Rove counting heads on the Senate Judiciary Committee

[swag]

http://www.insightmag.com/Media/MediaManager/Rove2.htm

The White House has been twisting arms to ensure that no Republican member votes against President Bush in the Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigation of the administration's unauthorized wiretapping.

Congressional sources said Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove has threatened to blacklist any Republican who votes against the president. The sources said the blacklist would mean a halt in any White House political or financial support of senators running for re-election in November.

"It's hardball all the way," a senior GOP congressional aide said.

The sources said the administration has been alarmed over the damage that could result from the Senate hearings, which began on Monday, Feb. 6. They said the defection of even a handful of Republican committee members could result in a determination that the president violated the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Such a determination could lead to impeachment proceedings.

. . . more

via Huffington Post at http://www.huffingtonpost.com

[mrcheerful]

1. Thats what Nixon tired and his own party turned their backs on him

lets see if history repeats itself once again.

[against all enemies]

8. Different times.. Lowell Weicker (R-Conn) kicked Nixon's ass

during the hearings. These days they are Republicans first and Americans second.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

33. Good ol' Lowell...

... is making a comeback in politics. I read this past week or so he is in the process of running for US Congress once again in Conn.

[ThoughtCriminal]

2. If I were them I'd be asking

Where do I get in line NOT to have the White House give me political support in the upcoming election? Is Rove threatening to send Bush to campign for them if they don't play ball?

[leftstreet]

4. Yeah, really.

Bush is the kiss of death for Repubs.

[Theduckno2]

16. My thoughts exactly, Nixon was reelected in a landslide.

Bush was a "wartime President" and barely squeaked by Sen. Kerry. His poll numbers have dropped considerably since then and the Abramoff scandal is shining a very ugly light on Republican campaign financing. Roves threats only work if he can separate the victim from the herd, but many Repubs are on record speaking against Bush's domestic spying.

If anything they might be worried about what Rove had on them or may be willing to make up about them. Just ask Sen. McCain about whisper campaigns.

[mcctatas]

3. If fuckwad's approval ratings keep tanking myabe this threat won't have

much of an impact. Karl Rove is such a tool!:puke:

[Newsjock]

5. This from the Moonie Times, again

They've got a bizarre agenda going on over there at Washington Times land (publishers of Insight), and a prize to the first person who unearths it.

[swag]

17. Thanks.

Hadn't realized this was Wash Times affiliated.

Hidden agenda at play.

[drdtroit]

6. I love this phrase: "It's hardball all the way,"

What they (GOP) refer to as hardball is what most law abiding people refer to as criminal activity.
:patriot:

[thefloyd]

7. Insight Magazine

seems "fishy". Anyways, Republican senators probabaly do not care to pose with Bush these days considering Americans do not think the country is headed in the right direction.

[swag]

12. Oh really? Do they have

credibility problems like Capitol Hill Blue? In my mind, the huffpost link lent some cred, but if you have info to the contrary, please give.

Thanks.

On edit: never mind - it's Washington Times affiliated. Low cred on this story.

Sorry.

[hang a left]

9. Not that I doubt that Rove has all the NSA tapes on everyone....

but this article is weakly sourced. I need someone, ANYONE, on the record.

[Julius Civitatus]

10. Why is this pudgy f*ckwad not in jail?

Why is this TRAITOR allowed to roam free the streets of America?

Karl Rove belongs in a federal prison, period.

[liberalla]

50. Exactly. Where is that indictment when you need it?

Hope Fitz comes through soon. I'm patient, but...

[Botany]

11. But i wonder w/ the spying does the White House have ....

..... dirt on the Senators?

Voinvich's break down yet voting to let Bolton go was really weird.

I wonder how far bush and company are in the bunker as the armies start to approach?

Or am I in my DU delusional bunker?

[wtmusic]

13. Hagel sounds like he's admitted there was a threat

coercion of a Judiciary committe vote? Wheres the Justice Dept. for that one?

[Toucano]

14. Fine Karl. There's no statute of limitations.

An inquiry today would not constitute double jeopardy in a few years. You're both relatively young men.

We can wait.

[JudyM]

15. I don't know - isn't that bribing a public official? n/t

[Straight Shooter]

25. Not bribing. Extortion.

Unless you were speaking tongue-in-cheek. ;)

[JudyM]

49. A crime... should be prosecuted. n/t

[Zen Democrat]

18. The only Republicans on the Judiciary Committee up for reelection

this year are Hatch, Kyl and DeWine. Rove shouldn't even need to threaten these guys.

His problem is with Specter and Graham -- and they are immune from Rove's threats. Graham has never been a Rove fan, not since Graham was McCain's campaign manager in SC in 2000 and Rove swiftboated McCain.

Specter's not one of Rove's boys either.

All the Democrats plus Specter and Graham could control the committee.

[fooj]

21. At this point, it is hard to believe any of them will do the right thing.

Peace.

[emulatorloo]

22. both specter and graham were tough today. Neither buying the spin

A couple specter reports:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x339787

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x339781

[Tiggeroshii]

31. I'm no fan of Graham either, since he wrote a bill taking away

habeus corpus, but he seems to speak his mind and it's good to see some repugs do that....

[rodeodance]

38. he speaks his mind--but we have been decieved by these moderate

repubs in the past many times. they seem to object then vote the party line in the end.

[Kablooie]

19. Now this is good to hear!

It's one thing to say, "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." but to say "You scratch my back or I'll beat the living daylights out of you" is quite something else.

It's like being part of the team, or being the waterboy. How many Repubs will decide the waterboy is the better position?

[rodeodance]

39. looks like Hagel is concerned also--but how concerned is the question.

Some have raised doubts about Mr. Rove's strategy of painting the Democrats, who have opposed unwarranted surveillance, as being dismissive of the threat posed by al Qaeda terrorists.



"Well, I didn't like what Mr. Rove said, because it frames terrorism and the issue of terrorism and everything that goes with it, whether it's the renewal of the Patriot Act or the NSA wiretapping, in a political context," said Sen. Chuck Hagel, Nebraska Republican.

[wordpix2]

20. Repugs better decide whose side they're on: the Constitution's or *

Even Orrin He-atch was sounding rather middle-of-the-road tonight (MSNBC) saying there are legitimate concerns (paraphrasing). Of course, he's still one of *'s butt-boys.

[JMDEM]

23. Isn't it illegal to intefere with a Senate investigation or hearing?

And wouldn't this constitute interference on a massive scale?

[wordpix2]

24. good question---considering the hearing is about Rover's boss, especially

[Roland99]

26. I thought this was a given? I mean, Gonzo under oath before but not now?

The writing's on the wall.

[Sgent]

27. Even worse for the Whitehouse

A pissed off Judiciary committee -- even if they don't seek impeachment (which is somewhat pointless for the Senate anyway) -- can prevent just about any judicial appointment, reauthorization of the patriot act, and make the Whitehouse's life miserable.

[wordpix]

44. that is, if repugs want to stand up to BushCo--doubtful

[lovuian]

28. Lesley Graham and Specter must be feeling the heat!!!

this is what happens when your in the middle...

[Tiggeroshii]

30. Lindsey*

When I first read his name, I thought he was a girl. But I guess not....

[samhsarah]

29. I think tubby Nazi boy just dug the Shrub his grave....

"The sources said the White House has offered to help loyalists with money and free publicity, such as appearances and photo-ops with the president."

So he's telling them that if they vote against the *, they won't get any photo ops with the 38% approval rating preznit?

[Tiggeroshii]

32. That really would be the stupidest hing the Admin can do for itself

A previous responder questioned the credibility of this and the poster acknowledged this was washington times affiliated. It doesn't seem ilke a very strategically smart thing for the bush admin, however...

[rodeodance]

34. nominate please

[rodeodance]

35. Graham is concerned about Inherent Authority (here)--wonder if Rove

will get to him?



http://thinkprogress.org/?tag=Congress

Lindsey Graham: ‘The Inherent Authority Argument…Seems To Have No Boundaries’

Lindsey Graham (R-SC) explains the danger of the administration’s legal position:

All I’m saying is the inherent authority argument in its application to me seems to have no boundaries when it comes to executive decisions in a time of war, it deals the Congress and courts out, Mr. Attorney General.

[rodeodance]

36. "He's [Rove] lining them up one by one," --sounds like he is lining

them up against the wall. terrible image.


.Over the last few weeks, Mr. Rove has been calling in virtually every Republican on the Senate committee as well as the leadership in Congress. The sources said Mr. Rove's message has been that a vote against Mr. Bush would destroy GOP prospects in congressional elections.



"He's lining them up one by one," another congressional source said.

[rodeodance]

37. "White House has offered to help loyalists with money and free publicity,"

.....Mr. Rove is leading the White House campaign to help the GOP in November�s congressional elections. The sources said the White House has offered to help loyalists with money and free publicity, such as appearances and photo-ops with the president.



Those deemed disloyal to Mr. Rove would appear on his blacklist. The sources said dozens of GOP members in the House and Senate are on that list.

[wordpix]

45. maybe without Jackoff as fundraiser-in-chief & repugs wary of BushCo's

intentions, there won't be much $ in * coffers this year

[HereSince1628]

40. Meanwhile, is the DLC is making its own list, to punish attacks on Bush's

domestic spying? Vilsak's comments sound as though they were uttered by Karl himselfg.

[Pirate Smile]

41. Rove counting heads on the Senate Judiciary Committee

Rove counting heads on the Senate Judiciary Committee

The White House has been twisting arms to ensure that no Republican member votes against President Bush in the Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigation of the administration's unauthorized wiretapping.




Congressional sources said Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove has threatened to blacklist any Republican who votes against the president. The sources said the blacklist would mean a halt in any White House political or financial support of senators running for re-election in November.
"It's hardball all the way," a senior GOP congressional aide said.

The sources said the administration has been alarmed over the damage that could result from the Senate hearings, which began on Monday, Feb. 6. They said the defection of even a handful of Republican committee members could result in a determination that the president violated the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Such a determination could lead to impeachment proceedings.

Over the last few weeks, Mr. Rove has been calling in virtually every Republican on the Senate committee as well as the leadership in Congress. The sources said Mr. Rove's message has been that a vote against Mr. Bush would destroy GOP prospects in congressional elections.
"He's lining them up one by one," another congressional source said.

http://www.insightmag.com/Media/MediaManager/Rove2.htm

[leftchick]

42. Isn't that Blackmail?

and should't that be investigated? Damn I wonder what wiretap goodies he has on the pukes?

[leesa]

43. What does he have on these cowards??

[drm604]

46. Time to flood Senators with Faxes and phone calls. n/t

[rodeodance]

47. is there some group (website) that is organizing this?

[drm604]

48. If not, then we should.

I think we generated a lot of calls and faxes for the filibuster.