House panel sidetracks resolution calling for spy probe

[Snazzy]

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0204/022504cdpm2.htm

February 25, 2004
House panel sidetracks resolution calling for spy probe

By David Hess, CongressDailyPM

Under a thick partisan overcast, the House International Relations Committee on Wednesday sidetracked a resolution calling for a congressional probe of the circumstances surrounding the public outing of a CIA agent whose husband had debunked a Bush administration claim that Iraq obtained uranium from Africa.

By a 24-22 margin, the GOP-controlled committee voted along straight party lines to report the resolution adversely to the House. In effect, such votes quash any chance that a measure like this would ever be taken up or, in this case, that a prompt election-year congressional inquiry into this case would be launched.

...

The grand jury's inquiry is being managed by federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald of Chicago. Committee Democrats, led by Rep. Howard Berman of California, argued in vain that the existence of criminal proceedings had rarely deterred House Republicans when former President Clinton was in office. He cited several instances when the House Government Reform and Judiciary committees initiated probes of Clinton policies and activities even while special prosecutors were looking at the same cases.

...

"A congressional investigation would not impair the grand jury," Berman said. "This branch of government is not a potted plant that should sit back and wait for years and years to get the information it needs to safeguard our security."

....

[bobthedrummer]

1. I can only hope that more leaks

hit the press about this.

Another GOP outrage:puke:

[htuttle]

2. About the press...

The press will apparently be yucking it up about the whole thing in March at a soiree with the establishment -- right in front of Joe Wilson.

Did you see this outrage in Editorials?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x36743

From link:

Robert Novak, the clandestine columnist
http://www.hillnews.com/under_dome/022504.aspx

Can Robert Novak succeed on the stage by playing the outraged husband of a CIA agent whose identity as a deep-cover spy had been revealed by a certain syndicated columnist?

The answer will become apparent March 6 when Novak dresses up as retired diplomat Joseph Wilson to perform before Vice President Cheney and some 500 other guests at the annual white-tie Gridiron Dinner at the Capitol Hilton.

In pursuing his day job as a nationally syndicated columnist, Novak identified Wilson’s wife, Valerie Plame, as a CIA operative working in the field of weapons counterproliferation. The July 14 column has triggered a full-press FBI probe to find the leaker, amid much journalistic soul-searching.

Novak swears he’ll never tell anybody, including Wilson, who will also be at the dinner watching Novak (aka Joe Wilson) sing of his sad plight to the tune of “Once I Had a Secret Love.”
(more at link)

[qanda]

3. Utterly disgusting!

:puke: :puke: :puke:

[MaineDem]

4. I can't think of words to describe this!

Novak has got to be the scum of the earth!

[UpInArms]

5. despise is too soft a word

for my emotional state.

:argh: :grr: :nuke: :headbang: