Jack Goldsmith: Bush sent Card and Gonzales to see Ashcroft in hospital

[sabra]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/10/testimony-revea.html

ABC News' Jason Ryan Reports: Jack Goldsmith, the former head of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), testified to Congress Tuesday about the excessive secrecy in the Bush administration over the NSA wiretapping program and the illegal nature of some aspects of the Terrorism Surveillance Program saying, "I could not find the legal support for (it)."

...

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Penn., ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked Goldsmith what his constitutional concerns were about the program. Citing requests from the Justice Department Goldsmith said, "I am not allowed to talk about the legal analysis."

...

Goldsmith also provided his account of the now infamous March 10, 2004 hospital visit to Ashcroft after he had surgery to remove gallstones. On that day former attorney general Alberto Gonzales, then serving as White House counsel, along with then-White House chief of staff Andy Card visited Ashcroft, seeking reauthorization of the NSA surveillance program. Ashcroft, however, had ceded his powers as attorney general to his deputy, James Comey, while he recovered from surgery.

Goldsmith, who arrived before Gonzales made it to the hospital room said Ashcroft, "looked terrible. very weak and that "he had surgery the day before." Goldsmith said Gonzales was "there to seek authorization of the program." Ashcroft regained color in his face and told Gonzales he didn't appreciate being visited in the hospital since Comey was the acting attorney general. "At that point he fell back into the bed and looked terrible again."

Asked whom he believed had sent Gonzales and Card to the hospital Goldsmith said he "recalled it was the President." Goldsmith also testified that he had written contemporaneous notes around the time of the hospital visit because, "They were extraordinary events," Goldsmith said. "This was a hugely important issue inside the government."

[maddezmom]

1. no webcast

:(

[napi21]

2. So, finally, somebody admits what we all knew!

It WAS Shrub's idea to ignore Comey and take advantage of a very sick man!

[sabra]

7. impeachment anyone?

[City Lights]

26. ...

:crickets:




:mad: :grr: :nuke:

[Kikosexy2]

30. That would be lovely...

impeachment indeed...but Fancy Nancy can't be too bothered...she has a dozen hair appointments to tend to...

[Sufficient Voice]

34. While I agree with you that Nancy should go for impeachment,

Lets not stereotype women leaders to make that point. It is "not becoming" of progressives to do so.

[me b zola]

3. k&r

[burythehatchet]

4. The Bush family is a stain on humanity.

[LSK]

5. I recall Gonzo refusing to answer who sent him

I think it was during Schumer's questioning.

[DemReadingDU]

13. Gonzo was there on behalf of the President

Gonzo would not say if the President sent him, he wouldn't say if the VP sent him. Gonzo repeatedly said he was there on behalf of the President.

[rodeodance]

6. DRIP DRIP

[halobeam]

8. It was the president.

Nice. Now what? We go back to Brittney?

Rec'd. anyway.. only need one more!!

[alstephenson]

9. 5th Rec - done.

K & R

[Disturbed]

14. Subpoena the Pres. & put him under Oath.

If he refuses to testify, issue the Inherent Contempt upon him, arrest him &
lock him up until he complies.

[alllyingwhores]

20. Uhm...what happened to the inherent contempt idea...

on any number of these lying whores that were subpoenaed and refused to testify. Oh yeah, I remember--NOTHING.

[Seabiscuit]

25. Unfortunately, this Congress doesn't have the 'nads to do the right thing.

About anything.

[Missy Vixen]

10. Proud to be the fifth recommendation

This story just goes on and on and on, doesn't it, Little Boots? Do you wonder why these men will not stop talking about what they know? They're OUTRAGED.

Julie

[HughMoran]

11. That is so very outrageous

It's about time some of these sleazy and illegal actions get directed back to their source - the liar-in-chief...

[VWolf]

31. You can say that again!

[HughMoran]

12. That is so very outrageous

It's about time some of these sleazy and illegal actions get directed back to their source - the liar-in-chief...

[jgraz]

15. Thank GOD Speaker Pelosi took impeachment off the table

Otherwise, Congress might be forced to actually do something in response to this revelation...

[Disturbed]

16. Asscroft's wife must testify. She got the call from someone.

Who was that?

[leveymg]

23. We don't want a little thing like Impeachment interfering with Iran ops, do we?

The leadership knows their duty, and who's in charge.



America is united.

[tekisui]

17. IMPEACH!!!

[progressoid]

18. OK, so this is what we were looking for. Now what?

[DeepModem Mom]

19. K&R

[Lugnut]

21. K&R n/t

[defendandprotect]

22. IMPEACH -- Can Bush tesitfy without Cheney . .. . his pupeteer/ventriloquist?

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

24. Firedoglake has it. link

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/10/02/sjc-goldsmith-testimony-part-i/

[Vinca]

27. What's that word again? The one that's constantly uttered and

immediately forgotten? Oh . . . yeah . . . IMPEACHMENT!!!!!!

[tanyev]

28. "Hugely important issue inside the government"

Funny how we the people are just now getting to the bottom of it 3 1/2 years later.

[sabra]

29. my guess... books and maybe even movies will come out regarding this...

but that's about it. :-(

[Rosa Luxemburg]

32. impeach!

[rateyes]

33. So what? :sarcasm:

Congress won't care enough to do anything about it except say "shame, shame, shame." :no sarcasm:

[flyingfysh]

35. I always thought sending a Card to someone in the hospital was a nice thing to do

:spank:

[tanyev]

36. Not if it's booby-trapped.

And Alberto is quite the boob.

[milord]

37. sending a card

the way I read it, the president sent A. Card (Andy Card) to the hospital to Ashcroft, not "a card." This might make a difference on how one interprets the incident.

[flyingfysh]

38. you missed the smilie

I was making a lame joke; I included the ":spank" smilie.

[Jackpine Radical]

39. What's wrong with sending a card to someone that's in the hospital?

Oops--nevermind.