GOP Rep. Issa Under Fire from Everywhere after 9/11 Comments ('Simply' A Plane Hitting WTC)

[Hissyspit]

Source: Daily News

GOP Rep. Darrell Issa under fire from everywhere after 9/11 comments
BY RICHARD SISK and MICHAEL McCAULIFF
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Thursday, April 3rd 2008, 4:00 AM

San Diego GOP Rep. Darrell Issa was under siege for suggesting the federal government had already done enough to help New York cope with 'a fire' that 'simply was an aircraft' hitting the WTC.

WASHINGTON - The California congressman who called the Sept. 11 attacks "simply" a plane crash ran for cover Wednesday under a barrage of ridicule from fellow Republicans, first responders and victims' families.

San Diego GOP Rep. Darrell Issa was under siege for suggesting the federal government had already done enough to help New York cope with "a fire" that "simply was an aircraft" hitting the World Trade Center. "That is a pretty distorted view of things," said Frank Fraone, a Menlo Park, Calif., fire chief who led a 67-man crew at Ground Zero. "Whether they're a couple of planes or a couple of missiles, they still did the same damage."

- snip -

Lorie Van Aucken, who lost her husband, Kenneth, in the attacks, slammed Issa's "cruel and heartless" comments. "It's really discouraging. People stepped up and did the right thing. They sacrificed themselves and now a lot of people are getting really horrible illnesses," she added.

Under pressure from all sides, the Golden State pol - who got rich selling car alarms after getting busted for car theft as a teen - pulled a partial U-turn. He issued a statement but cowered from the press.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/04/03/2008-04-03_gop_rep_darrell_issa_under_fire_from_eve.html

[MidwestTransplant]

1. So if it was just a couple of planes and no big deal, I wonder why he supported the draconian

legislation that followed?

[hvn_nbr_2]

14. "Simply a plane crash" that demolished the constitution. nt

[Alexander]

2. Maybe this will finally put an end to his career as a Congresscritter.

Couldn't happen to a nicer asshat.

[PCIntern]

3. ...didn't happen in HIS state, so as a narcissist,

I mean, WTF? And who would care, right?

:sarcasm:


Bastard...

[yardwork]

4. Issa is the one who put up a photo of "Baghdad" that turned out to be Turkey on his website.

When Issa was running for office a year or two ago, he claimed to have visited Baghdad and found it to be peaceful and thriving. As proof, he posted a photo of a bustling city, with pedestrians and busy merchants, on his website, claiming it to be Baghdad.

Alert DUers matched the photo to identical photographs on the web of a city in another country - Turkey, I think.

I believe that Issa was also one of the strong powers behind the recall in California that made the Gropenator governor. Which means he's probably linked to Enron.

[dflprincess]

5. If it was "simply a plane crash"

why was it used as an excuse for a war - and I assume this jerk, being a Republican, supported that war?

[defendandprotect]

6. What goes on in San Diego that they sent this "cruel + hearltess" mess to the USHR?

Issa is a really aggressive and vile man ---

Meanwhile, I agree . . . if 9/11 wasn't much, why do we have the Patriot Act, Homeland Security, Wiretapping of citizens --- and the bankrupting of our Treasury to run wars in Afghanistan and Iraq . . . which, btw, had nothing to do with 9/11--- !!!

Personally, I agree that 9/11 wasn't "terrorism" . . . it neo-con sponsored terrorism intended
to create a false flag operation which would give them a pass into the Middle East's oil fields.

[Hissyspit]

28. Military town. n/t

[onager]

7. You can thank this asshat for Gov. Gropenator

Issa put up his own money to finance the recall of Calif. Gov. Gray Davis. He planned to run for Governor himself. According to one story, when Karl Rove and the Calif. GOP leadership told Issa he would not be running, he broke down and cried.

The payback was support when Issa ran for Congress. Too bad he's not trying to run on Shrub's coat-tails this year.

[brentspeak]

8. And the question is: Who are the fools who voted for Issa?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

12. he had a large military contingent in support

I suspect that had fallen off over time.

[aggiesal]

23. Issa is the Rep in North San Diego County, ...

He represents cities like Oceanside, Fallbrook, parts of Escondido, ...

Unfortunately, I have to work with people from this district, and sad to
say, a lot express some of his same views.

That area is heavy Rethugs, and all you have to do is run with an (R) next
to your name and you'll get elected.

:cry: I wanted to be California's Gropenator :cry:

[JDPriestly]

9. Darrell Issa

What do you expect from a man who got rich off those obnoxious noise polluting car alarms?

Issa made his fortune through his company, Directed Electronics Incorporated, that is most famous for its flagship product, the "Viper" car alarm. It bears one notable siren that is a recording of Issa's voice, "please step away from the car."<3> As of 2004, Directed Electronics was North America's largest aftermarket automotive electronics manufacturer. Issa divested all personal interest in Directed Electronics after being elected to public office, but is one of the richest members of the House.

. . . .

n 1971, Issa allegedly stole a Dodge sedan from an Army post near Pittsburgh. The allegation was made by a retired Army sergeant, and published in a 1998 newspaper article. Issa denied the allegation. No charges were filed.<13><14>

In 1972, Issa and his brother allegedly stole a red Maserati sports car from a car dealership in Cleveland. He and his brother were indicted for car theft, but the case was dropped.<13><14>

Also in 1972, Issa was convicted in Michigan for possession of an unregistered gun. He received three months probation and paid a $204 fine.<15>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrell_Issa

Issa was behind the recall of Gray Davis. He wanted to be governor, but Schwarzenegger took advantage of the situation and squeezed Issa out.

For once, I don't have to precede my, "he's a crook," statement with an "in my opinion qualifier." Issa is a convicted crook -- possession of an unregistered gun. I don't know whether he really stole the cars. He was only 19 in 1972.

Issa went to Syria immediately after Pelosi and spoke to Syrian leaders just like Pelosi. Issa's trip did not get the negative attention that Pelosi's did. Wonder why?

The Wikipedia article claims that Issa has taken some of the "credit" for the firing of Carol Lam. In my opinion, he personifies the Republican Party -- steal as steal can, cheat as cheat can.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

11. I'ssa idiot, that's why I'ssa republicrony

whenever that man opens his mouth, I become convinced that he uses his shoe laces for dental floss.

[aggiesal]

24. I believe his family is from Lebanon. ...

I believe he can speak their (Lebanon's, & Syria's) language (Arabic).

[David__77]

10. Hmm...

Issa has been targeted unfairly in the past for allegedly supporting "extremists" in the Middle East. I believe he's been targeted for being Arab-American. Maybe he will learn a lesson about the nature of his political colleagues.

[xxqqqzme]

13. issa the stooge

The publicans got him to bankroll the recall, then told him he couldn't run for governor. He's an idiot.

defendandprotect - the CA 49th does not include San Diego. He is deep in the heart of a working class area - people who have no business voting publican.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd?state=CA&district=49

even scarier - Subcommittee on Domestic Policy, Ranking Member

[BattyDem]

15. So we bombed two countries and trashed our Constitution ...

simply because an aircraft hit the WTC and caused a fire?

What an asshole! :wtf:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

16. don't forget torture! and don't forget Poland!

[tanyev]

17. What does he say about Katrina? Just a heavy rain?

[devilgrrl]

18. Issa should stick to what he knows best - stealing cars.

What a asshole!

:nuke:

[KeepItReal]

19. He cried like a baby when his recall cleared the way for Arnold and not himself

What an idiot

[Javaman]

20. darrell issa stooge. nt

[duhneece]

21. And why aren't we hearing this over and over again

on our 'liberal' news media?

[Supersedeas]

31. not peep from the Morning Joe and CNN and FOX crowds...odd - ain't it

[DCKit]

22. It sucks to be a Republicon when people find out what you REALLY think. n/t

[pattmarty]

25. This guy deserves whatever he gets, he's a fucking shitbag.

[truebrit71]

30. Amen to that.

A shitbag of the lowest order...

[bottomofthehill]

26. But I thought "Everything Changed after 9/11"

[Historic NY]

27. And there is more

I'm not sure if he's just a soulless ass or if he's also actively trying to undermine the entire foundation of post-9/11 conservativism, but Darrell Issa is doing his level best to spit on the rescue workers who got sick at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the twin towers attacks. He's flatly refused to vote for federal funding that would provide medical care to these victims of the attack because, in Issa's mind, it apparently was just a local thing, and not a major one at all:

"It simply was an aircraft, residue of two aircraft, and residue from the materials used to build this building," Issa said during a hearing into whether a new 9/11 victims' compensation fund should be launched.
Which is odd since, as Rep. Anthony Weiner notes, "The gentleman voted for because we had the national sense that this was not an attack on New York City, this was an attack on our country."

But hey, keep up the dispicably cruel hypocrisy Rep. Issa. Feel free to even bring some friends along. Because all it proves is that 9/11 to you is nothing more than a tool to intimidate people into sacrificing Constitutional rights and attempt to justify the $3 trillion Iraq boondoggle. That's when it's a national issue. That's when America is at stake. Only when it serves the political interests of Darrell Issa.

But when the heroes who sacrificed at Ground Zero need help? For Darrell Issa, that's not America's problem and it apparently sure isn't his problem. It's...well...somebody else's problem.

Robert Hamilton is challenging Darrell Issa this year.
Cross posted at San Diego Politico

http://calitics.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5491

[TML]

29. His car alarms suck

I hate this guy. He bankrolled the recall election of Gov. Gray Davis, and then dropped out of the re-election. Can I call him a bitch?

[bdamomma]

32. he needs his a$$ thrown out more than Randi Rhodes!!

[bobthedrummer]

33. "Take me to the airport, and put me on a plane. I've got no expectations, to pass through here,

again."

[aquart]

34. Many in San Diego voted for his opponent.

Please remember that. Please.