Senior GOP Senator Says Gonzales Probe Can Wait (gets WH briefing today)

[rodeodance]

Source: NPR.org,




Senior GOP Senator Says Gonzales Probe Can Wait



NPR.org, July 30, 2007 · The leading Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee has advised a wait-and-see approach to a perjury investigation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, saying more time is needed to determine if the embattled Cabinet official lied to Congress.

Sen. Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, said he wanted to wait at least until a briefing Monday by the Bush administration on classified spy programs.

"Let's give him a chance," Specter said Sunday. "What we want to do is find out what the facts are."

Last week, four Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee asked Solicitor General Paul Clement for a special prosecutor to probe Gonzales, who they say may have perjured himself during testimony regarding a domestic spying program. The request came after FBI Director Robert S. Mueller appeared to contradict Gonzales' statements.

Read more: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12345582&sc=YahooNews&ft=1&f=1014

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Arlen Sphincter.

The Senate's most thoroughly useless character.

[atreides1]

2. Once Again Showing his Strength

Well it would seem that Specter's collapsible spine is working just fine, and all it took was just a short flight in AF1 with his bestest buddy George.

This man, and I use that term loosely, never changes. He talks tough but when it comes time to back it up his spine is about as stiff as a jelly fish, and I apologize to all jelly fish.

He has no credibility and I hope that the people of PA vote this ass kissing boot-licker out of office in the next election.

[SoFlaJet]

5. exactly

he has a spine like a wet waffle-they talk a good game but when the money is on the table they always fold

[loves_dulcinea]

40. if only more repugs were like him,

spineless.

[Fluffdaddy]

21. We got Rick Santorum out of here, but Specter is going to be hard

He plays both sides, Then as you stated he usually falls in with the GOP when the going gets rough.
The right-wing-nuts hate his guts, but moderates and "just enuff" liberals here in Pa. votes for him to stay around another6 years.

He's here to he wants to leave...unfortunely

[PRETZEL]

34. I believe he's already said

this will be his last term. He's starting to get up in age and his past health concerns are the main reasons from what i remember.

[Richardo]

3. What's your take on Leahy then?

Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Vermont Democrat who chairs the Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Gonzales on Thursday, giving him a week to resolve any inconsistencies in his testimony. While he has declined so far to support a perjury probe, Leahy indicated that could change.

"He has a week," Leahy said Sunday. "If he doesn't correct it, then I think that there are so many errors in there that the pressure will lead very, very heavily to whether it's a special prosecutor, a special counsel, efforts within the Congress."

They both gave him a week. I know you're intent on hating Specter but he and Leahy are pretty much on the same page here.

[atreides1]

6. There is a difference

Specter is getting his info from the WH which has the people capable of lying to God with a straight face, Leahy is giving Gonzo another chance to fuck himself.
The more Gonzo lies the more chances of perjury charges being filed, and lets face it Gonzo hasn't told the truth yet, and Leahy not expecting him to!

[spotbird]

10. Since Gonzo

has the week anyway, Leahy isn't giving him anything. Now, I'm the last person to defend any of them, but the differences is Leahy doesn't make empty threats. He simply doesn't threaten in the first place. Specter forever talks tough, and never follows through, in other words Specter is a liar, plain and simple. Leahy is in massive denial about how truly horrible the administration is.

At some level Leahy still believes they will act as men of integrity and obey the law, at this point I doubt he'll ever surrender that belief.

[SoFlaJet]

28. Spotbird is spot on

he has a week LEGALLY to revise and extend his testimony but as someone else stated the WH is standing by that testimony-why I don't know. Maybe they WANT the democrats to start impeachment proceedings-which might come AFTER they've exhausted the attempts at a special prosecutor-lotta good THAT will do-ask them to police themselves? hardly

[bdamomma]

15. ........

I thought I heard that Gonsalves stands by his testimony. Specter is a jerk, is he being threatened or blackmailed, because something definitely happened.

[acmavm]

7. So, Gonzo commits a crime (lying under oath and Leahy gives

him a week to fix it.

Can we have that rule for everyone? Or is it just crimes against the country and the American people that allow you to have 'do overs'?

[rodeodance]

9. they generally have 5 working days to add/change etc-----at least that is

what I generally hear the Chair say during these meetings.

[spotbird]

12. Rove avoided indictment by

changing his GJ testimony when it was clear he was caught. With the GJ apparently a witness can come clean anytime before that session is adjourned to avoid prosecution. With these Congressional Committees it looks like the record stays open for amendment for a week or so. The reasoning, I guess, is that the hearing is a search for truth, not a means to trap perjurers.

What's interesting is that up until now the WH has stuck to it's guns that Gonzo will not change his testimony. They're pretty damn certain that there will be no consequences either way.

[Kagemusha]

14. That rule DOES GO FOR EVERYONE, damnit!!!

This is standard operating procedure for Congress on this issue. Why do people just feel the primal need to assume that just because something happens that seems favorable for a Bush admin official that it MUST mean that this applies only to them and no one else!!??

Sorry. :rant:

[Richardo]

23. Unfortunately, a working knowledge of government is not required on this board.

Nice rant, K. :patriot:

[Kagemusha]

24. I just hope some people pick up on it.

When regular, fair, normal treatment for Bush admin officials acting badly gets taken like special soft treatment for them, it distorts the debate, that's all. I want Congress to move ASAP too but, the 'P' includes small waits to give people a chance to 'come to Jesus'. The hammer falls on those who don't repent.

[Mojorabbit]

26. Does this

work this way for everywone? If I lie during a grand jury testimony could I come back with clarifications? Having never gone before one, I seriously want to know.

[Richardo]

27. Yes. You usually have time to review the transcript and 'clarify' your remarks.

Even everyday depositions allow this.

[acmavm]

35. Bullshit. How long has he been lying? It didn't start with last week's

round of crap. He's been lying every time he was questioned.

How fucking many re-dos does he get. I can damn well guarantee that no one else would. Try this in civil court. After getting caught and then coming back, lying, and getting caught again, I don't think the court would be so damn forgiving.

[Danieljay]

11. well, he'll lean very very heavily then send a double dog strongly worded letter to Gonzo..

Effing cowards. Are democracy is on the brink of a constitutional crisis and all the Dems can muster are threats and double dog dares.

[John Q. Citizen]

20. notice that it's "the pressure" and not the rule of law that is the driving force.

What Leahy is saying here is that it's perfectly OK to lie to congress.

If there's no pressure, no foul.

If there is pressure, then you had better correct the testimony, because if you don't they might do something.

[ooglymoogly]

22. The fix is already in with specter being read into the program

Specter is the hypocrite for the pugs to go to in these instances. Always and without exception says one thing then does another. A red next to yellow kind of fellow....something you don't ever trust. He has set us up for the kill and that should come real soon now.

[asjr]

4. Arlen Specter is a waste of flesh.

[spotbird]

8. How surprising!!

Just last week he seemed so serious about this. Huh. It isn't possible that his initial stand was just a blustery distraction, is it? Naw. He means it.

[bdamomma]

13. call specter's office please

specter was strong armed by this disgusting regime. this is sick.

[sutz12]

16. Last defense of the hopeless...."We need more time, more studies."

:shrug:

[dmosh42]

19. Dems want to drag this out........

I said this before, and it's becoming more transparent. There are two committees doing these hearings, The House Judiciary, and the Senate. Both are being lied to, or being obstructed. Being a retiree, I can spend the time watching C-Span coverage, so I know anyone watching has to be struck by the blatancy of this administration in telling Congress they can go f___ themselves, and feel no pressure to defend themselves. I know the Democratic party is gaining great political points with this, but the average citizen has to wonder when is the time for execution of the duties provided in the Constitution against criminal wrongdoing. Making false statements to these committees is a 'felony', and not a misdemeanor or something less. One glaring lie that we all have seen was Gonzo's recent hearing, where he stated that his talks with Ashcroft had nothing to do with the wiretap controversy, and then Mueller, the FBI head, says that was exactly what was talked about. But for some reason, this is not enough. We need to drag this out for a few more months!

[L. Coyote]

29. Disagree. They are proceeding with calculation and, unlike Gonzolies, with respect

for the law, the rules, and rights of those involved.

And, the Committees are operating under the burden of massive amounts of work on numerous investigations in addition to all Congress is normally tasked with.

One important thing to remember is that they have to get it right and not mess up by over-reaching. The mouse is in the trap, but they need to follow procedures. The way to restore the rule of law IS NOT to disrespect rules and procedures.

Another important thing to remember, the Congressional leaders have more info than we do. The know what the most serious of problems are, and may be focused on a very different aspect of the overall problem. Like, the Decider in all this. The solution may require an approach we do not see.

You are accusing the Dems of what exactly, not doing their jobs fast enough for your taste? I would reply, allow them to do their jobs properly, so this gets done AND done right.

[Norquist Nemesis]

17. Yeah, so??? Unless he's asking about the problems with getting it

authorized, then it's a big whoopteedo over nothing. EXCEPT, now he's all sworn to secrecy about an EXISTING program just as the Gang of 8 were/are all sworn to secrecy about the SCRAPPED PARTS of the program.

Frankly, it's the ultimate crap fest if they aren't going to get some answers on what Bush authorized that was clearly illegal that they had to come to terms with before "the program" would be signed off on by the DOJ. Giving a pass because they supposedly fixed it just isn't good enough!!!

Somebody please stop the merry-go-round!!! :banghead:

[ck4829]

18. Why the sudden turn?

[ooglymoogly]

25. Picture this....Arlen screams loudest for investigation and prosecution

and resignation, then gets read into a bogus "classified" very secret program and wallah the fix is in. "Gonzales was telling the truth but he (specter) can't discuss it.....Its way too secret doncha know".

[L. Coyote]

32. Check out Arlen's staff history and where they are today. Follow the money.

[JerseygirlCT]

30. One thing you can say for Spector: he never fails

He's consistent.

Big talk, no action.

As soon as the masters straighten him out, he snaps right back into line.

[ooglymoogly]

33. No....I don't think he ever intends to go against this admin

He screams to mollify his constituents and to make people think he really has a brain in his vacuous head...then pulls his usual bait and switch. Its a strategy that is very profitable and seems to be working for him. Its not a case of him losing his spine, he is an invertebrate...he props up his head on a pool cue stuck up his fat ass...its just his crooked M.O. and he never fails to follow it. Back in the day he defended Ira Einhorn the guy who murdered his girlfriend for, after being beaten, had the temerity to leave him and stuffed her dismembered body in a trunk and put her in the closet for a few years until the stench finally got him arrested. Specter, realizing the evidence was bedrock solid and the case unwinnable, made it possible for Ira to skip bail and flee the country. He was tried and found guilty in absentia. This is the kind of evil man Arlen is and the kind of respect he has for the law.

[JerseygirlCT]

36. Oh I know. It's been his game forever. I meant we can

count on him to do the same thing, time and again.

Make it look like he's some sort of independent, fair-minded, cautious senator.

And then do the bidding of Bushco.

Without fail.

[mitchum]

31. That's to be expected from a man who made his bones on a cover up

the JFK murder conspiracy

[hatrack]

37. Trotting up to the White House for a little more tea-bagging?

Well, that just fucking figures.

[damntexdem]

38. Good old Artless Spectator:

going for the gold medal in waffling.

[yellowcanine]

39. When it is brass balls time Specter always punts.

[jaysunb]

41. I could have sworn he was up for reelection this time...

But I guess not.

There have been few times this ass has not had to win by a hair in the general, and if he were up this time I'm sure he'd get "retired."

Look at this :

Electoral history
2004 Race for U.S. Senate
Arlen Specter (R) (inc.), 53%
Joe Hoeffel (D), 42%
2004 Race for U.S. Senate — Republican Primary
Arlen Specter (R) (inc.), 51%
Pat Toomey (R), 49%
1998 Race for U.S. Senate
Arlen Specter (R) (inc.), 61%
Bill Lloyd (D), 35%
1998 Race for U.S. Senate — Republican Primary
Arlen Specter (R) (inc.), 67%
Larry Murphy (R), 18%
Tom Lingenfelter (R), 15%
1992 Race for U.S. Senate
Arlen Specter (R) (inc.), 49%
Lynn Yeakel (D), 47%
John Perry (Libertarian), 5%
1992 Race for U.S. Senate — Republican Primary
Arlen Specter (R) (inc.), 65%
Stephen Friend (R), 35%
1986 Race for U.S. Senate
Arlen Specter (R) (inc.), 56%
Bob Edgar (D), 43%
1986 Race for U.S. Senate — Republican Primary
Arlen Specter (R) (inc.), 76%
Richard Stokes (R), 24%
1980 Race for U.S. Senate
Arlen Specter (R), 50%
Pete Flaherty (D), 48%
1980 Race for U.S. Senate — Republican Primary
Arlen Specter (R), 36%
Harold Haabestad (R), 33%
Ed Howard (R), 13%

no wonder he talks out of both sides of his mouth...:evilfrown:

[defendandprotect]

42. Come on: Specter is knee-deep in this coming fascism . . .

He aided and abetted this right-wing coup on America --
and most especially in covering the truth of the assassination of JFK --

Is Leahy up to dealing with Specter -- ???
I'm no sure --

Btw, Leahy had a stroke right after the Clarence Thomas hearings --
Joe Biden was completely responsible for not permitting those who would have supported Prof. Anita Hill's descriptions of Clarence Thomas' perverted behavior at the EEOC -- while Biden LIED to Anita Hill and her lawyers about his intentions to let them testify. They were completely betrayed by Biden.

Meanwhile, of course, SPECTER did his most vile best to push Thomas forward --

It was one of the most disgusting episodes in American history -- !!!

[0007]

43. bttft