui bono]

43. I'm beginning to think it might just be a resignation.

Specter may have talked to the WH and told them if he doesn't resign the votes are there for impeachment, and if they go that route it's going to get very messy for the WH.

Leahy not commenting on that wouldn't surprise me at all. He doesn't seem to talk much in public unless he's going after something, and what would he say about this anyway? Plus you never know, if he hinted at anything the WH might just not do it to make him look silly.

But I'm really thinking it's a resignation.

[autorank]

47. That's very interesting.

If he resigns, that helps Bush, in the short term but doesn't help Gonzo much.

If he quits, he'll be an easier target for civil suits and prosecution in the states (I assume that
DoJ would never go after him, except under the circumstances below).

If he does resign, the gloves are off, however. Any replacement would have to meet a pretty strict
test and people like Leahey and Schumer would certainly apply that test. We might get a truly
neutral A.G. or a mildly political one who noticed that his predecessor had just been forced out.
That would screw up the whole * scheme. They wouldn't be able to order up torture, pre emptive
invasions, etc., by just buzzing for Alberto's magic pen.

If he resigns, they're screwed "big time." It's a loss and then they face the possibility of a real
A.G. in place.

We'll see.

[cui bono]

51. Although the DOJ as a whole, leaving aside the Bushies, are very unhappy

with the state of the department. So perhaps someone would step up and go after him in an attempt to restore its integrity and reputation. I've lost track of who would be in charge until there's a new AG confirmed... is it a Bushie?

Also, once the new AG is confirmed, knowing it will never be another Bushie this time, the WH would know that they better start thinking about what they're doing from now on since they won't have the AG in their pocket anymore.

What would happen if Bush picks someone while congress is in recess? Is this a position that can be filled by a recess appointment?

[autorank]

55. Here's some verbage...he can but...

US Constitution. Article II, Section 2
http://www.law.emory.edu/index.php?id=3085#c7662
Section 2

Clause 1:

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

Clause 2:

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

Clause 3:

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

He has the power to do this. The interpretation below indicates the same. It's a matter of need, by interpretation, a position is open and they need someone to fill it.

That's cool, but if he tried to get cute on the A.G. appointment, it would rain dogs and cats on his tiny parade. So, yep, he can do it. Love to see it, it would hasten impeachment;)


Here's some analysis in FindLaw
http://tinyurl.com/2unpvn

I disagree with this reasoning. As noted above, the recess appointments clause of the Constitution appears right after the clause that gives the President the power to appoint "all officers of the United States" -- judges and cabinet members alike. This location implies that whatever the phrase "vacancies that may happen during the recess" means, it means the same thing for cabinet office openings as for judicial openings. And it would be unthinkable that the President couldn't fill a Cabinet vacancy that occurred right before a Senate recess began until after the Senate reconvened, which might be months later.

In short, because most recess appointments are not judicial appointments, but rather appointments to offices (like Cabinet posts where time may be more of the essence, the word "happen" in the phrase "happen during the recess" must mean "happen to exist" rather than "happen to arise."

[cui bono]

78. Yes, it would be interesting to see him try it and

I don't really doubt that he would. However, it might be wise for Reid to leave the required number of senators in town in the event that Cheney has the hubris to make him do it.

So the "expire at the End of their next Session" part... does that mean that if he does it and the senate returns they can't demand he nominate someone to get confirmed? The acting AG would be able to remain until the end of whose session? The AG's? Yikes! Yes, it would be very interesting to see the reaction to that.

And as far as the timing of whether it would "happen to exist" rather than "happen to arise", I would bet that the resignation would be made effective the first or second day of congressional recess in any case. Or submitted during recess effective immediately. If they do have this as a plan, I'm certain they wouldn't allow the resignation to be effective while the senate is still in session.

[cui bono]

79. John Dean was just on with Randi and he said he didn't think W would do it

because it would bring the DOJ to a standstill. That there would be a full scale mutiny. He agreed that it's legal but that even this admin. wouldn't do it knowing the outcome.

He also suggested that Reid could hold back the required number of senators to keep them in session.

Time to call Reid!

[Peace Patriot]

56. "If he resigns, that helps Bush." I don't know if that's true. I think that the criminality

in this White House is so pervasive and so bad that they MUST have Mr. Obstruction of Justice in place as A.G. Otherwise, they're all going to jail for stealing the 2004 election, torturing for fun and profit, spying on every politician in the country and blackmailing many, treason, illicit arms dealings, stashing billions and billions of taxpayer dollars in Dubai (or the Cayman Islands, or Paraguay, or wherever), money trails and "smoking guns" to Al Qaeda and 9/11, and God knows what else.

Look, you had John Ashcroft--JOHN ASHCROFT!--appalled at what they were doing with the spying program. And "lawn order" types like Comey and Mueller.

Tip of the iceberg.

And nobody but a Bush Cartel consigliere of the lowest order (the Order of the Worm) will do--somebody who will agree to ANYTHING, someone who will sign ANYTHING--to save the hides of the principles.

So I think Bush/Cheney will hang onto Gonzales with tooth and claw.

One factor in this situation needs more discussion. Bush/Cheney are acting as if the following had occurred: Pelosi made a deal with them: 'you won't attack Iran, we won't impeach--and get rid of Rumsfeld*.' They're acting like they have a "get out of jail free" card. And I think they do. And I think that was the deal.

Ergo, they will NEVER give up Gonzales. They will go to the wall, to keep him in place. Because Pelosi has taken impeachment (of THEM) "off the table," in some deal with them--they can therefore break the law to keep Gonzales for coverup purposes. And they might keep him as A.G. even if he is impeached and removed by Congress. I can just hear it: The power of the 'unitary executive' extends to his having whoever he goddamned pleases in whatever goddamned position he decides! Think about THAT. Although our political establishment has always tried to avoid this kind of nose to nose confrontation, the Bush Junta, a) doesn't play by the rules (are not gentleman), and b) are desperate (are guilty of breathtaking crimes, and MUST cover them up).

[autorank]

61. Your right on target. Even if impeached, the * administration will keep him as A.G.

If that happens, we've ushered in "the singlarity" - dogs will walk upright and speak with British
accents, pigs will live in trees, and we'll all be grateful for "the one" and "unitary" government.

I don't know about a deal to not attack Iran. That's more like liars poker, neither side plans to
keep the agreement. Who was that Vandal, Goth or some invader who went in peace to negotiate with
the leader of his adversaries and promptly cut that leaders head off as the opening gambit of the
negotiation. I think that's what's happening to us every time we do anything less than impeach these
monsters.

[nolabels]

57. AGAG will resign during congressional recess so * can appoint another without........

a faux pa congressional hearing. Specter is just blowing smoke to gain time for the beltway establishment.

[murielm99]

48. If Gonzo does resign,

he should still be prosecuted for perjury. Not that I think that will happen. We would have to settle for the resignation, nothing more.

Haldeman, Erlichman, Mitchell and Dean all were prosecuted. They had resigned. Why not Gonzo?

[Disturbed]

49. Most of the Rethugs want Gonzo gone.

He is an embarrassment to the RWing. They figure if he would resign all the Regime's crimes will be swept under the filthy Reupug rug.

[cui bono]

50. It's not the same environment any more. Politics is now a team sport

devoid of any integrity, at least on that side of the aisle it is, and on our side to a much lesser degree. A lot of Repubs were going after Nixon then because they cared about the integrity of our govt. I would bet that if he resigned there would be no further proceedings. Unless the Dems have the guts to go for it knowing that his testimony could lead to the WH, especially since it would then be Gonzo's own head on the chopping block to save so he might not lie to cover for them. But I suspect he has the same deal Scooter had, take the hit and get a pardon. If the Dems think its futile - which they very well might given his past testimonies - they'll probably leave it alone, in which case he will have "won" to some degree since he'll be greatly rewarded once this is over.

[wicket]

66. God I hope you are right

n/t

[radfringe]

52. regarding the letter - 3 possibilities

- mis-administration stands behind Gonzo, doing fabulous job so go "f*" yourself

- question of national security, so go "f*" yourself

- blather, blather, blather, so go "f*" yourself

[Connie_Corleone]

59. Only bombshell would be a resignation letter from Gonzo.

Other than that, I won't hold my breath.

[tom_paine]

60. I'll believe it when I see it. This likely bluff and bluster

:puke:

Arlen is up for re-election in 2008 in a state where Bushler's approval rating is about 30% or less.

18 hours, eh?

I guess we will soon know if this is more bullshit, which it likely is.

[NewJeffCT]

64. I don't think Specter is up until 2010

I'm pretty sure I remember him narrowingly winning in 2004.

[tom_paine]

69. Wups. My bad. I think you are correct.

So maybe Arlen one day will stop huffing and puffing and actually DO something.

You think today's the day?

I am afraid I don't, but will be overjoyed to be proven wrong.

[sendero]

63. Over the longer term..

... I have hope. It takes intelligence to get away with lies over any length of time, because you have to keep your stories straight.

Gonzo simply is not an intelligent man.

[Norquist Nemesis]

73. Lovely! Bushetals are going to reveal ANOTHER program

and unwitting provide evidence to impeach Gonzo...and maybe the rest of them. *praying for it anyway*

[Imagevision]

77. Specter sounds like he's up for re-election in 08?

[JacquesMolay]

80. How much more bombshell do you need?

He's already been caught perjuring himself, it's documented. This is going to have to be nuclear-grade.

[druidity33]

81. yeah, so?

It's 9:30 PM here on the east coast and no hint of a bombshell...