What a fucking joke. They didn’t even swear him in, so he wasn’t bound by law to tell the truth.
The fact that the Democrats on the Committee didn’t walk out after that was decided is pretty much proof that this whole thing is going to get swept under the increasingly-bulging rugs at the White House. The Democrats have no spines, and the Administration will get away with yet another crime.
There are a few people holding the Administration’s feet to the fire, but it won’t be enough.
Check out this exchange between Gonzales and Senator Biden of Delaware:
BIDEN: Let me very precise.
GONZALES: OK.
BIDEN: I have not heard of NSA saying to the Intelligence Committee, “We are binding ourselves as we engage in this activity under the minimization procedures of 12333, as well as other statutes.” I’m unaware that that’s written down or stated anywhere or been presented to the Intelligence Committee. Can you assure us that has been done?
GONZALES: No, sir, I can’t assure you that.
BIDEN: Can you assure us, General, that you are fully, totally informed and confident that you know the absolute detail with which this program is being conducted? Can you assure us you personally can assure us that no one is being eavesdropped upon in the United States other than someone who has a communication that is emanating from foreign soil by a suspected terrorist, Al Qaida or otherwise?
GONZALES: Sir, I can’t give you absolute assurance of the kind that you’ve asked for.
BIDEN: Who can?
Yeah….the fucking Attorney General of the United States can’t give assurance that innocent Americans haven’t been spied upon, nor can he assure that the NSA has agreed to follow the law.
How is this not a story of Watergate-ian proportions? Why is this not the topic of EVERY news program in the country?
What the hell has happened to this country?
Uh, it’s being handed over at a good steady clip to sweaty-palmed crypto-fascists and the fuckwits who work in their 24-hour Excuse Factory?
Wait…they didn’t…swear him in??? WTF.
Dude, the only news program with any cajones these days is on Comedy effin’ central. We slipped into the Twilight Zone ages ago. (And doesn’t Shrub remind you of little Anthony Fremont, looking at reporters like he wants to send ’em to the cornfield?)
“That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history.”
-Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
“Nobody takes power. They’re given power by the rest of us, because we’re stupid, or afraid, or both. The Germans in 1939, the Russians in 1917… They handed over power to people they thought could settle scores, get the trains running on time, restore their prestige. Afterwards, like children who have eaten too much candy after dinner, they denied it was their fault, claimed that it was them. It’s always them. Today, President Clark has the power, and we gave it to him, because we’re afraid of the aliens and afraid of ourselves.”
-William Edgars, “Babylon 5: Exercise of Vital Powers”, JMS
The radio stuff did have the Republicans knocking him around a lot. Perhaps the rats are abandoning ship.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/08/eavesdropping.congress.ap/index.html
“Breaking with the White House, Rep. Heather Wilson, R-New Mexico, chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence, says the time has come for a “complete review” of the of President Bush’s eavesdropping program, her spokesman said.”
How is this not a story of Watergate-ian proportions? Why is this not the topic of EVERY news program in the country?
Um, because it doesn’t involve a saucy intern and a blowjob?