POLITICS: Dems Force Senate into Secret Session

Senate Democrats have moved for a secret session of the Senate to discuss prewar intelligence and the Libby indictment, over Republican objections. Although within Senate rules, the move is unusual as secret Senate sessions are usually held only with the consent of both parties.



I don't really know what to make of this...you'd think the Dems would want to make this public not secret.

Something strange is going on here I think.

[edit on 1-11-2005 by Nerdling]

[edit on 3-11-2005 by Nerdling]

my first thought was are they are working up to impeachment proceedings with investigations on the lead-up to the war in Iraq. This is the quote that brought that to my mind....

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid demanded the chamber be closed so they could hold a secret session that they say was prompted by "misinformation and disinformation" given by the administration prior to entry into the war in Iraq.

It will be interesting to see what follows for sure.

[edit on 1-11-2005 by justme1640]

It doesn't surprise me. The Democratic party is not about helping America, it is about helping the Democratic party get more power. My fellow Americans would serve themselves well by NOT voting for anybody affiliated with ANY political party in the next election. Political parties in America are hotbeds of criminal conspiracy.

Do Dems not understand they are just cutting their own throats when it comes election time?
'when will they ever learn'?

I had the impression that it was "secret" because they were going to be discussing "classified" information.

It is , after all, a parlimentary rule that was already in place, right? (Used 25 yrs ago for discussing Nicaragua, I think)

Even a secret, closed session would include the Republican members of the senate, dj.....remain calm, I'm sure they will scream bloody murder loud enough for all to hear, if there is any need.

Harry Reid said that the Congress has essentially protected this corrupt President by not holding any oversight committees to watch and investigate what is happening by the most secretive president ever.

I want to know, no, deserve to know since they work for US!. WAKE UP!

I say Titor’s Civil War is coming and I am nowhere near ready for it….


[edit on 1-11-2005 by Nerdling]

With a closed Senate session they can discuss classified intelligence sources and the like.

In a speech on the Senate floor, Democratic leader Harry Reid said the American people and U.S. troops deserved to know the details of how the United States became engaged in the war, particularly in light of the indictment of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff.

Reid demanded the Senate go into closed session. With a second by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, the public was ordered out of the chamber, the lights were dimmed, senators filed to their seats on the floor and the doors were closed. No vote is required in such circumstances.

CNN

A continuously "nuked" minority party got a word in edgewise today. And people are upset about that? Whatever.

Anyway, it's going to keep happening. Everytime some $7 billion bird flu scare fills the news to make you "pay no attention to my criminal cabinet investigation" a call and second to close the session so that Senators can openly discuss what they've been threatened NOT to reveal to the public will be put on the floor.

The Republicans need reminding of what the world will know some day. The Democratic Party is just letting America know there's a coverup going on the only way it legally can in a fascist one party regime.

Remarks leading up to historical closure (long, but not hosted on Internet yet):

MR. REID: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PRESIDENT. JUST A COUPLE OF
DAYS AGO, MY SON LIEF CALLED ME AND INDICATED THAT HIS LOVELY
WIFE AMBER WAS GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER BABY. THAT WILL BE MY --
OUR 16th GRANDCHILD. MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT,
AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I'VE BEEN IN PUBLIC SERVICE A LONG TIME.
[14:06:09] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

NEVER HAVE I BEEN SO CONCERNED ABOUT OUR COUNTRY. WE HAVE GAS
PRICES THAT ARE REALLY UNBELIEVABLE. THIS YEAR THEY'VE BEEN
OVER $3 IN THE STATE OF NEVADA. DIESEL FUEL IS STILL OVER $3 A
GALLON IN NEVADA. THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES IS UNDER INDICTMENT. THE MAN IN CHARGE OF
CONTRACTING FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNDER INDICTMENT.
[14:06:48] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

DEFICITS, MR. PRESIDENT, SO FAR YOU CAN'T SEE THEM. THE
DEFICITS HAVE BEEN BASICALLY RUN UP BY PRESIDENT BUSH'S
ADMINISTRATION THESE LAST FIVE YEARS. WE'RE THE WEALTHIEST
NATION IN THE WORLD BUT WE ARE VERY POOR AS IT RELATES TO
HEALTH CARE. WE HAVE AN INTRACTABLE WAR IN IRAQ. IS IT ANY
WONDER THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILY, MY GRANDCHILDREN?
[14:07:21] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

THIS PAST WEEKEND, WE WITNESSED THE INDICTMENT OF L. LEWIS LI
LIBBY, THE VICE PRESIDENT'S CHIEF OF STAFF, ALSO ON THE
PRESIDENT'S STAFF, A SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT. MR. LIBBY
IS THE FIRST SITTING WHITE HOUSE STAFFER TO BE INDICTED IN 135
YEARS. IS IT ANY WONDER, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT I'M CONCERNED
ABOUT MY GRANDCHILDREN?
THIS INDICTMENT RAISES VERY SERIOUS CHARGES. IT ASSERTS THIS
[14:07:57] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

ADMINISTRATION ENGAGED IN ACTIONS THAT BOTH HARMED OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY AND WERE MORALLY REPUGNANT. THE DECISION MADE TO PLACE
UNITED STATES SOLDIERS, OUR MILITARY INTO HARM'S WAY I BELIEVE
IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY THE CONSTITUTION VESTS
IN THE CONGRESS AND IN THE PRESIDENT. THE LIBBY INDICTMENT
[14:08:27] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

PROVIDES A WINDOW INTO WHAT THIS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT, HOW THIS
ADMINISTRATION MANUFACTURED AND MANIPULATED INTELLIGENCE IN
ORDER TO SELL THE WAR IN IRAQ AND ATTEMPTED TO DESTROY THOSE
WHO DARED TO CHALLENGE ITS ACTIONS. MR. PRESIDENT, THESE ARE
NOT JUST WORDS FROM HARRY REID. LARRY WILKERSON, COLONEL LARRY
[14:09:00] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

WILKERSON, COLIN POWELL'S FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF -- COLIN
POWELL, OF COURSE, WAS SECRETARY OF STATE. THIS MAN WAS HIS
CHIEF OF STAFF FOR FOUR YEARS. HERE'S WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THE
WAR IN IRAQ. "IF -- IN PRESIDENT BUSH'S FIRST TERM, SOME OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS ABOUT U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY,
INCLUDING VITAL DECISIONS ABOUT POST-WAR IRAQ, WERE MADE BY A
SECRETIVE, LITTLE-KNOWN CABAL, WAS MADE UP OF A VERY SMALL
GROUP OF PEOPLE LED BY VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY AND DEFENSE
[14:09:30] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

SECRETARY DONALD RUMSFELD. BUT THE SECRET PROCESS WAS
ULTIMATELY A FAILURE. IT PRODUCED A SERIES OF DISASTROUS
DECISIONS." THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY, MR.
PRESIDENT. AS A RESULT OF ITS IMPROPER CONDUCT, A CLOUD NOW
HANGS OVER THIS ADMINISTRATION. THIS CLOUD IS FURTHER DARKENED
BY THE ADMINISTRATION'S MISTAKES IN PRISONER ABUSE, HURRICANE
[14:10:05] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

KATRINA, AND THE CRONYISM AND CORRUPTION IN NUMEROUS AGENCIES
THROUGHOUT THIS ADMINISTRATION. AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT MUST BE
THAT SAID A CLOUD ALSO HANGS OVER THIS REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED
CONGRESS FOR ITS UNWILLINGNESS TO HOLD THIS REPUBLICAN
ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS MISDEEDS ON THESE ISSUES.
DURING THE TIME THAT WE HAD A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT, EIGHT
YEARS, AND WHEN THE DEMOCRATS WERE IN CHARGE OF THE CO
COMMITTEES, WE WERE IN THE MAJORITY, OVERSIGHT HEARINGS WERE
[14:10:37] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

HELD COVERING THE GAMUT OF WHAT WENT ON IN THIS ADMINISTRATION
-- THAT ADMINISTRATION. TODAY THERE IS NOT AN OVERSIGHT HEARING
HELD ON ANYTHING. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT BACK HOW WE GOT HERE
WITH RESPECT TO IRAQ. THE RECORD WILL SHOW THAT WITHIN HOURS OF
THE TERRORIST ACTS OF 9/11, SENIOR OFFICIALS IN THIS
ADMINISTRATION RECOGNIZED THOSE ATTACKS COULD BE USED AS A
PRETEXT TO INVADE IRAQ. THE RECORD WILL ALSO SHOW THAT IN THE
[14:11:09] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

MONTHS AND YEARS AFTER 9/11, THE ADMINISTRATION ENGAGED IN A
PATTERN OF MANIPULATION OF THE FACTS AND RETRIBUTION AGAINST
ANYONE WHO GOT IN ITS WAY AS IT MADE ITS CASE FOR ATTACKING,
FOR INVADING IRAQ. THERE ARE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF HOW THE
ADMINISTRATION MISSTATED AND MANIPULATED THE FACTS AS IT MADE
THE CASE FOR WAR. THE ADMINISTRATION STATEMENTS ON SADDAM'S
ALLEGED NUCLEAR WEAPONS CAPABILITIES AND TIES WITH AL QAEDA
REPRESENT THE BEST EXAMPLES HOW IT CONSISTENTLY AND REPEATEDLY
[14:11:41] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

MANIPULATED THE FACTS. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE WARNED TIME AND
TIME AGAIN BY THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENT, THE CURRENT
SECRETARY OF STATE AND THEIR OTHER CAPACITIES ABOUT SADDAM'S
NUCLEAR WEAPONS CAPABILITIES. THE VICE PRESIDENT SAID -- AND I
QUOTE -- "IRAQ HAS RECONSTITUTED ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAMS." PLAYING
UPON THE FEARS OF AMERICANS AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, THESE OFFICIALS
[14:12:15] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

AND OTHERS RAISED THE SPECTER THAT LEFT UNCHECKED, SADDAM COULD
SOON ATTACK AMERICA WITH NUCLEAR WEAPONS. OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW NOW
THAT THEIR NUCLEAR CLAIMS WERE WHOLLY INACCURATE. BUT MORE
TROUBLING IS THE FACT THAT A LOT OF INTELLIGENCE EXPERTS WERE
TELLING THE ADMINISTRATION THEN THAT ITS CLAIMS ABOUT SADDAM'S
NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES WERE FALSE. THE SITUATION VERY SIMILAR
WITH RESPECT TO SADDAM'S LINKS TO AL QAEDA. THE VICE PRESIDENT
TOLD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE -- I QUOTE AGAIN -- "WE KNOW HE'S OUT
[14:12:46] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

TRYING ONCE AGAIN TO PRODUCE NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND WE KNOW HE HAS
A LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH VARIOUS TERRORIST GROUPS,
INCLUDING THE AL QAEDA ORGANIZATION." THESE ASSERTIONS HAVE
BEEN TOTALLY DISCREDITED, NOT A LITTLE BIT, TOTALLY
DISCREDITED. BUT AGAIN, THE ADMINISTRATION WENT AHEAD WITH
THESE ASSERTIONS IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S TOP
EXPERTS DID NOT AGREE WITH THESE CLAIMS. AGAIN, WILKERSON IS A
[14:13:18] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

PERSON IN POINT. WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE OF THIS
REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESS TO THE ADMINISTRATION'S
MANIPULATION OF INTELLIGENCE THAT LED TO THIS PROTRACTED WAR IN IRAQ?
NOTHING. DID THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESS CARRY OUT ITS
CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATIONS TO CONDUCT OVERSIGHT?
NO. DID IT SUPPORT OUR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING
THEM THE ANSWERS TO MANY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS?
NO. DID IT EVEN ATTEMPT TO FORCE THIS ADMINISTRATION TO ANSWER
THE MOST BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT ITS BEHAVIOR?
[14:13:48] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

NO. UNFORTUNATELY, THE UNWILLINGNESS OF THE
REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESS TO EXERCISE ITS OVERSIGHT
RESPONSIBILITIES IS NOT A LIMIT -- IS NOT LIMITED TO JUST IRAQ.
WE SEE IT WITH RESPECT TO THE PRISON ABUSE SCANDAL. WE SEE IT
WITH RESPECT TO KATRINA, AND WE SEE IT WITH RESPECT TO THE
CRONYISM AND CORRUPTION THAT PERMEATES THIS ADMINISTRATION.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THIS REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESS HAS
CONSISTENTLY CHOSEN TO PUT ITS POLITICAL INTERESTS AHEAD OF OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY. THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY CHOSEN TO PROTECT THE
[14:14:23] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

AMERICAN -- THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION RATHER THAN TO GET TO
THE BOTTOM OF WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY IT HAPPENED. THERE'S ALSO
ANOTHER DISTURBING PATTERN, NAMELY, ABOUT HOW THIS
ADMINISTRATION RESPONDED TO THOSE WHO CHALLENGED ITS
ASSERTIONS. OFTEN THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS ACTIVELY SOUGHT TO
ATTACK AND UNDERCUT THOSE WHO DARED TO RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT
ITS PREFERRED COURSE. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN GENERAL SHINSEKI
[14:14:53] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

INDICATED SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND TROOPS WOULD BE NEEDED IN
IRAQ, HIS MILITARY CAREER WAS ENDED -- FIRED, RELIEVED OF DUTY
WHEN HE OUT ITS INSPECTORS. WHEN NOBEL PRIZE WINGER AND HEAD OF THE
IAEA RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION'S CLAIMS OF
SADDAM'S NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES, THE ADMINISTRATION ATTEMPTED TO
REMOVE HIM FROM HIS POST. WHEN AMBASSADOR JOE WILSON STATED
THAT THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT BY SADDAM -- NO ATTEMPT BY SADDAM TO
ACQUIRE WEAPONS FROM NIGER, THE ADMINISTRATION NOT ONLY WENT
AFTER HIM TO DISCREDIT HIM, THEY LAUNCHED A VICIOUS AND
[14:16:09] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

COORDINATED CAMPAIGN GOING SO FAR AS TO EXPOSE THE FACT THAT
HIS WIFE WORKED AS A C.I.A. SPY. THESE PEOPLE ARE NOW HAVING
24-HOUR PROTECTION FEARING FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY. GIVEN THIS
ADMINISTRATION'S PATTERN OF SQUASHING THOSE WHO CHALLENGE ITS
MISSTATEMENTS, AND I'VE ONLY MENTIONED A FEW, WHAT HAS BEEN THE
RESPONSE OF THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESS?
[14:16:45] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. AND WHERE THEIR INACTIONS THEY PROVIDE
POLITICAL COVER FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION AT THE SAME TIME THEY
KEEP THE TRUTH FROM OUR TROOPS WHO CONTINUE TO MAKE LARGE
SACRIFICES IN IRAQ. NOW EVERYONE MAY THINK THAT THE TROOPS IN
IRAQ ARE 100% REPUBLICAN. I'VE MET A FRIEND -- I'VE MADE A
FRIEND. HE'S A MARINE. HE WAS OVER IN WHEN THE ELECTIONS WERE
[14:17:18] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

HELD TEN MONTHS AGO. HE SAID WHERE HE WAS AND HE NEVER EVEN
WENT TO THE BATHROOM WITHOUT A RIFLE, WHEREVER HE WAS IN HIS
DUTY ALL OVER THIS AREA, HE SAID HE COULDN'T FIND ANYONE THAT
WAS HAPPY WITH THE WAY THE ELECTIONS TURNED OUT. THEY, THE
REPUBLICANS, DO ANYTHING THEY CAN TO KEEP THE TRUTH FROM PEOPLE
LIKE MY MARINE FRIEND. THIS BEHAVIOR -- I WOULD GIVE YOU HIS
[14:17:48] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

NAME -- THIS BEHAVIOR IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE TOLL IN IRAQ IS AS
STAGGERING AS IT IS SOLEMN. MORE THAN 2,000S DID 2,025 NOW,
AMERICANS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES. OVER 90 AMERICANS HAVE PAID
THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER ALONE, THE
FOURTH DEADLIEST MONTH IN THIS GO-ON THREE-YEAR WAR. MORE THAN
15,000 HAVE BEEN WOUNDED. MORE THAN 150,000 REMAIN OVER THERE
IN HARM'S WAY. ENORMOUS SACRIFICES HAVE BEEN MADE AND CONTINUE
[14:18:21] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

TO BE MADE. MR. PRESIDENT, WE'VE HAD SOLDIERS AND MARINES FROM
NEVADA KILLED, FROM ELI, FROM LAS VEGAS, FROM HENDERSON, FROM
BOULDER CITY, FROM TONAPAW. EVERY TIME ONE OF THESE DEATHS
OCCUR, IT'S A DAGGER IN THE HEART OF THAT COMMUNITY. THIS
BEHAVIOR IS UNACCEPTABLE. I'M A PATIENT MAN, MR. PRESIDENT. I'M
[14:19:04] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

A LEGISLATOR AND I KNOW THINGS DON'T HAPPEN OVER NIGHT. I'M A
PARENT MAN BUT THE CALL FOR MY SON HAS PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY FAMILY. THE TOLL IN IRAQ IS AS STAGGERING
AS I REPEAT IT IS SOLEMN. THE TROOPS HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPECT
ANSWERS AND ACCOUNTABILITY WORTHY OF THAT SACRIFICE. FOR
EXAMPLE, MORE THAN 40 DEMOCRATS WROTE A SUBSTANTIVE AND
DETAILED LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT CANNING -- ASKING FOUR BASIC
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ADMINISTRATION'S IRAQ POLICY, AND WE
[14:19:44] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

RECEIVED, MR. PRESIDENT, -- WE RECEIVED A FOUR-SENTENCE FENCE
THAT IS RESPONSE. "THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT
EXPRESSING YOUR CONCERNS WITH IRAQ. I'VE SHARED YOUR LETTER
WITH THE APPROPRIATE ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS." REMEMBER WE
WROTE IT TO THE PRESIDENT. "AND AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE IN THIS
AREA. PLEASE BE ASSURED YOUR LETTER IS RECEIVING THE ATTENTION
IT DESERVES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMPLIMENTS, CANDY WOLF."
THAT'S THE LETTER THE SENATORS OF THE UNITED STATES WROTE TO
[14:20:18] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

THE PRESIDENT OF THE ITS AND WE GET A LETTER FROM CANDY WOLF
SAY, THANKS, WE'RE WORKING ON IT. AMERICA DESERVES BETTER THAN.
THIS THEY ALSO DESERVE A SEARCHING AND COMPREHENSIVE
INVESTIGATION ABOUT HOW THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION BROUGHT THIS
COUNTRY TO WAR, KEY QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED INCLUDE
HOW DID THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION ASSEMBLE ITS CASE FOR WAR
AGAINST IRAQ?
WE HEARD WHAT COLONEL WILKERSON SAID. WHO DID THE BUSH
[14:20:52] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS LISTEN TO AND IGNORE?
HOW DID THE SENIOR BUSH ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS MANIPULATE OR
MANUFACTURE INTELLIGENCE PRESENTED TO THE CONGRESS OR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE?
WHAT WAS THE ROLE OF THE WHITE HOUSE IRAQ GROUP, A GROUP OF
SIGNOR WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS, TASKED WITH MARKETING THE WAR AND
TAKING DOWN ITS CRITICS. WE KNOW WHAT COLONEL WILKERSON SAYS.
HOW DID THE ADMINISTRATION COORDINATE ITS EFFORTS TO ATTACK
INDIVIDUALS WHO DARED TO CHALLENGE THE ADMINISTRATION'S
ASSERTIONS. WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM. I LISTED A FEW. WHY
[14:21:22] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

HAS THIS ADMINISTRATION FAILED TO PROVIDE CONGRESS WITH THE
DOCUMENTS THAT WOULD SHED LIGHT ON THEIR MISCONDUCT AND THE
MISSTATEMENTS?
UNFORTUNATELY, THE SENATE COMMITTEE THAT SHOULD BE TAKING THE
LEAD IN PROVIDING THESE ANSWERS IS NOT. DESPITE THE FACT THAT
THE CHAIRMAN OF SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE PUBLICLY
COMMITTED TO EXAMINE THESE QUESTIONS MORE THAN A YEAR AND A
HALF AGO, HE HAS CHOSEN NOT TO KEEP THAT COMMITMENT. DESPITE
THE FACT THAT HE'S RESTATED THE COMMITMENT EARLIER THIS YEAR ON
[14:21:54] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

NATIONAL TELEVISION, HE HAS STILL DONE NOTHING. EXCEPT ASSEMBLE
A FEW QUOTES FROM DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN SENATORS GOING BACK
TO THE FIRST IRAQ WAR. WE NEED A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION THAT
THAT COMMITTEE IS CAPABLE AND TASKED TO DO. AT THIS POINT, WE
CAN ONLY CONCLUDE HE WILL CONTINUE TO PUT POLITICS AHEAD OF OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY. IF HE DOES ANYTHING AT THIS POINT, I SUSPECT
IT WILL BE PLAYING POLITICAL GAMES BY PRODUCING AN ANALYSIS
THAT FILES ANY OF THESE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. INSTEAD, IF
[14:22:28] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

HISTORY IS ANY GUIDE, THIS ANALYSIS WILL ATTEMPT TO DISPERSE
AND DEFLECT BLAME AWAY FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION. KEY FACTS
ABOUT THE INTELLIGENCE --

[14:22:42 NSP] (A SENATOR) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

A SENATOR: WOULD THE SENATOR YIELD FOR A QUESTION.

[14:22:46 NSP] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

MR. REID: KEY FACTS JUNE 4, 2003, INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE
COMMITS TO BIPARTISAN REVIEW OF THE DEEPLY FLEWED INTELLIGENCE
IN IRAQ'S W.M.D. PHASE ONE. FEBRUARY 12, 2004, INTELLIGENCE
COMMITTEE COMMITS TO PHASE 2, AN INVESTIGATION LOOKING AT FIVE
AREAS INCLUDING WHETHER THE ADMINISTRATION EXAGGERATE AND
MANIPULATED MEL DENSE. JULY 9, 2004, COMMITTEE PUBLISHES PHASE
ONE REPORT ON THE INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES MISTAKES ON IRAQ.
SENATOR ROCKEFELLER SAYS PUBLICLY THAT PHASE TWO IS AS YET
[14:23:18] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

UNBEGUN. REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN ROBERTS SAYS IT IS ONE OF MY TOP
PRIORITIES. JULY 11 ON MEET THE PRESS, REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN
ROBERTS SAYS, EVEN AS I'M SPEAKING OUR STAFF IS WORKING ON
PHASE TWO AND WE'LL GET IT DONE. FALL OF 2004, HOUSE
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, AFTER NO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE IRAQ
W.M.D. INVESTIGATION, THE HOUSE ANNOUNCED ON MAY 2003, NO FINAL
REPORT. REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN PETER GOSS IS SELECTED TO
C.I.A. DIRECTOR. REGARDING THE QUESTION OF VETTING THE VALERIE
[14:23:49] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

PLAME LEAK GOSS SAID SHOW ME A BLUE DRESS AND SOME DNA AND I'LL
GIVE YOU AN INVESTIGATION. END OF QUOTE. NOVEMBER, 2004, WE HAD
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. MARCH 2005, PRESIDENT'S HAND-PICKED
W.M.D. INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE SAYS THE INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES
GOT THE INTELLIGENCE DEAD WRONG BUT SAYS THAT UNDER THE
PRESIDENT'S TERMS OF REFERENCE WE ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO
INVESTIGATE HOW POLICY-MAKERS USED THE INTELLIGENCE ASSESSMENTS
THEY RECEIVED FROM THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. MARCH 31, 2005,
[14:24:21] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

SENATOR ROBERTS SAYS IT WOULD BE MONUMENTAL WASTE OF TIME TO
REPLOW THIS GROUND ANY FURTHER?
REPLOW?
APRIL 10, 2005, "MEET THE PRESS" SENATOR ROBERTS COMMITS TO TIM
RUSSERT THAT THE REVIEW WILL GET DONE. SEPTEMBER 2005,
COMMITTEE DEMOCRATS FILE ADDITIONAL VIEWS TO THEIR
AUTHORIZATION BILL BLASTING THE COMMITTEE FOR FAILING TO
CONDUCT PHASE TWO. THERE HAVE BEEN LETTERS WRITTEN TO THE
[14:24:51] (MR. REID) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

COMMITTEE, A PRESS RELEASE WAS ISSUED EVEN SAYING THAT THEY
WERE GOING TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS. MR. PRESIDENT, ENOUGH TIME
HAS GONE BY. I DEMAND ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WE
UNDERSTAND WHY THESE INVESTIGATIONS AREN'T BEING CONDUCTED, AND
IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 21, I NOW MOVE THAT SENATE GO INTO
CLOSED SESSION.

[14:25:20 NSP] (MR. DURBIN) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

MR. DURBIN: MR. PRESIDENT, I MOTION THE -- SECOND THE MOTION.

[14:25:24 NSP] (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE TO CLOSED
SESSION. THE. THE CHAIR PURSUANT TO RULE 21 DIRECTS THE
SERGEANT AT ARMS TO CLEAR ALL GALLERIES, CLEAR ALL DOORS OF THE
SENATE CHAMBER AND EXCLUDE FROM THE CHAMBER AND ITS IMMEDIATE
CORRIDORS ALL EMPLOYEES AND OFFICIALS OF THIS SENATE WHO UNDER
THE RULE ARE ARE -- ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND THE CLOSED
SESSION AND ARE NOT SWORN TO SECRECY. THE QUESTION IS
[14:26:03] (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) [ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT ]

NONDEBATABLE.

More will start leaking as Republicans scramble to CYA on the warning shot. I expect Rove will leak most of it with his usual spin. But don't miss what this is, a fundamental sea change and FU to a complicit criminal party to a criminal administration.

If only they could say what they say behind closed doors.

Harry Reid is a crafty son of a gun.

Quiet and reserved, but a velvet hammer nonetheless. Needless to say, I think this is also a message to Presiden t Bush to get ready for Armageddon on Judge Alito.

It's about damn time.

I woke up this morning a little down on politics, but this afteroon, I can honestly say that I'm a proud Democrat.

Originally posted by deluded
Harry Reid said that the Congress has essentially protected this corrupt President by not holding any oversight committees to watch and investigate what is happening by the most secretive president ever.

I want to know, no, deserve to know since they work for US!. WAKE UP!

I say Titor’s Civil War is coming and I am nowhere near ready for it….

[edit on 1-11-2005 by Nerdling]

First Titor!

Originally posted by siriuslyone
Do Dems not understand they are just cutting their own throats when it comes election time?
'when will they ever learn'?

If cutting your own throat is what happens when you try and hold somebody accountable then I say cut away. There has to be accountability in government. Who do you expect to hold the majority party in check? Themselves? Hardly.

I truly wonder whats going down. The thought in the back of my mind is something ive been wanting to heppen since Elections 04. Maybe they have some election cheating proof?

Thats the only thing I can think of that would give a good case for impeachment.

I don't know. But until I know the details ill stand by Bush.

Republicans are just mad someone used a senate rule against them. They act like terrorist threatening the nuclear option against Dems all the time, now when one Dem decides to get them to talk about an issue that has far reaching implications they all scream foul.

What a bunch of nasty little power hungry people. Hopefully in the next election we will wipe the slate clean and try some new folks in all positions.

At least it worked. We now have a bi-partisan committee working to dig into the intelligence and reporting back by 11/14.

I love watching Frist twist in the wind a bit. Although I enjoy Kennedy swinging sometimes too.

just a note, there is also a PTS discussion on this
politics.abovetopsecret.com...

I actually find this quite amusing from a professional standpoint.

I am the parlamentarian for our Union in particular when we have our annual convention. Its my job to make sure that Roberts Rules of Order are followed. Keeping control of 300+ women in a arena type environment is challanging to say the least.

One of the resons they made me parlimentarian was because I could bring the convention to a halt by invoking seldom used rules or obsure point in the rules of order. Used to drive people lnuts. No Im the solution rather than the problem

At anyrate, the Dems seem to be more up on thier rules and procedures so why are people all bent out of shape. How is this any differnt from going nuclear with the fillibuster?

Funny that Americans that still back the corrupt Bush administration is falling for what the media is telling with the likes like Frist, another crony.

The are feeding the people BS the truth is that the American people has the right to know who was the one behind the disastrous war in Iraq, who is responsible for the death and the wounded and for the mess in that country and the reason why.

That is what our nations priority is and should be our nation is in financial and economical mess an somebody is making money and somebody is reaping the benefits of this Iraqi war while we the American people are getting the short end of the deal.

This about corruption and is not the littler head in the white house in Clinton's days but about the worst corruption that our nation has ever seen.

I want answers and I want to know the truth.

Hooray for the two major political parties in the U.S.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another day....... Another wang measuring contest!!!!!!!!!!!!

For christ's sake I'll never figure out why the American public votes for either party. The arrogance is astounding. There are no Independents in the Senate so there is no voice of reason when these games of political one-up-manship take place. Today should be a wake up call to many people out there. This has nothing to do with "intelligence", it is a way to flex muscles and to play games. It's inconcievable that anything will come of this powerplay today. Neither side has any intention of working with the other.



The only thing that will happen today is to further divide the public, increase donations for political action committies, and keep the talking heads on cable news busy for a few days.



The people of the greatest country to ever exist on the planet are under the leadership of the worst in mankind to ever walk the earth. That goes for every branch of government........... top to bottom.



Any American not so deeply entrenched in the "Party Ideaologies" as to be completely blind should really be considering shedding their party affilliations and only voting independent from now on.

I wonder why the Democrats did nothing during Lyndon Johnson's war? must be somthing missing here. let me chek.

Originally posted by marg6043
Funny that Americans that still back the corrupt Bush administration is falling for what the media is telling with the likes like Frist, another crony.

I disagree. I think Frist is upset because this is a power issue first and foremost and a challange to his personal power in the Senate.

Nobody hoping for reelection is going to fall on the sword for a lame duck president who has spent all of his "political capital"

Regardless of the the two main Parties the nations need to see with their own eyes what is going on in our government, the lies the profits the mulitibillion dollar deals.

All at the expenses of the American people the war the defense budget and the links to Cheney and his willingness to pursue a conflict that has cause so much damage to our nation.

I don't care who is in or out of the government or sitting in the presidential seat the American people deserve to have accountability.

This nation belongs to the American people not to the two main parties.